The New Orleans Saints visit the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17 of the 2026 NFL season, on Sunday, January 3 at 1:00 PM ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Fieldturf. The Saints are 3-5 (1st in the NFC South), the Falcons 3-6 (3rd in the NFC South). The Saints went 2-4 down the stretch, the Falcons 2-4.
In 2026 the Saints scored 23.1 points per game (15th in the NFL) and allowed 27 (27th in the NFL); the Falcons scored 20.9 (23rd in the NFL) and allowed 24.8 (20th in the NFL).
Head-to-head, the recent series reads ATL 4–2 over the last 6 meetings, at an average total of 48.5; against the spread it is NO 4–2, and the total has gone OVER 3–3. ATL have taken 4 of the last 6 and are unbeaten at home in the series — 3 of the 6 landed inside a score.
Injury report: 24 players out and 13 questionable across the two teams — Travis Etienne Jr. (NO RB, Injured reserve), Zachariah Branch (ATL WR, Doubtful), Erik McCoy (NO C, Doubtful) and Cameron Williams (ATL OL, IR, designated to return).
| New Orleans Saints | Atlanta Falcons | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 3-5 | 3-6 |
| Division | 1st NFC S | 3rd NFC S |
| Last six results | L L L W L W | W L L W L L |
| Points / G | 23.1 (15th) | 20.9 (23rd) |
| Total Yds / G | 343.5 (16th) | 333.4 (23rd) |
| Yards / Play | 5.2 (24th) | 5.7 (15th) |
| Pass Yds / G | 248.3 (13th) | 196.2 (25th) |
| Rush Yds / G | 95.3 (26th) | 137.2 (6th) |
| 3rd Down % | 43.5% (7th) | 34.9% (27th) |
| 1st Downs / G | 20.5 (11th) | 17.9 (25th) |
| Turnover Diff | -6 (28th) | -8 (30th) |
| Pts Allowed / G | 27 (27th) | 24.8 (20th) |
| Yds Allowed / G | 389.5 (30th) | 360 (22nd) |
| Pass Yds Allowed | 255.6 (28th) | 241.2 (20th) |
| Rush Yds Allowed | 133.9 (29th) | 118.8 (17th) |
| Sacks | 23 (11th) | 20 (14th) |
| Player | Team | Position | Status | Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travis Etienne Jr. | NO | RB | Injured reserve | Hamstring |
| CJ Donaldson | NO | RB | Questionable | Shoulder |
| Zachariah Branch | ATL | WR | Doubtful | Hamstring |
| Erik McCoy | NO | C | Doubtful | |
| Cameron Williams | ATL | OL | IR, designated to return | Ankle |
| Brian Robinson Jr. | ATL | RB | Injured reserve | Hamstring |
| Samson Ebukam | ATL | DE | Injured reserve | Hamstring |
| Anterio Thompson | ATL | DT | Out | |
| Michael Jerrell | ATL | OT | Injured reserve | Biceps |
| Da'Shawn Hand | ATL | DT | Injured reserve | Knee |
| Storm Norton | ATL | OT | Reserve/PUP | |
| Dillon Radunz | NO | G | Injured reserve | |
| Trey Sermon | ATL | RB | Injured reserve | |
| JD Bertrand | ATL | LB | Injured reserve | Undisclosed |
| Mason Tipton | NO | WR | Reserve/PUP | Leg |
| Moliki Matavao | NO | TE | Injured reserve | Knee |
| Ty Chandler | NO | RB | Injured reserve | Knee |
| Rejzohn Wright | NO | CB | Injured reserve | Hip |
| Bryan Bresee | NO | DT | Injured reserve | |
| Jalon Walker | ATL | LB | Injured reserve | |
| DeAngelo Malone | ATL | LB | Reserve/PUP | Undisclosed |
| Nick Saldiveri | NO | OT | Reserve/PUP | Knee |
| Tyrone Wheatley Jr. | ATL | OT | Injured Reserve | |
| Trevor Siemian | ATL | QB | Questionable | |
| Emory Jones | ATL | QB | Injured Reserve | |
| Kaleb McGary | ATL | OT | Injured Reserve | |
| Malik Heath | ATL | WR | Out | |
| Malik Verdon | ATL | LB | Injured Reserve | |
| Sam Roberts | ATL | DT | Injured Reserve | |
| Troy Andersen | ATL | LB | Out | |
| Ronnie Harrison Jr. | ATL | LB | Questionable | |
| Keshawn Banks | ATL | DE | Injured Reserve | |
| Darren Hall | ATL | S | Questionable | |
| Zach Harrison | ATL | DE | Injured Reserve | |
| Mike Hughes | ATL | CB | Out | |
| Cooper Rush | ATL | QB | Out | |
| Kam Dewberry | ATL | G | Questionable | |
| C.J. Henderson | ATL | CB | Questionable | |
| Beaux Collins | ATL | WR | Injured Reserve | |
| Yasir Abdullah | ATL | LB | Injured Reserve | |
| Drake Jackson | ATL | DE | Out | |
| Torricelli Simpkins III | NO | G | Questionable | |
| Will Clapp | NO | C | Injured Reserve | |
| Taysom Hill | NO | QB | Questionable | |
| Devin Neal | NO | RB | Injured Reserve | |
| Jack Stoll | NO | TE | Injured Reserve | |
| Ja'Lynn Polk | NO | WR | Questionable | |
| Trey Palmer | NO | WR | Questionable | |
| Landon Young | NO | OT | Injured Reserve | |
| Barry Wesley | NO | OT | Injured Reserve | |
| Keeshawn Silver | NO | DT | Out | |
| Zxavian Harris | NO | DT | Out | |
| Michael Heldman | NO | LB | Injured Reserve | |
| Brock Rechsteiner | NO | WR | SUSP | |
| Brien Taylor Jr. | NO | DT | Questionable | |
| David Long Jr. | NO | CB | Injured Reserve | |
| Jordyn Tyson | NO | WR | Questionable | |
| Lorenzo Styles Jr. | NO | S | Questionable |
ATL have taken 4 of the last 6 and are unbeaten at home in the series — 3 of the 6 landed inside a score.
| Game | Winner | Score | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Week 4 | ATL | 45–24 | Caesars Superdome |
| 2025 Week 18 | ATL | 19–17 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| 2025 Week 12 | ATL | 24–10 | Caesars Superdome |
| 2024 Week 10 | NO | 20–17 | Caesars Superdome |
| 2024 Week 4 | ATL | 26–24 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| 2023 Week 18 | NO | 48–17 | Caesars Superdome |