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Defense helps New Orleans Saints beat Atlanta Falcons 23-17

NEW ORLEANS — Sean Payton’s return to the sideline is one game old and already the Saints are celebrating a dramatic victory over a presumed title contender.

They’re alone in first place, too.

Drew Brees passed for 357 yards and two scores, Roman Harper intercepted Matt Ryan’s tipped fourth-down pass in the end zone, and New Orleans held on for a 23-17 victory over the Falcons on Sunday.

“I was hoping our defense would pull one out, and man, did they ever,” Brees said… […]

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New Orleans Saints’ roster loaded with fresh faces headed into season-opener with Atlanta

METAIRIE, Louisiana – (AP) — New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton seems likely to open the regular season by throwing a dose of youth and inexperience at the visiting Atlanta Falcons.

As of Monday, 10 rookies — six of them undrafted — and three other players who have yet to be on the field for a regular season snap were on the Saints’ 53-man roster.

Some of those players may not be active on Sunday, but the Saints will need several of them to suit up.

Asked if he found it unusual to head into Week 1 with zero regular season experience on more than one-fifth of the roster, Payton said, “We don’t pay much attention to that, really.”…. […]