Brees’ passing, Greer’s interception, help Saints lead Falcons after 3 quarters, 28-21

Saints lead Falcons 28-21 after third quarter

NEW ORLEANS — Drew Brees passed for 240 yards and a touchdown, helping the Saints to a 28-21 lead over the Atlanta Falcons through three quarters on Monday night.

Jabari Greer added a 48-yard interception return for a score, the Saints’ fifth score on an interception this season, tying a single-season franchise mark set in 1998.

Greer’s interception also was the Saints’ 14th overall this season, one fewer than all of last season, and it gave the Saints at least one interception in every game.

Brees hit Marques Colston for an 18-yard score, and New Orleans also scored on runs of 22 yards by Pierre Thomas and 1 yard by Reggie Bush.

Greer also gave up a touchdown, however, when he was beaten by Roddy White on a 68-yard pass from Matt Ryan early in the third quarter. That score made it 28-21.

Michael Turner had 118 yards rushing through three quarters, including a 13-yard touchdown.

The Falcons’ defense also produced a score. Thomas DeCoud’s jarring sack on a delayed blitz up the middle dislodged the ball from Brees and Kroy Biermann returned the ball from the 4-yard line, giving Atlanta a 14-7 lead late in the first quarter.

Brees came back strong from the turnover, leading the Saints 80 yards on 12 plays to tie it at 14. Jeremy Shockey’s 27 yard catch over the middle moved New Orleans into Atlanta territory and Brees capped the drive by lofting his scoring pass to Colston, who jumped in front of cornerback Tye Hill to make the grab.

Both teams had more chances to score, but failed to capitalize.

Atlanta squandered a promising chance set up by Turner’s 37-yard run when Jason Elam’s 34-yard field goal attempt hit off the left upright. Elam also missed a 51-yard attempt on the final play of the half.

One Saints drive stalled deep in Atlanta territory when cornerback Brent Grimes jumped high for an outstretched interception at the Atlanta 18, marking Brees’ sixth turnover in two games.

Brees once again bounced back, going 4 for 4 for 76 yards on the Saints’ final offensive series of the first half, setting up Bush’s touchdown on a pitch to give New Orleans its first lead before Greer’s interception made it a two-score game.

A little more than three years ago, the Falcons were the visitors when the Saints returned to the newly reopened Louisiana Superdome for the first time since Hurricane Katrina. That Monday night had a storybook start for the Saints, who scored on a blocked punt on Atlanta’s opening drive.

With those vivid memories still fresh, the Superdome crowd was cheering wildly as the Saints defense took the field after the opening kickoff.

This time, however, Ryan calmly led the Falcons 77 yards for a score. He got plenty of help from Turner, who gained 22 yards up the middle on the second play of the game and finished with 38 yards on the series. Ryan also connected with tight end Tony Gonzalez for a 27-yard gain to the Saints 13, setting up Turner’s eighth TD of the season.

New Orleans answered quickly. Brees narrowly avoided a third down sack with a throw to Shockey to keep the drive alive. Later in the series, on third-and-4, Thomas broke former LSU star Chevis Jackson’s tackle near the line of scrimmage, then cut left away from John Abraham for his score to tie it at 7.