ATLANTA -- For the second straight game, one of the New Orleans Saints' all-time greats played the role of both hero and goat.

Receiver Marques Colston's fumble in overtime Sunday allowed the Atlanta Falcons to kick the game-winning field goal for a 37-34 victory in the season opener.

It was reminiscent of the Saints' season-ending playoff loss at Seattle in January, when Colston's forward pass on a botched lateral ended the Saints' furious rally.

And in both cases, Colston had more than 100 yards before the costly miscues.

As coach Sean Payton was quick to point out afterward, "He's won a lot of games for us."

Colston declined to talk in the postgame locker room -- which is typical of Colston, who often shies away from media attention both in situations like these and when he's breaking franchise records.

Colston rarely shows emotion in front of the media. But make no mistake, it's there. And a play like this must have torn him up inside.

Colston slammed his helmet down in frustration after the play. And Payton recently shared a revealing story about Colston's reaction in Seattle.

"He's one of the more competitive guys. He's quiet, and obviously when you get to know him and you see him, you recognize how important it is to him," Payton said. "Walking off the field last year in Seattle after the playoff loss, I just happened to be behind him as we were filing into the locker room and I will just never forget him taking his fist and hitting the cinderblock wall with a square punch. I don't know how much damage he did to his fingers at that time -- he would probably be able to tell you -- but it wasn't an open hand.

"It matters a lot to him. You wouldn't get necessarily a communication. He's not someone that's going to come out and speak a lot. But as far as dependability, reliability ... coming up in games where he's got to make a play over the middle and extend himself, he's been outstanding, and I don't take it for granted."

Colston caught five passes for 110 yards Sunday, extending his Saints franchise records in both categories.

His history has also included some nagging fumbles over the years. He's now lost 10 of them in his career, including the playoffs. And Sunday's fumble was reminiscent of one he lost in a similar shootout loss at Green Bay to open the 2011 season.

But Payton, quarterback Drew Brees and the entire locker room won't think twice about counting on him in big moments again and again in the future.

"He's the mentally toughest player in the locker room," offensive tackle Zach Strief said.