Saints' lopsided loss sours a day of celebration on the 20th anniversary of the 'Domecoming'

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough was “embarrassed.”

Second-year coach Kellen Moore was “disappointed” and “frustrated.”

And a day of festivities commemorating one of the most triumphant moments in New Orleans Saints history ended with boos and early exits.

Three plays into Monday night’s game against Atlanta, running back Bijan Robinson silenced an electric Superdome crowd with a 59-yard touchdown run.

The Saints' performance in a 45-24 loss to the Falcons bore no resemblance to their landmark 23-3 victory against the same team 20 years ago, when the Superdome finally reopened after being damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

On that made-for-TV night, Steve Gleason blocked a punt on the Falcons’ opening possession and Curtis Deloatch recovered it for a touchdown, sending the Saints on their way.

This time, New Orleans held pregame ceremonies commemorating those magic moments two decades ago, with retired players Drew Brees, Scott Fujita, Scott Shanle, Deuce McAllister, Devery Henderson and Deloatch joining Gleason — now in a wheelchair because of ALS — on the field before kickoff to lead fans in the team’s familiar “Who dat!” chant.

Irma Thomas, a New Orleans native who sang the national anthem when the dome reopened, reprised her role.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell even traveled to New Orleans to commemorate the “Domecoming” game he also attended in 2006.

Earlier in the day, New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno gave Gleason a key to the city. Gleason later shared a moment with former Falcons punter Michael Koenen at the “Rebirth” statue outside the dome which memorializes the famous punt block.

Then came the game itself — the first nationally-televised, nighttime home game for the Saints in nearly two years.

“It’s extremely disappointing,” Shough said. “It’s embarrassing. I can’t say enough good things about fans showing up, the entire process, what this game meant and we fell short as a team. … We’ve got to do better on all fronts.”

One of Gleason's mottos is, “Never punt.”

The Falcons seemed to take that to heart, scoring their most points since a 48-33 victory against Carolina in 2016, never punting after the first quarter and getting touchdowns on five of their last six full possessions.

The Saints (1-3), who thought they had a breakthrough victory at Baltimore two weeks ago, have followed that up with two straight losses at home.

“We’re all frustrated, all disappointed with where we’re at,” Moore said. “We’re going to have to learn from this one and move forward.”

Shough threw for 286 yards and wide receiver Chris Olave had eight catches for 116 yards, but the Saints scored on only one of their five first-half series, falling behind 24-7. After they settled for a 27-yard field goal on their opening drive of the second half, Atlanta responded with a nine-play, 74-yard touchdown drive to go ahead 31-10.

The dome started to empty out at that point, and it turned into a red-clan Falcons’ fans celebration after Atlanta scored another touchdown to go ahead 38-17 with 9:50 left in the fourth quarter.

“I love New Orleans. I love this place,” Shough said. “And you see the energy, the passion of everybody, the culture behind this place and it sucks whenever you don’t come through on the field in that way, especially against our division rivals. It hurts me. I don’t want to feel like that ever again.”

Playing without injured defensive end Carl Granderson, linebacker Kaden Elliss and running back Travis Etienne among others, New Orleans was no match for Atlanta. Bijan Robinson ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns, and Brian Robinson Jr. added three scoring runs.

After falling behind, New Orleans pretty much abandoned its running game, finishing with 50 yards on 19 carries.

New Orleans fell a game behind NFC South coleaders Atlanta and Carolina.

“We squandered an opportunity but we’ve got more opportunities,” Shough said. “You’ve got to kind of take it on the chin and we’ll see them again.”

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New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore gestures toward officials during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in New Orleans, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, foreground left, talks with former teammate Steve Gleason before an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in New Orleans, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

The Rebirth Statue is seen with storm clouds outside the Superdome, before an NFL football game 20 years later between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons, in New Orleans, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. The statue features New Orleans Saints Steve Gleason blocking a punt by Atlanta Falcons punter Michael Koenen, in the first Saints home game after Hurricane Katrina. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) passes as Atlanta Falcons defensive end Samson Ebukam (52) applies pressure during the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, middle right, approaches former player Steve Gleason, middle foreground, before an NFL football game between the Saints and the Atlanta Falcons in New Orleans, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

NEW DELHI (AP) — Opposition parties held protests in India’s capital New Delhi on Tuesday, demanding the resignation of the country’s election chief over a contentious revision of voter lists as hundreds of police personnel were deployed across the heart of the city.

Tuesday’s demonstration is the latest in a series of near-daily protests beginning last week by student groups, opposition parties and India's “Cockroach” youth movement.

The protesters have demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the polling body he oversees of manipulating voter registrations to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

The commission and government deny any wrongdoing.

Security personnel, some carrying batons, stood behind barricades outside the commission’s office near Parliament on Tuesday. Authorities issued travel advisories for areas around the planned protest and closed some roads.

India began its Special Intensive Revision of voter lists in Bihar last year ahead of state elections. The exercise has since expanded to most states and federally administered territories.

Critics say the process requires documents that are confusing and difficult to obtain, risking the exclusion of millions of eligible voters. Election Commission data shows voter rolls could shrink by as much as 30% in some regions.

The commission says the revision is aimed to remove duplicate and ineligible entries while ensuring eligible voters remain registered. Opposition parties and activists say it could disenfranchise legitimate voters.

The campaign against the Election Commission has been led in part by the “Cockroach” movement, which began as an online campaign and calls itself the Cockroach Janata Party. Previous street protests organized by the movement led to the education minister’s resignation in July.

Congress party President Mallikarjun Kharge, center, claps while seated during a protest organized by opposition parties in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Congress party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, center, and others hold placards as they march during a protest organized by opposition parties in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Police officers stand guard around Parliament ahead of a protest organized by opposition parties in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

A police officer sets up a barricade around Parliament ahead of a protest organized by opposition parties in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Police officers stand guard around Parliament ahead of a protest organized by opposition parties in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)