Falcons rout Saints 45-24 on Superdome anniversary

The Atlanta Falcons beat the New Orleans Saints 45-24 on Monday night in New Orleans, turning the Saints’ 20th-anniversary celebration of the Superdome’s reopening after Hurricane Katrina into a lopsided home defeat. The loss left the Saints 1-3, while Atlanta improved to 2-2. Saints quarterback Tyler Shough said after the game that fans were understandably upset and that he would boo after a loss like that. Boos were reported during the game, including around halftime and at its conclusion, and some spectators left before the final whistle. The game marked 20 years since the Superdome reopened following Hurricane Katrina, which forced the Saints to play away from New Orleans for the 2005 season. Former Saints players Steve Gleason and Drew Brees, as well as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, attended the anniversary event, according to reports. The occasion had begun with a tribute to the team’s return to the city, but Atlanta took control early on the field. Falcons running back Bijan Robinson opened the scoring with a 59-yard touchdown run, and Atlanta led 24-7 at halftime. The Falcons finished with 205 rushing yards, while New Orleans had 50.