Week 1, 1996

played in Atlanta, GA

63 degrees, fair, calm

New Orleans Saints	0	3	0	3	-	6
Atlanta Falcons	14	10	0	3	-	27

Scoring Summary
1Q: 03:37 ATL - Yev Kassem 85 interception return (Dale Dawson extra point)
1Q: 00:39 ATL - Steve Broussard 7 pass from Ramon Shonta (Dale Dawson extra point)
2Q: 10:48 ATL - Dale Dawson 33 field goal
2Q: 07:09 NOS - Morten Andersen 25 field goal
2Q: 01:11 ATL - Steve Broussard 7 run (Dale Dawson extra point)
4Q: 11:45 NOS - Morten Andersen 30 field goal
4Q: 02:00 ATL - Dale Dawson 43 field goal

Scoring Summary
1Q: 03:37 ATL - Yev Kassem 85 interception return (Dale Dawson extra point)
1Q: 00:39 ATL - Steve Broussard 7 pass from Ramon Shonta (Dale Dawson extra point)
2Q: 10:48 ATL - Dale Dawson 33 field goal
2Q: 07:09 NOS - Morten Andersen 25 field goal
2Q: 01:11 ATL - Steve Broussard 7 run (Dale Dawson extra point)
4Q: 11:45 NOS - Morten Andersen 30 field goal
4Q: 02:00 ATL - Dale Dawson 43 field goal

Team Statistics NOS ATL
Record 0-1 1-0
First Downs 13 14
- by Rushing 3 2
- by Passing 10 12
- by Penalty 0 0
Total Net Yards 267 247
- Offensive Plays 69 62
- Yards per Play 3.87 3.98
Net Rushing Yards 53 54
- Rushing Attempts 15 30
- Yards per Rush 3.53 1.80
Net Passing Yards 214 193
- Att./Comp./Intrcpt 50 - 23 - 3 32 - 23 - 1
- Gross Passing Yards 240 193
- Sacks/Yards Lost 4/26 0/0
- Yards per Pass Play 3.96 6.03
Fumbles/Lost 1/0 0/0
3rd Down Conversions 3/16 3/15
- Avg. YtG on 3rd Down 9.6 9.9
4th Down Conversions 0/2 0/0
Penalties/Yards 2/18 5/35
Punt Returns/Yards 2/3 3/24
Kick Returns/Yards 6/98 1/32
Interception Ret./Yards 1/0 3/98
2pt Conversions 0/0 0/0
Red Zone Visits 2 3
- Red Zone TDs/FGs 0/2 2/1
Avg. Drive Start OWN 23 OWN 41
Time of Possession 27:59 32:01

Team Statistics	NOS	ATL
Record	0-1	1-0
First Downs	13	14
- by Rushing	3	2
- by Passing	10	12
- by Penalty	0	0
Total Net Yards	267	247
- Offensive Plays	69	62
- Yards per Play	3.87	3.98
Net Rushing Yards	53	54
- Rushing Attempts	15	30
- Yards per Rush	3.53	1.80
Net Passing Yards	214	193
- Att./Comp./Intrcpt	50 - 23 - 3	32 - 23 - 1
- Gross Passing Yards	240	193
- Sacks/Yards Lost	4/26	0/0
- Yards per Pass Play	3.96	6.03
Fumbles/Lost	1/0	0/0
3rd Down Conversions	3/16	3/15
- Avg. YtG on 3rd Down	9.6	9.9
4th Down Conversions	0/2	0/0
Penalties/Yards	2/18	5/35
Punt Returns/Yards	2/3	3/24
Kick Returns/Yards	6/98	1/32
Interception Ret./Yards	1/0	3/98
2pt Conversions	0/0	0/0
Red Zone Visits	2	3
- Red Zone TDs/FGs	0/2	2/1
Avg. Drive Start	OWN 23	OWN 41
Time of Possession	27:59	32:01

