The Falcons beat the Saints 45–24 in New Orleans, moving to 2–2. The Saints fell to 1–3.
For the Falcons, Michael Penix Jr. went 15-for-20 for 223 yards with 1 touchdown. Bijan Robinson ran for 145 yards on 19 carries and scored 2 touchdowns. Drake London caught 5 passes for 96 yards.
For the Saints, Tyler Shough went 30-for-48 for 286 yards with 1 touchdown. Alvin Kamara ran for 23 yards on 7 carries and scored 2 touchdowns. Chris Olave caught 8 passes for 116 yards.
Recaps are written automatically from the final score and box score: player stats from nflverse (CC BY 4.0).
Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. against Saints quarterback Tyler Shough. Lineups as listed before kickoff (Falcons: Oct 5, 2026, 11:53 AM ET; Saints: Oct 5, 2026, 11:53 AM ET).
Falcons in this game: shotgun 27%, under center 64%, pistol 9% · one back 58%, two backs 38%, empty 4% · motion 56% (55 charted snaps).
As the team lists it: three receivers, one tight end and one running back. Quarterback shown under center, where the Falcons lined him up on most snaps.
WLB#96 Carl Granderson Out (ankle)Next up: Anfernee Jennings
LILB#55 Kaden Elliss Out (calf)Next up: Isaiah Stalbird
RILB#20 Pete Werner Questionable (shoulder)Next up: Danny Stutsman
SLB#99 Chase YoungNext up: Myles Cole
LCB#1 Kool-Aid McKinstryNext up: Michael Reid
SS#21 Justin ReidNo backup listed
FS#23 Julian BlackmonNext up: Jonas Sanker
RCB#29 Quincy RileyNext up: Martin Emerson Jr.
Two tight ends: the top two receivers stay on the field and the second tight end lines up on the left end. Quarterback shown under center, where the Falcons lined him up on most snaps. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement.
WLB#96 Carl Granderson Out (ankle)Next up: Anfernee Jennings
LILB#55 Kaden Elliss Out (calf)Next up: Isaiah Stalbird
RILB#20 Pete Werner Questionable (shoulder)Next up: Danny Stutsman
SLB#99 Chase YoungNext up: Myles Cole
LCB#1 Kool-Aid McKinstryNext up: Michael Reid
SS#21 Justin ReidNo backup listed
FS#23 Julian BlackmonNext up: Jonas Sanker
RCB#29 Quincy RileyNext up: Martin Emerson Jr.
I-formation: two receivers and one tight end, with the quarterback under center and a fullback and running back stacked behind him. Two-back sets: 38% of snaps in this game. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement. No fullback on the depth chart, so the second tight end, Charlie Woerner, is shown at fullback.
WLB#96 Carl Granderson Out (ankle)Next up: Anfernee Jennings
LILB#55 Kaden Elliss Out (calf)Next up: Isaiah Stalbird
RILB#20 Pete Werner Questionable (shoulder)Next up: Danny Stutsman
SLB#99 Chase YoungNext up: Myles Cole
LCB#1 Kool-Aid McKinstryNext up: Michael Reid
SS#21 Justin ReidNo backup listed
FS#23 Julian BlackmonNext up: Jonas Sanker
RCB#29 Quincy RileyNext up: Martin Emerson Jr.
Four receivers and no tight end: the next receiver on the depth chart comes in. Quarterback shown under center, where the Falcons lined him up on most snaps. Empty-backfield sets: 4% of snaps in this game. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement.
WLB#96 Carl Granderson Out (ankle)Next up: Anfernee Jennings
LILB#55 Kaden Elliss Out (calf)Next up: Isaiah Stalbird
RILB#20 Pete Werner Questionable (shoulder)Next up: Danny Stutsman
SLB#99 Chase YoungNext up: Myles Cole
LCB#1 Kool-Aid McKinstryNext up: Michael Reid
SS#21 Justin ReidNo backup listed
FS#23 Julian BlackmonNext up: Jonas Sanker
RCB#29 Quincy RileyNext up: Martin Emerson Jr.
Defense shown in its base front.
Saints offense vs Falcons defense
Saints in this game: shotgun 72%, under center 27%, pistol 1% · one back 88%, two backs 12%, empty 0% · motion 41% (74 charted snaps).
As the team lists it: three receivers, one tight end and one running back. Quarterback shown in the shotgun, where the Saints lined him up on most snaps.
RILB#0 Divine Deablo Questionable (hamstring)Next up: Christian Harris
SLB#52 Samson Ebukam Questionable (hamstring)Next up: Jared Ivey
LCB#26 C.J. HendersonNext up: Malcolm DeWalt IV
SS#3 Jessie Bates IIINext up: DeMarcco Hellams
FS#31 Xavier WattsNext up: Sydney Brown
RCB#21 Mike HughesNext up: Mike Ford Jr.
Two tight ends: the top two receivers stay on the field and the second tight end lines up on the left end. Quarterback shown in the shotgun, where the Saints lined him up on most snaps. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement.
RILB#0 Divine Deablo Questionable (hamstring)Next up: Christian Harris
SLB#52 Samson Ebukam Questionable (hamstring)Next up: Jared Ivey
LCB#26 C.J. HendersonNext up: Malcolm DeWalt IV
SS#3 Jessie Bates IIINext up: DeMarcco Hellams
FS#31 Xavier WattsNext up: Sydney Brown
RCB#21 Mike HughesNext up: Mike Ford Jr.
I-formation: two receivers and one tight end, with the quarterback under center and a fullback and running back stacked behind him. Two-back sets: 12% of snaps in this game. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement. No fullback on the depth chart, so the second tight end, Noah Fant, is shown at fullback.
RILB#0 Divine Deablo Questionable (hamstring)Next up: Christian Harris
SLB#52 Samson Ebukam Questionable (hamstring)Next up: Jared Ivey
LCB#26 C.J. HendersonNext up: Malcolm DeWalt IV
SS#3 Jessie Bates IIINext up: DeMarcco Hellams
FS#31 Xavier WattsNext up: Sydney Brown
RCB#21 Mike HughesNext up: Mike Ford Jr.
Four receivers and no tight end: the next receiver on the depth chart comes in. Quarterback shown in the shotgun, where the Saints lined him up on most snaps. Empty-backfield sets: 0% of snaps in this game. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement.