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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
ATLANTA (AP) -- No matter how bad things get for the Atlanta
Falcons, they can always pick on the New Orleans Saints.
Chris Chandler threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as
the Falcons snapped a three-game losing streak by routing the
even more hapless Saints 35-12 Sunday.
"When you're in the position we're in, any win is a good win,"
Falcons coach Dan Reeves said.
|  | | Atlanta's Travis Hall takes down Saints quarterback Danny Wuerffel, who was sacked five times. |
Atlanta (3-9) hasn't lost to the Saints since 1994, winning 10
in a row. Even during some of the Falcons' most dismal seasons --
3-13 in 1996, this year's collapse following an NFC championship --
they can still find a way to sweep the season series with New
Orleans (2-10).
"We're having a rough season," Chandler said. "I don't care
if it's our 100th straight win (over the Saints), that's not going
to make it better."
The Falcons, averaging just 14.1 points per game, posted their
highest point total of the season, while New Orleans extended the
NFL's longest active road losing streak to 12 games.
Already playing without running back Ricky Williams, who was
sidelined by a toe injury, the Saints lost quarterback Billy Joe
Hobert on their third possession with bruised ribs.
Backup quarterback Danny Wuerffel didn't fare much better than his alma mater, Florida, which was routed by Alabama on the same
field the previous night.
Wuerffel was the victim on five of Atlanta's seven sacks and was picked off twice by Ray Buchanan, who returned the second
interception 52 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.
Buchanan, penalized nine times this season, jokingly presented
the officials with a dozen roses before the game. Then, he came
through with one of his best performances, also making six tackles
and breaking up three passes.
"The way the officials have been treating me is not good,"
Buchanan said, grinning. "Whatever I did to them before, I'm
sorry."
The Falcons reached the end zone on three straight possessions
for a 21-6 halftime lead. Chandler threw an 8-yard touchdown pass
to Terance Mathis and a 48-yarder to Tim Dwight, sandwiched around
a 1-yard scoring run by the quarterback.
Chandler was 15-of-25 for 233 yards, though his performance was marred by three interceptions.
Bob Christian scored on a 1-yard plunge in the third quarter
before Buchanan stepped in front of a pass intended for Eddie
Kennison at the New Orleans 48, streaking down the sideline for
Atlanta's first defensive touchdown of the season.
New Orleans managed only two field goals by Doug Brien and a
meaningless 29-yard touchdown run by Wuerffel in the fourth
quarter.
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GAME NOTES |
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Atlanta had more than 100 yards rushing for only the third time this season. Not surprisingly, all three of those games have
been victories.
Ken Oxendine led the Falcons with a career-high 85
yards on 19 carries, while Bob Christian had 44 yards on just six
carries.
Wilmont Perry, stepping in for Ricky Williams in the New Orleans backfield, rushed for 93 yards.
The Saints rushed for 149 yards, averaging 5.7 yards per carry.
Safety Gerald
McBurrows and rookie tight end Reggie Kelly made their first starts for the Falcons.
Atlanta cornerback Michael Booker was penalized three times.
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"This is how our season has been going," Tyronne Drakeford
said. "Sometimes the offense plays well and the defense doesn't.
Then the defense plays well and the offense doesn't. We haven't
been able to put anything together all year."
New Orleans' season, which began with coach Mike Ditka promising a trip to the Super Bowl, has fallen apart in three straight losses
by a combined score of 119-47.
"I'd like to have better answers for you," a solemn Ditka told
reporters. "Maybe we can't get it done with the people we have. I
know they tried. I don't see anyone quitting."
That includes Ditka, who hinted at resigning after a loss in
Atlanta two years ago. He plans to stick out this dismal season.
"Other people might have a problem with that," he said, "but
I don't."
After Brien kicked a 24-yard field goal to give the Saints a
short-lived 3-0 lead, the Falcons capitalized on a short punt by
Tommy Barnhardt. Ken Oxendine had a 20-yard run and Chandler came
through on third down at the 8.
Scrambling left, he threw back across his body to Mathis in the
end zone, a split-second before Mark Fields slammed the quarterback
into the turf.
On Atlanta's next possession, Chandler hooked up with Brian
Kozlowski on a 26-yard pass, and a pass interference penalty on
Tyronne Drakeford gave the Falcons first-and-goal at the 1. The
slow-footed quarterback caught the Saints off guard with a bootleg
to the right, reaching the end zone without being touched.
Chandler and Dwight hooked up on two long pass plays for the
Falcons' third TD. Dwight caught a 32-yarder to the New Orleans 48
before Chandler fooled the Saints with play-action, finding a
wide-open Dwight streaking down the middle of the field behind
Drakeford.
Dwight apparently hurt a knee and hamstring during that
sequence, forcing him to sit out the rest of the game.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
New Orleans Clubhouse
Atlanta Clubhouse
Week 13 wrap-ups
Week 13 infirmary report
TJ's Take: Thumbs-up for Indy
PrimeTime Players
Week 13 stats leaders
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