Drive Charts

New Orleans Saints
Quar	Began	Poss	From	Plays	Yards	Result
1	15:00	3:10	OWN 23	5	13	Punt
1	7:24	1:52	OWN 13	6	9	Punt
1	4:46	1:17	OPP 49	3	20	Interception
1	3:29	1:08	OWN 25	2	1	Interception
1	0:30	2:07	OWN 29	3	-9	Punt
2	10:40	3:38	OWN 18	9	74	Field Goal
2	4:53	1:20	OWN 1	3	5	Punt
2	1:04	0:54	OWN 35	3	7	Punt
3	12:46	0:59	OWN 18	3	5	Punt
3	9:57	1:27	OWN 33	3	10	Interception
3	7:43	1:47	OWN 20	3	-3	Punt
3	3:53	1:32	OWN 20	3	-8	Punt
3	0:14	3:34	OWN 20	7	67	Field Goal
4	11:33	1:25	50	3	6	Punt
4	4:52	1:49	OWN 1	7	25	Downs
4	1:54	1:23	OWN 25	6	40	Downs

Atlanta Falcons
Quar	Began	Poss	From	Plays	Yards	Result
1	11:50	4:26	OWN 7	8	38	Punt
1	5:32	0:46	OWN 41	3	-1	Interception
1	2:21	1:51	OPP 30	5	30	Touchdown
2	13:23	2:43	OWN 43	6	41	Field Goal
2	7:02	2:09	OWN 48	3	4	Punt
2	3:33	2:29	OPP 38	6	38	Touchdown
2	0:10	0:10	OWN 16	1	26	Half
3	15:00	2:14	OWN 20	4	19	Punt
3	11:47	1:50	OWN 43	3	-21	Punt
3	8:30	0:47	OPP 42	3	0	Punt
3	5:56	2:03	OWN 45	3	7	Punt
3	2:21	2:07	OPP 49	3	0	Punt
4	10:08	5:16	OWN 14	8	36	Punt
4	3:03	1:09	OPP 26	3	0	Field Goal
4	0:31	0:31	OWN 35	3	-5	Game

Game MVP: Michael Strahan, Atlanta Falcons

Rushing Statistics

New Orleans	Att	Yards	Avg	LG	10+
Lorenzo White	6	29	4.83	16	1
Richard Huntley	6	9	1.50	7	0
Peter Tom Willis	2	9	4.50	5	0
Craig Heyward	1	6	6.00	6	0

Atlanta	Att	Yards	Avg	LG	10+	TD
Steve Broussard	15	51	3.40	11	1	1
Ken Liggett	12	8	0.67	3	0	0
Ramon Shonta	3	-5	-1.67	-1	0	0

Passing Statistics

New Orleans	Att	Comp	Yards	Sk/Yd	LG	Int	Rate
Peter Tom Willis	24	14	131	3/17	45	1	56.1
Paul Walker	21	7	88	1/9	48	2	7.7
Ralph Story	5	2	21	0/0	15	0	52.9

Atlanta	Att	Comp	Yards	Sk/Yd	TD	LG	Int	Rate
Ramon Shonta	32	23	193	0/0	1	31	1	84.5

Receiving Statistics

New Orleans	Catch	Targ	Yards	Avg	YAC	LG
WR Jeff Graham	6	14	101	16.83	39	48
WR Karl Williams	4	8	16	4.00	0	8
WR Ernest Givins	3	6	11	3.67	0	6
WR Odessa Turner	2	3	42	21.00	13	45
FB Craig Heyward	2	2	1	0.50	0	5
TE Lovett Purnell	2	2	30	15.00	5	15
RB Lorenzo White	1	2	6	6.00	0	6
TE Keith Jennings	1	5	5	5.00	0	5
WR James McKnight	1	6	15	15.00	3	15
TE Tyrone Davis	1	1	13	13.00	0	13
RB Richard Huntley	0	1	0	0.00	0	0

Atlanta	Catch	Targ	Yards	Avg	YAC	LG	TD
WR Willie Gault	7	9	39	5.57	7	12	0
WR Rob Moore	7	9	83	11.86	31	31	0
TE Brian Kinchen	3	4	37	12.33	20	27	0
RB Steve Broussard	2	3	10	5.00	2	7	1
RB Ken Liggett	2	2	22	11.00	17	12	0
FB Derrick Fenner	1	1	-4	-4.00	0	-4	0
WR Tom Waddle	1	3	6	6.00	0	6	0
WR Scott Schwedes	0	1	0	0.00	0	0	0

