Saints and Falcons meet on Monday night as the Dome marks 20 years since the reopening
The 1-2 rivals square off at the Caesars Superdome with at least a share of first place in the NFC South on the line, while ESPN commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Saints’ emotional 2006 return after Hurricane Katrina.
NEW ORLEANS: The Saints close out Week 4 at home tonight against the Atlanta Falcons, and the game carries two kinds of weight. Both teams are 1-2, and with Carolina in the same logjam, the winner reaches 2-2 and holds at least a share of first place in the NFC South. And the night belongs to the building itself: ESPN’s Monday Night Football presentation will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Saints’ emotional return to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina, against the very same Falcons. Kickoff is set for 7:15 p.m. Central.
The recent rivalry math favors Atlanta. The Falcons swept the 2025 series, 24-10 in New Orleans and 19-17 at home, and lead the all-time series 58-56.
The anniversary is the heart of the evening. In September 2006, the Saints returned to the Superdome for the first time after Katrina, beating the Falcons in a game defined by Steve Gleason’s iconic blocked punt. ESPN says its coverage will revisit the September 25, 2006 matchup throughout the night, with a special open narrated by New Orleans native Anthony Mackie, a Hurricane Katrina remembrance voiced by Robin Roberts, and repeated lookbacks at Gleason’s blocked punt. Legendary New Orleans singer Irma Thomas performs the national anthem, joined by pianist River Eckert.
The halftime show is a New Orleans celebration in its own right. Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue headline, with special guests Eric Church, Kirk Franklin, Juvenile, Cyril Neville and Ivan Neville.
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman call the game with Laura Rutledge and Lisa Salters reporting from the sidelines, and Peyton and Eli Manning host the ManningCast on ESPN2 with guests Steve Gleason, former head coach Sean Payton and Cooper Manning. Monday Night Countdown begins the evening at 6 p.m. Eastern on ESPN and NFL Network. USA Today’s Saints Wire notes the game is not simulcast on ABC, unlike the MNF games immediately before and after it.
On the field, the Saints will be without three defensive players ruled out on the final injury report: linebacker Kaden Elliss, defensive end Carl Granderson and edge rusher Anfernee Jennings. Linebacker Pete Werner and tight end Noah Fant are questionable.
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