While the Atlanta Falcons tried to snap a five-game skid on Sunday, the New Orleans Saints had other ideas, as Tyler Shough drove the Saints down the field trailing by 14.
In search of a miracle, Shough dropped back with less than 30 seconds remaining, scanned the field, and launched a deep ball in search of Chris Olave.
Instead, Xavier Watts came down with the football for his third interception of the season.
Xavier Watts secures the @AtlantaFalcons W with the interception ☘️#IrishInTheNFL☘️ | @xavierwatts6 pic.twitter.com/5spxNLwV5H
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) November 24, 2025
Thanks to Watts' interception, Kirk Cousins took a knee, and the Falcons improved to 4-7.
Watts leads all rookies in 2025 with 3 interceptions and is tied for the third most among safeties in 2025.
He is also now tied for the second-most interceptions by a Falcons rookie safety in franchise history, trailing only Bret Clark (five in 1986).
With his fourth interception, Watts would break a tie for the second-most interceptions by a Notre Dame rookie since the Super Bowl era, with four. He would trail only Tom Carter, who had six with Washington in 1993.
Watts would also become the first Notre Dame safety to record four interceptions in their NFL rookie season, breaking ties with Clarence Ellis (1972) and Harrison Smith (2012).