Atlanta
Falcons
3-0
26
FINAL
21
New Orleans
Saints
3-0
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a thrilling Week 4 matchup, the Atlanta Falcons narrowly defeated the New Orleans Saints 26-21, marking a critical win for the Falcons in the 2026 season. The stakes were high as both teams aimed to solidify their positions in the competitive NFC South, but it was Atlanta that emerged victorious in a tightly contested battle.
Michael Penix Jr. was the standout performer for the Falcons, throwing for 238 yards and three touchdowns, showcasing his ability to lead the offense effectively. Bijan Robinson complemented Penix's efforts with a dominant rushing performance, racking up 152 yards on the ground. Additionally, Kyle Pitts Sr. was a reliable target, finishing with 143 receiving yards, helping to stretch the Saints' defense throughout the game.
The Falcons' defense played a pivotal role in securing the win, with Brandon Dorlus recording a crucial sack and Harold Perkins Jr. snagging an interception. The turning point came late in the fourth quarter when Perkins' interception shifted momentum back to Atlanta, allowing them to control the clock and ultimately seal the victory. Despite a strong effort by Kool-Aid McKinstry, who led the Saints with four tackles, New Orleans couldn't overcome the Falcons' late-game surge.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Penix Jr | QB | 22 | 13 | 59% | 238 | 3 | 1 | 117.0 |
| Tyler Shough | QB | 11 | 9 | 82% | 230 | 3 | 1 | 120.4 |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | YAC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bijan Robinson | HB | 20 | 152 | 7.6 | 43 | 1 | 27 | 0 |
| Travis Etienne Jr | HB | 8 | 43 | 5.4 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Michael Penix Jr | QB | 1 | 16 | 16.0 | โ | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Tyler Shough | QB | 1 | 6 | 6.0 | โ | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Alvin Kamara | HB | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Devaughn Vele | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | โ | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kyle Pitts Sr | TE | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | โ | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jahan Dotson | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | โ | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | YAC | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Pitts Sr | TE | 4 | 143 | 35.8 | 42 | 0 | 42 | 0 |
| Devaughn Vele | WR | 2 | 64 | 32.0 | 29 | 2 | 53 | 0 |
| Juwan Johnson | TE | 1 | 54 | 54.0 | 10 | 0 | 54 | 0 |
| Alvin Kamara | HB | 1 | 53 | 53.0 | 33 | 1 | 53 | 0 |
| Chris Olave | WR | 4 | 48 | 12.0 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Zachariah Branch | WR | 2 | 32 | 16.0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 0 |
| Drake London | WR | 1 | 28 | 28.0 | โ | 1 | 28 | 0 |
| Jahan Dotson | WR | 2 | 17 | 8.5 | 7 | 1 | 12 | 0 |
| Bijan Robinson | HB | 3 | 12 | 4.0 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Jordyn Tyson | WR | 1 | 11 | 11.0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Austin Hooper | TE | 1 | 6 | 6.0 | โ | 1 | 6 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Reid | FS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Brandon Dorlus | DT | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Harold Perkins Jr | WILL | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Kool-Aid McKinstry | CB | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kaden Elliss | WILL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Eric Stokes | CB | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Quincy Riley | CB | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Christen Miller | DT | 1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| A.J. Terrell Jr | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cameron Jordan | REDG | 1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jonas Sanker | SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pete Werner | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Davon Godchaux | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Marshon Lattimore | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Gervon Dexter Sr | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| James Pearce Jr | REDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sydney Brown | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jessie Bates III | FS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Folk | K | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Daniel Carlson | K | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |

