Atlanta Falcons vs New Orleans Saints Match Player Stats On Dec 21, 2014

Ryan finished 30-of-40 and Julio Jones had seven receptions for 107 yards for the Falcons (6-9), who improved to 5-0 against division rivals and can clinch the NFC South with a home win over Carolina next week. Robert McClain's interception with 2:28 remaining and Osi Umenyiora's 86-yard fumble return for a touchdown on the final play capped a dominant day for Atlanta's defense, which limited the league's No. 2 offense to 328 total yards.

Brees finished 30-of-47 for 313 yards with a touchdown and the two interceptions for the Saints (6-9), who have lost five straight at home and were eliminated from playoff contention with Carolina's win over Cleveland. Mark Ingram had a rushing touchdown and Jimmy Graham caught a TD pass for New Orleans.

The Saints started the game with a bang, as Jalen Saunders returned the opening kickoff 99 yards to the 1 to set up Ingram's touchdown plunge on the next play, but they didn't score again until the fourth quarter. Matt Bryant booted field goals of 44 and 50 yards before Eric Weems scored from 3 yards out on a shovel pass from Ryan to give Atlanta a 13-7 halftime lead.

Devonta Freeman broke a 31-yard TD run with 5:42 left in the third quarter to pad the Falcons' lead, but New Orleans kept alive hope when Brees threw a 4-yard TD pass to Graham with 5:48 remaining. The Saints came up with a defensive stop to get back the ball with a chance to win, but McClain jumped in front of Nick Toon for the interception, setting up Bryant's 32-yard field goal to seal it.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Ryan has thrown a touchdown pass in 19 consecutive games. กญ Graham moved into second place in Saints history with 51 TD catches and became the franchise's first player with three seasons of at least 10 scoring receptions. กญ Atlanta RB Steven Jackson (quadriceps) and New Orleans RB Pierre Thomas (ribs) left in the first half and did not return.