One of the best rivalries in sports. Take a look at the history between the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints.
Saints QB Drew Brees and Falcons QB Matt Ryan talk after the game in New Orleans on September 26, 2010 (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
LB Deion Jones intercepts a ball in the end zone ahead of New Orleans Saints tight end Josh Hill during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Falcons safety Ray Brown picks up the ball that has just popped out of Saints running back Jim Strong and runs it back deep into Saints territory on December 19, 1971 in New Orleans (AP Photo)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Adrian Clayborn #99 sacks New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees #9 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 8, 2017. (Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Falcons bench reacts after winning against the Saints in overtime on September 26, 2010 in New Orleans (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Falcons WR Roddy White runs for the end zone fending off Saints CB Jabari Greer in New Orleans on November 2, 2009 (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
Falcons WR Roddy White reacts with teammate Michael Jenkins following his 54-yard touchdown reception on December 12, 2005 at the Georgia Dome (AP Photo/Ric Feld)
Falcons defender Roland Lawrence slips on the wet ground as he tries to tackle Saints' Larry Burton on October 5, 1975 in Atlanta (AP Photo/J)
Falcons running back Warrick Dunn fights off Saints defender Fakhir Brown in New Orleans on December 26, 2004 (AP Photo/Bill Haber)
WR Julio Jones carries the ball past New Orleans Saints strong safety Kenny Vaccaro after making a reception on Sunday, September 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Paul Abell)
WR Eric Weems celebrates his touchdown with WR Harry Douglas in the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014. (AP Photo/Rogelio Solis, File)
New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham, center, fumbles after a pass reception near the goal line, between S Dezmen Southward and S Kemal Ishmael, in the second half in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014. (AP Photo/Rogelio Solis)
Falcons WR Roddy White goes high on a 54-yard touchdown reception at the Georgia Dome on December 12, 2005 (AP Photo/John Amis)
Falcons K Matt Bryant kicking the winning field goal against the Saints on September 26, 2010 in New Orleans (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Falcons TE Alge Crumpler jumps to avoid Saints Mel Mitchell after making a catch on November 28, 2004 in Atlanta (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Vic Beasley, Jr. #44 sacks New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees on September 23, 2018. (Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Falcons RB Jamal Anderson breaks through the Saints' defense on October 18, 1998 in Atlanta (AP Photo/Alan Mothner)
Saints QB Danny Wuerffel is sacked by Falcons Travis Hall in Atlanta on December 5, 1999 (AP Photo/Brant Sanderlin)
Falcons RB Warrick Dunn runs past Saints Mike McKenzie on November 28, 2004 in Atlanta (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Falcons RB Warrick Dunn dives into the endzone for a touchdown as Saints Josh Bullocks looks on in San Antonio, Texas on October 16, 2005 (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Falcons G Mike Johnson celebrates his touchdown against the Saints with TE Tony Gonzalez on November 11, 2012 in New Orleans (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez celebrates his touchdown reception on November 11, 2012 in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
Saints QB Aaron Brooks is forced out of bounds by Falcons defender Demorrio Williams at the Georgia Dome on December 12, 2005. (AP Photo/Ric Feld)
The Atlanta Falcons wait to enter the field to face the New Orleans Saints outside their locker room at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 22, 2018.
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Deion Jones #45 runs after making an interception against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 26, 2016. (Jimmy Cribb/Atlanta Falcons)
Falcons running back Harmond Wages dives over the goal from the one foot line to give the team their first TD against the Saints in Atlanta on October 25, 1970. (AP Photo/BH)
Falcons RB Ken Oxendine runs for a 5-yard gain while being brought down by Saints LB Mark Fields on October 10, 1999 in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Andrew J. Cohoon)
Saints WR Jerome Pathon is tacked by Falcons Bryan Scott after making a catch in Atlanta on November 28, 2004. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Falcons WR Terance Mathis is stopped by Saints defender Je'Rod Cherry after making a catch in Atlanta on December 5, 1999. (AP Photo/Brant Sanderlin)
Atlanta Falcons strong safety Damontae Kazee #27 runs after making an interception against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 22, 2018. (Ric Tapia/Atlanta Falcons)
Falcons RB Jason Snelling runs through the middle against the Saints in New Orleans on September 26, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
The coin toss to start the game between the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 22, 2018. (Ric Tapia/Atlanta Falcons)
Falcons Allen Rossum outruns the tackle of Sants defender Omar Stoutmire during a kickoff return in New Orleans on September 25, 2006. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Saints RB Reggie Bush fights for extra yardage as Falcons defender Kevin Mathis and Chris Crocker combine for the stop in New Orleans on September 25, 2006. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Falcons Mike Pitts defends Saints Earl Campbell as he goes for the first down on Sunday, Oct. 20, 1985. (AP Photo/Ric Field)
