Saints open the season with a physical 17-10 win

It wasn't pretty but the 1986 New Orleans Saints opened their latest campaign Monday night at home against the Atlanta Falcons and won 17-10. By all rights the Saints did all they could to lose this one but somehow their break don't bend defensive mindset worked.

On the second play of the game David Wilson threw a 77 yard touchdown bomb to Eric Martin who finished with only 4 catches but 148 yards on the night.

Leading 7-0 the Saints Wattelet then picked off David Archer deep in the Falcons end setting up 4 yard touchdown run by Ruben Mayes and the Saints were in business 14-0.

After all that action however the game settled down into a gritty contest of attrition with only 6 points being scored in the entire second half. Atlanta had responded earlier in the first quarter cutting it to 14-7 with a Schonert to Brown 24 yard pass.

The two teams combined for 8 sacks total, 6 turnovers and New Orleans had a player ejected for fighting.

With under a minute to go Atlanta got all the way to the New Orleans 38 but could not get the 7 they needed for a tie.

The game saw a total of 13 punts so while not the biggest display of offense the Saints are happy to walk away winners.

"I just could not get on track tonight" Ruben Mayes said. He finished the game with 32 yards on a whopping 18 attempts. This is something the Saints will have to improve.

Bobby Hebert saw his first action of the year replacing David Wilson as coach Fulton hoped to jumpstart the offense. He fared not too much better only throwing 6 passes, completing 2 and having one pick.