RESTORED SUPERDOME DEBUTS NATIONALLY on MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL in CLASH Vs
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RESTORED SUPERDOME DEBUTS NATIONALLY ON MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL IN CLASH vs. FALCONS It started with a promise by the New touchdown passes and a 96.9 QB rating. Orleans Saints back in January, that the club Brees wasn’t alone in the heroics. RB would return to the Louisiana Superdome to Deuce McAllister rushed for two touchdowns, play their home schedule for 2006. A including a 23-yard scoring burst in the massive rebuilding project loomed fourth quarter. WR Joe Horn had five ahead to make the stadium – a shelter catches for 88 yards, and rookie sen- during Hurricane Katrina and the sation RB Reggie Bush accounted for definitive structure of the New Orleans 109 total yards and led the club with skyline – better than before the storm. eight catches. A deadline was set: ESPN The 34 points scored at Lambeau Monday Night Football, Sept. 25, vs. the Field was the club’s highest scoring total Atlanta Falcons. With the traditional rivalry since posting 45 vs. the New York Giants, Dec. between the NFC South foes, both teams enter- 14, 2003. ing at 2-0 and the stadium’s restoration, the The last NFL regular-season game game has captured the attention of media, fans staged at the Superdome was also against the and observers on an international scale. With Atlanta Falcons, on Dec. 26, 2004. Monday’s the Saints taking a leadership role in the healing game between the traditional rivals promises to of the entire region following the ravages of be hard-fought: Atlanta holds a 42-31 edge in Hurricane Katrina, the game, to be broadcast the series, with the two clubs splitting the last 12 nationally on the NFL’s biggest stage, has contests. Since 1990, the outcome between the become a symbol of the region’s resolve and teams has been decided by a touchdown or less determination. 18 times. The Saints are coming off a thrilling, 34- The Falcons are coming off a 14-3 victo- 27 victory over the Green Bay Packers. It’s the ry over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Atlanta first time the club has opened a season at 2-0 boasts one of the NFL’s best running attacks – with back-to-back road victories, and the first including QB Michael Vick and RB Warrick time the team has kicked off a season at 2-0 Dunn – and a defense that has allowed only since 2002. nine points in the club’s first two victories. The Saints roared back from a 13-0 first- But Monday’s clash is more than just a quarter deficit at the Packers with 20 unan- game against two undefeated teams. It allows swered points over the next two quarters. QB the nation to see where New Orleans is, and Drew Brees calmy led the comeback after a where it’s going. It puts the spotlight on a rough start, finishing with 353 yards, a pair of region, and fulfills a promise by the Saints. SAINTS 2006 SCHEDULE GAMEDAY AT A GLANCE PRESEASON • DATE: Monday, Sept. 25 • TIME: 7:30 p.m. Date Opponent Time/Result • SITE: Louisiana Superdome Aug. 12 @ Tennessee Titans W, 19-16 • WORTH NOTING: The Saints last met the Aug. 21 DALLAS COWBOYS L, 7-30 Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Dec. 12, 2004, a 36-17 Atlanta victory...With victories at Aug. 26 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS L, 14-27 Cleveland and at Green Bay, the Saints Aug. 31 @ Kansas City Chiefs L, 9-10 opened with back-to-back road wins for the first REGULAR SEASON time in club history. New Orleans has only Sept. 10 @ Cleveland Browns W, 19-14 opened with scheduled consecutive contests in Sept. 17 @ Green Bay Packers W, 34-27 away stadiums once before, in 2001, and fin- Sept. 25 ATLANTA FALCONS 7:30 p.m./ESPN ished 1-1. Last season, the Saints won their opener at Carolina, 23-20. The club was forced Oct. 1 @ Carolina Panthers Noon/FOX to play its second game on the road as well, Oct. 8 TAMPA BAY BUCS Noon/FOX losing at the New York Giants, 27-10. While the Oct. 15 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES Noon/FOX contest was played at Giants Stadium after Oct. 22 BYE having to be hastily rescheduled, it is officially Oct. 29 BALTIMORE RAVENS Noon/CBS considered a home game for New