Falcons throttle Saints 24-10 to snap five-game losing streak

The Falcons improved to 4-7 on the season; the Saints dropped to 2-9.

Cousins was starting in place of Michael Penix Jr., who was placed on injured reserve with a season-ending left knee injury.

Cousins tossed two touchdown passes, including a 49-yarder to wide receiver Darnell Mooney and maneuvered them into field-goal range three times.

“It’s always gratifying to win a NFL game on the road,” Cousins said. “It’s never easy.”

Cousins finished 16-of-23 for 199 yards and finished with a passer rating of 107.0. Running back Bijan Robinson added a two-point conversion run after the Mooney TD to give the Falcons a 14-point lead.

Robinson rushed 14 times for 70 yards and caught two passes for 37 yards.

“I felt like most wins in this league are team wins,” Cousins said. “Today’s certainly was one when you think about how the offense made plays, but the defense only allowing three points. Special teams standing up in multiple moments with the kicks and the field position they gave.”

Falcons linebacker Divine Deablo returned to the lineup and finished with eight tackles, and Xavier Watts had an interception in the end zone late in the fourth quarter that sealed the victory.

Cornerback Dee Alford led the Falcons with 10 tackles.

“I think I hugged a few people out there today,” said Deablo, who played with a soft cast on his left forearm. “I tried to get my arms around so they couldn’t escape. It was a little hard trying to tackle not having the grip on my left hand, but it was OK. I think it worked out.”

It was Watts’ third interception of the season.

“It felt good just getting my hands on the ball,” Watts said. “Closing out the game. We came out with the win; that’s the biggest thing.”

Cousins’ two touchdown passes gave him 290 in his career, tying him with the great Johnny Unitas at 16th all-time. Warren Moon is next up, with 291.

The Saints, who were coming off a bye, looked pitiful on offense behind rookie Tyler Shough, and especially so after running back Alvin Kamara suffered a knee injury and did not return to the game.

Cousins tossed a touchdown pass and guided the offense into field-goal range three times, as the Falcons built a 16-7 halftime lead.

With leading wide receiver Drake London out with a knee injury, Cousins moved the ball around to seven different receivers in the first half, led by Charlie Woerner and Dylan Drummond, who had three catches each. Tight end Kyle Pitts had the most targets with five but also had two drops.

The Falcons had a three-and-out to open the game, but the Saints fumbled on their first possession. Alford recovered and returned it 3 yards to the Saints’ 39. After they picked up 6 yards, kicker Zane Gonzalez made a 56-yard field goal with 10:41 left in the first quarter.

The Falcons promptly gave up a 75-yard kickoff return, but Saints kicker Blake Grupe missed a 38-yard field goal wide right.

After an exchange of punts, the Falcons had the ball with 17 seconds left in the first quarter. Cousins had a pass play of 23 yards to Pitts and a 32-yard run by Robinson to finally get moving. Cousins tossed a 9-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver David Sills V, his first NFL career TD, to cap an eight-play, 77-yard drive. Gonzalez’s extra point made it 10-0.

The Falcons’ defense held and got the ball back to Cousins. A pass intended for Pitts was tipped by Saints cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry and intercepted by safety Justin Reid, who returned it 49 yards for a touchdown to make it 10-7.

Gonzalez added a 41-yard field goal and then a 54-yarder at the buzzer for the halftime margin. The second field goal came after Grupe missed a 47-yarder wide right.

The Saints had the ball to start the third quarter and put together two 15-play drives, but only got a field goal to show for their efforts.

The Saints drove down to the Falcons’ 3-yard line, but linebacker Ronnie Harrison batted down a pass from Taysom Hill that was intended for Devaughn Vele.

The Falcons were forced to punt and the Saints went back on the move, as play stretched into the fourth quarter. Grupe added a 33-yard field goal to make it 16-10 with 12:13 to play.

Then Mooney got loose deep and Cousins found him.

“I’m very pleased with how the guys played and with how they operated,” Morris said.

The Falcons are set to play the Jets (2-9) at 1 p.m. Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets are coming off a 23-10 loss to the Ravens on Sunday.