Falcons 23, Saints 13
Michael Turner scored his franchise-record 58th touchdown and Matt Bryant kicked three field goals as host Atlanta intercepted Drew Brees five times and helped stop his NFL-record streak of 54 games with a touchdown pass.
Tony Gonzalez made his 102nd career touchdown reception for the Falcons (11-1), who scored the game's first 17 points and went on to snap a four-game losing streak against the NFC South-rival Saints. Atlanta will clinch a playoff berth with a loss by Seattle in Chicago on Sunday and the division title if Tampa Bay loses to Denver.
Brees, who guided New Orleans to a 31-27 triumph over Atlanta on Nov. 11, completed 28 of 50 passes for 341 yards. His interceptions were a career high.
Turner opened the scoring 3:51 into the contest with a 3-yard run that vaulted him past Terance Mathis for the most touchdowns in Falcons history. Gonzalez hauled in a 17-yard pass from Matt Ryan less than a minute into the second quarter and Bryant booted a 45-yard field goal with 8:53 remaining for a 17-0 advantage.
The Saints (5-7) avoided being shut out in the first half for only the second time in five seasons when Mark Ingram scored on a 1-yard run with 3:18 left in the second. But poor clock management at the end of the first half cost New Orleans at least three points as time expired before Brees was able to stop the clock by spiking the ball at the Atlanta 3.
After Garrett Hartley hit field goals of 21 and 52 yards in the third quarter to get New Orleans within 17-13, Bryant converted kicks of 29 and 55 yards in the fourth to provide the final margin.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Turner scored six touchdowns in four seasons with San Diego before coming to Atlanta in 2008. ... Falcons CB Asante Samuel left the game in the first quarter after aggravating a right shoulder injury. Samuel was listed as questionable entering the contest with the ailment. ... The win was Atlanta's third in the last 14 meetings with New Orleans. ... Ryan was 18-of-33 for 165 yards without an interception. ... Saints WR Lance Moore caught seven passes for 123 yards.