Falcons-Saints rivalry

The Falcons-Saints rivalry began in 1967 when the New Orleans Saints entered the NFL as an expansion team and were placed in the same division as the Atlanta Falcons. Both franchises have competed in the same division for over five decades, currently in the NFC South.

The rivalry's intensity stems from the geographic proximity of Atlanta and New Orleans, two major cities in the southeastern United States separated by only a few hundred miles of interstate highway. Decades of divisional competition, combined with passionate fan bases and frequently high-stakes games, have made it one of the most heated matchups in the NFC South.

Yes, both the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints compete in the NFC South division, along with the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They have shared a division since the NFC South was created in 2002, and were previously both in the NFC West.

The Saints generally held the upper hand from the mid-2000s through the late 2010s, particularly during the Drew Brees era from 2006 to 2020. The all-time head-to-head record remains relatively close, with both franchises having experienced extended periods of dominance.