NFL 2010 Week 3 Review: Falcons fly past Super Bowl Champs, Bradford gets first NFL win

The next stop in our review of the NFL 2010 Week Three brings us two teams that are serious contenders and two teams that are not much more than pretenders.

Atlanta rolled into the Louisiana Superdome and handed the Champion Saints their first loss in six games.

Meanwhile, the St Louis Rams and rookie QB Sam Bradford got their first win in 2010 as they pounded on the Washington Redskins.

Falcons Win in Overtime – Super Bowl Champions Fall – Final: 27-24

The Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints went toe-to-toe for four quarters and then needed overtime to decide this thrilling NFC South contest in Week Three.

Each time the Saints tried to land a knockout punch the Falcons came back and answered the bell as they matched New Orleans score for score in the first half.

Atlanta opened the third quarter by scoring a field goal to take a 17-14 lead. The Saints answered that score with a touchdown of their own to go back on top 21-17. The Falcons then opened the fourth quarter with a touchdown drive that New Orleans answered with a field goal late in regulation time to send this one into overtime.

The Saints had a chance to win in the extra period but third year place kicker Garrett Hartley missed a 29-yard chip shot field goal wide left. The Falcons then drove 52 yards in 12 plays to set up a Matt Bryant 46-yard game wining field goal.

We expected a thriller in this one and the two combatants didn’t disappoint as round one goes the Falcons.

The Saints will stay at home for their next tilt against the struggling Carolina Panthers while the Falcons will host the disappointing San Francisco 49ers in Week Four NFL action.

Rams End Home Losing Streak – Redskins Falter Again – Final: 30-16

It has been a long, long time since the Rams hometown faithful have had anything to cheer about. You have to go all the way back Week Eight of the 2008 season to find the last time the Rams won a home game.

It was a streak of 14 straight home loses that finally got snapped with St. Louis beating up on Washington in Week Three.

Rams Rookie quarterback Sam Bradford stayed calm and poised even after star running back Steven Jackson went down with a groin injury. Despite losing their star (and a 14-0 lead after the Redskins scored 16 unanswered points) the Rams defense stiffened and the offense scored the next 16 points with a touchdown and three field goals to complete the blowout.

We wondered aloud if Washington would be able to recover from their Week Two collapse to the Houston Texans and the answer appears to be a resounding NO. Even though the Redskins were able to climb back into this game and even take the lead, they faded fast in the third quarter and they are now reeling after two straight losses.

Losing to one of the worst teams in the league gives you automatic “one of the worst teams” status and Washington will now carry that tag until further notice.

The Rams will try to make it two straight wins as they welcome the puzzling Seattle Seahawks to St. Louis in Week Four. The Redskins will stay on the road for a second straight week as they head to Philadelphia to face the Eagles. Let the Vick vs. McNabb “over-hype” begin.