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Saints vs. Falcons Week 15 Game Preview | 2022 NFL

New Orleans will be looking for their second series sweep of the Falcons in the past three years, who they previously beat in the season opener

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THE MATCHUP: SAINTS vs. FALCONS 2022 WEEK 15

After a 17-16 loss on Monday Night Football at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 5, followed by a Week 14 bye, the New Orleans Saints embark on a four-game stretch to close their season. Their first contest after the bye will mark a continuation of division play in the rugged NFC South when New Orleans takes on the Atlanta Falcons 5-8) at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday afternoon. The Saints have lost their last two games and a victory is essential to remain in the hunt in an open NFC South divisional race.

New Orleans will be looking for their second series sweep of the Falcons in the past three years, who they previously beat in the season opener on Sept. 11 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, 27-26. In that season-opening win, New Orleans overcame a 16-point fourth quarter deficit with two touchdown drives, followed by Lutz booting the game-winning 51-yard field goal.

SAINTS vs. FALCONS SERIES HISTORY

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The Saints-Falcons regular season series is tied 53-53, with New Orleans holding a 23-10 advantage over the Falcons since 2006. Since 1991, 35 games have been decided by eight points or less. The Falcons had a 10-game winning streak from 1995-99, which remains the Saints' longest winless streak against an opponent. New Orleans took 13-of-16 in the rivalry from 1986-94 and Atlanta won nine-straight over the fledgling Saints from 1969-73. Atlanta's most recent mastery over a five-year period ended with a 21-19 win for New Orleans at the Georgia Dome on Nov. 22, 2000. Eight games in the series have gone into overtime.

In the 106 regular season games of the series there has been:

  • 2,260 points scored by New Orleans, 2,352 allowed.
  • A ten-game Atlanta winning streak from 1995-99.
  • A six-game win streak for New Orleans from 1986-89.
  • 45 games decided by double-digits.
  • 17 games decided by 21 or more points.
  • 53 games decided by seven points or less.
  • 4 games decided by one point.
  • A 38-point win by Saints (11/1/87) - Biggest Saints win.
  • A 55-point loss by Saints (9/16/73) - Biggest Saints loss.
  • Four shutouts - Two by each club, the most recent a 38-0 win in Atlanta on 11/1/87.
  • Eight overtime games— four wins by each club.
  • Six Monday night games, two Sunday night games and eight Thursday night games, including Thanksgiving night in 2018 and 2019.

THE LAST MEETING

Saints 27, Falcons 26; September 11, 2022 @ Mercedes-Benz Stadium – After struggling for the first three quarters of their season-opener against their most hated rival, the New Orleans Saints offense came to life as the Saints rallied to beat the Atlanta Falcons 27-26 on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Kicker Wil Lutz provided the winning points with a 51-yard field goal to give Coach Dennis Allen a win in his first game as coach of the Saints.

New Orleans trailed 26-10 as the fourth quarter started when quarterback Jameis Winston started clicking, leading the Saints on a four-play scoring drive that ended with a bullet 3-yard touchdown pass to star receiver Michael Thomas in the left corner of the end zone.

After a stop by the defense the Saints offense went to work again, getting the ball at their 13-yard line. Winson, seeing his first action since Halloween 2021, hit rookie Chris Olave for a 20-yard reception, then hit receiver Jarvis Landry for seven yards, then threw a beautiful 21-yard completion to Thomas on third-and-three. After another completion to Landry, Winston connected with Thomas for another touchdown, this one from nine yards out. The two-point conversion failed, leaving the Saints down 26-24. But the Saints defense held, forcing a punt with the Saints taking over at their 20-yard line.

Winston hit receiver Landry with a 40-yard completion and then hit tight end Juwan Johnson with a 16-yard completion to set up Lutz's heroics. The Falcons tried a 63-yarder as time expired by the Saints blocked the attempt by Younghoe Koo. FULL GAME RECAP >>

New Orleans Saints players in action during their 2022 Week 1 game against the Atlanta Falcons.

SAINTS vs. FALCONS 2022 STATISTICAL COMPARISON

2022 NFL League Rankings

Table inside Article
Saints Falcons
Record 4-9 5-8
Scoring Avg. (NFL Rank) 20.4 (21) 22.1 (16)
Opp. Scoring Avg. (NFL Rank) 22.8 (17) 24.0 (22t)
Total Off. (NFL Rank) 343.5 (16) 314.6 (28)
Rushing Off. (NFL Rank) 109 (22) 158.9 (4)
Passing Off. (NFL Rank) 234.1 (11) 155.7 (31)
Total Def. (NFL Rank) 328.2 (11) 380.6 (30)
Rushing Def. (NFL Rank) 125.0 (19) 129.5 (25)
Passing Def. (NFL Rank) 203.2 (10) 251.1 (27)
Kickoff Return Avg. (NFL Rank) 21.7 (16) 25.0 (4)
Punt Return Avg. (NFL Rank) 10.7 (10) 17.4 (1)
Turnover Margin (NFL Rank) -12 (31) -2 (18t)
Penalties 86 53
Penalty Yards 745 428
Opp. Penalties 75 82
Opp. Penalty Yards 654 672

SAINTS vs. FALCONS SERIES FAST FACTS

Saints' Largest Margin of Victory:
38 points, Saints won 38-0 on 11/01/87 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

Falcons' Largest Margin of Victory:
55 points, Falcons won 62-7 on 09/16/73 at Tulane Stadium.

Current Series Streak:
Saints have won two straight, 1/9/22-.

Saints' Longest Win Streak:
Six games, 12/14/86-11/19/89.

Falcons' Longest Win Streak:
Ten games, 9/17/95-12/05/99.

Most Points by Saints in a Game:
45 points (twice), most recent, Saints won 45-16 on 12/26/11 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Most Points by Falcons in a Game:
62 points, Falcons won 62-7 on 9/16/73 at Tulane Stadium.

Most Combined Points (Both Teams):
80 points, Saints won 43-37 on 9/23/18 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Fewest Points by Saints in a Game:
0 points (twice), most recent, Falcons won 27-0 on 09/06/81 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

Fewest Points by Falcons in a Game:
Zero points (twice), last, Saints won 30-0, 10/10/76 at Superdome.

Fewest Combined Points (Both Teams):
16 points, Saints won 13-3 on 10/20/74 at Atlanta Stadium.

Revisit the NFC South rivalry with a look at some of the best photos of the New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons matchups through the years.