New Orleans
Saints
14-1
45
FINAL
12
Atlanta
Falcons
3-12
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a dominant performance, the New Orleans Saints topped the Atlanta Falcons 45-12 in Week 17 of the 2026 season, solidifying their playoff positioning. With the stakes high, the Saints showcased their offensive prowess, leaving the Falcons struggling to keep pace.
Quarterback Caleb Williams led the charge for New Orleans, throwing for an impressive 368 yards and five touchdowns, effectively dismantling the Falcons' defense. He found wide receiver Christian Kirk for a standout performance, as Kirk racked up 157 receiving yards, proving to be a reliable target throughout the game. RJ Harvey contributed on the ground with 69 rushing yards, rounding out a balanced offensive attack.
Defensively, the Saints made their presence felt, highlighted by Ernest Jones IV, who recorded a sack, and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who snagged an interception. The turning point came early in the second quarter when the Saints' defense forced a crucial turnover, leading to a quick touchdown that shifted momentum firmly in their favor. The Falcons struggled to respond, ultimately succumbing to New Orleans' relentless offensive onslaught.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caleb Williams | QB | 14 | 11 | 79% | 368 | 5 | 0 | 158.3 |
| C.J. Stroud | QB | 21 | 12 | 57% | 208 | 2 | 1 | 102.8 |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | YAC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RJ Harvey | HB | 15 | 69 | 4.6 | 17 | 1 | 14 | 0 |
| Jeremiyah Love | HB | 11 | 58 | 5.3 | 17 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| C.J. Stroud | QB | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | — | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Christian Kirk | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kayshon Boutte | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Miles Sanders | HB | 3 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Marvin Harrison Jr | WR | 1 | -5 | -5.0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | YAC | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Kirk | WR | 3 | 157 | 52.3 | 63 | 2 | 76 | 0 |
| RJ Harvey | HB | 5 | 107 | 21.4 | 48 | 1 | 34 | 0 |
| Marvin Harrison Jr | WR | 4 | 83 | 20.8 | 29 | 1 | 63 | 0 |
| Kayshon Boutte | WR | 3 | 65 | 21.7 | 12 | 0 | 46 | 0 |
| Courtland Sutton | WR | 1 | 64 | 64.0 | 26 | 1 | 64 | 0 |
| Josh Downs | WR | 4 | 50 | 12.5 | 7 | 1 | 15 | 0 |
| Tee Higgins | WR | 2 | 40 | 20.0 | 10 | 1 | 30 | 0 |
| Jeremiyah Love | HB | 1 | 10 | 10.0 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah | WILL | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Montez Sweat | LEDG | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Xavier Watts | SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Josh Hines-Allen | REDG | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ernest Jones IV | MIKE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cooper DeJean | CB | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Tykee Smith | SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kris Jenkins Jr | DT | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kyle Dugger | SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Marlon Humphrey | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jalen Carter | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jourdan Lewis | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Devin Lloyd | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Damone Clark | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Jones | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Divine Deablo | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Caden Sterns | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Derrick Brown | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Camryn Bynum | FS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase McLaughlin | K | 1 | 1 | 6 | 28 |
| Jason Myers | K | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |

