The Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints wrap up Week 4 of the 2026 NFL season. Outside of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the NFC South actually looks at least entertaining to watch. The Falcons got Michael Penix Jr back and lit up the Green Bay Packers, while the Saints have been in nothing but thrillers despite their 1-2 record.
There is a special reason why Monday Night Football picked this matchup for this week. It’s 20 years ago that the Saints returned to New Orleans after being displaced for the entirety
of the 2005 season due to Hurricane Katrina. Their temporary homes were San Antonio and (predominantly) Baton Rouge. One of their “home” games was against the New York Giants… at Giants Stadium.
When the Superdome re-opened in 2006, it was on MNF against the Atlanta Falcons. Steve Gleason blocked Michael Koenen’s punt, and Curtis DeLoatch fell on the ball for one of the more emotional touchdowns in NFL history.
The Saints won 23-3 to improve to 3-0, ultimately making the NFC Championship Game for the first time in franchise history.
Here we are 20 years later, and it’s Falcons at Saints again, but thankfully not in the wake of a horrific hurricane. We’re hoping it’s a fun game, plus the winner improves to .500 in a division where it probably won’t take too many wins to be the leader. Chat about it here on Field Gulls starting at 5:15 pm PT on ESPN!
