Atlanta Edges Patriots With a Late Field Goal

All Paul McFadden wanted was a second chance.

McFadden kicked a 22-yard field goal with six seconds remaining Sunday to give the Atlanta Falcons a 16-15 victory over the New England Patriots.

His winning kick was a little more than three minutes after he missed a 40-yarder. It capped a 67-yard drive that included a fourth-and-10 gamble by the Falcons at their 28-yard line with 1:39 left in the game.

“It was a second chance, a golden opportunity to put the other one behind me,” McFadden said.

“I never should have missed the first one,” he said. “What a way to rebound.”

But while McFadden celebrated, New England kicker Greg Davis was disgusted. Davis kicked three field goals but missed an extra point that could have forced overtime.

“I have to take a lot of blame for our loss today,” said Davis, who kicked for the Falcons last year. “Missing an extra point will always come back to get you, I don’t care who you are.”

Atlanta’s defense also shared credit in the win, which snapped a three-game losing streak. Both teams are 2-4.

Davis had two 32-yard field goals and a 52-yarder, equaling the longest of his career, as the Patriots led, 15-13, at halftime.

Doug Flutie completed a 15-yard pass to Cedric Jones for the only New England touchdown late in the half, but he had all kinds of trouble in the second half, throwing for only 64 yards.

The Falcons intercepted three of Flutie’s passes in the third quarter, two by Evan Cooper. Atlanta also had three sacks and end Malcolm Taylor batted down four passes.

Atlanta’s earlier scoring included a pair of 30-yard field goals by McFadden and a one-yard run by Keith Jones that ended a 30-yard drive set up by Deion Sanders’ 60-yard kickoff return.