Winning your final game against a hated rival usually calls for a celebration. But when you look at the recent score for Atlanta Falcons, you realize that "bittersweet" doesn't even begin to cover it. On January 4, 2026, the Falcons walked off the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a 19-17 victory over the New Orleans Saints. They swept the season series against the Saints. They finished on a four-game winning streak. And then, basically before the players could even get their cleats off, the team fired head coach Raheem Morris and General Manager Terry Fontenot.
Talk about a weird afternoon.
If you're looking for the score for Atlanta Falcons, that 19-17 number is the one that’s going to live in the history books for all the wrong reasons. It was a game that felt like a microcosm of their entire 2025-2026 campaign—flashes of absolute brilliance, a lot of "what ifs," and a kicker carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The Breakdown: How 19-17 Actually Happened
Honestly, the game shouldn't have been that close. Kirk Cousins found Drake London for a 15-yard touchdown early in the first quarter, and for a second, it felt like the Falcons might just run away with it. But as any Falcons fan knows, nothing is ever that simple. The offense stalled, and it became the Zane Gonzalez show.
Gonzalez was the MVP of the day, period. He nailed four field goals, including a massive 51-yarder in the third quarter that kept the momentum from completely shifting to New Orleans.
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Key Scoring Moments
- First Quarter: Drake London 15-yard pass from Kirk Cousins (7-0).
- Second Quarter: Zane Gonzalez 40-yard field goal (10-0).
- Third Quarter: Zane Gonzalez 51-yard field goal (13-7).
- Fourth Quarter: Zane Gonzalez 38-yard field goal (16-10).
- Fourth Quarter: Zane Gonzalez 38-yard field goal after a massive interception (19-10).
- Final Minutes: Saints' Ronnie Bell catches a 16-yard TD from Tyler Shough (19-17).
The real hero of the defense was Dee Alford. With the Saints driving late in the fourth and looking like they might actually steal the win, Alford snagged an interception in the red zone and returned it 59 yards. It was a backbreaker for New Orleans. It also essentially handed the NFC South title to the Carolina Panthers, because the Falcons' win created a three-way tie at the top of the division that Atlanta ultimately lost on tiebreakers.
Why the Score for Atlanta Falcons Didn't Save Jobs
You might be wondering why a team would fire its leadership after a win that resulted in an 8-9 record and a season sweep of their biggest rival. It's a fair question.
The reality is that 8-9 felt like a ceiling rather than a foundation. Despite the late-season surge, the Falcons were 4-9 at one point. They missed the playoffs for the seventh straight year. The drought for an NFC South title has now hit eight years.
Arthur Blank, the owner, clearly decided that "almost good enough" wasn't good enough anymore. While the score for Atlanta Falcons against the Saints was a "W," the overall season score was a failure. The team had Pro Bowlers like Chris Lindstrom and Bijan Robinson (who made 1st Team All-Pro), yet they couldn't find a way to win the games that mattered most in October and November.
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The 2025 Season at a Glance
It’s wild to look back at the schedule. They lost heartbreakers to the Colts and Panthers in overtime back in November. If just one of those scores goes the other way, we’re probably talking about a playoff matchup right now instead of a coaching search.
- Week 10: 25-31 loss to Indy (OT)
- Week 11: 27-30 loss to Carolina (OT)
- Week 14: 9-37 blowout loss to Seattle (The game that effectively ended their playoff hopes)
The December turnaround was impressive—wins against Tampa Bay, Arizona, and the Rams—but it was too little, too late.
What’s Next for the Dirty Birds?
Now that the 2025 season is officially in the rearview, the focus shifts to 2026. Because they finished third in the division, their schedule is already locked in.
Next year, they’ll face the NFC North and the AFC North. That means games against the Lions, Packers, Bears, and Vikings, plus a tough slate against the Ravens, Bengals, Browns, and Steelers. They also have a date with the Kansas City Chiefs because both teams finished third in their respective divisions.
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One of these home games is going to be international. We don't know which one yet, but the NFL confirmed Atlanta will be heading overseas in 2026.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following the team this offseason, here’s what you should be watching for:
- The Coaching Search: With Raheem Morris out, look for the Falcons to target an offensive-minded coach who can fully unlock Kyle Pitts and Drake London.
- The Draft: Picking in the middle of the first round, the Falcons desperately need edge-rushing help.
- Kirk Cousins' Future: At 37, Cousins showed he still has some gas in the tank, but a new regime might want to look at a younger successor sooner rather than later.
The final score for Atlanta Falcons in 2025 was a 19-17 win, but the real game is just beginning in the front office. Keep an eye on the coordinator hires over the next few weeks; that will tell you everything you need to know about the direction of this franchise.