Game Preview: Falcons vs. Saints | 2024 NFL Week 4

The New Orleans Saints visit the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for Week 4 of the 2024 NFL season on Sunday, Sept. 29 at noon CT.

Sep 24, 2024 at 04:58 PM

New Orleans Saints

Saints

New Orleans Saints

Falcons

Atlanta Falcons

FOX

WWL 105.3FM/870 AM

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

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SAINTS: Roster | Depth Chart | Stats | Injury Report

FALCONS: Roster | Depth Chart | Stats | Injury Repor

The New Orleans Saints (2-1) will play at the Atlanta Falcons (1-2) in the front end of the first of a pair of two-game road trips in the 2024 season, as they seek to remain in at least a tie for first place in the NFC South. Kickoff at Mercedes-Benz Stadium is set for Noon CT on Sunday.

New Orleans is coming off a 15-12 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. The two longtime NFC rivals battled for nearly all 60 minutes until Saints QB Derek Carr was intercepted by Eagles S Reed Blankenship with 48 seconds remaining. New Orleans had gotten out of the gates quickly for the third consecutive week this season in the
opening possession when K Blake Grupe kicked a 34-yard field goal. The 3-0 score stood until the fourth quarter, as the Saints defense stopped the Eagles on five straight
trips into their territory, but ultimately gave up two huge plays that were the difference in the game.

The Atlanta Falcons fell to the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs 22-17 in Week 3. Even though the Falcons lost the time of possession battle (25:03) and were 2-of-9 on third down, their defense was able to keep them in the game and give the offense a chance to win it late. With less than a minute left, the Falcons were unable to convert on fourth down from the Chiefs' 12-yard line (Atlanta was 1-of-3 on fourth down).

Despite the Saints' loss, New Orleans is tied for first place in the NFC South with Tampa Bay (2-1), who hosts Philadelphia in Week 4. The Carolina Panthers (1-2) will host the Cincinnati Bengals (0-3).

SAINTS vs. FALCONS SERIES HISTORY

The Saints-Falcons regular season series is led 55-54 by the Saints, with New Orleans holding a 25-11 advantage over the Falcons since 2006. Since 1991, 36 games have been decided by eight points or less. The Falcons had a 10-game winning streak from 1995-99, which remains the Saints' longest winless streak against an opponent. New Orleans took 13-of-16 in the rivalry from 1986-94 and Atlanta won nine-straight over the fledgling Saints from 1969-73. Atlanta's most recent mastery over a five-year period ended with a 21-19 win for New Orleans at the Georgia Dome on Nov. 22, 2000. Eight games in the series have gone into overtime.

In the 109 regular season games of the series there has been:
2,344 points scored by New Orleans, 2,411 allowed.
A ten-game Atlanta winning streak from 1995-99.
A six-game win streak for New Orleans from 1986-89.
46 games decided by double-digits.
18 games decided by 21 or more points.
54 games decided by seven points or less.
4 games decided by one point.
A 38-point win by Saints (11/1/87) - Biggest Saints win.
A 55-point loss by Saints (9/16/73) - Biggest Saints loss.
Four shutouts - Two by each club, the most recent a 38-0 Saints win in Atlanta on 11/1/87.
Eight overtime games— four wins by each club.
Six Monday night games, two Sunday night games and eight Thursday night games, including Thanksgiving night in 2018 and 2019.

THE LAST MEETING

Falcons 17, Saints 48; Jan. 7, 2024 @ Caesars Superdome – The New Orleans Saints did their part. They defeated the Atlanta Falcons 48-17 on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome to finish the regular season 9-8. But with the Tampa Bay Bay Buccaneers defeating the Carolina Panthers, the Bucs won the NFC South.

It was arguably Derek Carr's best game as a Saint as he was 22 of 28 for 264 yards and four touchdowns with a 145.5 rating. Safety Tyrann Mathieu almost had a pick-six at the end of the game but was tackled at the 1-yard line after a 74-yard return with 1:13 to play. Williams scored on a 1-yard dive on the next play. FULL GAME RECAP

Photos: Game Action | Saints vs. Falcons | 2023 NFL Week 18