Taysom Hill starred for the Saints (10-2), who maintained their stranglehold on the NFC South by celebrating on Thanksgiving.
Hill blocked a punt to set up a three-yard touchdown catch, while he later produced a 30-yard score as the Saints topped the Falcons (3-9) on Thursday.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees set up Hill for the opening TD in the first quarter and the latter gave New Orleans a 17-9 half-time lead via a 30-yard run after Atlanta’s Matt Ryan had connected with Jaeden Graham.
Brees finished 18 of 30 for 184 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions in Atlanta.
Will Lutz kept things ticking over with a 47-yard field goal in the third goal as the Saints moved clear of the Falcons, who were without Julio Jones due to a shoulder injury.
It was a tough night for Falcons quarterback Ryan after he committed three second-half turnovers – two interceptions and a lost fumble.
Ryan’s fumble in the fourth quarter and Vonn Bell’s recovery helped tee up Lutz’s fourth field goal from 45 yards.
A 13-yard touchdown pass from Ryan to Russell Gage reduced the deficit with less than four minutes remaining but the Falcons – last in the division – were unable to avoid a second straight home loss.
Falcons veteran Ryan finished 35 of 50 for 312 yards and nine sacks.
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