Atlanta: rushing production
The Falcons averaged 5.9 yards per rush and scored five rushing touchdowns. Bijan Robinson recorded a 59-yard touchdown run, and Brian Robinson Jr. recorded three rushing touchdowns.
NFL Week 4 • October 5, 2026 • Caesars Superdome • New Orleans, Louisiana
Atlanta Falcons
2–2 • AWAY
ATLANTA45ATLFINAL—WEEK 4
MNF
MNF
NEW ORLEANS24NONew Orleans Saints
1–3 • HOME
Atlanta recorded 205 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. New Orleans recorded 286 passing yards and 24 points. The Saints finished with 50 rushing yards and one lost fumble.
GAME SUMMARY Statistical sources
Atlanta recorded the larger rushing output
Atlanta finished with 420 total yards on 56 plays, averaging 7.5 yards per play. New Orleans finished with 320 yards on 69 plays, averaging 4.6 yards per play. New Orleans ran 13 more offensive plays; Atlanta held the rushing advantage, 205–50, and did not lose a turnover.
Bijan Robinson scored on a 59-yard run on Atlanta's third play from scrimmage and finished with 145 yards and two touchdowns. Brian Robinson Jr. recorded 62 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Michael Penix Jr. completed 15 of 20 passes for 223 yards and one touchdown without an interception.
Tyler Shough completed 30 of 48 passes for 286 yards and one touchdown. Chris Olave caught eight passes for 116 yards. New Orleans rushed for 50 yards and lost one fumble. The game was played at Caesars Superdome on the 20th anniversary of its post-Katrina reopening.
Game video
Watch Falcons–Saints game video
FALCONS 45 • SAINTS 24
Game video: Falcons 45, Saints 24
The video provides a visual recap of the game. The statistical record shows Atlanta's advantages in rushing yards and turnovers.
▶ Watch on YouTubeGame report
Team performance
Game report
Atlanta: passing performance
Penix completed 15 of 20 passes for 223 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Atlanta finished with zero turnovers.
New Orleans: passing performance
Shough completed 30 of 48 passes for 286 yards and one touchdown. Olave caught eight passes for 116 yards, and Juwan Johnson caught six for 59 yards.
New Orleans: rushing performance
The Saints finished with 50 rushing yards, an average of 2.6 yards per carry and one lost fumble.
Upcoming focus
Areas to monitor
Follow-up areas
Falcons
- Monitor the Robinson backfield rotation. Their verified combined line was 33 carries, 207 yards and five touchdowns.
- Maintain Penix's passing efficiency. The 15-of-20, 223-yard, zero-interception line is the right complement to the ground game.
- Track defensive pressure and takeaways. Atlanta recorded pressure-generation activity according to the supplied report; no additional defensive totals are included here.
- Reduce penalty yardage. Atlanta was charged with eight penalties for 70 yards despite winning comfortably.
Saints
- Improve early-down rushing production. Fifty rushing yards on 19 attempts left too much of the burden on Shough.
- Continue targeting Olave and Johnson. Their verified 116- and 59-yard receiving lines show where the passing game can create answers.
- Limit turnovers. New Orleans lost the turnover battle 1–0; the fumble inside Saints territory was especially costly.
- Review fourth-down decisions. New Orleans converted three of four fourth downs.
Team totals
The numbers that mattered
ATL • NO
45–24
Final score
420–320
Total net yards
205–50
Rushing yards
215–270
Passing yards
56–69
Total plays
7.5–4.6
Yards per play
0–1
Turnovers lost
30:45–29:15
Time of possession
Player production
Key contributors
Game lines
Falcons
45 points • 2–2Michael Penix Jr.15/20 • 223 YDS • 1 TD • 0 INT
Bijan Robinson19 CAR • 145 YDS • 2 TD • 59 LNG
Brian Robinson Jr.14 CAR • 62 YDS • 3 TD
Drake London5 REC • 96 YDS
Jahan Dotson2 REC • 54 YDS • 1 TD
Rushing total205 YDS • 5 TD
Saints
24 points • 1–3Tyler Shough30/48 • 286 YDS • 1 TD • 0 INT
Chris Olave8 REC • 116 YDS • 44 LNG
Juwan Johnson6 REC • 59 YDS
Devaughn Vele6 REC • 54 YDS • 1 TD
Alvin Kamara7 CAR • 23 YDS • 2 TD; 5 REC • 35 YDS
Turnovers1 lost fumble
Team comparison
Full game profile
ATL • NO
| Metric | Falcons | Saints |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 45 | 24 |
| Total net yards | 420 | 320 |
| Total plays | 56 | 69 |
| Yards per play | 7.5 | 4.6 |
| Passing yards | 215 | 270 |
| Rushing yards | 205 | 50 |
| Yards per pass | 10.8 | 5.6 |
| Rush average | 5.9 | 2.6 |
| Turnovers lost | 0 | 1 |
| Penalties | 8–70 | 8–49 |
| Time of possession | 30:45 | 29:15 |
How the 45 points arrived
Scoring timeline
Q1
ATL 14
NO 0
NO 0
Q2
ATL 10
NO 7
NO 7
Q3
ATL 7
NO 3
NO 3
Q4
ATL 14
NO 14
NO 14
Q1
ATL 7–0
Bijan Robinson, 59-yard touchdown run. The Falcons scored on their third play from scrimmage.
Q1
ATL 14–0
Brian Robinson Jr., 4-yard touchdown run. Atlanta established the two-score lead before the first quarter ended.
Q2
14–7
Alvin Kamara, 3-yard touchdown run. New Orleans answered, but Atlanta carried a 24–7 lead into halftime.
Q3
ATL 31–10
Brian Robinson Jr., 8-yard touchdown run. Atlanta's fifth rushing touchdown gave the Falcons a 31–10 lead.
Q4
ATL 45–24
Jahan Dotson, 31-yard touchdown reception, and Brian Robinson Jr., 11-yard touchdown run. Devaughn Vele added a late touchdown reception for New Orleans.
Game notes
Statistical notes
01 • Explosiveness
Atlanta averaged 7.5 yards per play while New Orleans averaged 4.6. That 2.9-yard gap explains the margin better than raw play count.
02 • Ground game
The Falcons' 205 rushing yards were 155 more than the Saints' 50. Both Robinsons combined for 207 yards and all five Atlanta rushing touchdowns.
03 • Ball security
Atlanta did not lose a turnover. New Orleans lost one fumble.
04 • Penalties
Atlanta was charged with eight penalties for 70 yards.
05 • Saints passing
Shough passed for 286 yards and Olave recorded 116 receiving yards. New Orleans also recorded 50 rushing yards.
06 • Context
The game was played on the 20th anniversary of New Orleans' historic post-Katrina Superdome return and drew an announced attendance of 70,007.
Summary
Game conclusion
Falcons: statistical summary
Atlanta finished with advantages in total yards, yards per play, rushing yards and turnovers. The team was charged with eight penalties for 70 yards.
Saints: statistical summary
New Orleans passed for 286 yards but rushed for 50 yards. The team lost one fumble and allowed Atlanta to record 205 rushing yards.
Verification
Sources and stat note
This page uses the final score, quarter scoring, records, attendance and player lines cross-checked against the ESPN/AP game recap and the New Orleans Saints official recap. Team totals, play count, efficiency, possession, rushing/passing split and turnovers were cross-checked against the Fox Sports game-stats page.
Stat note: the supplied report contained conflicting figures. The page uses the final figures cross-checked against the official recap and independent game-stat record.