(AP) – Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo put his hands on his helmet when his tying field goal hit the right upright with 6 1/2 minutes left against a winless Saints team. a game since September.

Their frustration (and disbelief) symbolized an unusual day for the Falcons, who felt they had outplayed New Orleans, only to end it with a series of ill-timed mistakes in a 20-17 setback on Sunday.

The Falcons were road favorites after coming to the Big Easy in first place in the NFC South. The Saints, on the other hand, had lost seven games in a row and were playing their first game since firing coach Dennis Allen and replacing him with special teams coach Darren Rizzi.

Atlanta held a 25-14 advantage in first downs, getting a 306-yard passing day from Kirk Cousins ​​and a season-high 116 rushing yards from Bijan Robinson.

Koo missed three field goals for the first time in his seven NFL seasons, and six weeks after scoring a career-winning 58-yard strike against the Saints in Atlanta.

He sent a 53-yard attempt wide left in the second quarter. Backup defensive tackle John Ridgeway blocked his 35-yard attempt just before halftime.

“This game is totally up to me,” Koo said. “I’ll stick with that. That’s not right. We played well enough to win and I let the team down. I don’t take it lightly. “It’s one of my lowest points as a kicker.”

Atlanta coach Raheem Morris supported Koo.

“I have all the confidence in the world in him,” he said. “He is one of the best kickers in this game. “He’s done it for us for a long time and he had a bad day.”

The Falcons missed plenty of other opportunities. A personal foul on guard Chris Lindstrom for a low block ended Robinson’s first-and-goal run to the 1-yard line when they trailed 17-7 in the third quarter. Receiver Darnell Mooney followed with a false start, forcing Atlanta to settle for a 27-yard field goal.

After Robinson’s 37-yard touchdown run brought the Falcons within 20-17, they came up empty on four possessions in the fourth quarter.

Atlanta was at the Saints’ 44-yard line when Cousins’ pass to Drake London over the middle was intercepted by safety Tyrann Mathieu with 1:59 left.

“He was just being too aggressive,” Cousins ​​said. “I stayed patient throughout the game, until that moment.”

Given another chance, the Falcons went from their 14 to the Saints’ 49 in the final minute. Cousins ​​then fumbled on a sack by defensive end Chase Young, resulting in a 19-yard loss.

Atlanta returned to the New Orleans 43-yard line, but Ray Ray McCloud III was tackled before recording a first down on fourth down as time expired after Morris decided not to send Koo in for a 61-yard field goal attempt. .

“We were in desperation mode,” Morris said. “It didn’t work for sure. We had all the opportunities in the world out there. “It was just one of those days.”

Cousins ​​blamed himself.

“We certainly ran out of time and the fumble didn’t help,” he said. “I needed to avoid negative play there. We had opportunities to take the lead and not being able to do so leaves a bad taste in our mouths. This is one that makes you sick.”

Atlanta played from behind largely because its defense allowed completions of 40 and 67 yards from Derek Carr to Márquez Valdés-Scantling. The first connection was for a touchdown and the second set up a TD.

Morris said the Falcons switched to their best cornerback, AJ Terrell, to cover Valdes-Scantling the rest of the way, but the damage was done.

“Congratulations to the Saints,” Morris said. “They did a great job. We have to find ways to stop those plays and find ways to get ahead of the curve so those plays aren’t disastrous.”

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