Interception Statistics

New Orleans	Ints	Yards	Avg	TD
S Bubba McDowell	1	0	0.00	0

Atlanta	Ints	Yards	Avg	TD
OLB Derrick Thomas	1	1	1.00	0
CB Robert Van Winkle	1	12	12.00	0
ILB Yev Kassem	1	85	85.00	1

Fumble Statistics

New Orleans	Fumb	Recov	Force	TD
Karl Williams	1	1	0	0

Atlanta	Fumb	Recov	Force	TD
Maurice Douglass	0	0	1	0

Punting Statistics

New Orleans	Punt	Yards	Avg	Net	LG	In20
Brian Hansen	9	368	40.9	38.2	57	3

Atlanta	Punt	Yards	Avg	Net	LG	In20
Mike Saxon	8	338	42.3	36.9	49	3

Kicking Statistics

New Orleans	FGs	40+Yd	50+Yd	LG	PAT
Morten Andersen	2/2	0/0	0/0	30	0/0

Atlanta	FGs	40+Yd	50+Yd	LG	PAT
Dale Dawson	2/2	1/1	0/0	43	3/3

Punt Return Statistics

New Orleans	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Karl Williams	2	3	1.5	0

Atlanta	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Willie Gault	3	24	8.0	0

Kick Return Statistics

New Orleans	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Ernest Givins	5	83	16.6	0
Lorenzo Lynch	1	15	15.0	0

Atlanta	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Robert Van Winkle	1	32	32.0	0

Defensive Statistics

New Orleans	Tack	Asst	Sack	RPlay	PPlay
CB Dewayne Washington	6	2	0.0	21	29
S Bubba McDowell	6	1	0.0	28	30
OLB Jessie Armstead	6	0	0.0	27	28
DE Robert Harris	5	2	0.0	21	26
ILB Kyle Perkins	4	3	0.0	19	21
ILB Don Davis	4	1	0.0	14	13
S Brian Jordan	3	1	0.0	19	30
CB Lorenzo Lynch	3	0	0.0	18	18
DT Mike Lodish	2	1	0.0	17	15
CB Jim Lyles	2	0	0.0	23	32
S Dave Whitmore	1	1	0.0	13	8
DT Walt Murphy	1	1	0.0	14	20
S Deke McQuay	1	1	0.0	10	3
WR Ernest Givins	1	0	---	---	---
WR Jeff Graham	1	0	---	---	---
DT J.R. Green	1	0	0.0	13	17
DE Gary Ferguson	1	0	0.0	14	6
OLB Brett Wallerstedt	1	0	0.0	8	5
OLB Barry Minter	1	0	0.0	12	13
DE Kevin Fagan	0	4	0.0	20	21

Atlanta	Tack	Asst	Sack	RPlay	PPlay
S Jerome Woods	6	1	0.0	15	46
OLB Derrick Thomas	5	1	0.0	11	35
OLB Howard Dinkins	5	1	0.0	11	32
S Garth Algar	4	1	0.0	15	47
CB Robert Van Winkle	4	0	0.0	15	45
DE Michael Strahan	2	0	2.0	15	54
OLB Todd Jones	2	2	0.0	5	18
DT Cortez Kennedy	2	1	0.0	14	38
ILB Yev Kassem	2	1	0.0	15	43
CB Greg Jeffries	2	0	0.0	13	41
CB Bob Knight	2	0	0.0	3	26
DE Orpheus Roye	1	2	1.0	15	46
ILB Trevor Wilmont	1	0	1.0	0	9
S Sean Lumpkin	1	1	0.0	2	15
S Maurice Douglass	1	0	0.0	0	13
TE Brian Kinchen	1	0	---	---	---
S Shaft Covington	1	0	0.0	2	21
DT Chuck Osborne	1	0	0.0	6	24

Pass Rush Statistics

New Orleans	Sack	Block	Hurry	Knock	PPlay
DE Marvin Washington	0.0	0	1	1	11
DE Robert Harris	0.0	0	0	1	26

Atlanta	Sack	Block	Hurry	Knock	PPlay
DE Michael Strahan	2.0	0	1	2	54
ILB Trevor Wilmont	1.0	0	0	0	9
DE Orpheus Roye	1.0	0	0	0	46
DT Cortez Kennedy	0.0	1	0	0	38
DE Greg Jefferson	0.0	0	3	0	35

