Matt Ryan throws 2 touchdowns as Falcons top Saints 27-25

Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) works in ther pocket against the New Orleans Saints during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in New Orleans.

Derick Hingle / AP Photo

Matt Ryan hit Cordarrelle Patterson for a 64-yard gain with a minute to go, setting up Younghoe Koo’s 29-yard field goal as time expired, and the Atlanta Falcons defeated the mistake-prone New Orleans Saints 27-25 on Sunday.

Ryan passed for 343 yards, connected twice with Olamide Zaccheaus for touchdowns, and the veteran quarterback also ran for a score on a bootleg. Ryan’s second scoring pass gave the Falcons a 24-6 lead with 10:39 left in the fourth quarter. But the Saints rallied to briefly take the lead on Trevor Siemian’s 8-yard pass to Kenny Stills with 1:01 left.

New Orleans then missed a 2-point conversion try for the second time in the game, leaving the door open for the Falcons to win with a field goal.