The score of Saints and Falcons games never tells the whole story. You can look at the scoreboard after sixty minutes and see a three-point margin, but that doesn't capture the sheer vitriol, the missed holding calls, or the way the Superdome seems to actually shake when Atlanta enters the red zone. If you’re checking the score of Saints and Falcons right now, you’re likely seeing the aftermath of another "NFC South Heart Attack." This isn't just a divisional matchup; it’s a grudge match that has defined professional football in the Deep South for over fifty years.
Honestly, it’s a miracle these teams even finish games without a bench-clearing brawl.
Why the Score of Saints and Falcons Often Defies Logic
Predicting the outcome of this game is a fool's errand. You’ve got teams that look like Super Bowl contenders one week and then play like they’ve never seen a pigskin the next, specifically when they face each other. Statistics go out the window. In their most recent meetings, we've seen everything from defensive slugfests where neither team can find the end zone to absolute track meets that look more like Big 12 college ball than the NFL.
Take the 2024 season as a prime example of this volatility. When the Saints hosted the Falcons in November, the final score was 20-17. It was a gritty, ugly, beautiful mess. New Orleans, coming off a brutal losing streak and a coaching change with the firing of Dennis Allen, was supposed to be a "get right" game for Kirk Cousins and the high-flying Falcons offense. Instead, the Saints' defense turned back the clock, and Younghoe Koo—usually one of the most reliable kickers in the sport—missed three field goals. Three! That’s the kind of statistical anomaly that only happens when these two jerseys meet.
The rivalry is currently one of the most balanced in NFL history. As of late 2024, the all-time series is nearly a dead heat. Depending on which week you check the record, they are often within one or two games of each other for the overall lead. This parity is what keeps the ticket prices high and the blood pressure higher.
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The Kirk Cousins Era vs. The Post-Brees Vacuum
Atlanta spent big on Kirk Cousins because they were tired of being the "almost" team. They wanted stability. And for a good chunk of the season, it worked. The Falcons found themselves atop the NFC South, looking like a legitimate playoff threat with Bijan Robinson finally getting the touches fans have been screaming for.
On the flip side, New Orleans has been in a weird kind of purgatory. They have the talent—guys like Alvin Kamara are still elite—but the cap space is a nightmare and the coaching transition has been bumpy. When you look at the score of Saints and Falcons matchups from this year, you see a New Orleans team that plays with a "nothing to lose" desperation.
- Derek Carr’s performance in these games is a lightning rod for criticism.
- Bijan Robinson’s usage rate remains the biggest talking point in Atlanta sports radio.
- The New Orleans secondary, led by Tyrann Mathieu, still has a knack for baiting veteran QBs into terrible throws.
Historical Blowouts and Heartbreaks
We can't talk about the score without talking about 2006. Reopening the Dome. Steve Gleason’s block. The final score was 23-3, Saints. But if you ask anyone in New Orleans, it felt like 100-0. That game transcended the sport. It was about a city coming back to life after Hurricane Katrina, and the Falcons were the unfortunate souls who had to stand in the way of that destiny.
Then you have the "28-3" jokes. Saints fans will never let it go. Every time the Falcons are up by 25 points, the internet starts humming. It’s reached a point where "28-3" is less of a score and more of a psychological weapon used by New Orleans fans to remind Atlanta of their greatest tragedy.
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But Atlanta has had its revenge. There was the 62-7 blowout back in 1973—a score so lopsided it still stands as one of the worst defeats in Saints history. Or the multiple times Matt Ryan led a two-minute drill to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in the waning seconds.
Breaking Down the Betting Trends
If you’re looking at the score of Saints and Falcons for betting purposes, the "Under" has become a surprisingly common friend. While both teams have offensive weapons, the divisional familiarity usually leads to "bend but don't break" defensive stands. The coaches know the playbooks. The players know the tendencies.
- Home-field advantage is massive: The Superdome and Mercedes-Benz Stadium are both domes, but the crowd noise in New Orleans is objectively more disruptive to opposing play-callers.
- The "Spoilers" effect: Even when one team is mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, they play this game like it’s the Super Bowl. Never bet against the underdog in this rivalry.
- Injuries: Because this game is so physical, the "injury report" usually dictates the fourth-quarter score more than the opening line does.
What to Watch for in the Next Matchup
The rivalry is shifting. We are moving away from the Brees vs. Ryan era and into a much more unpredictable phase. We’re seeing younger stars like Drake London and Chris Olave become the faces of the franchise.
When you see the final score of Saints and Falcons in their next outing, pay attention to the turnover margin. In 80% of their games over the last decade, the team that wins the turnover battle wins the game. It sounds like a cliché, but in a rivalry this tight, a single fumble from a running back or a tipped pass interception is usually the difference between a celebration and a silent locker room.
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New Orleans is currently retooling. They are trying to find their identity under interim or new leadership. Atlanta is trying to prove they aren't just "offseason winners" but actual January contenders.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
To truly understand why the score ends up the way it does, you need to look beyond the box score. Follow these steps for the next game:
- Monitor the Kicking Game: As seen with Younghoe Koo’s rare meltdown, the kicking game in these domes is a massive factor. Check the pre-game warmups for any signs of struggle.
- Watch the Offensive Line Matchups: The Saints' pass rush has a history of getting into the heads of Falcons quarterbacks. If Atlanta can’t protect the pocket, the score will lean heavily toward New Orleans.
- Check the Injury Report for "Game-Time Decisions": Both teams have a habit of hiding the severity of injuries until an hour before kickoff. A missing starting left tackle can swing the score by 7 to 10 points instantly.
- Review the Last Three Meetings: Trends in this rivalry tend to happen in cycles. If one team has won three in a row, the other is statistically "due" for a breakout, given how evenly matched the rosters usually are.
The rivalry remains the crown jewel of the South. Whether the score is a 10-9 defensive grind or a 45-42 shootout, the intensity never wavers. Keep your eyes on the divisional standings, but never assume the higher-ranked team will walk away with an easy win. In this series, "easy" doesn't exist.