Football rivalries usually feel like a slow burn. You've got the division foes who play twice a year, every year, until the dirt on the field feels personal. But the Washington Redskins vs New Orleans Saints history? That’s something else entirely. It's a weird, high-stakes series that rarely makes sense on paper. One year you're watching a rookie quarterback stun the Superdome, and the next, you're witnessing an all-time legend shatter the record books on a Monday night.
Honestly, if you look at the raw numbers, Washington has historically held the upper hand. They lead the all-time series 18-11. But those numbers don't tell you about the chaos. They don't mention the "Meachem-strip" or the 15-point fourth-quarter collapses.
The Saints and the team now known as the Commanders don't play every season, but when they do, weird things tend to happen.
The Robert Meachem "Strip-Sack-Score" Madness
Let’s go back to 2009. New Orleans was on that magical, undefeated run. They were 11-0 and looked invincible. Then they walked into FedEx Field and nearly watched the whole season unravel.
Drew Brees threw a pass that was intercepted by Kareem Moore. It should have been the dagger. Instead, Robert Meachem did something you basically never see. He chased Moore down, ripped the ball out of his hands while Moore was still running, and took it back for a Saints touchdown.
Talk about a momentum swing.
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New Orleans eventually won that game 33-30 in overtime after Washington kicker Shaun Suisham missed a short field goal that would’ve ended the Saints' perfect season. It was one of those games where you just knew the Saints were a team of destiny.
2017: The Comeback No One Saw Coming
If you ask a Saints fan about the 2017 matchup, they’ll probably get a little misty-eyed. With less than six minutes left in the game, Washington was up 31-15. The Superdome was starting to empty out. People were heading for the exits to beat the New Orleans traffic.
Then Drew Brees happened.
He went 11-for-11 on the final two drives. Mark Ingram started ripping off massive runs like he was playing against a high school defense. Alvin Kamara caught a touchdown and then converted the two-point attempt to tie it up. The Saints won 34-31 in overtime.
It was statistically the largest fourth-quarter comeback in the history of the New Orleans franchise. For Washington fans, it was a brutal reminder of how quickly a "sure thing" can disappear when you're facing a Hall of Fame quarterback.
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Monday Night Lights and the All-Time Record
In 2018, the Washington Redskins vs New Orleans Saints matchup became a permanent part of NFL lore. This wasn't just a game; it was a coronation.
Drew Brees needed 201 yards to pass Peyton Manning for the most career passing yards in NFL history. He didn't just break it; he demolished the Redskins' secondary in the process.
- The Big Play: A 62-yard touchdown pass to rookie Tre'Quan Smith.
- The Atmosphere: The game was literally paused so Brees could celebrate with his family on the field.
- The Result: A 43-19 blowout that wasn't even as close as the score looked.
Washington’s defense at the time was actually ranked pretty well going into that Monday night. It didn't matter. Brees finished the game 26-of-29. That’s an 89.7% completion rate. You can't even do that in a video game on easy mode.
Why This Matchup Stays Weird
What most people get wrong about these two teams is the "home-field advantage" myth. Strangely, Washington has actually been incredibly successful playing in New Orleans. They are 10-5 all-time when visiting the Saints.
Maybe it’s the lack of pressure, or maybe they just like the turf, but the Redskins/Commanders have a habit of making life miserable for the "Who Dat" nation in their own building. Even in 2012, a rookie Robert Griffin III (RG3) made his NFL debut in New Orleans and put up 40 points to beat a very good Saints team.
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Shared Blood: The Players Who Swapped Jerseys
It’s not just the games that link these franchises. The "player pipeline" between D.C. and N.O. is surprisingly deep.
Take Billy Kilmer. He’s a legend for the Redskins, leading them to a Super Bowl, but he actually started his real success with the Saints in the late 60s. Then you have Adrian Peterson, who had a brief, forgettable stint in New Orleans before looking like his old self for a season in Washington. Even Mark Brunell, the longtime Jags star, spent time in both locker rooms toward the end of his career.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you're looking at the future of this matchup—now featuring the Commanders—there are a few things to keep in mind.
- Throw out the "Defense" Stats: Historically, these games turn into track meets. Even when one team has a top-five defense, the offensive schemes of these two franchises tend to find the gaps.
- The New Orleans "Hangover": Washington plays better in the Dome than they do at home against the Saints. If the game is in Louisiana, don't automatically assume a Saints win.
- The 2024 Context: Most recently, in December 2024, Washington edged out New Orleans 20-19. It was a gritty, ugly game that proved the "high-scoring" trend might be shifting toward a defensive struggle under new coaching regimes like Dan Quinn's.
The era of Brees vs. Cousins or Brees vs. Campbell is over, but the tension remains. Whether it’s the Saints' explosive playmakers or Washington’s newfound defensive identity, this "non-rivalry" is one of the most entertaining tickets in the NFL.
To stay ahead of the next meeting, track the injury reports for interior defensive linemen on both sides. In their last three matchups, the game was decided by whoever won the battle in the trenches during the fourth quarter, specifically regarding late-game pressure on the quarterback. Keep an eye on the Commanders' rushing totals—they are 9-2 in recent years when hitting the 100-yard mark against NFC South opponents.