The energy around Atlanta sports right now is weirdly electric for a team that isn’t even in the playoffs. If you’ve been scrolling through your feed wondering who did Falcons play last week, you’re looking back at a game that essentially served as a chaotic exclamation point on a season that refused to make sense.
On Sunday, January 4, 2026, the Atlanta Falcons hosted their bitter rivals, the New Orleans Saints.
It wasn't just a game; it was a mess. A beautiful, high-stakes, 19-17 victory kind of mess. While the win didn't propel Raheem Morris's squad into the postseason, it did something arguably more "Atlanta"—it acted as the ultimate spoiler. By beating the Saints, the Falcons officially handed the NFC South crown to the Carolina Panthers.
Imagine that. You win, you go home for the summer, but you make sure your biggest enemy stays home with you.
The Breakdown: How the Falcons Beat the Saints
Honestly, the box score doesn't tell the whole story of this Week 18 regular-season finale. Kirk Cousins, the veteran who has been the subject of every "should he stay or should he go" debate in Georgia, did exactly what he was brought here to do. He managed the game. He didn't light the world on fire—finishing 18 of 32 for 180 yards—but he found Drake London in the end zone for a 15-yard strike early on that set the tone.
London remains a beast. He hauled in 78 yards on four catches, proving once again that if the ball is anywhere in his zip code, it’s his.
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But the real MVP? Zane Gonzalez.
It’s rare that a kicker becomes the headline, but when you go 4-for-4 in a two-point game, you get the game ball. Gonzalez was nails, hitting from 40, 51, 38, and 38 yards. Without his consistency, the Saints' late-game surge would have been a disaster for the home crowd.
Defensive Stand and the Interception
New Orleans wasn't going down without a fight, even with a depleted roster. Tyler Shough, the Saints' quarterback who has been filling in, actually looked dangerous for a minute. He scrambled for 29 yards at one point, which had the Falcons' defense looking a bit flat-footed.
Then came the play of the game.
With about three minutes left on the clock and the Saints in scoring range, Dee Alford stepped in front of a Shough pass intended for Samori Toure. Alford didn't just catch it; he took it 59 yards back the other direction. It was the kind of play that makes you jump off your couch. That interception led to Gonzalez’s final field goal, providing the cushion Atlanta needed to survive a late Ronnie Bell touchdown.
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Why the Scoreboard Lied
If you look at the rushing stats, you’d think the Falcons lost. Bijan Robinson, usually the crown jewel of this offense, was held to just 33 yards on 15 carries. That’s $2.2$ yards per carry. Kellen Moore’s Saints defense clearly had one job: stop #7. They did that, but they forgot about the other ways Atlanta can hurt you.
The Saints actually outgained the Falcons in total yardage. It didn't matter. Turnovers and red-zone efficiency are the only stats that actually pay the bills in the NFL.
What This Game Means for 2026
Since the season ended with that win, the Falcons finished with an 8-9 record. It’s the "almost" season. Because they finished third in the NFC South, we now know exactly who they are playing in the 2026 season.
Google is already buzzing about the "Third-Place Schedule." Because of where they landed, the Falcons have to face:
- The San Francisco 49ers (Home)
- The Kansas City Chiefs (Home)
- The Washington Commanders (Away)
That is a brutal slate of non-divisional games. Playing Mahomes and Purdy in the same year because you won a "meaningless" game against the Saints is the ultimate double-edged sword.
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Moving Forward: Actionable Steps for Fans
The season is over, but the work for the front office is just beginning. If you're a die-hard, here is what you should be watching over the next few weeks:
Watch the Kirk Cousins Narrative
Cousins hinted after the Saints game that his future is a bit up in the air. With the Falcons picking in the middle of the first round, do they grab a successor now? Keep an eye on the Senior Bowl (January 31) and the Combine.
The Munich Game
The NFL has confirmed that Atlanta will be one of the "home" teams playing internationally in 2026. Rumors are swirling about Munich, Germany. If you’re planning to travel, start looking at passport renewals now. International game tickets usually disappear within seconds of the schedule release in May.
Salary Cap Casualties
The Falcons have some tough decisions. Winning the finale was great for morale, but it doesn't fix the cap. Look for news regarding veteran contracts as we hit the "legal tampering" period in March.
The answer to who did Falcons play last week might be a simple "New Orleans Saints," but the ripple effects of that 19-17 victory will be felt all the way into next autumn. They didn't get the trophy, but they got the last laugh in the rivalry, and sometimes in Georgia, that's enough to keep you warm through the winter.
Check your local ticket reps or the official Falcons app for early 2026 season ticket deposits, especially with those massive matchups against KC and San Fran on the horizon.