If you're frantically refreshing your phone to find out what is the score to the saints game today, there's some news that might sting a little. The New Orleans Saints aren't playing today, January 15, 2026.
Honestly, it’s a weird feeling for the Who Dat Nation. Usually, by mid-January, we're either deep in playoff anxiety or at least arguing about who blew the coverage in a Wild Card game. Not this year. The Saints finished their 2025-2026 campaign a few weeks ago, and the scoreboard at the Caesars Superdome is currently dark.
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The Final Score That Ended the Season
To give you the actual answer to the most recent what is the score to the saints game today search, we have to look back at January 4, 2026. That was the season finale against the Atlanta Falcons. It was a heartbreaker. The Saints lost 19-17 in a game that basically summed up their entire season: flashes of brilliance, a late-game surge, but ultimately falling just short.
Tyler Shough, the rookie who took over the reigns at quarterback, actually put up a decent fight. He went 23 of 35 for 259 yards. He even ran one in himself. But a red-zone interception late in the fourth quarter by Atlanta’s Dee Alford pretty much sealed the deal.
The loss left New Orleans with a 6-11 record.
- Final Score: Atlanta Falcons 19, New Orleans Saints 17
- Final Record: 6-11 (4th in NFC South)
- The Aftermath: No playoffs for New Orleans in 2026.
It’s been a rough ride for Kellen Moore in his first year as head coach. You've got to admit, losing five of the first six games of the season makes it nearly impossible to climb back into the hunt, even with that late four-game winning streak they pulled off in December.
Why the Saints Are Watching From the Couch Today
Since today is Thursday, January 15, we are officially in the "dead zone" for teams that didn't make the cut. The NFL is currently gearing up for the Divisional Round of the playoffs, which starts this coming Saturday.
If you’re wondering who stole the Saints' spot, look no further than the Carolina Panthers. In a wild twist of fate, the Panthers won the NFC South with an 8-9 record. Yes, you read that right. An 8-9 record was enough to take the division title this year.
The Saints' loss to Atlanta in the final week actually helped hand that title to Carolina. Talk about adding salt to the wound.
What’s Next? The 2026 Opponents Are Already Set
Just because there isn't a score to report today doesn't mean the front office is sleeping. In fact, the 2026 opponents for the New Orleans Saints have already been locked in. Because they finished fourth in the NFC South, they’ll be playing a "fourth-place schedule" next year.
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That sounds like a bad thing, but it actually gives them a slight advantage in terms of strength of schedule. They’ll be facing other teams that struggled in 2025.
Home Games at the Superdome
The 2026 home slate looks pretty interesting. We’re going to see the usual suspects—Atlanta, Carolina, and Tampa Bay—but there are some heavy hitters coming to town too. The Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings are on the list, along with the Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, and Las Vegas Raiders.
Away Games on the Road
The road trip list is a bit more daunting. They’ll have to travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens, which is never an easy win. They also have games in Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, and New York (to face the Giants).
One weird quirk about the 2026 schedule? The Saints will play seven games against teams that are currently hiring new head coaches. That includes the Falcons, who fired Raheem Morris immediately after that win over the Saints.
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Moving Forward into the 2026 Offseason
So, while there is no what is the score to the saints game today to track in real-time, the "score" that matters now is the salary cap and the draft board.
The Saints are in a transition phase. Tyler Shough showed enough late in the season to make people think he might be the guy, but with a 6-11 record, everything is on the table. The defense, led by veterans who aren't getting any younger, needs a youth infusion.
If you're looking for football to watch this weekend, you're stuck with the playoff teams. Saturday features the Bills at the Broncos and the 49ers at the Seahawks. On Sunday, the Texans head to New England and the Rams play the Bears.
For the Saints, the focus shifts to late April and the NFL Draft. They'll likely have a top-10 pick, which is the "consolation prize" for a season that ended much earlier than anyone in New Orleans wanted.
Actionable Next Steps for Saints Fans:
- Stop checking the live score apps for a few months; the next time the Saints take the field will be the 2026 preseason in August.
- Monitor the NFL Draft order; the Saints' 6-11 finish puts them in a prime position to snag a high-end defensive tackle or another weapon for Shough.
- Watch the Divisional Round this weekend (Jan 17-18) to see how the "other half" lives and scout the teams New Orleans will have to leapfrog next season.