Saints vs. Falcons final score: New Orleans holds off Atlanta to clinch NFC South<br />The Saints erased the sting of its Week 10 defeat to the Falcons with a hard-earned 26-18 victory over Atlanta on Thanksgiving night to claim the NFC South title.<br /><br />New Orleans (10-2) took its largest lead of the game after Wil Lutz's fourth field goal made the score 26-9. The Falcons (3-9) weren't done, though. Atlanta found its way into the end zone with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Matt Ryan to Russell Gage. The score gave the Falcons life after a flurry of empty possessions and turnovers.<br /><br />Following an unsuccessful 2-point conversion, Atlanta recovered an onside kick and marched into New Orleans territory, setting up a 43-yard Younghoe Koo field goal to make it a one-possession game with just under two minutes remaining.<br />Even more drama ensued. Koo got a friendly hop on another onside kick and the Falcons recovered, igniting the Mercedes-Benz Stadium crowd that had been kept in check for most of the night. <br />This time, though, the Saints had the answer. Ryan, who finished the night with two interceptions and a lost fumble, was sacked for the ninth time on a do-or-die fourth-down attempt from the Saints' 44, sealing the New Orleans victory.<br />Sporting News tracked live updates, highlights and score changes for Saints vs. Falcons.<br /><br />Saints vs. Falcons final score for Thanksgiving 2019<br />FINAL<br />Saints: 26<br />Falcons: 18<br /><br /> Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 F<br />Saints 7 10 3 6 26<br />Falcons 0 9 0 9 18<br />Saints vs. Falcons live updates, highlights<br />(All times Eastern)<br />11:34 p.m.: Cameron Jordan gets his way into the pocket to sack Ryan on fourth down to put the wraps on the Thanksgiving win. <br /><br />11:32 p.m.: The Saints sack Ryan on third down but get an illegal hands to the face penalty. First down for Atlanta in Saints territory.<br /><br />11:29 p.m.: Younghoe Koo delivers yet again with his third (successful) onside kick. The Falcons will have a chance to tie things up.<br /><br />11:28 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, FALCONS. Atlanta opts to bring out eh field-goal unit on first down to make it a one-possession game and Koo delivers. Saints 26, Falcons 18.<br /><br />11:26 p.m.: Atlanta is down to the Saints 25 at the two-minute warning. <br /><br />11:20 p.m.: The Falcons recover the initial onside kick but are called for an offsides penalty. Atlanta tries again and is successful again. <br /><br />11:17 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, FALCONS. Ryan hits Russell Gage in the end zone after he beat his defender for a 13-yard score. Atlanta's two-point conversion is no good for Cameron Ridley. Saints 26, Falcons 15.<br /><br />11:11 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, SAINTS. Add another three points to the Saints' total via Lutz's 45-yard kick. Saints 26, Falcons 9.<br /><br />11 p.m.: Another Matt Ryan turnover. He tries to scramble for the first down but fumbles and the Saints are on it. <br /><br />10:54 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, SAINTS. Lutz drills another kick, this time a 42-yard field goal. Saints 23, Falcons 9.<br /><br />10:45 p.m.: Ryan is picked off again, this time by Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. He returns it 28 yards to the Falcons 29. <br />
