NEW ORLEANS -- With a relatively easy schedule, the Saints are in a position to be the NFL's top seed. Most of their tough games are at home, but the Saints, who beat four 2001 playoff teams during their first five games, can't totally enjoy prosperity.

First, it was a defeat against the lowly Detroit Lions.

Sunday, they appeared to be cruising to victory against the Falcons in the Superdome. Leading 10-7 in the second quarter, coach Jim Haslett came up with a potential back-breaking play. Halfback Deuce McAllister broke a 61-yard touchdown run that would have opened the team's second 10-point lead.

But back at the line of scrimmage there was a flag. Guard LeCharles Bentley was called for holding. Four plays later, McAllister fumbled, the Falcons recovered and later scored on a 3-yard run by Warrick Dunn.

	“	It is frustrating to lose, but to lose and to know that we put it on a platter for them makes it easier for us going into the bye week. If they would have stomped us in the ground, then I would have been more frustrated. We put it on a platter and they ate off it. They took it. ”
		— Joe Horn, Saints wide receiver

Prosperity turned into a deficit. Eventually, the Falcons beat the Saints 37-35 on a 47-yard field goal by Jay Feely as time expired.

"It is frustrating to lose, but to lose and to know that we put it on a platter for them makes it easier for us going into the bye week," frustrated Saints receiver Joe Horn said. "If they would have stomped us in the ground, then I would have been more frustrated. We put it on a platter and they ate off it. They took it."

Mistakes killed the Saints. They had three turnovers, including two Aaron Brooks interceptions. They had nine penalties for 96 yards. They lost double-digit leads, but came back from double-digit deficits in the second half.

"I thought Atlanta played well," Haslett said. "They did a great job preparing for us and kept us out of some things we wanted to do. Anytime you turn the ball over, you are not going to win in this league. The penalties also made it hard to win. I give our players credit because we were down by eight with a few minutes left and came back. That says a lot about this team. We just fell short today."

Part of the Falcons' successful game plan included using a version of the old Bears 46 defense to counter Brooks in three-receiver sets. Against eight- and nine-man fronts, Brooks completed only 16 of 35 passes for 192 yards and had two interceptions. Often, he was being hit as he released the ball, leading to some mistakes.

"Brooks is at his best when he is able to read the defenses," cornerback Ray Buchanan said. "Wade Phillips (the Falcons defensive coordinator) wanted to play the Bears defense where we get a lot of guys at the line of scrimmage. He won't know where the pressure is coming from against the Bear. It worked because he was throwing from his back foot. For the most part, he was uncomfortable."

The Saints anticipated that the Falcons might use the Bear and practiced against it during the week. Still, the Falcons executed well even though Brooks was still talented enough to hit several plays. Against the regular formations, McAllister gashed the Falcons for 115 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns.

"Aaron wasn't real comfortable when he's under a lot of pressure, so we were trying to bring it today," linebacker Keith Brooking said. "When we did, that's when he made his bad decisions. When he had time against the four-man rush, he created more time with his feet. He made some unbelievable throws 25 or 30 yards down the field when we got some pressure on him."

In the second half, the Saints adjusted their line blocking to take care of one side, but there were so many defenders at the line, there were strange blocking matchups. A defensive tackle might be matched up against a running back. A receiver might be matched up against an end. Phillips tried to keep the Saints guessing.

His 46 used mostly six defensive backs and one linebacker, Brooking, although there was a two-linebacker formation.

"Ray Buchanan is my roommate on the road, so I knew what Aaron was going to go through," said Vick, Brooks' second cousin. "I knew he was going to be in for a tough one today."

Afterward, Haslett admitted Brooks didn't have one of his better games, but he performed well in the crunch. The Saints enter the bye week tied with the Bucs for first place in the NFC South with a 6-2 record. The team thinks there is a chance Dale Carter's suspension might be lifted this week and they would have their best coverage cornerback available for the second half of the season.

Defensive tackle Grady Jackson will need an MRI for a knee injury, but it's not expected to be major.

"6-2 isn't bad," Haslett said. "If someone would have said we could be 6-2, I would have taken it. It is no consolation, but it's not bad."

John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.