Falcons’ Jones saved his best for last
Atlanta — Deion Jones can't wait to face the New Orleans Saints again in two weeks.
The Falcons' standout middle linebacker keeps putting up impressive numbers against his hometown team, and he made the play of the game in a 20-17 win Thursday night over the Saints.
Jones was playing man coverage in the closing minutes on tight end Josh Hill when he leapt high in the end zone, intercepted Drew Brees' pass with both hands and closed his eyes as he began falling backward for a big thud against the turf.
"Once I realized I had it, I knew it was going to be a long way down," Jones said with a smile. "I felt my feet in the air and I just wanted to hold onto it. I wanted to get up with the ball. I didn't want to see myself fall. I really didn't."
For Jones, it was just another great game against the Saints.
Jones, who grew up in New Orleans and starred at LSU, has been on the other side of the fence since the Falcons drafted him in the second round last year. In three career games against the Saints — all victories — he has 20 solo tackles, 28 stops overall, five pass breakups and two picks.
In his first game against New Orleans last year, he returned an interception 90 yards at the Superdome.
His pick Thursday sealed a big win for the Falcons (8-5) and kept the Saints (9-4) from holding a tighter grip on the NFC South lead.
No choke
Saints coach Sean Payton appeared to taunt Devonta Freeman with a choking gesture, holding his hand at his neck and yelling, "Choke!" after the Falcons running back was stopped for no gain at the New Orleans sideline early in the fourth quarter.
Payton said after the game that he didn't remember doing it. Freeman, who scored the game's first touchdown earlier in the game , had no trouble recalling it.
"I saw it," Freeman said. "That man don't know nothing about choking. He ain't from where I'm from. He's a good competitor so the competing probably came out, but you don't let that bother you. He don't know nothing about choking."
The Falcons know a little something about it. They blew a 28-3 lead to lose the Super Bowl last season.
Payton's apparent taunt didn't slow them Thursday, though. They kept the drive going three more plays before quarterback Matt Ryan hooked up with Mohamed Sanu for an 8-yard touchdown.
Rough night
Ryan looked nothing like last year's MVP, throwing three interceptions in a span of nine plays and making some uncharacteristically bad decisions with the football.
At least Ryan got the offense back to scoring touchdowns. They went without a TD in last week's loss to Minnesota, marking the first time that didn't happen since they lost 38-0 at Carolina in 2015. But the pass he underthrew to Julio Jones in the end zone early in the third quarter was one he'd like to forget.