**Saints Break Losing Streak with Victory Over Falcons Under Interim Coach Rizzi**

In a thrilling game on Sunday, the New Orleans Saints triumphed over the Atlanta Falcons with a score of 20-17, marking the end of a seven-game losing streak. This victory also marked the successful debut of interim head coach Darren Rizzi, who stepped into the role after the dismissal of Dennis Allen earlier in the week. Rizzi, previously the Saints' special teams coordinator, led his team to victory against their long-standing NFC South rivals.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling showcased an outstanding performance, catching three passes for 109 yards and scoring two touchdowns in just his second game for the Saints. His contributions were pivotal for the Saints’ offense, helping them achieve their long-awaited win.

The match saw a crucial defensive play by Tyrann Mathieu, who intercepted a pass from Kirk Cousins at the New Orleans 38-yard line with only two minutes left in the game. Although the Falcons regained possession after Alvin Kamara's unexpected drop of Derek Carr's accurate third-down pass, their efforts were foiled again due to a decisive play by Chase Young. Young's sack and forced fumble on Cousins resulted in a significant loss of yardage, pushing Atlanta back to their own 32-yard line with only 34 seconds remaining.

Despite outgaining the Saints with 468 yards to New Orleans’ 365 and rushing for 181 yards, the Falcons could not convert their opportunities into a win. Atlanta's kicker, Younghoe Koo, experienced an uncharacteristically poor performance, missing three field-goal attempts—one wide, one partially blocked, and another striking the upright.

Kirk Cousins completed 23 of his 38 pass attempts, amassing 306 yards but was marred by a critical interception. Bijan Robinson led the Falcons’ ground game with 116 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including an impressive 37-yard run in the third quarter that pulled Atlanta within three points.

On the Saints’ side, Derek Carr threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns, maintaining a clean sheet with no turnovers. Alvin Kamara's performance was also historic, as his 55 rushing yards on the day allowed him to surpass Mark Ingram as the Saints' all-time rushing leader with a total of 6,544 yards.

Both teams faced injuries during the game, with Falcons’ defensive tackle Ta'Quon Graham leaving in the first half due to a pectoral injury, and Saints’ defensive end Payton Turner exiting with an apparent hand or wrist injury.

Looking ahead, the Falcons are set to play in Denver next Sunday, while the Saints will host the Cleveland Browns.