Orleans. Nov. 5 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers Noon/FOX The game was hastily moved from the Louisiana Superdome, which was unplayable Nov. 12 @ Pittsburgh Steelers Noon/FOX after having suffered massive damage follow- Nov. 19 CINCINNATI BENGALS Noon/CBS ing Hurricane Katrina, to New York...Rookie Nov. 26 @ Atlanta Falcons Noon/FOX WR Marques Colston has caught touchdowns Dec. 3 SAN FRANCISCO 49ers Noon/FOX in his first two NFL games. The last Saints Dec. 10 @ Dallas Cowboys Noon/FOX rookie to do so was WR Donte’ Stallworth, Dec. 17 WASHINGTON REDSKINS Noon/FOX who had a TD grab in his first four contests in 2002...RB Deuce McAllister had two touch- Dec. 24 @ New York Giants Noon/FOX downs last week vs. Green Bay, the first multi- Dec. 31 CAROLINA PANTHERS Noon/FOX TD game he has posted since the season- * Home games in BOLD Caps opener in 2005 at Carolina. WEEK 3: NEW ORLEANS SAINTS vs. ATLANTA FALCONS SAINTS-FALCONS GAME CENTER SAINTS-FALCONS RESULTS 12/3/92 W, 22-14 Superdome 68,591 9/12/93 W, 34-31 Georgia Dome 64,287 Atlanta leads the series over the Saints, 42-31, 10/24/93 L, 15-26 Superdome 69,043 and the two clubs have split the past 12 contests 11/13/94 W, 33-32 Superdome 60,313 since 2000. New Orleans’ last victory coming in a 26- 12/11/94 W, 29-20 Georgia Dome 61,307 13 triumph in the Superdome Dec. 26, 2004, the last 9/17/95 L, 24-27 ot Superdome 57,442 regular-season game to be held in the stadium before 12/10/95 L, 14-19 Georgia Dome 54,603 tonight’s game. The series between the two NFC 11/17/96 L, 15-17 Georgia Dome 43,119 South rivals has been defined by hard-fought con- 12/8/96 L, 15-31 Superdome 32,923 tests and lengthy periods of dominance for both 10/12/97 L, 17-23 Superdome 65,619 clubs. Since 1990, 18 games have been decided by a 11/23/97 L, 3-20 Georgia Dome 48,620 touchdown or less, including Atlanta’s 34-31 victory 10/18/98 L, 23-31 Georgia Dome 60,774 last season on Oct. 16. The Falcons had a 10-game 12/13/98 L, 17-27 Superdome 61,678 victory stretch from 1995-99, which remains the 10/10/99 L, 17-20 Superdome 57,289 Saints’ longest winless streak against an opponent. 12/5/99 L,12-35 Georgia Dome 62,568 Atlanta’s mastery ended with a 21-19 win for New 10/22/00 W, 21-19 Georgia Dome 56,508 Orleans at the Georgia Dome on Nov. 22, 2000. 12/17/00 W, 23-7 Superdome 64,900 There have been four games that have gone into 10/21/01 L, 13-20 Superdome 70,020 overtime, with the Saints posting a 23-20 victory on 12/9/01 W, 28-10 Georgia Dome 68,826 Nov. 16, 2003 in the last contest that went into the 10/27/02 L, 35-37 Superdome 70,020 extra period. The Falcons have taken th previous 11/17/02 L, 17-24 Georgia Dome 70,382 three overtime contests. New Orleans took 13 of 16 10/19/03 W, 45-17 Georgia Dome 70,837 from 1986-94 and Atlanta won nine-straight over the 11/16/03 W, 23-20 ot Superdome 68,432 fledgling Saints from 1969-73. In games held at the 11/28/04 L, 21-24 Georgia Dome 70,521 Superdome, the Falcons lead the series 13-11: 12/26/04 W, 26-13 Superdome 64,900 Date Result Site Att. 10/16/05 L, 34-31 Alamodome 65,562 11/26/67 W, 27-24 Tulane Stadium 83,347 12/12/05 L, 17-36 Georgia Dome 70,083 12/7/69 L, 17-45 Atl./Fulton County 51,021 SAINTS-FALCONS LAST MEETING 9/20/70 L, 3-14 Tulane Stadium 77,042 10/25/70 L, 14-32 Atl./Fulton County 58,850 ATLANTA FALCONS 36, NEW ORLEANS 10/24/71 L, 6-28 Atl./Fulton County 58,850 SAINTS 17, DEC. 12, 2005, GEORGIA DOME – QB 12/19/71 L, 20-24 Tulane Stadium 75,954 Michael Vick ran for a pair of touchdowns and threw 10/15/72 L, 14-21 Tulane Stadium 66,294 another as Atlanta defeated New Orleans in a 11/12/72 L, 20-36 Atl./Fulton County 58,850 Monday Night Football clash at the Georgia Dome. 9/16/73 L, 7-62 Tulane Stadium 66,428 Vick completed 12-of-23 passes for 231 yards, 12/16/73 L, 10-14 Atl./Fulton County 34,147 including a 54-yard TD pass to WR Roddy White. 9/29/74 W, 14-13 Tulane Stadium 62,273 Vick also rushed for 38 yards and a pair of TDs. 10/20/74 W, 13-3 Atl./Fulton County 47,217 On the Saints’ first possession, QS Aaron 10/5/75 L, 7-14 Atl./Fulton County 29,444 Brooks found WR Joe Horn for a 19-yard gain, but 11/2/75 W, 23-7 Superdome 49,342 Horn fumbled and it was recovered by CB DeAngelo 10/10/76 W, 30-0 Superdome 51,521 Hall.