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Our Week 10 game thread for all the Saints updates, action and more.

John Hendrix

Nov 3, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) pulls in a pass during the fourth quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images
Nov 3, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) pulls in a pass during the fourth quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images / Scott Kinser-Imagn Images
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NEW ORLEANS -- As the Saints try to end their seven-game losing streak, a tough task in the Falcons stand in their way. Atlanta leads the NFC South and is in the driver's seat right now at 6-3, with the Bucs being behind them and having to play the 49ers later today. New Orleans had many changes inside the building in less than a week, and we'll get to see how the Darren Rizzi kicks off for them.

As we do every week, keep it tuned here for our live game thread. I'll have notes, observations and much more throughout today from the Superdome.

Pregame Notes

  • I pointed this out as a mild observation, but a group of players went through more of a warmup period than what's we've traditionally seen early in the process. Also, Darren Rizzi was on the field during warmups. We didn't typically see DA during this time. That's not saying he wasn't around at times, but I don't recall seeing him that early ever.
  • Saints wide receivers today leave a lot to the imagination, but this is what's going to have to get it done for presumably the rest of the season. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Mason Tipton, Jermaine Jackson, Kevin Austin Jr. and Dante Pettis is what they have.
  • If you didn't know or haven't seen, Alvin Kamara just needs 12 yards to become the Saints' all-time leading rusher. Mark Ingram is all but ready to see it happen too.
  • Will Harris is back to being the starter with Tyrann Mathieu on the back end. Nick Saldiveri replaces Lucas Patrick as the starting left guard.
  • There seems to be a lot more fans than I anticipated for this game. Falcons fans traveled pretty well, which isn't that big of a surprise with their record.
  • Saints won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half. We'll get to see Joe Woods' defense in action from the start.
  • Alontae Taylor led the Who Dat chant today. Great moment for him.

First Quarter

Notes

  • Good run defense by Pete Werner and Shemar Jean-Charles on the 2nd Down play. Saints couldn't make the stop on 3rd-and-4.
  • Falcons going with a little more up-tempo getting to the line.
  • Replay assist coming up big there for the Saints on the 3rd Down play to overturn the Drake London catch. Darren Rizzi was all but ready to challenge it.
  • That's a pretty tough call on the Taysom Hill scoring play from 88 yards. The hold on Foster Moreau wiped it out. That was a little iffy to me.
  • Some nice back-to-back runs by Alvin Kamara, with his second carry getting him in the Saints' record books as the team's all-time leading rusher. He had carries of 11 and 7. New Orleans did a nice job running to get into position and also Derek Carr had a nice connection to Juwan Johnson to get into the red zone.
  • A bad snap exchange between Connor McGovern and Carr put the Saints into a 3rd-and-15 spot.
  • I like the aggressive play call there to go for it on 4th-and-2, but Taysom Hill comes up short.
  • Saints defense forces a three-and-out on the ensuing Falcons possession. That Will Harris hit stick on the 2nd Down play was nice. Ugo Amadi also had a nice rep near the sideline on the pass play.
  • No Taliese Fuaga at left tackle for the Saints right now. Oli Udoh is in. Fuaga is riding the stationary bike on the sideline.
  • That's a real nice first carry by Jordan Mims. With no Kendre Miller or Jamaal Williams, it's a good opportunity for him.
  • Insane catch by Kevin Austin Jr. on the sideline to pick up a 3rd-and-14. He made up for the false start penalty from earlier on the drive.

Big Plays

Second Quarter - Saints 17, Falcons 7

Scoring

  • Saints, 14:50 (11-36, 5:43) - Blake Grupe 38-yard field goal.
  • Saints, 10:48 (4-57, 1:18) - Marquez Valdes-Scantling 40-yard pass from Derek Carr.
  • Falcons, 5:45 (9-73, 5:03) - Bijan Robinson 1-yard run.
  • Saints, 3:47 (4-70, 1:58) - Marquez Valdes-Scantling 2-yard pass from Derek Carr.

Notes

  • Saints drive stalls out and they can't get anything on the 3rd-and-7 play. Taliese Fuaga officially has a thigh injury and is questionable to return.
  • Jordan Howden got hurt on the kickoff and was in some clear pain. Looks like they were checking out his right hand/wrist. He goes to the blue medical tent. He later went to the locker room.
  • Just not sure about that pass interference call on Alontae Taylor.
  • Younghoe Koo missed a field goal from 53. What!?
  • Taliese Fuaga is back in the game for the Saints.
  • Jordan Howden (shoulder) is questionable to return.
  • Holy crap! What a hookup from Carr to Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Welcome to New Orleans, officially.
  • That's some catch by Darnell Mooney and a really good throw by Kirk Cousins.
  • Impressive three plays for the Saints on goal-to-go from the 1, but they get in on the fourth attempt with Bijan Robinson.
  • What a way to counter the Falcons with Carr hooking up with Valdes-Scantling for 67 yards to get inside the 5-yard-line just like that.
  • Carr to MVS for another touchdown. It's like they've played together for years or something. Carr is 10/14 for 196 yards and 2 TDs. Marquez Valdes-Scantling has 3 catches for 109 yards and 2 TDs.
  • I don't have real-time snap counts, but it certainly feels like Cam Jordan has played more than his 10 snaps last week.
  • Payton Turner absolutely crushed Kirk Cousins to pick up a strip-sack. Also, Khalen Saunders in coverage.
  • If you would have told me Younghoe Koo would miss two kicks in the Superdome, I would have laughed. Big block by John Ridgeway III to keep it 17-7. Saints get the ball to start the 3rd.