Pass Defense Statistics

New Orleans	Caught	Defnsd	Intrcp	PPlay
CB Dewayne Washington	5	0	0	29
S Brian Jordan	3	0	0	30
S Bubba McDowell	2	2	1	30
CB Lorenzo Lynch	2	2	0	18
CB Jim Lyles	2	0	0	32
ILB Kyle Perkins	2	0	0	21
OLB Jessie Armstead	2	0	0	28
ILB Don Davis	2	0	0	13
S Dave Whitmore	1	0	0	8
DE Robert Harris	1	0	0	26
OLB Barry Minter	1	0	0	13

Atlanta	Caught	Defnsd	Intrcp	PPlay
S Jerome Woods	5	0	0	46
OLB Derrick Thomas	4	3	1	35
CB Robert Van Winkle	3	1	1	45
OLB Howard Dinkins	3	1	0	32
CB Bob Knight	2	0	0	26
S Garth Algar	1	2	0	47
CB Greg Jeffries	1	2	0	41
ILB Yev Kassem	1	0	1	43
S Maurice Douglass	1	0	0	13
S Sean Lumpkin	1	0	0	15
OLB Todd Jones	1	0	0	18
S Shaft Covington	0	1	0	21

Blocking Statistics

New Orleans	KeyBl	BlOpp	RPly	SckA	PPly
Marcus Spears	2	4	15	0	44
Bruce Wilkerson	1	6	15	0	45
Craig Heyward	0	2	10	0	13
Jeff Dellenbach	0	1	15	2	43
Tony Jones	0	0	15	1	52
Wang Weilin	0	0	0	1	12

Atlanta	KeyBl	BlOpp	RPly	PPly
Gregg Gamble	2	9	28	32
Hessley Hempstead	2	3	24	32
Melvin Hayes	1	6	30	32
Randy Shughart	1	4	30	32
Joe Panos	0	2	26	32
Brian Kinchen	0	1	23	27
Derrick Fenner	0	1	19	17
Drayton Swinton	0	1	6	0

Special Teams Tackles

New Orleans	Tackles	STPlays
Odessa Turner	2	18
Lorenzo White	1	28
Lorenzo Lynch	1	20

Atlanta	Tackles	STPlays
Titus Dixon	2	19
Derrick Fenner	2	19
Maurice Douglass	2	17
Willie Gault	1	18
Hessley Hempstead	1	9

Participation

New Orleans	RPlyOff	PPlyOff	RPlyDef	PPlyDef	STPly	Total Plays
Ike Davis	15	52	---	---	11	78
Bubba McDowell	---	---	28	30	18	76
Lorenzo White	7	35	---	---	28	70
Tony Jones	15	52	---	---	---	67
Bruce Wilkerson	15	45	---	---	---	60
Marcus Spears	15	44	---	---	---	59
Jeff Dellenbach	15	43	---	---	---	58
Ernest Givins	5	35	---	---	17	57
Lorenzo Lynch	---	---	18	18	20	56
Jim Lyles	---	---	23	32	1	56
Jessie Armstead	---	---	27	28	1	56
Dewayne Washington	---	---	21	29	3	53
Jeff Graham	15	37	---	---	---	52
Karl Williams	11	33	---	---	8	52
Brian Jordan	---	---	19	30	2	51
Kyle Perkins	---	---	19	21	11	51
Robert Harris	---	---	21	26	1	48
Kevin Fagan	---	---	20	21	5	46
Odessa Turner	3	22	---	---	18	43
Craig Heyward	10	13	---	---	19	42
Keith Jennings	13	29	---	---	---	42
Dave Whitmore	---	---	13	8	18	39
Walt Murphy	---	---	14	20	4	38
Paul Walker	12	22	---	---	---	34
Mike Lodish	---	---	17	15	1	33
J.R. Green	---	---	13	17	2	32
Brett Wallerstedt	---	---	8	5	18	31
Peter Tom Willis	3	27	---	---	---	30
Marvin Washington	---	---	10	11	8	29
James McKnight	2	16	---	---	11	29
Lovett Purnell	0	9	---	---	20	29
Don Davis	---	---	14	13	---	27
Gary Ferguson	---	---	14	6	6	26
Barry Minter	---	---	12	13	---	25
Richard Huntley	8	16	---	---	---	24
Wang Weilin	0	12	---	---	11	23
Carl Bax	0	11	---	---	11	22
Patrick Salonen	0	11	---	---	11	22
Deke McQuay	---	---	10	3	9	22
Tyrone Davis	1	10	---	---	9	20
Pierce Holt	---	---	9	6	1	16
Ronald Humphrey	0	15	---	---	---	15
Brian Hansen	0	0	---	---	11	11
Frank Jordan	0	0	---	---	11	11
Morten Andersen	0	0	---	---	5	5
Ralph Story	0	5	---	---	---	5

