ATLANTA -- After it was all over -- a three-game losing streak snapped, a season-high in rushing and, despite an under-.500 record, the lead in the NFC South, the Atlanta Falcons could exhale for a few seconds.
Sunday against the New Orleans Saints was what the Falcons needed. The run game was effective. The defense held the Saints without a touchdown. Special teams didn't have a busted play, all of which had been issues during the team's losses to Tennessee, Minnesota and Arizona.
After a 24-15 win over New Orleans, the Falcons could look around and know, with six games left in the season, they were in first place.