Saints Rivalry
A Deep South grudge match that has riveted fans for over 50 years.
The Falcons–Saints rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints. The rivalry began in 1967 when the Saints entered the NFL as an expansion team; the Falcons had joined the league a year earlier. The two teams were the NFL's first in the traditional Deep South, which along with the Dallas Cowboys helped break the Washington Redskins decades-long monopoly as the NFL's only team located in the Southern United States. The teams were both placed in the NFC West in , resulting in the teams playing two games against each other every year since (except for the strike-shortened 1987 season). The teams were both placed in the newly-formed NFC South in the realignment.
Quick Facts
- Character
- Divisional Rivalry
- Affiliation
- NFC West (1970–2001), NFC South (2002–Present)
- First appears
- 1967 (Regular Season)
- Status
- Active and Intense
- Key era
- Continuous Divisional Alignment (NFC West & NFC South)
Lore & Background
The national media rarely noted the series during the teams' first decades of existence, probably due to both teams' long stretches of futility. However, during the late 2000s and 2010s, both teams sustained success and routinely battled for the top spot in the NFC South. Despite both teams' lack of success for much of their histories, games between the two teams have riveted their respective regions for more than 50 years; fans of both teams consider the other their most important and hated opponent.
ESPN.com writer Len Pasquarelli has cited the rivalry as one of the best in sports: "Every year, bus caravans loaded with rowdy (and usually very inebriated) fans make the seven-hour trip between the two cities. Unless you've attended a Falcons-Saints debauchery-filled afternoon, you'll just have to take my word for how much fun it really can be." Longtime starting quarterbacks Drew Brees of the Saints and Matt Ryan of the Falcons have faced one another 23 times when starting, a record for most matchups between two starting quarterbacks in the Super Bowl era.
Reader's Guide
The Falcons lead the series, 58–56. The two teams have met once in the playoffs, with the Falcons winning the 1991 NFC Wild Card Game.
Did You Know?
- Atlanta's 62–7 victory at Tulane Stadium in 1973 remains the largest loss in Saints history, with a 55-point margin of defeat.
- The only postseason meeting was the 1991 NFC Wild Card Game, won by the Falcons 27–20.
Frequently Asked Questions
What defines the Falcons-Saints rivalry?
This fierce divisional battle is rooted in Southern pride and geographic proximity, featuring two annual matchups between Atlanta and New Orleans.
When was the first meeting between these teams?
The franchises first faced each other during the regular season back in 1967 before formal divisional alignment intensified the competition.
Which divisions have they shared historically?
Originally aligned together in the NFC West from 1970 to 2001, both teams now compete annually within the modern NFC South starting in 2002.
Is this considered the oldest Southern rivalry?
No, that title belongs to college football's Georgia versus Georgia Tech contest, often called the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry.
What is the current status of this matchup?
It remains an active and intense conflict where both teams fight for divisional supremacy twice every season.
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