Falcons vs. Saints: A look at the series history going into 2024 (part 1)

The Atlanta Falcons and Saints renew their bitter rivalry in the early portion of the season, with the winner poised to break the deadlock in their head-to-head record, which sits at 55-55. These teams split the season series last year after being in the same spot they were in going into that first matchup in 2023, deadlocked at 54-54.

Just like last season, if the Saints win this first matchup they will take the lead in the all time head to head series for the first time since winning the first ever matchup, in 1967.

Overall, New Orleans finally closed the gap to tie the series in the Arthur Smith era, where they went an overall 4-2.

Their dominance in this head to head series stretches back to 2006, but after the Falcons finally achieved some balance and success in the Sean Payton era between 2014-2017, going 5-2, the pendulum swung heavily back in the Bayou's favor.

The Saints are 10-3 against the Falcons dating back to a Christmas Eve victory in 2017. This has spanned the head coaching tenures of Dan Quinn and Arthur Smith, with Raheem Morris' interim season mixed in there as well. Now back as the head coach (with no interim tag this time), Raheem Morris will look to finally bring back some consistent success to Atlanta in this rivalry.

Last Meeting The Falcons and Saints met in Week 18 of last season, and both were going to miss the playoffs after overall disappointing seasons. There was a sense that whichever head coach lost this game was likely to be fired, with each respective fanbase having turned on Arthur Smith and Dennis Allen.

What would end up being Desmond Ridder's last ever game as a Falcons started out perfectly, with the defense forcing an initial punt and the offense marching downfield and culminating a seven play drive with a Jonnu Smith touchdown catch. After the Saints answered with their own touchdown drive, a magnificent Bijan Robinson 71-yard catch and run put the Falcons up 14-7 midway through the first quarter.

Following another immediate answer by the Saints and a couple of field goals traded, the teams went into the half tied at 17 and this one had the makings of another Falcons-Saints classic.

From there, Atlanta got absolutely boat raced. The New Orleans offense scored on their next four consecutive drives (three touchdowns), while their defense shut Ridder and company out. The last offensive play by the Saints was a touchdown run out of victory formation, which Arthur Smith and the Falcons weren't too happy about after the final whistle.

The Saints outscored Atlanta 31-0 in the second half.