Saints’ win over Falcons could do more harm than good in New Orleans

The Falcons dropped their Week 10 contest in New Orleans, but it could do more harm than good for the Saints.

Of course, Atlanta and its fan base don’t want to lose to their rivals. The Falcons had the chance for a season series sweep for the first time since 2016, but let me peel back the curtain and present a silver lining in the loss.

The Saints ended a seven-game losing streak on Sunday and now sit at 3-7. Prior to Week 10, New Orleans had fired Dennis Allen, traded Marshon Lattimore, and owned a top 5 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. It seemed like Mickey Loomis was finally accepting the rebuild that has been staring them in the face since Drew Brees and Sean Payton left the organization.

Now, with Darren Rizzi, the Saints are building momentum and aren’t committing to a rebuild. They’ve won their first game with the interim, and to Falcons fans’ delight, they’re pushing forward.

“New Orleans isn’t planning for an overhaul. There will be changes, and likely an effort to get younger. But they aren’t envisioning taking their franchise down to the studs, just like they didn’t plan a fire sale prior to this past Tuesday’s trade deadline,” Ian Rapoport wrote. “With a roster they believe is far better than their record, one besieged by unrelenting injuries, the Saints believe in pushing forward, rather than stepping back.”

As the team rallies behind Rizzi, winning meaningless games, all the Saints are doing is making their draft position worse for their future head coach. Hell, if things work out perfectly for the Falcons, their rivals will string together enough wins to convince themselves that Rizzi is the answer.

They’ll own a pick in the first round that isn’t high enough to land a franchise-altering player but not low enough that they made the playoffs. Ideally, for the Falcons, the Saints have enough belief in their roster to keep kicking the can down the road and trying to compete instead of accepting their fate.

Yes, losing to the Saints sucks, but it could be a catalyst for them to continue to push forward instead of taking a couple of steps back. It might be a blessing in disguise for the Falcons.

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Photographer: David Jensen/Icon Sportswire

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