The New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons will square off in Week 4 for the 20th anniversary of the Domecoming. NOLA.com's Jeff Duncan added another layer to game. Duncan's sources tell him the Falcons didn't want to be the opponent for the occasion, but the NFL ignored their pleas.
The Saints defeating the Falcons in the first game in the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina is one of the biggest moments in Saints history. While they could technically commemorate the game without the Falcons, the rivalry does tie them to the moment as well. It's a game that'll be played every year regardless, so when these benchmark anniversaries roll around, it feels like a no brainer.
I heard the Atlanta Falcons wanted no part of being the opponent for the Saints' Monday Night Football game, commemorating the 20-year anniversary of the historic "Dome-coming" game in 2006. And the NFL scheduled them for it anyway.#SacrificialLambs
— Jeff Duncan (@JeffDuncan_) May 15, 2026
Saints vs Falcons was one week too late
At the risk of being greedy or asking for too much, it does feel like the NFL missed a blatant opportunity to schedule the Saints versus Falcons a week earlier. You couldn't schedule the game on the exact day of the Domecoming, but putting it on the same week made a lot of sense.
This game was one of the early leaks on the Saints schedule. When it was leaked as a Week 4 game, it felt like a missed opportunity. Once it was announced it's a Week 4 Monday Night Football game, it looked like a massively missed opportunity. Maybe it just didn't fit the larger picture on that week but don't worry Who Dat Nation. The Domecoming will still be celebrated.
The league thought enough of the game to place it on Monday Night Football, and it's still being pushed as a 20th anniversary celebration. It makes it a little more surprising that they didn't try to put the game on Week 3 again. Celebrating the moment clearly means something to the NFL.
To be completely thematic, the Saints open up the schedule on the road in back to back weeks. Making the Falcons the Saints' home opener in Week 3 would have been another nod to the Domecoming. Though these desires weren't met, knowing the Falcons wanted no parts of the game at all brings a bit of solace.
Add us as a preferred source on Google