New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) is sacked by Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. (27) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Mike Stewart
The New Orleans Saints (1-2) take on the Atlanta Falcons (1-2) on Monday night in Caesars Superdome. Here are our staff predictions for the Saints’ NFC South opener.
**Jeff Duncan (Season record: 1-2)**
**Saints 27, Falcons 16:** The Saints are banged up right not, but all of the intangible factors are in their favor. They will have the emotion and enthusiasm of the home crowd on their side as the city commemorates the 2006 Domecoming game. And they’ll be extra motivated after squandering last week’s game to the Raiders.
**Zach Ewing (Season record: 1-2)**
**Saints 23, Falcons 17:** Logic says this one will become a Monday night shootout, but something tells me the occasion gets to both teams and we have a tighter, low-scoring game. Buoyed by the crowd, the Saints will make one more big play in the end (blocked punt, anyone?) and find a way to win despite a concerning and lengthy list of injuries.
**Luke Johnson (Season record: 1-2)**
**Saints 30, Falcons 28:** I felt a lot better about this one before the injury report came out. Playing without Kaden Elliss, Carl Granderson and Anfernee Jennings — and potentially Pete Werner — against a team that has Bijan Robinson is going to make things tough. But the Superdome atmosphere should be a big lift, and I think the Saints offense has enough juice to overcome what the team is missing defensively.
**Matthew Paras (Season record: 1-2)**
**Saints 38, Falcons 17:** The Saints haven't had a true blowout like this under Kellen Moore — that they've been on the winning end, anyway. But there's no time like the present, especially given the circumstances surrounding Monday's game. Sure, logic says the game will be much closer. The Saints could very well struggle against Bijan Robinson and the Falcons without their starting linebackers. Still, the Saints have been an unpredictable team through three games. So an unexpected beatdown would fit that trend.
**Rod Walker (Season record: 1-2)**
**Falcons 27, Saints 24 :** If you had asked for my prediction two weeks ago, I would have picked the Saints in a blowout. But the Falcons win at Lambeau was impressive, even if the Packers were hampered by injuries. They are coming off 11 days of rest, have QB Michael Penix back and are facing a banged up Saints team. Missing linebackers against a back like Bijan Robinson isn’t ideal. Maybe the emotions of Domecoming can get the Saints over the hump, but I think the injuries at such a key position are too much to overcome.