The Falcons can forget about perfection, thanks to their resurgent rivals.
Of all the teams to end Atlanta’s unbeaten run, it had to be the Saints. And it had to be a memorable, drama-filled game that left the Falcons frustrated by the one meager yard they could not get to take a lead inside the final two minutes of a 31-27 loss yesterday in New Orleans.
“It’s very frustrating,” said Falcons coach Mike Smith, who is 2-7 against the Saints and 49-15 against the rest of the NFL in his four-plus regular seasons as Atlanta coach. “We were close. … This will be something we will learn from.”
If the Falcons (8-1) want to beat the Saints (4-5) in their rematch in Atlanta on Nov. 29, it would help to learn how to stop dynamic young tight end Jimmy Graham, who caught seven passes for a career-best 146 yards and two touchdowns.
Still, Atlanta might have pulled it out, but Jabari Greer made a diving, touchdown-saving pass breakup on a late fourth-down pass intended for Roddy White.
49ers 24, Rams 24 (tie)
The Rams and 49ers played the NFL’s first tie game in four years as both team’s kickers missed overtime field goals last night in San Francisco.
Greg Zuerlein kicked a 53-yarder, but the Rams were penalized 5 yards for delay of game. He tried again from 58 as coach Jeff Fisher played for the win, and missed wide right with 2:42 left in OT.
San Francisco’s David Akers missed wide left on a 41-yard attempt that could have sealed it for the NFC West-leading 49ers (6-2-1), who lost quarterback Alex Smith to a first-half concussion.
On the first play of OT, Sam Bradford completed an 80-yard pass to Danny Amendola that took St. Louis (3-5-1) to the 2, but the play was called back for an illegal formation penalty. Some 49ers fans got up to leave, then returned to their seats.
Titans 37, Dolphins 3
In Miami,Colin McCarthy returned an interception 49 yards for a touchdown, and four takeaways helped Tennessee rout Miami.
The Titans (4-6) came into the game on pace to set an NFL record for points allowed in a season, but they stymied the Dolphins (4-5) by intercepting Ryan Tannehill three times and recovering a Reggie Bush fumble to set up a touchdown.
Vikings 34, Lions 24
In Minneapolis, Adrian Peterson raced 61 yards for the game-sealing touchdown midway through the fourth quarter, padding his NFL rushing lead with 171 yards on 27 carries for the Vikings (6-4) in a victory over the Lions (4-5).