Editing New Orleans Saints (section)

==Rivalries==
===Divisional===
====Atlanta Falcons====
{{main|Falcons–Saints rivalry}}
The Saints' oldest rival are the [[Atlanta Falcons]], both teams were the original two NFL franchises along the southern coast of the United States in the late 1960s. Originally both teams were created as part of the NFC West until the league's realignment in 2002. The frequent divisional matchups and constant tensions between the two teams has fueled a long-standing rivalry between both cities.<ref name="v593">{{cite web | last=Sapp | first=Erin Grayson | title=With Saints-Falcons showdown looming, here's a look back at the rivalry that predates the teams | website=NOLA.com | date=2024-01-04 | url=https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/as-saints-falcons-showdown-looms-a-look-back-at-rivalry/article_a79416a2-a92b-11ee-ad3c-138c2c36d8ea.html | access-date=2024-08-20}}</ref> As of the 2024 season, both teams are tied at 56–56, but the Saints lead the regular season record, 56–55.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=nor&tm2=atl&yr=all |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> The two clubs joined the NFL within a year of each other as expansion teams and have played each other twice a season since the Saints joined the league in 1967.

====Tampa Bay Buccaneers====
{{main|Buccaneers–Saints rivalry}}
Ever since the early 2000s, the Saints have had a developing rivalry with the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]], who have been part of the NFC South with the Saints since 2002, and the Saints lead the overall series, 40–25.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=nor&tm2=tam&yr=all |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

The teams actually played each other quite often as non-division rivals. Between 1977 and 2001, there were only five years in which the teams did not play. This includes 12 years in a row from 1981 to 1992 – all as a result of the scheduling formulas in place prior to 2002 (this remains a record for most consecutive years in which two teams not from the same division met each other).

The Saints won 13 of 20 games as non-division opponents. Since becoming division rivals, the Saints have the edge in the series, winning 16 games to the Bucs' 10.

One notable pre-division game is a 1977 matchup that resulted in Tampa Bay's first win in franchise history coming against New Orleans after previously starting out 0–26 overall.<ref name="u242">{{cite web | title=When the Bucs finally won: Something pure about that first win | website=Tampa Bay Times | date=2017-12-09 | url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/football/bucs/When-the-Bucs-finally-won-Something-pure-about-that-first-win_163447494/ | access-date=2024-08-07}}</ref>

On January 17, 2021, the two teams faced off in the playoffs for the first time in their rivalry history with Tampa Bay winning 30–20, despite New Orleans beating Tampa Bay in both regular season meetings.<ref name="q779">{{cite web | title=Tom Brady, Drew Brees Share One Final Moment On Field After Buccaneers Beat Saints | website=CBS Boston | date=2021-01-18 | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/tom-brady-drew-brees-final-on-field-moment-buccaneers-saints-nfl/ | access-date=2024-08-20}}</ref>

====Carolina Panthers====
{{Main|Panthers–Saints rivalry}}
The Saints and the [[Carolina Panthers]] have been division rivals since Carolina joined the league as an expansion franchise in 1995, first in the NFC West and then in the NFC South since 2002.

Carolina defeated New Orleans on the road every year from 2002 to 2008, a streak of seven seasons. Notable games include Carolina's 19–7 home victory in 1996 that sparked Saints head coach [[Jim E. Mora|Jim Mora]]'s infamous "Diddley Poo" rant and resignation from the team, Carolina's 10–6 win in the 2002 season finale at the [[Mercedes-Benz Superdome|Superdome]] to knock the Saints out of the playoffs, and the emotional 2005 season opener at Carolina where the Saints won 23–20 in the face of [[Hurricane Katrina]] and an eventual 3–13 season.

