Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes as the visiting New Orleans Saints overcame a lackluster offensive effort to hold off the Atlanta Falcons 17-13 on Thursday.

Brees hooked up with Jimmy Graham on a 44-yard touchdown throw and Benjamin Watson on a one-yard scoring play, both in the first half. The two TDs were good enough to give the first-place Saints a sweep of the NFL season series with their NFC South rival.

Atlanta dropped its fifth straight game and ensured its first losing season since 2007. The Falcons were also officially eliminated from the division race with five weeks remaining.

The Falcons had a chance to pull off the upset, driving to the Saints 29-yard line with less than three minutes to go, but failed.

Associated Press

(China Daily 11/23/2013 page16)