​We’ve reached Day 65 on our countdown to the New Orleans Saints’ season opener, and this 65-yard touchdown run stands as our Saints Play of the Day. After taking a 20-6 lead against the Atlanta Falcons in front of their home crowd, the Saints were simply trying to run out the clock. But Dalton Hilliard had different plans. The standout running back scooped up a pitch from quarterback Bob Hebert, scooted along the edge of the Falcons’ defense, and cruised down the sideline to add another tally to the scoreboard. It’s a moment you can witness right here.
New Orleans closed out that game with a 27-6 victory, moving to 5-0 and eschewing a loss for an entire month, a run that culminated in an 11-5 finish for the season. Yet the rivalry with Atlanta was far from over. That same Falcons squad would later beat the Saints in overtime back in New Orleans, plunging the black and gold into a four-week losing skid. The 1991 campaign would ultimately hinge on a third meeting with the Falcons in the same city, and the Saints would come up short again, ending their season with a painful home playoff loss in front of their fans. Although the Falcons’ playoff hopes outlasted the Saints, the series retained its edge, and moments like Hilliard’s 65-yard sprint contributed to shaping what many consider the NFL’s most intense and enduring rivalry.
In other Saints news, Metairie served as the backdrop for a different scene: on June 17, 2026, Tyler Shough, wearing No. 6, participated in drills during mandatory mini-camp at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center. The session, captured by Getty Images photographer Tyler Kaufman, offered a glimpse of the team’s ongoing preparations as the franchise builds toward a new season.
This recap originally appeared on Saints Wire, highlighting Dalton Hilliard’s standout 65-yard touchdown run as the Saints Play of the Day for improved SEO impact.