The Falcons head to New Orleans on Monday night for the second stop in a stretch of three straight prime-time games, and Week 4 brings them face to face with the Saints in a matchup that always carries plenty of bite.
Atlanta’s offense looked revitalized last Thursday with Michael Penix Jr. back in the lineup after his ACL injury. His return was the spark behind the Falcons’ first win of the Kevin Stefanski era, and it gave this group a chance to show what it can be when everything starts clicking. Now the challenge is keeping that momentum going on the road against a division opponent.
New Orleans has its own reasons to feel confident. Tyler Shough has emerged as an exciting young quarterback, and he enters Week 4 second in the league in passing. His mobility, paired with his chemistry with Chris Olave, sets up a difficult assignment for an Atlanta defense that has been good at generating pressure but has also been vulnerable through the air.
There’s no shortage of history between these teams. The Falcons and Saints have met 114 times, and Atlanta holds the all-time edge at 58-56 after sweeping the season series in 2025. That only adds to the edge in a rivalry that has long been among the league’s most heated.
Monday night also brings a little extra meaning for the Saints. New Orleans is 20 years removed from reopening the Superdome, and the Falcons were the opponent that night in a 23-3 loss that featured Steve Gleason’s blocked punt. Atlanta answered back 10 years later with a 45-32 win in 2016, and it will try to do it again in this latest chapter.
It should be a tough one, but here’s everything you need to know for Week 4.
In Other News...
Jake Matthews Is Suddenly A Falcons Concern At The Worst Time
Jake Matthews has long been one of the Falcons quiet constants, the kind of veteran left tackle Atlanta could usually trust to steady things no matter what else was happening around him. This season has brought a different picture. According to Pro Football Focus grades and what has shown up on game tape, Matthews has slipped well below the level the Falcons are used to getting, and his performance has become a real issue on both the passing and running fronts.
The timing could hardly be worse, with New Orleans coming up in Week 4 and bringing a pass rush that is built to stress any shaky edge protection. For a Falcons offense trying to settle in, Matthews struggles add another layer of concern, especially because his track record has always been about durability and dependability. Now Atlanta has to wonder whether one of its most trusted veterans can hold up in a matchup that is likely to put him under the microscope from the first snap. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons' Early Draft Outlook Could Shape Their Next Big Decision
A speculative 2027 NFL mock draft already has an early feel for where the Falcons could be headed, and it points them toward a place they have spent plenty of time thinking about: the offensive line. In that projection, Jordan Seaton lands in Atlanta in the first round, a reminder that the next big roster question for the Falcons may be less about flash and more about keeping the foundation sturdy as the years move on.
The broader mock draft is still in the realm of educated guesswork, with Jeremiah Smith slotted to the top overall pick for Miami and other premium names like Colin Simmons and Leonard Moore going early to teams with clear needs. For the Falcons, though, the line choice stands out because it reflects a familiar reality in roster building, where protecting the quarterback and shoring up the front can shape how the rest of the draft board is attacked. [Read more 🡒]
Harold Perkins Jr. Is Pushing Falcons Toward A Bigger Defensive Decision
Harold Perkins Jr. has given the Falcons a useful early look at what he can become, and the first three games have only added to the intrigue. The sixth-round linebacker has earned strong marks from Pro Football Focus in both defense and coverage, while mostly working in passing situations and handling his assignments cleanly. He has not missed a tackle yet, which is exactly the kind of early reliability that can buy a young defender more trust.
Perkins next step is less about whether he belongs and more about how much Atlanta can ask of him. The run defense still needs work, but the Falcons are weighing whether his early play is enough to expand his role as the season goes on. For a defense always looking for more speed and flexibility, that is the kind of decision worth watching. [Read more 🡒]