ATLANTA – Michael Vick looked to his left, cut to the right, darted back to the left, broke through an attempted tackle and unleashed the winning touchdown pass with just over a minute to go.

Just another Sunday for No. 7.

Vick threw a 27-yard scoring pass to Alge Crumpler with 1:22 remaining and the Atlanta Falcons, after fumbling away one chance, rallied to beat the New Orleans Saints 24-21.

James Allen appeared to save the Saints when he stripped the ball from Warrick Dunn at the New Orleans 6 with 3:11 to go. But Vick still had to time to bail out the Falcons (9-2).

The Saints (4-7) went three-and-out, and Atlanta took over at the New Orleans 47. Vick had nearly 2 minutes to work with, but he and Crumpler needed only two plays to get the Falcons into the end zone.

The Pro Bowl tight end found an opening in the Saints’ zone and hauled in a 20-yard pass. Then it was time for Vick to work his magic.

New Orleans sent him scurrying to his right, then he suddenly changed direction and headed left. A Saints defender sprawled on the turf swiped at Vick’s legs as he went by, but the quarterback managed to rifle a pass toward Crumpler. He hauled in the ball right at the pylon as cornerback Jason Craft fell down.

Vick accounted for all three Atlanta touchdowns. He passed for two, completing 16-of-29 for 212 yards. He also ran for a touchdown, leading the Falcons with 69 yards on 10 carries. Crumpler had four catches for 103 yards.

Vick certainly atoned for an interception that set up New Orleans’ go-ahead touchdown.

The Saints looked much better than a high school team – the comparison owner Tom Benson made after an ugly 34-13 loss to Denver last week. But it didn’t stop New Orleans from its sixth loss in eight games.

Atlanta is virtually assured of the third division title in franchise history, leading the other three teams in the NFC South by five games with five to play.

The Saints fell behind 14-0 early in the second quarter and were down 17-6 at the half before Aaron Brooks rallied his team. He scored on a 1-yard sneak and threw to Joe Horn on a two-point conversion, pulling the Saints within 17-14.

Vick then made a huge blunder.

Trying to set up a screen to Dunn, Vick instead threw the ball right to Saints defensive end Charles Grant. The 290-pounder rumbled 8 yards to the Atlanta 30.

New Orleans passed up a chip-shot field goal that could have tied the game, going for it on fourth-and-1 at the Atlanta 9. Brooks plunged headfirst into the line, making the first down by about the length of the football.

Then, on third-and-goal from the 7, Brooks found Horn alone in the middle of the end zone, rifling a low pass that the receiver caught on his knees with 11:56 remaining.

It was the first time all season that Atlanta had given up a lead in the fourth quarter.

Deuce McAllister ran 23 times for 100 yards for the Saints, while Horn made nine catches for 101 yards.

AP-ES-11-28-04 1941EST