In a thrilling turn of events, the Atlanta Falcons’ defense sparked to life against the New Orleans Saints, thanks to a crucial pass rush that led to a game-changing interception. The Falcons’ edge rusher, Matthew Judon, deflected a pass from Saints quarterback Derek Carr, and inside linebacker Troy Andersen seized the opportunity, snagging the wobbly ball and sprinting 47 yards for a touchdown. The extra point by Younghoe Koo gave the Falcons a 17-14 lead over the Saints with just 7:54 remaining in the second quarter.
This pivotal play might not have been possible just a few weeks ago, as Judon was acquired by the Falcons in a trade with the New England Patriots mere days before the start of the regular season. Meanwhile, Andersen has been filling in for injured starting linebacker Nate Landman, who is sidelined with a calf injury.
The 25-year-old Andersen celebrated his first career interception and touchdown, marking a triumphant return to the field after missing most of last season due to a pectoral/shoulder injury. This remarkable feat also marked the Falcons’ first instance of scoring two non-offensive touchdowns in a single game since 2016.
Earlier in the game, the Falcons capitalized on a Saints miscue when wide receiver Rashid Shaheed fumbled a punt inside the Saints’ 5-yard line. The ball bounced into the end zone, where safety Micah Abernathy and wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge converged, with Hodge ultimately jumping on the ball for an Atlanta touchdown. This special teams gem gave the Falcons an early 7-0 lead, which they would build upon throughout the game.
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