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NFL Game Center: New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons - 2009 Week 14

Drew Brees threw for 296 yards and three touchdowns, Jonathan Vilma came up with two huge defensive plays, and the Saints pulled out another tight win, 26-23 over the pesky Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.



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A week ago, New Orleans (13-0) appeared on the verge of losing until Washington missed a chip-shot field goal in regulation. The Saints rallied for a 33-30 overtime win.
This time, they struggled to hold off an Atlanta team that was missing injured stars Matt Ryan and Michael Turner. The result was in doubt until Vilma came up with a crushing fourth-down hit on Jason Snelling, stopping him a yard short of the marker with just over a minute remaining.
New Orleans joined Indianapolis, also a winner Sunday, as one of seven NFL teams to reach 13-0. Still, these last two games have been the closest margins of a season dominated by double-digit wins.
A cause for concern?
"Why would we be concerned? We're 13-0," Vilma said. "You're not going to get many blowout wins in the NFL."
Or, as Brees said, "We call that being battle-tested."
While lacking in style points, New Orleans set a franchise record for wins in a season, clinched a first-round bye in the playoffs and moved a step closer to home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.
"It's only going to get harder from here on out," Brees said. But "no matter what the situation, we always feel like we have an opportunity to win. Whether it's our offense, defense or special teams, somehow we're going to find a way to win the game."
Garrett Hartley put New Orleans back ahead on a 38-yard field goal with a 4:42 remaining after the Falcons rallied from two touchdowns down to tie it at 23.
Atlanta still had a couple of chances to pull out an improbable victory. Vilma stopped them both.