The Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta felt heavy. You could hear the roar of the Falcons faithful, but for anyone checking the new orleans football score on January 4, 2026, the final numbers—19-17 in favor of Atlanta—didn’t even tell half the story. It was a weird, gritty, and ultimately heartbreaking way for the Saints to wrap up their 2025-2026 campaign.
One moment, rookie quarterback Tyler Shough is looking like the absolute future of the franchise. The next, a red-zone interception late in the fourth quarter basically hands the game, and the division title, to someone else.
Honestly, the NFC South was a mess this year. The Carolina Panthers ended up taking the crown with a measly 8-9 record. Meanwhile, the Saints finished 6-11. It’s the kind of season that makes you want to throw your remote, yet strangely, there’s more optimism in New Orleans right now than there has been in years.
That Final New Orleans Football Score Breakdown
If you just looked at the box score, you’d see a close game. But the flow was jagged. The Saints went into the half trailing but kept themselves within striking distance thanks to a defense that refused to break. Chase Young and Carl Granderson were living in Kirk Cousins' pocket all afternoon, splitting sacks and making life miserable for the Falcons' backfield.
Tyler Shough finished 23 of 35 for 259 yards. He even scrambled for a 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
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But the turning point was brutal. With 3:14 left on the clock, the Saints were down 16-10 and driving. They were at the Atlanta 20-yard line. Shough dropped back, looking for Dante Pettis, but Dee Alford jumped the route. He didn't just pick it off; he returned it 59 yards. That set up a field goal that put Atlanta up by nine.
Even then, the Saints didn't quit. Shough found Ronnie Bell for a 16-yard touchdown with just over a minute left to make it 19-17. They tried the onside kick. Atlanta recovered. Game over. Season over.
The Tyler Shough Era officially began
It’s kinda wild to think about where this team started. Remember the vibe in September? Derek Carr retired, the cap was a nightmare, and Kellen Moore was stepping into a head coaching role with a lot of skeptics.
Shough didn't even start the season as "the guy." But over the final nine games, he went 5-4. He threw for over 2,200 yards in that stretch. More importantly, he showed he can handle the pressure of a 3-4 defensive scheme staring him down.
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Why the 6-11 Record is Deceptive
You’ll hear people say "you are what your record says you are." In the NFL, that’s usually true. But the Saints' 2025 season was a tale of two halves.
The first half was a disaster. They started 1-8. It was ugly. They lost to the Buccaneers 23-3 in October. They got blown out by the Seahawks 44-13.
Then something clicked. They went on a four-game winning streak in December, beating the Titans, Jets, Panthers, and Bucs. That surge is why the final new orleans football score in Atlanta felt like such a gut punch—they actually had a chance to sneak into the playoffs if they had just finished that last drive.
The Rookie Class Factor
ESPN recently ranked the Saints’ 2025 rookie class as the best in the league. That’s huge for a team that has struggled with depth.
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- Kelvin Banks Jr. (First-round LT): Started all 17 games. He had a 75.6% run block win rate.
- Tyler Shough (Second-round QB): Proved he belongs in the league.
- Jonas Sanker (Safety): Logged 5 tackles and 3 passes defensed in the finale.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Future
A lot of fans think the Saints are still in "salary cap hell." While the cap is never "easy" in New Orleans, Derek Carr's retirement actually acted like a golden parachute. It cleared a massive amount of future dead money that would have otherwise crippled the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
Also, the legendary Drew Brees is reportedly stepping in to mentor Shough this offseason in San Diego. If you’re a Saints fan, that’s the kind of news that keeps you going through a 6-11 finish.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Opponents
Since they finished fourth in the NFC South, the 2026 schedule is already set. They’ll be playing other fourth-place finishers, which usually means a slightly easier path.
Home Games at the Superdome
- Atlanta Falcons
- Carolina Panthers
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
- Cleveland Browns
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Arizona Cardinals
- Las Vegas Raiders
Road Trips
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Detroit Lions
- New York Giants
- Chicago Bears
That road schedule looks tough. Trips to Baltimore and Cincinnati are never fun, especially with the weather in late-season games. But the home slate is balanced.
Actionable Insights for the Offseason
If you’re following the team's trajectory, keep an eye on these specific movements over the next few months:
- Monitor the Reserve/Future Contracts: They just signed DE Myles Cole. These aren't "flashy" moves, but they are how Kellen Moore builds the bottom of the roster.
- Watch the Shough/Brees Workouts: Any footage or reports coming out of San Diego will tell us if Shough is fixing his footwork under pressure—the one thing that led to that costly pick in Atlanta.
- The Senior Bowl: Associate head coach Joel Thomas was just named head coach for the American team. This gives the Saints an inside track on scouting the 2026 draft class.
The final new orleans football score of 2025 wasn't what anyone wanted. But for the first time in a long time, the pieces are actually on the board. The 2026 season officially starts now.