If you're checking the NFL New Orleans Saints score for the final week of the 2025-26 season, the numbers on the screen—a 19-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons—honestly don't tell the whole story. It was a weird, gritty game on January 4, 2026, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium that felt less like a season finale and more like a fever dream for a team that had finally found its footing way too late.
The Saints finished the year 6-11. Yeah, that looks bad on paper. They ended up last in the NFC South. But if you actually watched those final few weeks under Kellen Moore, you know this wasn't the same "stuck in the mud" team we saw during that brutal 2-10 start.
The Heartbreak in Atlanta
Basically, the Saints were on the verge of pulling off their fifth straight win. After a miserable autumn, they had become the hottest team in the division. Tyler Shough, the rookie quarterback who has basically become the city's new obsession, was driving them down the field, trailing 16-10 with about four minutes left.
Then, disaster.
Shough threw a ball intended for Dante Pettis, but Falcons defensive back Dee Alford read it like a book. He jumped the route and took it 59 yards the other way. It didn't go for a touchdown, but it set up a Zane Gonzalez field goal that pushed the lead to nine.
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Shough didn't quit, though. He marched them back down and hit Ronnie Bell for a spectacular one-handed 16-yard touchdown with 71 seconds left. It was Bell’s first score in ages, and it was a beauty. But the onside kick failed—Kyle Pitts smothered it—and that was that. Season over.
Why the Scoreboard Lied
If you just saw the final NFL New Orleans Saints score, you missed the fact that the Saints were playing with a "JV" roster at the skill positions.
- No Alvin Kamara.
- No Chris Olave (his first missed game of the season).
- No Taysom Hill for the second half after a shoulder injury.
- Kendre Miller and Jamaal Williams were out too.
Shough was basically handing the ball off to Audric Estime and Evan Hull—guys who had barely 40 carries between them all year. Despite that, the kid went 23-of-35 for 259 yards. Honestly, he looked like the only reason they were even in it.
The 2025 Season: A Tale of Two Teams
Looking back at the full year, the Saints were a mess for the first three months. They started 0-3 after getting smoked 44-13 by Seattle in Week 3. By the time they lost to the Dolphins in Week 13, they were 2-10 and officially eliminated. It felt like the Kellen Moore era was over before it started.
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Then something clicked.
They went on a four-game tear, beating the Bucs, Panthers, Jets, and Titans. The defense, led by Carl Granderson and Chase Young, turned into a brick wall. In that finale against Atlanta, Granderson even snagged an interception and 1.5 sacks. He’s been a beast.
The Defensive Milestone
One thing most people missed in the noise of the loss: Cam Jordan. He played his 246th game this season, passing Drew Brees for the most games in Saints history. He also hit his 10th sack of the year during the finale. For a guy at this stage of his career, that's just absurd.
What’s Next for New Orleans?
So, where do they go from here? Because the Falcons won, the Carolina Panthers actually clinched the NFC South at 8-9. It was a weird year where three teams finished 8-9, and the Saints were just one game back from that chaos at 6-11.
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The silver lining? Finishing last in the division means a last-place schedule for 2026.
Immediate Next Steps for the Offseason:
- Lock in the QB: Tyler Shough proved he’s the guy. He went 5-4 as a starter and showed way more poise than Spencer Rattler did early on.
- The Draft: The Saints are currently slated to pick eighth in the 2026 NFL Draft. They desperately need offensive line help, especially after rookie LT Kelvin Banks Jr. got carted off in the finale with a nasty ankle injury.
- Cap Management: Mickey Loomis is going to do his usual salary cap gymnastics, but with some aging veterans, it might be time for some tough goodbyes.
Keep an eye on the Senior Bowl on January 31. Our own associate head coach Joel Thomas was just named the head coach for the American Team. It’s a huge opportunity for the Saints' staff to get an up-close look at the next wave of talent that could help turn this 6-11 record into a playoff run next January.