Atlanta	RPlyOff	PPlyOff	RPlyDef	PPlyDef	STPly	Total Plays
Michael Strahan	---	---	15	54	11	80
Randy Shughart	30	32	---	---	10	72
Willie Gault	23	26	---	---	18	67
Robert Van Winkle	---	---	15	45	6	66
Howard Dinkins	---	---	11	32	22	65
Hessley Hempstead	24	32	---	---	9	65
Garth Algar	---	---	15	47	2	64
Orpheus Roye	---	---	15	46	2	63
Jerome Woods	---	---	15	46	2	63
Ramon Shonta	30	32	---	---	---	62
Melvin Hayes	30	32	---	---	---	62
Gregg Gamble	28	32	---	---	1	61
Yev Kassem	---	---	15	43	2	60
Brian Kinchen	23	27	---	---	9	59
Joe Panos	26	32	---	---	---	58
Greg Jeffries	---	---	13	41	2	56
Derrick Fenner	19	17	---	---	19	55
Cortez Kennedy	---	---	14	38	1	53
Derrick Thomas	---	---	11	35	4	50
Greg Jefferson	---	---	8	35	4	47
Rob Moore	20	26	---	---	---	46
Ken Liggett	15	10	---	---	18	43
Steve Broussard	15	22	---	---	1	38
Bob Knight	---	---	3	26	9	38
Sean Lumpkin	---	---	2	15	15	32
Todd Jones	---	---	5	18	8	31
Maurice Douglass	---	---	0	13	17	30
Eric Kattus	6	5	---	---	19	30
Scott Schwedes	6	6	---	---	18	30
Chuck Osborne	---	---	6	24	---	30
Tom Waddle	12	16	---	---	---	28
Titus Dixon	6	2	---	---	19	27
Shaft Covington	---	---	2	21	3	26
Frank Wainright	5	3	---	---	9	17
Drayton Swinton	6	0	---	---	10	16
Norberto Davidds-Garrido	6	0	---	---	10	16
Trevor Wilmont	---	---	0	9	3	12
Matt Landry	0	0	---	---	10	10
Gerald McBurrows	---	---	0	6	3	9
Mark Montreuil	---	---	0	0	9	9
Mike Saxon	0	0	---	---	8	8
Dale Dawson	0	0	---	---	8	8
Patrise Alexander	---	---	0	0	7	7
Scott Zolak	0	0	---	---	2	2
Craig Erickson	0	0	---	---	---	0
Freddie Bradley	0	0	---	---	---	0

Directional Rushing Statistics

Distance	Att	Yards	Avg
Left	4	23	5.8
Middle	11	30	2.7
Right	0	0	0.0
None	0	0	0.0

Distance	Att	Yards	Avg
Left	9	17	1.9
Middle	4	1	0.3
Right	14	41	2.9
None	3	-5	-1.7

Detailed Passing Statistics

New Orleans	Att	Cmp	20+	BdTh	Drop	Dfns	Hurr	Knck	Intc
Peter Tom Willis	24	14	1	2	0	4	3	1	1
Paul Walker	21	7	1	2	3	5	1	1	2
Ralph Story	5	2	0	1	1	1	0	0	0

Atlanta	Att	Cmp	20+	BdTh	Drop	Dfns	Hurr	Knck	Intc
Ramon Shonta	32	23	2	1	2	4	1	2	1

Directional Passing Statistics

Distance	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg
Screen	7	5	8	1.1
Short (0-8 Yds)	13	8	33	2.5
Medium (9-18 Yds)	20	7	91	4.6
Long (19+ Yds)	10	3	108	10.8

