Saints Clinch Playoffs : Pro football: Andersen kicks five field goals in 22-14 victory, overcoming Sanders’ returns.

Morten Andersen’s five field goals Thursday night helped the New Orleans Saints become the second NFL team to clinch a playoff spot.

Andersen, however, didn’t get much time to celebrate during the Saints’ 22-14 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Each time he made a field goal, he had to kick off to Deion Sanders.

Sanders created excitement all evening, returning six kickoffs for 190 yards. He also went 55 yards with a lateral after an interception.

“He’s so fast, so jittery, he’s hard to bring down,” Andersen said. “I was surprised he’d bring them out from so deep in the end zone. It’s a little frustrating when you think you had a good kickoff and it goes into the end zone and he brings it out to the 45.”

Andersen put the Saints ahead, 15-14, with a 37-yard field goal with 1:56 left. Cornerback Toi Cook’s interception return for a touchdown in the final minute clinched it for the Saints.

New Orleans (10-3) joined the San Francisco 49ers (10-2) as the second NFC West team to clinch a playoff spot.

Saint quarterback Bobby Hebert completed 20 of 29 passes for 244 yards.

“It was really frustrating,” Hebert said. “I feel like we should have 30 or 40 points, but we couldn’t put it in for the touchdown. It was incredible.”

Falcon quarterbacks Billy Joe Tolliver and Wade Wilson passed for a total of only 126 yards.

“They’re an outstanding defense,” Wilson said. “They combine so much quickness and speed on that defense.”

Tolliver was sacked five times for 34 yards. Wayne Martin got to him 4 1/2 times--the most sacks in any NFL game this season.

Atlanta took a 14-12 lead on Wilson’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Michael Haynes with 4:25 remaining. The score was set up by Sanders’ 60-yard kickoff return.

The Saints went back ahead, 15-14, on Andersen’s fifth field goal after a 51-yard, nine-play drive. Cook then sealed the victory when he returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown.

“It put us in the playoffs,” Cook said. “That’s the main thing. We won it and we have a playoff spot.”

New Orleans had 12 first downs to Atlanta’s two in the first half and outgained the Falcons, 180 yards to 40. The Saints controlled the ball for 23 minutes 9 seconds.

“They do a great job,” Falcon Coach Jerry Glanville said. “I honestly hope they win the Super Bowl. They deserve it.”