If you're waking up today, January 17, 2026, and looking for a live score from the Superdome, I’ve got some bad news. The New Orleans Saints aren't playing. They didn't win because, honestly, their season ended nearly two weeks ago in a messy, heart-wrenching finale against the Atlanta Falcons.
The Saints finished their 2025-2026 campaign with a 17-19 loss to Atlanta on January 4. That’s the real answer to "saints game today who won"—they didn't play today, and they didn't win their last outing. It’s a bitter pill for a team that actually looked like it was finally clicking during a late-season surge.
Why the Saints Aren't on Your TV Today
We’re currently in the thick of the NFL playoffs. It’s Wild Card weekend, and usually, that’s when New Orleans expects to be relevant. Not this year. The 2025 season was a rollercoaster that ended with a thud in Georgia.
The Saints finished with a 6-11 record.
While that sounds pretty terrible on paper, the context is actually kinda fascinating. They started the year looking like a total disaster under Spencer Rattler, going 1-7. Then, the team turned the keys over to Tyler Shough. Everything changed. Shough went 5-4 as a starter and actually dragged this team into a four-game winning streak before that final Week 18 collapse.
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If they had beaten the Falcons, they would have finished on a five-game tear. Instead, the loss handed the NFC South title to the Carolina Panthers (who won it with a measly 8-9 record). Think about that. The bar was so low, and New Orleans just couldn't quite clear it.
The Breakdown of That Final Game
If you missed the Week 18 matchup, it was classic Saints-Falcons chaos. Basically, the Saints’ defense played their hearts out, but the offense was missing almost every single starting skill player. No Chris Olave. No Devaughn Vele.
- Tyler Shough was basically doing it all himself, throwing for 259 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for a score.
- Ronnie Bell made an incredible one-handed 16-yard touchdown catch with just 1:11 left on the clock.
- Juwan Johnson had 61 yards but a costly fumble early on.
- Audric Estime carried the load in the backfield with 21 rushes for 63 yards.
The game literally came down to an onside kick. Charlie Smyth booted it, the ball bounced, and Atlanta recovered it to seal the 19-17 win. It was a game of "what ifs." What if Shough hadn't thrown that interception to Dee Alford with three minutes left? What if Kevin Austin Jr. hadn't been flagged for offensive pass interference on a play that would have been a touchdown?
What’s Next for the Who Dat Nation?
Since there is no saints game today who won, the focus has shifted entirely to the 2026 offseason. Kellen Moore is heading into his second year as head coach, and the fan base is surprisingly optimistic for a 6-11 team.
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The big "win" for the Saints right now is their 2026 schedule. Because they finished last in the NFC South, they’ll face a much easier slate of opponents next year. We’re talking about matchups against the New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals, and Las Vegas Raiders—all teams that finished at the bottom of their respective divisions.
2026 Home and Away Matchups
The 2026 opponents are already set. At home in the Caesars Superdome, the Saints will host the usual division rivals plus the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers. On the road, they’ll be traveling to some cold-weather spots like Chicago, Detroit, and Baltimore.
Honestly, the biggest story right now isn't the score of a game today, but whether the front office can build around Shough. He looks like the franchise guy. He has that "it" factor that's been missing since the Drew Brees era.
Real Talk on the NFC South
The division is a mess. The Falcons actually fired coach Raheem Morris and GM Terry Fontenot just hours after beating the Saints. Even though they won, Atlanta's leadership felt like an 8-9 finish wasn't good enough. Meanwhile, the Saints are sticking with Moore, betting that a full offseason with Shough as the undisputed QB1 will be the magic fix.
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If you’re looking for football today, you’ll have to watch the Panthers or the Buccaneers try to represent the South in the playoffs. It’s annoying, sure, but the Saints are currently the "ascending" team in the division despite the record.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the Draft Order: The Saints are currently sitting on a high draft pick (likely top 10). Keep an eye on offensive line prospects; Kelvin Banks Jr.’s ankle injury in the finale highlighted just how thin they are up front.
- Monitor the Salary Cap: It’s a New Orleans tradition to be in "cap hell." Watch for restructures coming in February.
- Review Shough's Tape: If you’re bored today since there’s no game, go back and watch the highlights of the Jets and Titans wins from December. That’s the version of the Saints we expect to see in September 2026.
The season is over, but the rebuilding has already started. No win today, but maybe a big win in the draft this April.