The Saints and Falcons are very similar teams historically. They were formed only one year apart, the Falcons in 1966 and the Saints in 1967 respectively, as the first teams in the deep south (unless you’re counting texas). Almost like these two were made to hate each other.
But they are even more similar in the sense that they have historically, and excuse my wording here, sucked major ass.
Between 1967 and 1999, the Falcons had a total record of 198-295-5, the Saints had a record of 192-301-5 in that same span.
In terms of postseason success the Saints started out much worse, as they wouldn’t make the playoffs until 1987 and didn’t win a postseason game until the year of our lord 2000. 32 years after their inaugural season. The Falcons on the other hand would achieve both in 1978. However the saints would quickly catch up since 2000 and now both are tied up in playoffs wins with 10 each.
The Saints have of course, won a Superbowl in 2009 (although it is forever stained with a certain scandal), while the falcons have made 2 and lost both, the more notable one of course being their appearance in the 1998 when the 14-2 Falcons would fall to the John Elway led broncos.
All of this literary diarrhea just to say, This rivalry is something very special. My dad is a lifelong Saints fan and while being a fan of the saints wasn’t very easy back in the day, he said Falcons games were always a treat to look forward to. The all time series is now tied 54-54 and the Saints have a shot at taking the lead for the first time since their very first matchup in 1967, when the saints would win at home 27-24, and then immediately lose the next 9 games straight.
I used to be a Falcons fan. “Fuck the Aint’s” is a saying for a reason.
I don’t think anyone outside their division cares. I would say it is correctly appreciated, that is to say ignored.
Fair point from a Vikings fan.
Same. This game is just a mid-off for sure
Vikings fans definitely care about the Saints.
They show up in nearly every game day thread and still often randomly post on our sub. They’re insufferable.
I respect how much they hate each other. Minutes after the Falcons blew that 25 point lead to the Pats everyone was either hating/appreciating the Pats or feeling bad for that pretty likable Falcons team. The Saints fans were already laughing at the Falcons.
You were supposed to have our backs! I thought we shared our hatred towards the Aints! I FAKED EVERY SKOL CHANT!
I don’t hate the Aints, I hate cheater Payton who is a vile human being and cheated his way into a superbowl that should have been taken away from him. Now that he’s gone meh.
Your own offensive lineman, Artis Hicks, went on record saying that the Vikings had a “pay to injure” program during the Favre years with players offering up hundreds of dollars or paying for dinners to “take a guy out.” He said that if hurting the opposing team’s best player helped them win, that it was “just business.” No Saints player, current or former, has ever admitted to being involved in any such program and the former Saints named in the supposed Bountygate investigation continue to deny ever being involved in any such program. So get the fuck outta here with your “cheater” horseshit.
Explain cheated. I get the bounty stuff, but that’s far from a cheat. Coming in peace, curious if I missed something.
You didn’t miss anything. Vikings fans still think that somehow it’s Payton’s fault that the Vikings had five turnovers in that NFC Championship game, including the crucial interception that Favre absolutely did not need to throw.
That’s just what Favre played like.
TIL Payton brain washed Farve to throw back across the field.
The vikings can not fail, they can only be failed.
Should be a fun watch today.
Battle of Shit Mountain
I love watching Derek Carr do nothing for 3 hours
Can’t believe one of our trash ass teams is gonna go to the playoffs
Yeah but once you get there, anything can happen. #BeastQuake
And it is not impossible for the Panthers to be that team.
I think it’s very impossible for this version of the Panthers to be that team. Bless their hearts.
Panthers are out of this league in suck ass
Fuck that. I wish the raiders could end up in the playoffs that way.
Even if we all sent a joint nfcs all star team I’m not sure they’d be favored
Is the QB Carr, Jameis, or Baker? Lol…that’s grim. As long as Arthur isn’t coaching I think it’d be ok. But who is the best NFC South coach? Arthur, Dennis Allen, Bowles, and Reich are the choices…yeesh.
Talented receivers in Evans, Godwin, Olave, and London at least and maybe the new coach can figure out Pitts and Bijan. Bijan + Kamara is a nice start to a backfield. Rachaad White looks good too.
But yeah serious coaching and QB deficiency in the division as a whole and they wouldn’t be favored. The defense might be good, Saints and Falcons both have (well had, RIP Grady) some nice pieces on defense.
Hot take: if the Falcons had signed Baker this offseason they’d be 8-2 and Arthur would be the obvious choice.
Thank you for that. The pre-Brady Bucs fans are loving him and hopefully we lock him down for a few years.
Brees, Ryan, Cam…Jameis, Freeman, Glennon…haha
What makes u say that?
If Baker had gone to the Falcons, Smith would be trying to outsmart opposing DCs by running QB Draws up the middle 8-10 times a game.
Agreed
Isn’t there someone with a saints falcons flair? I wonder who they cheer for today
The only thing holding this rivalry back is the fact that the falcons and saints have only played each other in the playoffs like once. Very little playoff battles compared to Niners Seahawks or eagles cowboys.
what’s really holding this rivalry back is college football
What a wild qualifier to have. How often are division rivals facing each other in the playoffs?! Denver has played the Chiefs once and Raiders twice.
It kind of makes the rivalry more impressive that we hate each other this much without any playoff matchups.
To be fair no one outside your division cares about niners vs Seahawks, same as saints vs falcons.
Yeah but we’re not writing up posts about how unappreciated it is
Nobody really cares about the South divisions tbh
Saints and Falcons love this game. Nobody else does. The problem with it is that both teams have rarely been very good at the same time, which has stopped it from becoming more talked about by other fans.
Yeah Falcons have only made the playoffs 6 times since Brees/Payton took over
The Saints had a historically bad defense for a few years and Atlanta went to the SB
Then the Saints had an all time draft class and ATL hired Arthur Smith
I saw someone make the point that the only time most people ever hear about this rivalry is from the 13 year old-run twitter accounts of each team arguing with each other
Both teams were great for the majority of the 2010s…
I feel like AFC north games get a lot more exposure even if the teams playing are just as bad
the problem with it is that both teams have rarely been very good
You can cut it off there
We will remember the 2010s fondly :/
Brother we are not watching a damn saints-falcons game. LOL
I hate upvoting eagles flair, but damn it, you deserve it
Yeah sorry bud, but two bottom feeding franchises going back and forth hitting each other with their pillow hands isn’t exactly compelling to watch for the rest of us. That’s great you and your pops enjoy it, but it’s not exactly must see tv for anyone outside those fanbases.
Also, Super Bowl. Two words. Has been and always will be.
I mean if it was one of the best it wouldn’t be under appreciated. I’m all for it and love rivalry games and this should be a good one but for me it’s nothing like how I feel about how the entire NFC East hates each other, steelers/ravens, bears/packers, or even lions/refs.
And the Bucs have won more SBs that both lol
And they’ve also won the Lions’ division more recently than they have
The NFCS is the strangest division to me
It’s under appreciated bc we both suck. Fun for us. But I don’t blame you for not being invested if you’re not in the fanbases
I think it’s appropriately appreciated. It’s not one of the marquee rivalries, but it will come up in discussion, and has the potential to grow over time if they ever hit a stretch where they’re both really good again
Counterpoint: No, it isn’t.
A lot of people that arent Falcons or aints fans wont understand the rivalry like fans do but it is really one of the only NFL rivalrys with CFB level pettiness between teams and fans