Falcons spoil the Domecoming anniversary, routing the Saints 45-24 on Monday night

NEW ORLEANS: The Falcons turned the Superdome's anniversary night into a rout. Atlanta ran for 205 yards, never trailed, and beat the Saints 45-24 on Monday Night Football while ESPN's telecast commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Saints' return to the Dome after Hurricane Katrina.

Bijan Robinson set the tone on Atlanta's third play, bursting 59 yards for a touchdown. He finished with 145 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries, while Brian Robinson Jr. added 62 yards and three scores on 14 carries. The Falcons outgained the Saints 205-50 on the ground.

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Atlanta led 14-0 after the first quarter and 24-7 at halftime. Michael Penix Jr. completed 15 of 20 passes for 223 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown strike to Jahan Dotson. The win moved the Falcons to 2-2, tied with Carolina atop the NFC South; the Saints fell to 1-3.

The Falcons have now scored 80 points in their past two games with Penix back in the lineup, an offense that looks nothing like the one that opened the season. Robinson said silencing the Superdome early was the plan all along. "For it to come after that third play was pretty special," he said, adding that the Falcons talked about quieting the crowd in the first quarter.

The bright spots for New Orleans were few. Alvin Kamara scored two touchdowns on runs of 3 and 5 yards.

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Tyler Shough finished 30 of 48 for 286 yards, his only touchdown a 3-yard pass to Devaughn Vele with 1:13 left.

Shough did not dodge the boos that rained down in the second half. "You're playing the Falcons and you lose like that? I'd boo, too," he said, calling the performance embarrassing. Saints coach Kellen Moore said simply, "We're all frustrated, all disappointed with where we're at."

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