ATLANTA — Michael Vick shed the brace he wore on his right knee the last two months just in time to head back to the trainer's room with another injury.

However, Vick was not complaining, and this time he's not planning on missing any games as Atlanta battles for a playoff spot.

Vick was knocked out of Monday night's 36-17 win over the New Orleans Saints with bruised ribs, but only after he ran for two touchdowns and passed for another score.

Vick took a big hit when throwing a 54-yard touchdown pass to Roddy White in the second quarter. He took another hit after his only interception of the game and then a late shot from linebacker Ronald McKinnon, who drew a roughing-the-passer penalty, in the fourth quarter.

Vick was slow to get up after McKinnon's hit. He stayed in for two more plays, but the pain was too much — he called a timeout with 9:21 left, slowly walked off the field and was escorted to the locker room.

"I landed with a guy's foot right on my ribs," Vick said. "Then I aggravated it when I took one more hit."

Added Vick: "Hopefully I'll be able to play this Sunday (at Chicago). ... I'm confident. I'm always confident. I've just got to get my treatment."

Coach Jim Mora also predicted his quarterback would be ready for Sunday's game at Chicago.

"Mike doesn't miss games," Mora said. "He'll do whatever it takes to get ready to go."

Running with renewed confidence, Vick ran for a disputed 2-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and a 17-yard scoring dash in the third quarter.

"Vick was Vick," Saints cornerback Mike McKenzie said. "You can't deny how he comes out and performs for his team. Unfortunately, we didn't have the horses to stop him tonight."

Vick was 12-of-23 for 231 yards with a touchdown and an interception and rushed for 38 yards in his fourth career game with two scores on the ground. Alge Crumpler caught three passes for 94 yards.

Atlanta improved to 3-0 in Monday night games this season. Vick is a perfect 5-0 against the Saints (3-10), who have lost eight of their last nine games.

"We lost," said Saints receiver Joe Horn, who had five catches for 54 yards. "We're not making any excuses. It's frustrating right now.

"All the time I've been in New Orleans, this is the most frustrating. This is the lowest."

The Falcons (8-5) have games remaining against Chicago, Tampa Bay and Carolina — all playoff-caliber teams.

"Well, we're in a fight, we're in a dogfight," Mora said. "We'll take it. It's better to be in a fight than not be."

New Orleans' Aaron Brooks passed for 219 yards and a touchdown and Antowain Smith had 60 yards rushing and a touchdown on 11 carries.

Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall caused the first turnover of the game when he stripped the ball from Horn following a third-down catch. Hall returned the fumble recovery 20 yards to the Saints 12, setting up a 1-yard touchdown run by T.J. Duckett.

Hall had an apparent interception return for a touchdown wiped out by a roughing-the-passer penalty against linebacker Demorrio Williams late in the first half.

With Atlanta leading 7-3 following John Carney's 47-yard field goal, the Saints evened the turnover count at 1-1 when Will Smith deflected Vick's pass and Jason Craft returned the interception 19 yards to the 6. On first down, Smith bulled through the line for a touchdown and a 10-7 Saints lead.

Vick regained the lead for Atlanta with his 2-yard dive for the pylon. He appeared to be pushed out of bounds near the 1. The officials spotted the ball at the 1, but Mora called for a review.

"Because Mike Vick told me to," Mora said. "He said 'Challenge it, we'll win it.' You listen to what No. 7 says."

Said Vick: "I knew I scored. That's why I was telling coach to challenge it."

The run was ruled a touchdown after replays showed Vick kept his leg in bounds as his body flew over the pylon, the ball in his hands.

"It is hard to defend the quarterback," Saints coach Jim Haslett said. "He does a great job. He made a nice play. I guess his hand touched the pylon. I thought the ball was outside the pylon, but if any part of your body touches the pylon it is a touchdown."

Vick went to the air — with a little trickery from Mora's playbook — for the Falcons' next touchdown.

Late in the second quarter, Vick lined up as a wideout as Warrick Dunn took the snap and then pitched the ball to the quarterback. Vick then passed deep downfield for White.

As Vick took a big hit from end Tony Bryant, White caught the ball between defensive backs Dwight Smith and Josh Bullocks and then outran Fakhir Brown to the end zone for the 54-yard TD.

The Falcons' 21-10 lead lasted barely a minute as the Saints answered with a nine-play, 90-yard touchdown drive capped by Brooks' 9-yard pass to Az-Zahir Hakim.

Vick and the Falcons stretched the lead in the third quarter with another quick-strike touchdown. On first down from the 17, Vick faked a handoff to Dunn to his left and then took off on a run to the right, fooling most of the Saints. Vick high-stepped over the pylon, and this time no review was needed for the touchdown call and a 28-17 lead.

Atlanta's Antwan Lake sacked Brooks for a safety with 40 seconds left in the third quarter, pushing the lead to 30-17.

Todd Peterson closed the scoring with 43- and 20-yard field goals.