THE ATLANTA FALCONS kept their playoff hopes alive with a 20-17 victory against the New Orleans Saints in the NFL.
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan threw a trio of interceptions on Thursday, but it was the only pick by Drew Brees that proved most costly for the Saints.
Saints QB Brees was intercepted by Falcons linebacker Deion Jones in the end zone with 1:25 remaining to help the Falcons seal a win at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Brees had driven the Saints (9-4) to the Falcons 11-yard line, but his second-down pass to backup tight end Josh Hill was picked by Jones.
The win by the Falcons (8-5) not only kept them alive for a playoff berth, but ensured they stay in the hunt for the NFC South title.
If the Falcons win out, they will claim the division, but a second matchup with the Saints in New Orleans on Christmas Eve looms.
The Saints played most of the game without rookie running back Alvin Kamara, who suffered a concussion on the opening series of the game.
Kamara had scored six touchdowns over the last six weeks, but had just 27 yards from scrimmage on four touches on Thursday.
Without Kamara, the Saints managed just 50 rushing yards as Brees went 26 of 35 for 271 yards and two touchdowns, but the costly interception. While Ryan struggled, Devonta Freeman picked up the slack for the Falcons offense with 91 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Though Ryan struggled, he did lead a pair of scoring drives in the fourth quarter to lift the Falcons to victory.
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5th Province very unlikely, Connacht struugle to get the supporters need to be viable, a development side, splitting support from one of the established provinces isnt really viable or wanted by the other 4. A team in England or France is unlikely as the IRFU would have to pay millions to have players released for training camps, only realistic options is either a partnership with someone like Dragons/zebre where young players paid by IRFU can go for gametime and player release in agreed, but would the WRU/FIR be happy that Irish players are developing instead of their own? Most realistic is a partnership with the SRU to relaunch a 3rd Scottish side, Boarders or Caledonian Reds, young Irish players and some senior Scottish ones could make a competitive team. Has existing supporter base.
@Kingshu: I’d be sending those post-Academy young players struggling to get game time to the Southern Hemisphere to get game time on loan. Player release isn’t an issue & they need to experience different environments for skill & personal development. Effectively get them doing what Oli Jager has done in NZ but with the option to bring him back after 2 years
@Graham Ross: But how many SH teams would want them in any numbers, for NZ/SA sides they would say why we giving gametime to young Irish players and not young NZ players, that will stay if they are good? Why invest in something they will not get the end result off. Most SR sides would be similar, maybe they would take 2/3 in total, but thats not really going to make a big difference. MLR team may be an option, somewhere with big Irish population, but that isn’t playing with the big boys.