Even though he apologized for those messages ripping the team and the city, he was clearly on the Saints' minds during the game and got into a couple of shouting matches with New Orleans defenders.
He was on the coaches' mind's too. White entered the game leading the league with 33 catches for 465 yards on third downs.
In the first half, the Falcons had six third-down calls and never threw once toward White. White did score on a 7-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter to make it 10-7.
On third down throughout the first half, the Falcons bent over backwards to go against their tendencies. They threw passes to Harry Douglas, Michael Jenkins, Brian Finneran, Jason Snelling and Ovie Mughelli. Todd McClure had a botched shotgun snap on the other third down, leading to a critical turnover.
The Falcons converted only 1 of 6 those third downs. Their only conversion came on a 19-yard pass to Snelling on their 8-play, 78-yard touchdown drive that took 3 minutes, 50 seconds off the clock.
Turner stopped early
The Saints gave up 208 yards rushing last week to Baltimore. The Falcons ran for 202 yards in the previous meeting this season. Spot a trend?
The Saints started the game dialed into the Falcons' run game. They held running back Michael Turner to 47 yards on 16 carries through three quarters and the Falcons struggled to consistently move the football.
They stopped Turner twice on the goal line in the third quarter and Saints defensive end Jeff Charleston caused a fumble that was recovered by linebacker Marvin Mitchell just when the Falcons were poised to take the lead.
Davis scores again
Defensive end Chauncey Davis scored the second touchdown of his career on an interception in the fourth quarter to put the Falcons up 14-10.
With Saints quarterback Drew Brees under pressure from defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux, Brees tried to flip the ball out to a Saints receiver.
Davis stepped in front of the pass like he was taking an option pitch and scored on a 26-yard return.
Davis, a six-year veteran from Florida State, previously scored on a 41-yard interception return against Washington on Dec. 3, 2006.
Penalties hurt Falcons
The Falcons entered the game as the least penalized team in the league. They then went against form.
There was a double pass interference call on White and New Orleans cornerback Jabari Greer that stalled a first quarter drive. Coach Mike Smith was irate over the call.
Jenkins was later called for an obvious pass interference in the second quarter that stalled a drive.
Inactives
The inactive players for the Falcons were cornerback Dominique Franks, running back Antone Smith, linebacker Spencer Adkins, tackle Garrett Reynolds, guard Mike Johnson, defensive end Lawrence Sidbury and defensive tackle Trey Lewis. John Parker Wilson was declared the third quarterback.
For the Saints, starting linebacker Danny Clark and running back Chris Ivory were the key inactives.
Clark had been listed as probable with a hamstring injury and was a full participant in practice last week. He was replaced in the starting lineup by Jo-Lonn Dunbar.
Ivory, the Saints leading rusher with 683 yards, had been listed as questionable on the injury report with a hamstring injury.
Etc . . .
The Saints entered the game 3-0 against the Falcons on Monday night since Sean Payton was hired as their coach in 2006. The Saints beat the Falcons in New Orleans 20-3 in 2006, 34-14 in Atlanta in 2007 (Bobby Petrino's last game) and 35-27 in New Orleans in 2009. ... The Falcons' captains for the coin toss were Matt Ryan, Eric Weems, John Abraham, Mike Peterson and McClure. ... Abraham got his 13th sack of the season in the second quarter. He had just 5 1/2 sacks last season.
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Roddy White ends swirling week of controversy
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