Week 4
Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints
October 5, 2026
Caesars Superdome
NFC South Rivalry
Falcons–Saints
The Deep South's oldest grudge
A nearly 60-year border war between the first two NFL franchises planted in the Southeast. It is one of the league's most evenly balanced and emotionally charged rivalries.
The Rivalry
The feud dates to 1967, when New Orleans joined the NFL a year after Atlanta and beat its new neighbor in their first meeting. The two were the league's first Southeastern franchises, and their proximity made friction inevitable. The rivalry sharpened in 1970, when both landed in the same division and began meeting twice a season. Early years featured brutal, contentious football, including Atlanta's 62-7 rout in 1973, still the worst defeat in Saints history. The teams have met only once in the postseason, the 1991 NFC Wild Card game, won by Atlanta. The matchup gained national resonance in 2006, when the Saints' return to the rebuilt Superdome after Hurricane Katrina came against Atlanta.
What's at Stake
As NFC South opponents, the Falcons and Saints meet twice every season with divisional positioning and playoff tiebreakers regularly at stake. The series sits among the closest in the NFL, so each result genuinely matters. The rivalry also carries a regional, cultural edge: Atlanta and New Orleans are Deep South neighbors whose fan bases treat these games as bragging rights.
Famous Moments
- 1967 — New Orleans tops Atlanta 27-24 in the first meeting between the franchises.
- 1973 — Atlanta crushes the Saints 62-7, the largest loss in New Orleans history.
- 1991 — The Falcons win the teams' only playoff meeting, the NFC Wild Card game, 27-20.
- 2006 — In the Saints' first game back in the rebuilt Superdome after Hurricane Katrina, Steve Gleason blocks a punt in a 23-3 New Orleans win.
- 2017 — Deion Jones' late end-zone interception seals a 20-17 Atlanta win on Thursday night.
The Falcons–Saints Games in 2026
The Two Teams
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons
Mercedes-Benz Stadium · Atlanta
Founded in 1965, the Falcons have reached two Super Bowls and play under the retractable roof of Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
NFC South
New Orleans Saints
Caesars Superdome · New Orleans
The Saints won Super Bowl XLIV after the 2009 season, a title of deep meaning for a city recovering from Hurricane Katrina.
Plan the Trip
This trip pairs two of the South's most distinctive sports cities. Atlanta hosts at the modern, retractable-roof Mercedes-Benz Stadium downtown; New Orleans plays in the iconic domed stadium that anchors its skyline within walking distance of the French Quarter. Catching the rivalry in New Orleans means combining an intense divisional game with one of America's great food-and-music destinations.
Frequently Asked Questions: Falcons–Saints
The two teams first met in 1967. A nearly 60-year border war between the first two NFL franchises planted in the Southeast. It is one of the league's most evenly balanced and emotionally charged rivalries.
As NFC South opponents, the Falcons and Saints meet twice every season with divisional positioning and playoff tiebreakers regularly at stake. The series sits among the closest in the NFL, so each result genuinely matters. The rivalry also carries a regional, cultural edge: Atlanta and New Orleans are Deep South neighbors whose fan bases treat these games as bragging rights.
Yes — they meet 2 times in the 2026 NFL season. The game pages, each with a fan-travel guide, are linked on this page.
Atlanta Falcons host at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta; New Orleans Saints play at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