Falcons S Erik Coleman celebrates recovering a Saints fumble in New Orleans on November 2, 2009. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
Saints RB Reggie Bush is upended by Falcons LB Stephen Nicholas in Atlanta on December 13, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Abell)
Falcons DE Lawrence Sidbury and LB Coy Wire block a Saints player on December 13, 2009 in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Paul Abell)
Falcons WR Roddy White celebrates his touchdown reception with WR Brian Finneran in New Orleans on September 26, 2010. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)
Falcons K Matt Bryant celebrates his game winning field goal with DT Jonathan Babineaux in overtime against the Saints in New Orleans on September 26, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Falcons head coach Mike Smith argues a call with referee Ed Hochuli during a game against the Saints in Atlanta on December 27, 2010 (AP Photo/David Goldman)
RB Devonta Freeman rushes for a touchdown past New Orleans Saints inside linebacker David Hawthorne and defensive back Terrence Frederick in the second half on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014. (AP Photo/Rogelio Solis)
Falcons WR Julio Jones scores a touchdown on a pass play in New Orleans on December 26, 2011. (AP Photo/Rusty Costanza)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones #11 swings his arms as the New Orleans Saints enter the field in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 22, 2018. (Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons players kneel in a prayer circle after an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014. (AP Photo/Rogelio Solis)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley #18 makes a catch against the New Orleans Saints on September 23, 2018. (Kara Durrette/AtlantaFalcons)
Falcons WR Roddy White and Saints S Roman Harper confront each other in New Orleans on November 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
Falcons DT Corey Peters intercepts a pass in front of Saints RB Darren Sproles on November 29, 2012 in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Paul Abell)
Falcons DE Kroy Biermann grabs the arm of Saints QB Drew Brees forcing a turnover on November 29, 2012 in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Atlanta Falcons kicker Matt Bryant kicks the game winning field goal against the New Orleans Saints on September 7, 2014. (Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons strong safety Damontae Kazee #27 celebrates his interception against the New Orleans Saints with defensive back Kemal Ishmael #36 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 22, 2018. (Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan #2 walks out of the tunnel with wide receiver Julio Jones #11 and tight end Tony Gonzalez #88 to face the New Orleans Saints at the Georgia Dome on November 29, 2012. (Atlanta Falcons)
It's once again that time of the year to dust off the Time Machine and hit the rewind button on Falcons history. And there's no better way to begin the year than rekindling an old-fashioned, long-standing feud.
The Falcons-Saints rivalry needs no introduction. Throw on top of this bitter rivalry the fact that this hotly-contested affair falls this year on the season opening weekend and you have just cranked up the intensity level 10-fold.
Both teams have faced off against each other in only seven openers in the history of this long series with the Falcons capturing six games. All but one of the seven contests have been on the road in New Orleans with the lone home tilt at Fulton County Stadium to begin the 1981 season.
Optimism was rampant as Atlanta began that 1981 campaign. The Falcons were fresh off their first Division title (NFC West) in team history the season before, posting a franchise best record of 12-4 and shattering all kinds of team marks in the process in 1980. New Orleans was coming off a disastrous 1-15 campaign that resulted in new head coach Bum Phillips being hired and put in charge of the extreme makeover.
The confident Falcons started out the game strong with a long 15-play, 67-yard first quarter drive that culminated in a touchdown toss from 10 –yards out from QB Steve Bartkowski to WR Wallace Francis. The Bartkowski-to-Francis connection struck again in the second quarter this time on a 19-yard scoring pass for an early 14-0 lead.
The Saints were pinning their hopes for a rebound season on the legs of Heisman Trophy winning running back and the NFL's No. 1 overall draft pick, George Rogers. The former Duluth, GA product's homecoming never got untracked though as the Birds defense keyed on Rogers the entire game and limited the former South Carolina runner to 61 yards rushing and kept him out of the end zone.
In the third quarter, Saints TE Richard Caster was crushed on a catch over the middle by Falcons LB Fulton Kuykendall and S Tom Pridemore, forcing a fumble. S Kenny Johnson scooped up the loose ball and went untouched 35-yards into the end zone for a defensive touchdown which highlighted a solid overall defensive outing.
Atlanta's D stepped up again in the fourth quarter after S Scott Woerner recovered a Saints fumble on the New Orleans 25-yard line. WR Alfred Jenkins finished out the day with a nice 25-yard touchdown grab from Bart on the first play after the fumble recovery to round out the scoring on the afternoon.
Atlanta scored in every quarter to register a 27-0 blanking of their nemesis from New Orleans to start the '81 season. The win marked the first opening day shutout in team history and only the second overall blanking by a Falcons opponent in Fulton County Stadium annals.
