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Can a season turn on one play? The New Orleans Saints' defense is making a case that it can. With one fourth down stop in overtime against the Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans' defense seems to have found its groove. The change seemed to come from nowhere.

When the Saints traveled to Atlanta on Nov. 13, they were 6-3 and seemingly spinning their wheels a bit after going .500 over their previous four games. Still, there wasn't much question the Falcons game would shape the NFC South race.

After dominating much of the afternoon, the Saints' defense crumpled, allowing Atlanta to march 85 yards in 1:55 and kick a 27-yard field goal to tie the score. The letdown seemed magnified because, in a blunder typical of New Orleans' secondary in 2011, safety Roman Harper dropped -- on a throw right in his hands -- an interception in the end zone that would have sealed the win in regulation.

"I think defensively, there's a lot to be said for the confidence gained in a good goal-line stand or a short-yardage critical situation like that, and so you practice maybe that situation a dozen times during training camp, and during the course of the season you get into your short yardage defense and it might come up five times in a year," Payton said. "And I think that it was certainly significant in regards to the outcome of the game."

halloween 65

We got tromped on playing prevent, I hope Payton and Williams realize that we don't do well when we play that way and stop. That's the only reason the 1st game was even close. I loved the stop on 4th and inches but it should have never happened. I think we are a lot smarter and tougher on D and don't think it will come down to that again. Saints by 11.

homerj07

KILL THE CLOWNS!!!

JUST WIN BABY!!