Andersen Continues Mastery : NFC: Kicker’s game-winning field goal lifts Saints, 33-32, and is his sixth against Atlanta.

Rookie Mario Bates kick-started the New Orleans Saints’ running attack before Morten Andersen kicked the Saints to victory.

Andersen’s 39-yard field goal with eight seconds to play Sunday gave the Saints a 33-32 victory over the Atlanta Falcons and overshadowed six field goals by the Falcons’ Norm Johnson.

Andersen has kicked six game-winning field goals against the Falcons, four in the last five meetings. But the victory was fueled by Bates, who ran for 141 yards and two touchdowns in his first NFL start. He also had three receptions for 28 yards.

Bates is the first Saint rusher to gain 100 yards or more in a game this season. No Saint had rushed for that many yards since Nov. 14, 1993, when Derek Brown had 106 against the Green Bay Packers. The last time the Saints scored twice on the ground was in last year’s season opener. And the last time a Saint runner scored two rushing touchdowns was when Craig Heyward did it in 1991.

The Saints’ No. 2 draft pick this year, Bates was sidelined for six weeks because of a broken jaw. He was injured when teammate Lorenzo Neal punched him in a barroom scuffle.

After spotting the Falcons (5-5) a 17-point lead, the Saints (4-6) roared out in the second half. Bates rushed for 42 yards, caught two passes for another 20 and ran for touchdowns on the first two series to put the Saints ahead, 24-23.

“I cannot remember when the New Orleans Saints, in the 8 1/2 years I’ve been here, have come back from 17 down,” Coach Jim Mora said.

Johnson, who kicked five field goals in two previous games, did not have a miss against the Saints on Sunday, coming through with three in each half. His 30-yarder with 1:44 to play gave the Falcons a 32-30 lead.