Distance	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg
Screen	5	3	7	1.4
Short (0-8 Yds)	19	18	162	8.5
Medium (9-18 Yds)	3	1	7	2.3
Long (19+ Yds)	5	1	17	3.4

Detailed Receiving Statistics

New Orleans	Targt	Caugt	Dropd	Yards	20+	PPlay
WR Jeff Graham	14	6	0	101	1	37
WR Karl Williams	8	4	2	16	0	33
WR Ernest Givins	6	3	0	11	0	35
WR James McKnight	6	1	0	15	0	16
TE Keith Jennings	5	1	1	5	0	29
WR Odessa Turner	3	2	0	42	1	22
FB Craig Heyward	2	2	0	1	0	13
RB Lorenzo White	2	1	1	6	0	35
TE Lovett Purnell	2	2	0	30	0	9
TE Tyrone Davis	1	1	0	13	0	10
RB Richard Huntley	1	0	0	0	0	16

Atlanta	Targt	Caugt	Dropd	Yards	20+	PPlay
WR Willie Gault	9	7	0	39	0	26
WR Rob Moore	9	7	0	83	1	26
TE Brian Kinchen	4	3	0	37	1	27
WR Tom Waddle	3	1	2	6	0	16
RB Steve Broussard	3	2	0	10	0	22
RB Ken Liggett	2	2	0	22	0	10
WR Scott Schwedes	1	0	0	0	0	6
FB Derrick Fenner	1	1	0	-4	0	17

Red-Zone Rushing Statistics

New Orleans	Att	Yards	Avg	Overall Avg

Atlanta	Att	Yards	Avg	Overall Avg
Steve Broussard	3	21	7.00	3.40
Ken Liggett	1	1	1.00	0.67

Red-Zone Passing Statistics

New Orleans	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg/Att	Overall Avg
Paul Walker	3	1	-1	-0.33	4.19

Atlanta	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg/Att	Overall Avg
Ramon Shonta	4	2	8	2.00	6.03

Red-Zone Receiving Statistics

New Orleans	Target	Catch	Yards	Avg/Targ	Overall Avg
WR Jeff Graham	2	0	0	0.00	7.21
WR Ernest Givins	1	1	-1	-1.00	1.83

Atlanta	Target	Catch	Yards	Avg/Targ	Overall Avg
WR Willie Gault	1	0	0	0.00	4.33
WR Tom Waddle	1	0	0	0.00	2.00
RB Steve Broussard	1	1	7	7.00	3.33
WR Rob Moore	1	1	1	1.00	9.22

Third Down Rushing Statistics

New Orleans	Rushes	Conversions
Lorenzo White	2	1

Atlanta	Rushes	Conversions
Ken Liggett	2	0
Steve Broussard	1	0
Ramon Shonta	1	0

Third Down Passing Statistics

New Orleans	Att	Comp	Conversions
Peter Tom Willis	7	3	1
Paul Walker	6	1	1
Ralph Story	1	0	0

Atlanta	Att	Comp	Conversions
Ramon Shonta	11	6	3

Third Down Receiving Statistics

New Orleans	Targ	Catch	Conversions
WR Karl Williams	4	2	0
WR Jeff Graham	3	1	1
WR James McKnight	3	1	1
WR Ernest Givins	2	0	0
TE Keith Jennings	2	0	0

Atlanta	Targ	Catch	Conversions
WR Rob Moore	4	3	2
WR Willie Gault	2	1	0
TE Brian Kinchen	2	1	0
RB Steve Broussard	2	1	1
WR Scott Schwedes	1	0	0

Section Attendance
Stadium 56,400 (70,000 capacity)
Upper Deck 13,300 (17,100)
End Zone 9,900 (12,400)
Mezzanine 5,600 (7,100)
Sideline Seats 8,800 (10,900)
Club Seats 12,400 (15,000)
Luxury Boxes 6,400 (7,500)

Section	Attendance
Stadium	56,400 (70,000 capacity)
Upper Deck	13,300 (17,100)
End Zone	9,900 (12,400)
Mezzanine	5,600 (7,100)
Sideline Seats	8,800 (10,900)
Club Seats	12,400 (15,000)
Luxury Boxes	6,400 (7,500)