Atlanta, GA — Younghoe Koo seized the moment when a pass interference penalty was called, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. The kicker delivered a career-best 58-yard field goal with just two seconds left, leading the Atlanta Falcons to a thrilling 26-24 victory over the New Orleans Saints, despite the Falcons not scoring a single offensive touchdown.
Koo, who also connected on field goals from 53, 44, and 42 yards, played a pivotal role in securing the Falcons’ (2-2) much-needed home win. This marked his eighth game-winning kick in the final moments since the start of the 2021 season, the most in the league during that period.
“We’ve been in this situation often, and that’s just how it is in this league,” the 30-year-old kicker noted. “Most games come down to one possession. Every point matters, and our unit takes great pride in that.”
The Falcons had struggled at home, losing their first two games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and were on the brink of falling to 0-3 in Atlanta when Alvin Kamara put the Saints (2-2) ahead with a 1-yard touchdown run in the final minute.
However, a crucial 30-yard pass interference penalty on Paulson Adebo provided the Falcons with new life at the Saints’ 40-yard line. Quarterback Kirk Cousins threw three consecutive incompletions, but Koo’s powerful kick from the longest distance ever made in the stadium easily cleared the uprights, sealing the Saints’ second consecutive narrow loss after starting the season with two dominant victories.
Koo celebrated by raising his arms before being swarmed by his teammates. “I’ve hit that distance in practice,” he said. “Once we got to the 40, I knew I had a shot.”
Taysom Hill contributed to the Saints’ efforts with two touchdown runs before leaving the game, possibly re-injuring his chest, which had sidelined him the previous week against Philadelphia.
On New Orleans’ final drive, Derek Carr made several key third-down completions to Chris Olave before Kamara pushed through for the score on third down, carrying Kaden Elliss into the end zone.
Remarkably, the Falcons managed to win without a touchdown from Cousins’ offense, relying instead on special teams and defensive scores. Early in the game, a blunder by Saints receiver Rashid Shaheed resulted in a fair catch signal at the 2-yard line, with the ball bouncing off his shoulder pads into the end zone, where KhaDarel Hodge recovered it for a touchdown.
Linebacker Troy Andersen also made his mark with a 47-yard pick-six after a pass from Carr was deflected by Matthew Judon, giving Atlanta a 17-14 lead at halftime.
“Those kinds of losses really hurt,” said Saints coach Dennis Allen. “We have a good team, but we need to play better. We can’t give a solid team like Atlanta a 14-point head start and expect to win.”
The Saints managed to score in a more traditional manner, capitalizing on a turnover after Cousins was intercepted by Adebo at the New Orleans 47, which sparked an 11-play, 53-yard touchdown drive. Hill converted a crucial fourth-and-1 with a 7-yard run and finished the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run.
Mooney’s Impact
Receiver Darnell Mooney emerged as a key player for the Falcons, not just for his three catches totaling 56 yards, but for his clever play that drew the pivotal pass interference penalty against Adebo. Mooney faked as if he would catch the ball, prompting Adebo to make contact before it arrived.
“The way the ball was in the air, I knew I had to create something,” Mooney explained. “I was able to get Adebo to make contact earlier than he intended.”
With a smile, he added, “Sometimes, your mindset shifts from making the catch to putting yourself in a position for the P.I.”
Next Up
Saints: The team heads to Kansas City next Monday night for a prime-time matchup against the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
Falcons: Atlanta wraps up a three-game homestand on Thursday night, facing off against another NFC South rival, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
