Bijan Robinson powers Falcons past
Saints 45-24 on the 20th anniversary of the Superdome's reopening
[October 06, 2026]
By BRETT MARTEL
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Bijan Robinson ensured there would be no punt to
block this time — and the Atlanta Falcons were off and running.
Robinson rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns — starting with a
59-yard scoring run on Atlanta's third play — and the Falcons routed
the New Orleans Saints 45-24 on Monday night, dampening celebrations
commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Superdome's reopening
after Hurricane Katrina.
Robinson said the Falcons wanting to silence the crowd early “and
make sure that pin drop happens in the first quarter.”
“For it to come after that third play was pretty special,” Robinson
said. “We just went back to the sideline and said, ‘That’s what we
talked about — make sure that we put it on them early so the crowd
doesn’t become an issue.'”
Brian Robinson Jr. ran for three short touchdowns for the Falcons
(2-2), who never trailed and controlled the line of scrimmage while
outgaining the Saints (1-3) on the ground, 205 yards to 50.
Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who returned from a major
2025 knee injury last week for a 35-14 victory at Green Bay, was an
efficient 15 of 20 for 223 yards and a touchdown. His 31-yard
scoring strike to Jahan Dotson in fourth quarter sent Saints fans
toward the exits.
“Mike played well; he took care of the football and made some really
good throws,” Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said. “I really like his
demeanor and how he is operating.”
New Orleans fans booed at times and Saints QB Tyler Shough didn't
blame them, calling his team's performance “embarrassing.”
“Fans understandably are upset," said Shough, who passed for 286
yards and a late touchdown to Devaughn Vele. ”You’re playing the
Falcons and you lose like that? I’d boo, too.”
Saints running back Alvin Kamara scored his first two touchdowns of
the season, the second cutting Atlanta's lead to 31-17 early in the
fourth quarter.
“We're all frustrated, all disappointed with where we’re at,” Saints
second-year coach Kellen Moore said.
“This was a special night," said Moore, who had gathered the team to
watch videos about Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Superdome's
reopening on a Monday night against the Falcons in Week 3 of the
2006 season.
“We understood the opportunity and I thought there was great
energy,” but the Falcons "were able to get things going early and we
weren’t able to catch up,” Moore said.
Ignited by Steve Gleason’s punt block for a touchdown on the 2006
game’s opening possession, the Saints beat the Falcons 23-3.
Like that meeting two decades ago, the Falcons, wearing red,
received the opening kickoff. The similarities ended soon after.
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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) passes against the
New Orleans Saints during the first half of an NFL football game in
New Orleans, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
For a fourth time in four games, the Saints were playing from behind
early — a challenge made more difficult by Daniel Carlson’s missed
52-yard field goal attempt and running back Kendre Miller’s lost
fumble on the New Orleans 22-yard line one possession later.
Atlanta cashed in on the turnover when Bijan Robinson made it 14-0
on a 4-yard power run, set up in part by cornerback Kool-Aid
McKinstry’s third-down defensive holding penalty.
Brian Robinson Jr. summed up the Falcons' past two games, during
which they've scored 80 points, as “the most fun I’ve had in my
career.”
“We can be as good as we want to be,” he said.
Pregame ceremonies feature 2006 Saints players
Wearing white jerseys, retired players Drew Brees, Scott Fujita,
Scott Shanle, Deuce McAllister, Devery Henderson and Curtis Deloatch
joined Gleason on the field before kickoff to lead fans in the
club’s familiar “Who dat!” chant. Gleason, using a wheelchair
because of ALS, was joined by his son, Rivers, who raised his
father's arm and then pulled it down to signal the start of the
chant.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell attended, spending pregame warmups on
the home sideline conversing with Saints owner Gayle Benson and
other dignitaries.
Injuries
Falcons: Defensive end Za’Darius Smith received several minutes of
attention on the field, but was able walk to the sideline after a
stretcher had been brought out for him. He was placed in the
concussion protocol. Left tackle Jake Matthews (groin) left the game
in the first quarter.
Saints: The Saints began without two key defensive starters: Ed Carl
Granderson (ankle) and linebacker Kaden Ellis (calf), who were ruled
out on Saturday. Tight end Noah Fant (abdomen) was a game-night
scratch.
Up next
Falcons: Host Baltimore on Sunday night.
Saints: Host Minnesota on Sunday.
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