JOESAM2002

Horn still feasting on Falcons

Wide receiver has his fourth 100-yard game against Atlanta


Monday October 20, 2003


By Brian Allee-Walsh
Staff writer

ATLANTA -- Saints wide receiver Joe Horn continued to have success against Atlanta, surpassing 100 yards receiving for the fourth time in seven games against the Falcons since joining the Saints as a free agent in 2000. He caught a game-high eight passes for 133 yards and one touchdown in the Saints' 45-17 victory at the Georgia Dome.

Horn and quarterback Aaron Brooks have connected on 21 touchdown passes, second in franchise history only to the 24 by the Bobby Hebert-Eric Martin tandem.

After his 32-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter, Horn played as if he had a machine-gun in his hands and shot down teammates Jerome Pathon and Michael Lewis in the end zone. Officials assessed a 15-yard penalty for taunting, and Saints coach Jim Haslett lit into Horn when he came to the sideline.

"I'm done talking," Horn said afterward. "I'm not going to talk to the media the rest of my career. Nothing personal, nothing against you guys, you've got a tough job to do. But I'm going to do my talking on the field from now on."

"He knows how I felt," Haslett said. "He can't do that. He gave up the (Falcons) touchdown, if you want to know the truth. We're kicking off at the 15, and they get the ball at the 50. The field is too short.

"He's an excitable guy. He gets fired up. If he wants to dance a little bit or do his thing, that's fine. But he can't be pulling out a six-shooter and guns. You can't do that stuff. It's uncalled for in this league, and I'm sure the league is going to fine him for it."


INJURY REPORT: Saints wide receiver Donté Stallworth strained his left quadriceps during a 69-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown in the first quarter. He did not return. Michael Lewis replaced Stallworth in the Saints' three wide-receiver sets. . . . Saints defensive tackle Grady Jackson went to the locker room in the second quarter with possible ligament damage to his left pinky. X-rays were negative, and he returned to the game. . . . Saints tight end Ernie Conwell strained his left shoulder in the third quarter and did not return. . . . Punter Mitch Berger, who usually kicks off, injured his right quadriceps during practice Friday. John Carney handled kickoffs Sunday, and Berger punted.


PAYDIRT: Running back Ki-Jana Carter scored his first touchdown as a Saint on a 1-yard run with 6:37 remaining. It was his first NFL touchdown since scoring twice with the Washington Redskins against the Saints on Dec. 30, 2001.


DUNN DID IT: Atlanta running back Warrick Dunn ran 69 yards for a touchdown with 14:05 remaining in the first quarter. It was the second longest run in Falcons history. Dunn is a native of Baton Rouge.


QUICK SIX: The Saints scored on their opening possession for the first time this season. Brooks connected with Stallworth on a 69-yard scoring pass, tying the score at 7 with 12:51 remaining in the first quarter. It was Brooks' longest scoring pass and Stallworth's longest scoring reception.


FAST FREDDY: Fred McAfee, the Saints' up-back in punt formation, took a direct snap from Kevin Houser and ran 13 yards around right end to keep a touchdown drive alive in the first quarter.


FYI: Falcons owner Arthur Blank issued a letter of apology to ABC officials for his team's performance in a 36-0 loss to the St. Louis Rams on "Monday Night Football" a week ago.


DID YOU NOTICE: Two penalties totaling 20 yards caused the Saints to kick off from their 10-yard line in the first quarter following Horn's touchdown.


BY THE NUMBERS: 158.3 -- Brooks' passing rating in the first half, the highest possible score. He completed 15 of 18 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns. 414 minutes, 23 seconds -- Elapsed time in six-plus games this season before a Saints defensive back made an interception. Cornerback Fred Tomas ended the drought with a pick with 5:37 remaining. 45 -- Third-most points scored by the Saints in franchise history. The 1969 and '76 teams each scored 51.

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whowatches

Did Benson send one of these to ESPN after the Indy game?