NEW ORLEANS (AP) Drew Brees made Atlanta pay for losing track of his inexperienced receivers, and New Orleans defense halted several promising Falcons drives with forced fumbles they could not afford.
Tommylee Lewis and Austin Carr each caught his second career touchdown pass, rookie tight end Dan Arnold and rookie receiver Keith Kirkwood each grabbed their first, and the Saints won their 10th straight game with a 31-17 victory Thursday night that eliminated Atlanta from contention in the NFC South.
All four players entered the NFL as undrafted free agents within the past three years.
They also had combined for zero touchdowns this season before Carr caught the first of his career last Sunday.
It says a lot about taking advantage of the opportunity, Brees said. Its fun to watch them grow and gain confidence. Were building chemistry, which typically takes time, right? But theyve been thrust into this role.
Meanwhile, the Falcons (4-7) lost three fumbles inside the Saints 20 tough for any team to overcome against streaking New Orleans (10-1) this season.
Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan was stripped by safety Marcus Williams on a third-and-2 from the Saints 3 and Williams recovered to end Atlantas opening drive. Julio Jones was stripped by linebacker Alex Anzalone after a catch on the New Orleans 17, and safety Vonn Bell recovered in the final minute of the second quarter to preserve a 17-3 lead going into halftime.
New Orleans defense, which had a season-high six sacks, continued to come up with big plays in the second half. Anzalone broke up a fourth-down pass in the third quarter and linebacker A.J. Klein intercepted a pass tipped by defensive tackle Tyeler Davison in the fourth.
Kleins interception gave the Saints possession on the Atlanta 22, setting up Kirkwoods diving 4-yard TD catch.
With about four minutes left, cornerback Marshon Lattimore stripped Calvin Ridley on the Saints 1 after a 29-yard completion that looked as though it would end in a touchdown. Defensive back Eli Apple recovered that one.
COWBOYS 31, REDSKINS 23
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Amari Cooper had a 90-yard touchdown catch while finishing with 180 yards receiving and two scores and Dallas pulled even with Washington atop the NFC East.
Cooper had the most yards receiving for the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, along with the longest catch of his career and Dak Prescotts longest completion in his three seasons. Coopers other TD was a 40-yarder.
Ezekiel Elliott ran for 121 yards with a score as the Cowboys (6-5) won their third straight game since their first home loss, to Tennessee in the Dallas debut of Cooper following a trade. Dallas beat Washington for the eighth time in nine Thanksgiving games, and second in three seasons.
The Redskins (6-5) lost for the third time in four games in Colt McCoys first start in four years coming off Alex Smiths season-ending leg injury.
The former Texas Longhorns star threw three interceptions to offset two touchdown passes. McCoy won his two previous starts at the home of the Cowboys, one for the 2009 Big 12 championship and the other his most recent NFL victory with the Redskins in 2014.
