New Orleans Saints - 21, Atlanta Falcons - 16
Q. Y'all had some issues earlier this year at defending in the red zone, but today you went 1-4 for Atlanta. They, just kind of the last couple weeks, y'all have been doing really well. What have you been doing better there?
SEAN PAYTON: Well, look, I think the first thing, it starts with defending the run. Those were big stops we had in the game, forcing the field goals. That was the difference in winning and losing.
Obviously, it's fitting the run correctly and then playing your red zone defense. It might be two or three different calls you're playing but getting real comfortable with the route combinations.
Q. Taysom did a nice job drive in the first half of converting on third downs. How do you evaluate his overall performance today?
SEAN PAYTON: I think his third downs all game were strong. I thought his performance was strong. He made a lot of throws. I don't like the position I put him in late in that game with the turnover, but that's what I saw. I thought, man, we converted a number of third downs. I don't know what our final percentage was. I think we were 9-something, 9-13. I thought he played well.
Q. Another 200 yards on the ground. Just talk about the offensive line today and kind of what your impressions were of the blocking.
SEAN PAYTON: Yeah, look, it's a tough run front. There's a lot of movement. Those guys do a very good job. They're well coached. They play with leverage. And man, they make some of the stuff you want to do very difficult.
I was proud of how we just kind of hung in there though and grinded and battled it out and I thought that ended up being part of the difference, the time of possession, I think was significant, especially in the first half.
Q. At (Inaudible) started at corner today and then P-Rob went out early. How do you feel that PJ did coming back playing corner?
SEAN PAYTON: I think I did well. It's great to have that depth. When you're out one and you're out another, a lot of times, especially against some of the receivers that we saw today, that could be challenging. I thought he competed his tail off though.
Q. When you mention you didn't like the position you put Taysom in at the end of the game with the turnover, what do you mean by that? Did you mean you just didn't like the --
SEAN PAYTON: Well, I don't like my call there. I think it was on second down. And where we're at in the game, yeah, I just, every once in a while I'll have regrets on the situation and that one certainly will be one of them.
Q. Are those turnovers something that is an easy fix? Is it something as simple as how he's carrying the ball?
SEAN PAYTON: Well, we're talking about two topics here. The turnover down in the red zone was when he was trying to -- we just need to, like I said, handle that situation better.
The ball security one, he's a runner, all right? That has to get fixed and, look, he'll start figuring it out, but, yeah, that obviously when we're in the four minute is real important.
Q. What did you see in that play where you guys made the seven-yard loss with Gurley and the third down to set up the fourth and goal for Atlanta?
SEAN PAYTON: What did I see?
Q. Yeah, how did you see your team defend it?
SEAN PAYTON: Look, I thought, man, the play skipped outside and sometimes when that happens on that scheme, and I know the scheme, it goes to the corner, I thought we kept our leverage well. We tackled well. And he's someone that's dangerous if he gets outside. You see that happen with backs, but that was a significant play.
Q. This is 8-0 over the last two years in games that Drew didn't play. Is there an explanation for that? Do you handle the week differently somehow when he's not there?
SEAN PAYTON: No, listen, these -- look, it's the position everyone folks on, but, man, our team's playing well and man, we're fortunate to have depth at a number of positions and that's including quarterback.
So I'm proud of how we played, we knew it was going to be a tough game, playing a team like this the second time around in two weeks, the numbers aren't really good for the team in the past that have won the first game, when you look back on 15 years, 10 years, any study you want. So, but, yeah, relative to -- I just think we're doing a number of things that give us a chance to win, obviously there's some stuff that we have got to clean up.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports