Final score for saints game: What really happened in Atlanta

The energy in Mercedes-Benz Stadium was thick, the kind of heavy atmosphere you only get when two rivals are playing for pride and a tiny sliver of hope. It wasn't the prettiest game. Honestly, it was a bit of a grind for much of the afternoon. But when the clock finally hit triple zeros on Sunday, January 4, 2026, the final score for saints game was a stinging 19-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

For New Orleans fans, this one hurt. Not just because it was the Falcons, though that’s always part of it. It hurt because the Saints actually had the momentum. They were clawing back. They were right there. Then, in the blink of an eye, the wheels came off in the red zone.

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Breaking down the final score for saints game

If you just look at the box score, you see a two-point game. You see a kicker, Zane Gonzalez, basically carrying the Falcons on his back with four field goals. But the real story is much more chaotic than the numbers suggest. The Saints entered this Week 18 matchup with a 6-10 record, playing under first-year head coach Kellen Moore. They had actually won four in a row leading up to this. People were starting to feel good. Maybe a bit too good.

Atlanta, led by Kirk Cousins, jumped out early. Drake London caught a 15-yard touchdown in the first quarter, and for a while, it felt like the Saints' defense was just trying to keep their heads above water. By halftime, it was 10-7 Falcons. The Saints' only score came from a gutsy 1-yard plunge by Tyler Shough.

The turning point that ruined the comeback

The second half was a field goal fest. Charlie Smyth knocked one through for New Orleans, while Gonzalez just kept hitting for Atlanta.

Then came the drive.

Trailing 16-10 late in the fourth, Tyler Shough—who was playing without several key starters—orchestrated a beautiful march down the field. They got all the way to the Atlanta 20-yard line. This was it. A touchdown wins it. A touchdown potentially sends the Saints home with a five-game winning streak to end the year.

Shough dropped back, looking for Dante Pettis. Instead, he found Falcons cornerback Dee Alford. Alford didn't just pick it off; he took it 59 yards the other way. It was a complete backbreaker. That interception set up Gonzalez’s fourth field goal, pushing the lead to 19-10 with only a few minutes left.

1. Saints 1st Quarter: 0 points
2. Saints 2nd Quarter: 7 points
3. Saints 3rd Quarter: 3 points
4. Saints 4th Quarter: 7 points

The late touchdown pass to Ronnie Bell with 1:11 left made the score look closer than the game felt in those final minutes. The onside kick failed. Game over.

Why this result actually mattered for the NFC South

This game was basically the puppet master for the entire division. By beating the Saints, the Falcons (8-9) essentially handed the NFC South title to the Carolina Panthers on a silver platter.

It’s one of those weird NFL situations. Despite winning, the Falcons fired coach Raheem Morris and GM Terry Fontenot just hours after the game. You don't see that every day. A win over your biggest rival and you still get the pink slip. It just goes to show how high the expectations were in Atlanta this year.

For the Saints, the loss solidified a 6-11 season. It’s a step back from the middle-of-the-pack finishes they've had recently, but there were flashes. Tyler Shough finished 23 of 35 for 259 yards. He’s got some mobility, evidenced by that 29-yard scramble that setup the ill-fated red zone trip. Kevin Austin and Juwan Johnson did what they could, but the lack of explosive plays in the first half really capped the ceiling for this offense.

Defensive bright spots in a losing effort

You can't blame the defense for this one. They held Kirk Cousins to just 180 yards passing. Carl Granderson was a man possessed, racking up 1.5 sacks and an interception. Chase Young also showed why the Saints brought him in, getting a sack of his own and making Bijan Robinson's life miserable in the backfield.

The Falcons only managed 208 total yards. Read that again. The Saints' defense held an NFL team to barely 200 yards and still lost. That's the part that's going to haunt Kellen Moore through the offseason. When your defense gives you that kind of performance, you have to find more than 17 points.

Looking ahead: What's next for the Saints?

Now that the final score for saints game is in the books and the 2025-2026 season is officially over, the front office has a massive mountain to climb. The salary cap situation in New Orleans is a legendary headache, and it's not getting any easier.

Expect some serious roster churning. They need more speed at wide receiver—Chris Olave needs help. The offensive line also struggled at times against Atlanta's front, giving up four sacks.

If you're a fan looking for a silver lining, it’s the way they finished the year before this loss. A four-game winning streak showed that the locker room hasn't given up on Moore. They're playing hard. They're just not playing particularly smart in the biggest moments yet.

To get a head start on the 2026 season, keep an eye on the following:

• Review the 2026 NFL Draft order now that the Saints have secured a top-10 pick.
• Monitor the health of the veteran core, specifically looking for updates on the retirement rumors surrounding some of the older defensive stars.
• Watch for the official start of the free agency "legal tampering" period in March to see how Mickey Loomis navigates the cap.
• Check the local New Orleans beat writers for early reports on Tyler Shough’s status as the definitive QB1 heading into training camp.

The road back to the top of the NFC South is long, but the foundation of a top-tier defense is clearly still there. It's just a matter of whether the offense can finally catch up.