Seven takeaways from Falcons' Week 18 win over the New Orleans Saints

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The Atlanta Falcons closed out the season with a 19-17 win over the New Orleans Saints in a game that ultimately decided the NFC South division title. Sunday's victory sent the Carolina Panthers to the playoffs, but what exactly did it do for the Falcons?

That's what team owner Arthur Blank will have to decide in the coming weeks. The Falcons won four straight games to finish 8-9 in back-to-back seasons. Will quarterback Kirk Cousins, head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot be back in 2026?

Here are seven takeaways from the Falcons' 19-17 victory over the Saints in Sunday's season finale.

NFC South final standings: Panthers win 3-way tie

Carolina Panthers (8-9)
Atlanta Falcons (8-9)
New Orleans Saints (6-11)

The Falcons did the Panthers a solid by defeating the Saints on Sunday. Carolina has officially won the division by way of tiebreaker. The Buccaneers' four-year NFC South title streak is over and it's all because of the Falcons. Atlanta, Carolina and Tampa Bay Bay each finished with an identical 8-9 record.

Kirk Cousins' final game in Atlanta?

The Falcons offense didn't have its best day, but the team still secured a win in what could be Kirk Cousins' final start in Atlanta. While there's no guarantee that Atlanta will move on from Cousins, especially considering Michael Penix Jr.'s recovery timeline, the Falcons would likely prefer a cheaper option next season. Cousins did a good job filling in and helped guide Atlanta to a four-game winning streak. The veteran QB finished the year with 1,721 passing yards,10 touchdowns and five interceptions and a passer rating of 84.8.

Defense breaks franchise sacks record

With 57 sacks, the Falcons broke a franchise record for sacks in a season. This is a welcome change from the NFL's worst pass rush over the last three seasons. In 2024, Atlanta finished 31st in the league with 31 total sacks. The Falcons nearly doubled that total in 2025, and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich deserves some credit. Atlanta's aggressive scheme helped maximize its talent, and the future looks bright for this unit.

Rookies close out season strong

Falcons rookie James Pearce Jr. added to his impressive campaign with two more sacks, bringing his total to 10.5 for the season. Pearce is arguably the favorite for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year after getting to double-digit sacks. Xavier Watts recovered a fumble early in the game one week after his two-interception performance against the Rams. Jalon Walker had a big tackle for loss. General manager Terry Fontenot has to be happy with his 2025 draft class.

Big day for special teams

The Falcons blocked a punt and converted four field goals to secure Sunday's win. While special teams coordinator Marquice Williams has had an up and down year, his unit finished the season strong with a clutch performance in Week 18. Dylan Drummond and Deven Thompkins also did a nice job in the return game. Zane Gonzalez was outstanding and deserves to be the team's starting kicker going forward. Gonzalez and punter Bradley Pinion will both be free agents in the offseason.

Raheem Morris/Terry Fontenot: Will they return?

Atlanta's four-game winning streak to close the year undoubtedly helps both head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot. The rumors prior to Sunday's game were that Morris was more likely to return than Fontenot, however, the emergence of the Falcons' draft class can't be overlooked. Fontenot has yet to produce a winning season in five years, though. Morris has finished 8-9 in each of his two seasons in Atlanta. Drake London and Bijan Robinson both spoke out in support of Morris returning. It's hard to imagine Arthur Blank making a move, but we'll find out soon.

What's next for the Falcons?

Welcome to the 2026 NFL offseason. Free agency begins on March 11 and the Falcons have some key players set to hit the market. Tight end Kyle Pitts, running back Tyler Allgeier, and linebacker Kaden Elliss are among the team's top free agents (full list here). 2026 NFL draft begins on April 23 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Falcons don't have a first-round pick after last year's trade for rookie James Pearce Jr. The team did find safety Xavier Watts in the third round of the 2025 draft, though.

This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons defeat Saints: Game recap of NFL Week 18

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