In their last game in the [[2014 NFL season]], a fight between players broke out in the end zone and spilled out into the tunnel entrance after a Cam Newton touchdown, with Panther's tight end [[Brandon Williams (tight end)|Brandon Williams]] getting ejected and both teams receiving offsetting penalties. The Panthers won the contest 41–10, with early turnovers by the Saints being a factor in the blowout.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hanzus|first1=Dan|title=Panthers, Saints involved in wild fracas at Superdome|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/panthers-saints-involved-in-wild-fracas-at-superdome-0ap3000000439678|website=[[NFL.com]]|access-date=February 11, 2016|date=December 8, 2014|archive-date=February 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205033444/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000439678/article/panthers-saints-involved-in-wild-fracas-at-superdome|url-status=live}}</ref>

On January 7, 2018, the two teams met in the NFL playoffs for the first time in the wild-card round. It was the first playoff game between NFC South teams since the division's formation in 2002. The Saints beat the Panthers 31–26, thus eliminating Carolina.<ref name="r64f">{{cite web | title=Panthers fall to the Saints, 31-26 | website=ABC11 Raleigh-Durham | date=2018-01-07 | url=https://abc11.com/sports/panthers-fall-to-the-saints-31-26/2878832/ | access-date=2024-08-20}}</ref> As of the 2023 season, the Saints lead the all-time series 31–28.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=nor&tm2=car&yr=all |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

===Conference===
====Minnesota Vikings====
{{main|Saints–Vikings rivalry}}
The Saints have developed a strong postseason rivalry with the Minnesota Vikings as they have met in many consequential regular-season and playoff games, including the historic [[Minneapolis Miracle]].<ref name="k263">{{cite web | last=Peters | first=Craig | title=Big Performances & Dramatic Endings Define Vikings-Saints Postseason Games | website=Vikings.com | date=2020-01-02 | url=https://www.vikings.com/news/big-performances-dramatic-endings-define-vikings-saints-postseason-games | access-date=2024-08-20}}</ref> As of the 2024 season, the Vikings lead the overall series 25–13 with a 4–1 record in the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, New Orleans Saints vs. Minnesota Vikings |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=nor&tm2=min&yr=all |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

====Los Angeles Rams====
{{Main|Rams–Saints rivalry}}
The Saints and the [[Los Angeles Rams]] once shared a fierce divisional rivalry as the Saints played in the NFC West until the league's realignment in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hirstius |first=Barry |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/saints/news/smash-mouth-once-upon-a-time-saints-rams-rivalry-was-legalized-violence|title=SMASH-MOUTH: Once Upon a Time, Saints-Rams Rivalry Was Legalized Violence |date=November 3, 2018 |website=[[FanNation]]}}</ref> Animosity resurged between the two teams during the 2010s after the Rams had lured Saints' controversial defensive coordinator [[Gregg Williams]] in 2012, shortly before Williams and Saints' head coach [[Sean Payton]] would be implicated in the infamous [[New Orleans Saints bounty scandal|Bountygate Scandal]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Van Bibber |first=Ryan |url=https://www.sbnation.com/2016/11/27/13758580/sean-payton-running-up-the-score-gregg-williams-saints-vs-rams|title=Sean Payton delighted in trouncing former Saints DC Gregg Williams in a 49–21 win over the Rams |date=November 27, 2016 |website=SBNation}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 28, 2016 |title=Payton Revels in Mauling of Rams |url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2016/nov/28/payton-revels-in-mauling-of-rams-201611/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lambert |first=Erik |date=November 28, 2016 |title=Saints Players Admit Sean Payton Ran Up Score On Rams |url=https://nflmocks.com/2016/11/28/saints-players-admit-sean-payton-ran-score-rams/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=Fansided}}</ref> Both teams had thrown insults towards one another in the media, most notably during the controversial [[2018 NFC Championship Game]], in which a critical pass to Saints' receiver [[Tommylee Lewis]] was illegally broken up by Rams' cornerback [[Nickell Robey-Coleman]], though no flag was thrown, enraging the Saints for the blown call. Saints' receiver [[Michael Thomas (wide receiver, born 1993)|Michael Thomas]] expressed his anger towards the Rams and in regards to the no-call to the media following the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R_fq3FzuD0|title=Michael Thomas on refs: 'You gotta do your job. ... I don't think they really care.' |author=New Orleans Saints on NOLA.com |website=YouTube|date=January 20, 2019 }}</ref> As of the 2024 season, the teams are tied 1–1 in the postseason, but the Rams lead the all-time series 45–35.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, New Orleans Saints vs. Cleveland/St. Louis/LA Rams |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=nor&tm2=ram&yr=all |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>