If you were hoping for a miracle in the final week of the season, the New Orleans Saints score from their January 4 matchup against the Falcons probably felt like a cold splash of water. They lost. 19-17. It was close, sure, but in the NFL, "close" doesn’t get you into the postseason.
The Saints finished the 2025-2026 campaign with a 6-11 record. Honestly, it's been a weird year. They started the season looking like they couldn't buy a win, going 0-4 right out of the gate. Then, suddenly, they found this weird spark in December, rattling off four straight wins against the Bucs, Panthers, Jets, and Titans. For a second there, the Superdome had some life again. But the finale in Atlanta? It was basically a microcosm of the whole season: flashes of talent smothered by mistakes and an offense that couldn't quite stay on the field when it mattered most.
Breaking Down the New Orleans Saints Score in Atlanta
Going into Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the vibes were actually okay. The Saints were riding a four-game winning streak. People were talking about "momentum" and "building for next year." Then the game started.
Atlanta’s kicker, Zane Gonzalez, basically beat New Orleans by himself. He went 4-for-4 on field goals. When your opponent’s kicker is the high scorer, you know your defense is bending but the offense isn't doing enough to make them pay. Tyler Shough, who has taken over the QB duties, actually put up decent numbers—23 of 35 for 259 yards and two total touchdowns—but a late turnover by Dee Alford basically killed any hope of a comeback.
It's frustrating. You look at the stat sheet and see the Saints actually outgained the Falcons 340 to 208 in total yards. They had more first downs. They held the ball longer. But the only number that matters is that New Orleans Saints score of 17.
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Why the Offense Stalled Out
You can't talk about this game without mentioning the run game. Or the lack of it. The Saints managed only 49 rushing yards. When you’re averaging 2.0 yards per carry, you’re basically playing behind the sticks all afternoon. It puts way too much pressure on a young quarterback like Shough.
- Tyler Shough: 259 passing yards, 1 passing TD, 1 rushing TD.
- Chris Olave: Continued to be the lone bright spot with 100+ yards.
- The Red Zone: This is where the season went to die. The Saints struggled to turn 20-yard line visits into six points.
The December Surge That Almost Saved Face
Before that disappointing loss to Atlanta, the Saints actually looked like a professional football team for a month. It started with a 24-20 win over Tampa Bay on December 7. Then they eked out a 20-17 win against Carolina thanks to a clutch 47-yarder from Charlie Smyth.
The peak of the season was probably the Week 16 destruction of the New York Jets. 29-6. The defense looked vintage. Chase Young and Cam Jordan were lived in the backfield. Smyth tied a club record with five field goals in that game. It was the kind of performance that makes you think, Wait, why weren't they doing this in September?
The Final Standings in the NFC South
The NFC South was, once again, a bit of a mess. No one in the division even finished with a winning record.
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- Carolina Panthers: 8-9 (Division Champs)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8-9
- Atlanta Falcons: 8-9
- New Orleans Saints: 6-11
Being the only team in your division to finish with double-digit losses is a tough pill to swallow, especially when the "winner" of the division only had eight wins. It tells you that the door was wide open, and the Saints just didn't have the keys.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Opponents are Set
Now that the New Orleans Saints score is officially in the history books for 2025, we know what the 2026 path looks like. Since they finished last in the division, they'll play a "fourth-place schedule."
The home slate for 2026 actually looks pretty fun, if you like high-profile matchups. They’ll host the usual divisional suspects, but also the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Las Vegas Raiders. The road trips are a bit tougher—Baltimore and Cincinnati are on the calendar, which means facing Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow away from the cozy confines of the Dome.
What Happens This Offseason?
The priority is obviously the draft. Most analysts, including the folks over at NFL Mocks, are pointing toward the defensive line. With Cam Jordan getting older, the Saints need a game-changer up front. There’s a lot of talk about Akheem Mesidor from Miami as a potential fit in the first two rounds.
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Then there's the Tyler Shough situation. Is he the guy? He showed flashes of being a legitimate starter during that four-game win streak, but the consistency isn't there yet. The front office has to decide if they want to roll with him or use their high draft pick on a blue-chip QB prospect.
Key Takeaways for Saints Fans
The 2025 season is done. It was a roller coaster that ended in a ditch, but there are things to take away from it.
- The Defense is still a Top-10 unit: When healthy, they can shut anyone down.
- Charlie Smyth is a weapon: Having a reliable kicker who can nail 50-yarders is a luxury they shouldn't take for granted.
- The O-Line needs surgery: You can't win in the NFL with 2 yards per carry. Period.
Next steps for the team involve clearing cap space—a New Orleans tradition at this point—and scouting the Senior Bowl. Fans should keep an eye on the official NFL schedule release in May to see exactly when those 2026 home games against the Packers and Steelers will land. For now, the focus is entirely on the scouting combine and trying to ensure the next New Orleans Saints score we see in a regular-season game is a winning one.