Brees leads Saints to win, berth in playoffs

Associated Press

ATLANTA

Drew Brees shook off two fourth-quarter interceptions, throwing a 6-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Graham with 3:24 remaining that gave New Orleans a 17-14 victory over the Atlanta Falcons and clinched a return to the playoffs for the defending Super Bowl champions Monday night.

The Falcons (12-3) had a chance to wrap up their first division crown since 2004 and home-field advantage in the playoffs. But Brees and the Saints (11-4) are still in the mix, making up for a bitter loss to their NFC South rival in the Week 3.

Brees completed six straight passes on a 13-play, 90-yard drive, the last of them to the rookie tight end for the winning score. That made up for Chauncey Davis’ 26-yard interception return that put the Falcons ahead early in the fourth quarter.

Pierre Thomas had a 2-yard touchdown run and Garrett Hartley kicked a 52-yard field goal to give the Saints a 10-7 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The Falcons were poised to grab the lead in the third but Michael Turner fumbled on second-and-goal at the 2. It was Turner’s first lost fumble of the season and Atlanta lost two fumbles in a game for the first time this season.

New Orleans also took advantage of Falcons center Todd McClure’s first career lost fumble to take a 10-0 lead in the second. McClure has started for Atlanta since 1999 but Thomas went into end zone five plays later.

McClure was attempting a snap to Matt Ryan in a shotgun formation, but the ball never left the ground and was recovered by linebacker Jonathan Vilma.