Saints' 45-24 loss to Falcons sours 20th-anniversary 'Domecoming' celebration
In short
The New Orleans Saints lost 45-24 to the Atlanta Falcons at the Superdome on Monday night, spoiling a day of ceremonies marking 20 years since the game that reopened the stadium after Hurricane Katrina. Atlanta running back Bijan Robinson scored on a 59-yard run three plays in, and the Falcons' two running backs combined for five touchdowns. Saints quarterback Tyler Shough called the result “embarrassing” and coach Kellen Moore said he was “disappointed” and “frustrated.”
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The New Orleans Saints lost 45-24 to the Atlanta Falcons at the Superdome on Monday night, souring a day of ceremonies marking the 20th anniversary of the game that reopened the stadium after Hurricane Katrina. Three plays into the game, Falcons running back Bijan Robinson ran 59 yards for a touchdown, silencing the crowd, the Associated Press and The Guardian reported. [ 1 , 2 ]
Atlanta's running game controlled the night. Bijan Robinson had 19 carries for 145 yards and two touchdowns, and Brian Robinson Jr. rushed for 62 yards and three touchdowns, Newsweek reported, with the pair reaching the end zone five times. New Orleans gained 320 total yards but only 50 on the ground, Newsweek said, though Alvin Kamara scored two touchdowns. [ 3 ]
Saints quarterback Tyler Shough completed 30 of 48 passes for 286 yards and a touchdown and was sacked twice, according to Newsweek. “It's extremely disappointing. It's embarrassing, and I can't say enough good things about the fans showing up, the entire process, what this game meant, and we fell short as a team to not get that win,” Shough said, per Newsweek and The Guardian. AP reported that second-year coach Kellen Moore was “disappointed” and “frustrated,” and that the day ended with boos and early exits. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Before kick-off, the Saints held ceremonies recalling the 2006 game. The Guardian reported that retired players Drew Brees, Scott Fujita, Scott Shanle, Deuce McAllister, Devery Henderson and Curtis Deloatch joined Steve Gleason — now in a wheelchair because of ALS — on the field to lead the “Who dat!” chant. Singer Irma Thomas, a New Orleans local who sang the national anthem when the dome reopened, reprised the role, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell attended, and Mayor Helena Moreno gave Gleason a key to the city, The Guardian reported. AP noted the “Rebirth” statue outside the stadium, which depicts Gleason's punt block, and The Guardian said Gleason later shared a moment with former Falcons punter Michael Koenen at the statue. [ 1 , 2 ]
In the 2006 game, the Saints beat Atlanta 23-3 as the Superdome reopened after Katrina damage. AP and The Guardian reported that Steve Gleason blocked a punt on the Falcons' opening possession and Deloatch recovered it for a touchdown. Monday's game was the first nationally televised, night-time home game for the Saints in nearly two years, according to The Guardian. [ 1 , 2 ]
After the game, a Newsweek feed summary said Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan criticized the loss, which came after the Falcons gained more than 400 yards of offense. The summary did not include his direct comments. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The game was the first nationally televised, night-time home game for the Saints in nearly two years and doubled as a civic commemoration of New Orleans' recovery after Katrina, so the lopsided result carried weight beyond the standings for the team and its fans. Coverage focuses on how the defeat undercut a planned celebration and on postgame criticism from players and coaches.
Key facts
- The New Orleans Saints lost 45-24 to the Atlanta Falcons at the Superdome on Monday night. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Falcons running back Bijan Robinson ran 59 yards for a touchdown three plays into the game. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Bijan Robinson had 19 carries for 145 yards and two touchdowns; Brian Robinson Jr. had 62 rushing yards and three touchdowns. [ 3 ]
- Saints quarterback Tyler Shough completed 30 of 48 passes for 286 yards and a touchdown and was sacked twice. [ 3 ]
- New Orleans gained 320 total yards of offense but was held to 50 rushing yards, with Alvin Kamara scoring two touchdowns. [ 3 ]
- Pregame ceremonies marked the 20th anniversary of the 2006 game that reopened the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina, with former players including Drew Brees, Deuce McAllister and Steve Gleason on the field. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The 2006 game was a 23-3 Saints win over Atlanta in which Steve Gleason blocked a punt and Curtis Deloatch recovered it for a touchdown. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan criticized the loss after the Falcons gained more than 400 yards of offense, according to a Newsweek feed summary. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Saints lost 45-24 to the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night in New Orleans. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The game was preceded by ceremonies marking the 20th anniversary of the post-Katrina return game, with former players honored on the field. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Bijan Robinson's 59-yard touchdown run came three plays into the game. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Saints quarterback Tyler Shough described the loss as embarrassing and disappointing, and coach Kellen Moore said he was disappointed and frustrated. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The 2006 “Domecoming” game between the same teams ended 23-3 in the Saints' favor, after Steve Gleason blocked a punt that Curtis Deloatch recovered for a touchdown. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- What Cameron Jordan said in detail after the loss. Only a Newsweek feed summary is available, which paraphrases his criticism without direct quotes or a fuller account.
- Whether the commemoration is best described as the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina or of the game played after it. Newsweek describes the event as commemorating the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, while AP and The Guardian describe it as the anniversary of the 2006 return game; the documents do not resolve the framing.
- The full extent of the pregame program and attendance figures. Documents list honorees and anthem singer but give no attendance or complete schedule.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The Associated Press publishes its report on the Saints' 45-24 loss and the anniversary ceremonies. [ 1 ]
- The Guardian US publishes its account, adding detail on the pregame honorees, anthem singer, commissioner's attendance and the mayor's key to the city for Steve Gleason. [ 2 ]
- Newsweek publishes a report on Shough's postgame comments with game statistics. [ 3 ]
- Newsweek publishes a feed summary saying Cameron Jordan criticized the loss after the Falcons gained over 400 yards. [ 4 ]