Falcons fly high as Saints drop to 0-3

Coleman scores 3 TDs, Jones returns 90-yard INT for a touchdown

Tevin Coleman rushed for three touchdowns, Matt Ryan passed for two TDs, and Deion Jones returned an interception 90 yards for a score to help the Atlanta Falcons beat the winless New Orleans Saints 45-32 on Monday night.

The game was played nearly 10 years to the day after the Saints’ memorable return to the Superdome on Sept. 25, 2006, 13 months after Hurricane Katrina. But there would be no reprise of New Orleans’ dominant and emotional 23-3 triumph a decade ago.

The Saints’ depleted defense struggled to slow down Devonta Freeman, who rushed for 152 yards and caught five passes for 55 yards. Coleman also had three receptions for 47 yards to go with his 42 yards rushing.

Ryan finished with 240 yards passing for Atlanta (2-1) which did not turn the ball over and moved into sole possession of first place in the NFC South.

Drew Brees put up his usual big numbers — 376 yards and three TDs passing — but his interception for a touchdown on a tipped pass early in the fourth quarter gave the Falcons a 45-25 lead that proved too much.

The loss dropped the Saints (0-3) in last place — a far cry from their 3-0 start in 2006.

Seahawks: AsofMonday, Pete Carroll’s expectation was that Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson would be the starter on Sunday when the Seahawks face the New York Jets, despite a sprained MCL in his left knee. Of course, that’s subject to change. “What he has, a lot of guys play with,” Carroll said. For the second time in three weeks, Wilson’s health was the primary topic the day after a Seahawks victory. This time it was a 37-18 rout of San Francisco marred by a knee injury Wilson suffered in the third quarter.

Chargers: Linebacker Manti Te’o will miss the rest of the season with a torn left Achilles tendon, becoming the third bigname player for San Diego to be shelved by a major injury in as many games. Te’o, a fourth-year linebacker from Notre Dame, was hurt in the first quarter of Sunday’s 26-22 loss at Indianapolis

Washington: Coach Jay Gruden says safety DeAngelo Hall will miss the rest of the season with a torn ligament in his right knee. Gruden said that Hall needs surgery on his ACL, the third consecutive year the veteran defensive back’s season has been cut short by an injury.

Panthers: Carolina will be without first-round pick Vernon Butler for the next few weeks. An MRI exam on Butler’s right foot onfirmed a high-ankle sprain that is expected to sideline the former Louisiana Tech standout for several weeks, according to a league source.

Cowboys: Dallas left guard La’el Collins will be placed on injured reserve with a possible return late in the season because of a right toe injury, a person with knowledge of the injury said. Collins left late in the first half of Sunday night’s 31-17 win over Chicago with a toe injury. Meanwhile, there was no update on the status of receiver Dez Bryant, who sprained his right knee on his first catch early against the Bears but returned and caught a TD pass.

Giants: Shane Vereen will require surgery on a triceps injury, the Giants announced, leaving the team without its best passcatching running back and currently its leading rusher for what could be the rest of the year. He’ll be placed on injured reserve. After first describing the procedure as “season-ending,” the Giants said later there is a chance for Vereen to return from that designation if he heals quickly enough. He will not be eligible to return until late November.

Miscellany: Former Dallas defensive end Greg Hardy, who remains unsigned after a tumultuous 2015 season revolving around his domestic violence case in North Carolina, has been arrested on a cocaine possession charge in Texas.