Big Plays

Third Quarter - Saints 20, Falcons 17

Scoring

  • Falcons, 5:42 (13-68, 7:58) - Younghoe Koo 27-yard field goal.
  • Saints, 2:44 (6-61, 2:58) - Blake Grup 26-yard field goal.
  • Falcons, 1:01 (4-63, 1:43) - Bijan Robinson 37-yard run.

Notes

  • Had a nice opportunity coming out of the half to keep the foot on the gas, but nothing doing or New Orleans on offense.
  • Falcons are moving down the field here and are threatening.
  • Payton Turner is having a nice day. Better late than never?
  • A holding call on Khalen Saunders gives the Falcons get a fresh set of downs. Looked like Demario Davis had the stop too.
  • Don't see an illegal low block called often, but that and a false start penalty backed up the Falcons to a 1st-and-Goal from the 25-yard-line. New Orleans turned them away, but Koo got the field goal.
  • One play and the Saints are in Falcons territory. Nice hookup from Carr to Kevin Austin Jr. to get 22.
  • Absolutely ridiculous job by Alvin Kamara to pick up 31 on the screen play. That was mostly AK.
  • Jordan Howden is back. Played on the ensuing kickoff.
  • That's a great open-field tackle on Drake London by Pete Werner.
  • Two tough back-to-back plays for the Saints defense, with Kirk Cousins hitting Kyle Pitts for 23 on 3rd-and-7 and then it was followed up by Bijan Robinson getting free and making this close.

Big Plays

Fourth Quarter

Scoring

Notes

  • A little bit of a swing there with what looked to be a 3rd-and-1 play for the Falcons. Darren Rizzi challenged the completion and won and then Cousins missed Ray-Ray McCloud over the middle.
  • Saints unable to take advantage on the next series. They lost a couple of yards on the first play and then Carr hit Kamara for several yards. Juwan Johnson got sent airborne after that completion that was short of the marker.
  • J.T. Gray is testing something out on the Saints sideline. Blue tent is up. Payton Turner was shaken up following a play and went to the sideline after being looked at.
  • Saints had a chance to get off the field on 3rd-and-2, but Alontae Taylor got called for pass interference again.
  • Big sack by Cam Jordan to set up a 3rd-and-14 for Atlanta. They got a false start on the following play and they might be out of field goal range after it's all said and done.
  • I've never seen Younghoe Koo have the type of game he's having. Saints need to put it away.
  • Carr's intentional grounding penalty put the Saints back to 3rd-and-21. That's rough. Inside of 6 minutes and Atlanta has a real chance to win.
  • Pete Werner (hand) is questionable to return for New Orleans.
  • Gigantic play at the right time for the Saints defense with Tyrann Mathieu getting a huge pick on Cousins. They have a chance here, but Falcons have all of their timeouts.
  • OH NO! Alvin Kamara was wide open as everything and dropped it. That would have put Atlanta away and he would have had a TD.
  • Chase Young with a clutch play sacking Cousins and then stripping him to have it go for a big loss.
  • The losing streak is over, and Darren Rizzi gets his first win as the Saints interim head coach. The leaders pulled them through.

Big Plays

Published |Modified
John Hendrix
JOHN HENDRIX

I officially started covering the New Orleans Saints & other NFL topics in 2011. My work has been featured on various outlets over the years. I worked closely with Skyhorse Publishing in Fall 2018 to update the book, Tales From the New Orleans Saints Sidelines, which filled in all Saints material from the 2013-2017 seasons. Prior to joining Saints News Network, I served as the Managing Editor of SB Nation's Canal Street Chronicles for 3.5 years, and before that with FanSided's Who Dat Dish as the Managing Editor for several years. I have also had experiences of being a freelance Saints reporter for The Sun Herald in Biloxi, MS and a contributing writer for WDSU, a local NBC TV station in New Orleans. I have appeared on a vast amount of TV and Radio shows, both nationally and locally. For tips, comments, or suggestions, please contact me at johnhendrix@saintsnews.net

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