NFL's New Orleans Saints beat Atlanta Falcons 31-27
With quarterback Drew Brees completing 21 of 32 passes, New Orleans' defensive line holds off Atlanta for their first defeat of the season
The New Orleans Saints handed the high-flying Atlanta Falcons their first defeat of the NFL season, the Saints defence holding firm in the waning minutes of a 31-27 triumph.
The Saints stopped Atlanta twice in the closing minutes to stun their National Conference South division rivals.
Atlanta, who fell to 8-1, trailed by four at 31-27 when quarterback Matt Ryan led the Falcons to the Saints' one-yard line with two minutes remaining. The Saints kept them out of the end zone, but Atlanta got the ball back one more time with 37 seconds remaining, and again were unable to score.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees completed 21 of 32 passes for 298 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in guiding New Orleans to their second straight victory.
Falcons coach Mike Smith said: "I felt like this was a very hard-fought football game in terms of the effort. We made way too many mistakes."
In San Francisco, David Akers and Greg Zuerlein both missed field goals in overtime with the San Francisco 49ers and the St Louis Rams playing to a 24-24 tie, the first draw in the NFL since November 2008.
The 49ers' Akers had sent the game into overtime with a 33-yard field goal with three seconds left in regulation. His overtime effort was wide left.