Honestly, if you missed the season finale at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, you might look at the score of the New Orleans Saints football game and think it was just another divisional slog. But 19–17? That doesn't even begin to cover the chaos. On Sunday, January 4, 2026, the Saints walked into Atlanta on a four-game heater, looking like they might actually pull off a miraculous late-season turnaround.
Instead, they walked out with a 6–11 record and a fourth-place finish in the NFC South.
It’s kinda wild how the NFL works. One minute Tyler Shough is looking like the future of the franchise, and the next, Dee Alford is sprinting 59 yards the other way after a red-zone pick that basically ripped the heart out of New Orleans. That single play didn't just end the game; it effectively handed the division title to the Carolina Panthers. Talk about a brutal way to go into the offseason.
Breaking Down the Score of the New Orleans Saints Football Game
The game was a defensive chess match that turned into a nightmare for Kellen Moore in his first year at the helm. New Orleans trailed 16–10 late in the fourth. They were moving the ball well. They actually got down to the Atlanta 20-yard line. You could feel the "here we go again" energy from the Falcons crowd.
Then, the interception happened.
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Tyler Shough tried to force one to Dante Pettis. It was a mistake. Alford jumped the route, and that long return set up Zane Gonzalez for his fourth field goal of the day. That 38-yarder pushed the lead to 19–10. Even though the Saints managed to scrape together a touchdown late to make it 19–17, the clock was an enemy they couldn't beat.
Why the 19–17 Loss Stings So Much
The Saints were actually the hottest team in the division for a month. Before this game, they had rattled off four straight wins, including a 34–26 victory over Tennessee and a 29–6 blowout of the Jets.
- The Streak: They went from 2–10 to 6–10.
- The Momentum: Fans were starting to believe Kellen Moore’s system had finally clicked.
- The Result: A sweep by the Falcons. Atlanta beat them 24–10 back in November and finished the job in January.
The Tyler Shough Rollercoaster
You’ve gotta feel for Shough. He finished with some respectable numbers this season, and there’s even been some "Rookie of the Year" chatter (at least from the local media), but he was harassed all day by the Falcons' pass rush.
Landon Pearce was a one-man wrecking crew for Atlanta. He broke the franchise sack record during the third quarter, dropping Shough twice on back-to-back plays. It’s hard to establish a rhythm when you’re constantly staring at the ceiling of a dome.
Despite the loss, Moore said he was "really proud" of the group. And he should be, sorta. Going from 1–8 to a competitive finish shows some backbone. But in New Orleans, "backbone" doesn't hang banners.
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Key Stats From the Finale
The offense managed 259 passing yards, but the ground game was largely neutralized. Chris Olave—who earned a 2nd-team All-Pro nod this year—was his usual reliable self, but the lack of a consistent run game meant the Falcons could just pin their ears back.
The defense did its part. They held the Falcons without a touchdown for long stretches, forcing Gonzalez to kick field goals instead of extra points. But when your offense turns the ball over in the red zone during a one-score game, you’re asking for trouble.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2025-26 Season
A lot of national pundits will look at 6–11 and say the Saints are a bottom-feeder. That’s a bit of an oversimplification. If you look at the middle of the season, it was ugly. A seven-game losing streak is hard to ignore.
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However, the team that finished the season wasn't the team that started it. The defense under Brandon Staley actually improved significantly in the final six weeks. They ended up ranked 16th in points against—not elite, but middle-of-the-pack and enough to win with if the offense is humming.
The real issue was the start. Losing to Arizona and San Francisco in Weeks 1 and 2 by a combined 12 points set a tone of "almost but not quite" that took months to shake off.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Since the Saints finished last in the NFC South, their 2026 opponents are already locked in. It’s a bit of a "last place" prize. They’ll get a fourth-place schedule, which usually means a few "easier" games on paper against teams like the Arizona Cardinals and the Las Vegas Raiders at home.
The road ahead is still tough, though. Trips to Baltimore and Cincinnati aren't exactly vacations.
Actionable Offseason Steps
If you're a Saints fan or just following the team's trajectory, there are a few things to watch closely over the next few months:
- The Salary Cap: Mickey Loomis is once again doing his cap gymnastics. Keep an eye on the "restructure" news in March.
- Wide Receiver Depth: Beyond Olave, the Saints need a consistent #2. Dante Pettis had moments, but that final-game interception showed the chemistry isn't quite there yet.
- The Draft: With a 6–11 record, New Orleans will have a high enough pick to snag a cornerstone tackle or another weapon for Shough.
- Kellen Moore’s Year Two: Historically, his offenses take a leap in the second year. Whether that happens in the Big Easy remains to be seen.
The score of the New Orleans Saints football game on January 4th might look like a footnote, but it was a microcosm of their entire year: flashes of brilliance, a gritty comeback, and a costly mistake that left everyone wondering "what if."