The rivalry between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons is one of the NFL’s most underrated contests. Passionate as it may be for each fanbase, the energy each side brings still surprises outsiders who have spent their entire adult life around the NFL, like retired wide receiver Chad Ochocinco. It’s almost like one of the century-long SEC rivalries, pitting two iconic Southern cities with their own unique, distinctive cultures; New Orleans might be the most football-hungry city in America, while Atlanta is a great soccer town. Let’s run through a year in the Saints-Falcons rivalry.
This series values pettiness, making sure that past slights, flops, and victories are never forgotten — like that time the Falcons lost Super Bowl LI after climbing to a 28-3 lead late in the third quarter. It might be a pact of mutual destruction: Falcons fans love reminding Saints fans of their team’s own misfortune, like referencing the NFC championship game no-call in their own season-reveal video.
What’s fascinating is that the rivalry extends beyond the two warring fanbases. Former players like Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who once drew a fine for making obscene gestures at his own fans, took issue with what he considered an excessive Saints celebration. Retired Saints linebacker Scott Shanle advised a Falcons player that his former team would enjoy preparing for Super Bowl LIII in their locker room.
Unfortunately, the Saints didn’t reach the Super Bowl; it didn’t stop the idea of New Orleans preparing and partying in Atlanta’s home locker room (they hosted that year’s title match) from rattling head coach Dan Quinn and Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. Some Saints fans still angry with the no-call purchased taunting billboards surrounding Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but a retaliatory campaign by Falcons fans was shut down by New Orleans-area advertising companies.
Current players feel it, too. Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan hated to see his friend and teammate Tyeler Davison sign with “that red and black team” in free agency earlier this year; he later celebrated Atlanta’s decision to load up on rookie offensive linemen in the 2019 NFL Draft, knowing he’ll get to compete against them. He’s as eager as anyone to play in the next chapter of their rivalry, even if Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is an afterthought in his list of the NFC South division’s best players (Jordan has sacked Ryan 15 times in 16 games, for the record).
So we’ll see what this next game brings. Last year’s first meeting between the Saints and Falcons saw then-rookie pass rusher Marcus Davenport pick up the first sack of his NFL career, and a pair of dramatic touchdown runs by quarterback Drew Brees late in the game. Brees went on to throw four touchdown passes against the Falcons (each of them caught by a different undrafted free agent) on Thanksgiving night, and he’ll get the chance to win another Thanksgiving turkey this year. Or maybe Saints coach Sean Payton will settle for another roasted falcon. Whatever happens on Sunday, neither team’s fans are going to let it be forgotten any time soon.
