The Falcons didn’t just beat the Saints on Monday night. They kept pushing, kept leaning on New Orleans, and kept the scoreboard climbing long after the outcome had been decided.
Atlanta was already up 24-7 at halftime, and from there the game turned into a one-sided pounding. The Falcons kept running the ball, wore down a Saints defense that looked spent, and still mixed in the right pass at the right time. By the end, the stadium had emptied out and Atlanta was ahead by 31 points.
Drake London, for one, had no interest in easing off.
“For me, personally, I just didn’t forget about Jameis Winston, how he was supposed to take a knee when we were here and they wanted to drive in,” London said after the win, via Daniel Flick of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “So, if we could run the score up, then why not?”
That comment points straight back to the final week of the 2023 season, when the Saints were already ahead by 24 late and lined up in victory formation at the goal line. Jameis Winston broke from that setup to get Jamaal Williams into the end zone, and the aftermath included a tense exchange between Arthur Smith and Dennis Allen after the final whistle.
Moments like that have helped sharpen what has become one of the NFL’s better rivalries over the last 20 years, and Atlanta has clearly enjoyed the edge lately. The Falcons have now beaten the Saints three straight times and four of the last five meetings.
London did his part in the win, finishing with five catches for 96 yards. Since Michael Penix Jr. returned as the starting quarterback in Week 3, London has piled up nearly 300 receiving yards, though he still hasn’t gotten his first touchdown. That seems like a milestone that won’t be waiting much longer.
In Other News...
Falcons Just Added Backfield Depth Fans May Want To Track
The Falcons added another name to the backfield mix this week, signing running back Jam Miller to the practice squad while moving on from Cash Jones to clear the roster spot. It is the kind of small transaction that can matter later, especially for a team that keeps an eye on depth at running back throughout the season.
Miller arrives with an unusual backstory for a midseason addition. He was originally drafted by the Patriots in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, but an injury led to his release before the season began. After working his way back, he reportedly stood out in a workout for Atlanta and now gets a chance to show whether that look can turn into something more. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Domecoming Disaster Got Even More Disturbing In The Stands
The Falcons left the Caesars Superdome with a lopsided win, but the day carried a heavier emotional backdrop than a normal rivalry game. The matchup marked 20 years since the first Saints game back after Hurricane Katrina, and instead of a celebratory homecoming, the building turned tense as New Orleans absorbed a 45-24 loss and slid to 1-3 on the season.
The unease in the stands only added to the mood. During the game, a Saints fan fell on the steep steps in the 600 level, though he appeared conscious and was helped by nearby fans, a jarring scene inside a stadium that was already hearing plenty of frustration from the home crowd. The Saints are still winless at home, and after another rough afternoon, the pressure around the team is starting to feel as loud as the disappointment in the seats. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Defense Is Forcing A Bigger Nate Ollie Conversation
Through four weeks, the Falcons have turned their pass rush into one of the more striking early-season stories in the league. Atlanta leads the NFL in pressures, and the surge has come with meaningful help from players such as Cameron Thomas and Samson Ebukam even as the front has dealt with injuries and suspensions. It has also sharpened the spotlight on defensive line coach Nate Ollie, whose influence has been easy to see in a unit that has paired disruption up front with one of the leagues best run defenses.
Ollies rise has been part of the conversation for a while, with stops in Houston, Indianapolis, New York and Philadelphia helping build his reputation as one of the more promising young coaches around. What Atlanta is getting now looks like more than a hot month or a good stretch from a few pass rushers. It is pushing the question of how much of this early defensive leap belongs to the players, and how soon the Falcons may have to start thinking about Ollie as a future defensive coordinator elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]