NEW ORLEANS -- It should have been a routine chip shot for Saints playoff hero Garrett Hartley, a 29-yard field goal in overtime to keep New Orleans unbeaten.

Somehow, the same kicker who set a Super Bowl record with three field goals longer than 40 yards hooked it wide left from the right hash mark. Minutes later, the defending champions' charmed run ended -- and Falcons players stormed the Superdome field in celebration -- when Matt Bryant drilled a 46-yard field goal with 1:55 left in the extra period to lift the Atlanta Falcons to a 27-24 victory Sunday.

"I missed basically an extra point," Hartley said. "It was clearly my mistake. ... It's the highs and lows of being a kicker."

The Saints have already reached out to kickers John Carney and Matt Stover to possibly replace Hartley, sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Atlanta would have won in regulation if not for Hartley's tying 32-yard field goal with 4 seconds left in regulation.

The Falcons won the coin toss and received to start overtime, but the Saints held, setting the stage for reigning Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees to lead New Orleans to another dramatic win.

Brees drove the Saints to the Atlanta 11-yard line. Resigned to defeat as he watched from the sideline, Atlanta's Tony Gonzalez took off his receivers' gloves. Then Hartley hooked an ugly kick to the left for his third miss this season.

"I was absolutely stunned," Gonzalez said. "I thought for sure the game was over."

Even longtime public address announcer Jerry Romig let his typical "It's good!" refrain slip out just as officials began waving their arms sideways and cheers faded to groans in the Louisiana Superdome.

Hartley's hook was eerily reminiscent of a miss on a potential gamewinner against Tampa Bay last season before the Buccaneers rallied for the win. It also resembled a pair of less consequential misses in New Orleans' season-opening win over Minnesota.