Winners, losers as Falcons spoil Saints' ‘Domecoming' on Monday Night Football

October 5, 2026

The Atlanta Falcons dominated the New Orleans Saints 45–24 on Monday Night Football, derailing the Saints’ celebratory return to the Superdome for the 20th anniversary of their post-Hurricane Katrina relocation. Atlanta’s offense struck early with explosive plays, including a 59-yard touchdown run by rookie sensation Bijan Robinson, who finished with 145 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 19 carries.

His dual-threat counterpart, Brian Robinson Jr., added 62 rushing yards and three scores, tying a franchise record with five rushing touchdowns in a single game. The Falcons’ backfield duo overwhelmed a Saints defense that struggled to contain the run while also failing to generate meaningful ground offense of its own, as Alvin Kamara managed only 23 rushing yards on seven attempts despite two touchdowns.

Defensively, Falcons sixth-round pick Harold Perkins Jr. emerged as a standout, tying for the game lead with 10 tackles, including seven solo stops, and contributing a sack and a pass breakup.

Meanwhile, New Orleans’ momentum collapsed after Atlanta’s opening drive, leaving head coach Kellen Moore with few answers as his team’s energy faded in a game that began as a historic celebration. The loss drops the Saints to 1–3, while Atlanta improves to 2–2 and looks revitalized under quarterback Michael Penix Jr.