ATLANTA — The New Orleans Saints are still perfect, which is all that matters.

They are not the leastbit worried about another close call.

Drew Brees threw for 296 yards and three touchdowns, Jonathan Vilma came up with two huge defensive plays, and the Saints pulled out another tight win, 26-23 over the pesky Atlanta Falcons yesterday.

A week ago, New Orleans (13-0) appeared on the verge of losing until Washington missed a chip-shot field goal in regulation. The Saints rallied for a 33-30 overtime win.

This time, they struggled to hold off an Atlanta team that was missing injured stars Matt Ryan and Michael Turner. The result was in doubt until Vilma came up with a crushing fourth-down hit on Jason Snelling, stopping him a yard short of the marker with just over a minute left.

New Orleans joined Indianapolis, also a winner yesterday, as one of seven NFL teams to reach 13-0. Still, these last two games have been the closest margins of a season dominated by double-digit wins.

A cause for concern?

"Why would we be concerned? We're 13-0," Vilma said. "You're not going to get many blowout wins in the NFL."

Or, as Brees said, "We call that being battle-tested."

New Orleans set a franchise record for wins in a season, clinched a first-round bye in the playoffs and moved a step closer to home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

Garrett Hartley put New Orleans ahead with a 38-yard field goal with 4:42 remaining after the Falcons rallied from two touchdowns down to tie it at 23.

Atlanta still had a couple of chances to pull out an improbable victory. Vilma stopped them both.

First, the linebacker dropped into coverage to pick off a pass from Chris Redman.

The Falcons (6-7) were trying to get into field-goal range when they faced fourth-and-2 at the New Orleans 46. Redman threw short to Snelling, but Vilma plastered the running back after a 1-yard gain.

NEW ORLEANS 3 13 7 3—26

ATLANTA 6 3 7 7—23

First Quarter

Atl—FG Bryant 36, 10:27.

NO—FG Hartley 33, 5:58.

Atl—FG Bryant 30, :32.

Second Quarter

NO—Bush 6 pass from Brees (Hartley kick), 9:43.

NO—Colston 3 pass from Brees (kick failed), :51.

Atl—FG Bryant 27, :00.

Third Quarter

NO—Bush 21 pass from Brees (Hartley kick), 9:11.

Atl—Jenkins 50 pass from Redman (Bryant kick), 6:11.

Fourth Quarter

Atl—Snelling 4 run (Bryant kick), 12:56.

NO—FG Hartley 38, 4:42.

A—68,930.

NO Atl

First downs 24 19

Total Net Yards 391 392

Rushes-yards 26-95 21-89

Passing 296 303

Punt Returns 1-23 0-0

Kickoff Returns 2-39 2-52

Interceptions Ret. 1-11 0-0

Comp-Att-Int 31-41-0 23-34-1

Sacked-Yards Lost 0-0 1-0

Punts 1-35.0 1-56.0

Fumbles-Lost 1-0 0-0

Penalties-Yards 6-59 4-55

Time of Possession 36:44 23:16

RUSHING—New Orleans, P.Thomas 13-47, Bush 6-33, Hamilton 4-13, Meachem 1-4, Brees 2-(minus 2). Atlanta, Snelling 10-37, Norwood 9-33, Weems 2-19.

PASSING—New Orleans, Brees 31-40-0-296, Brunell 0-1-0-0. Atlanta, Redman 23-34-1-303.

RECEIVING—New Orleans, Colston 6-54, P.Thomas 6-53, Bush 6-46, Meachem 4-57, Shockey 4-46, Henderson 3-31, D.Thomas 2-9. Atlanta, Gonzalez 6-50, Snelling 4-65, Jenkins 3-82, Booker 3-23, White 2-41, Finneran 2-25, Mughelli 2-14, Weems 1-3.

MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.