Catching More Than Flu

NEW ORLEANS —  Terance Mathis had flu on Sunday. It left him weak and sent him rushing to the locker room throughout the game.

But it was the New Orleans Saints that looked sick chasing the Atlanta Falcon receiver.

Mathis caught touchdown passes of 63 and 62 yards from Chris Chandler as the Falcons beat the Saints, 27-17, Sunday to retain sole possession of first place in the NFC West.

“I had to run off the field after our first series,” said Mathis, who had six catches for 198 yards. “And I was really rubber-legged after that first touchdown. I wasn’t going to stay out, though.”

The victory was the seventh in a row for the Falcons (12-2) and tied team records for most wins in a season (1980) and longest winning streak (1973). It was the eighth consecutive time they’ve beaten the Saints (6-8).

Chandler’s 62-yard touchdown pass to Mathis followed an interception by Ray Buchanan and made the score, 14-0, midway through the first quarter. The two players accounted for the game’s final touchdown with 6:50 left in the fourth quarter.

Chandler, who suffered a sprained ankle in the third quarter but continued to play, finished 19 for 28 for 345 yards. The two touchdown passes gave him a career high of 21 on the season.

Falcon running back Jamal Anderson ran for 148 yards in 27 carries--his 10th 100-yard rushing game of the season. The Saints held Emmitt Smith to six yards rushing in defeating the Cowboys last week.

Both New Orleans touchdowns were scored by its defense--Fred Weary’s 63-yard interception return and Mark Fields’ 36-yard fumble return. Saint quarterback Kerry Collins was pulled by Coach Mike Ditka after throwing three interceptions and losing a fumble.