The New Orleans Saints return to action next Monday night, when they play host to the Atlanta Falcons at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, La.

Kickoff time is scheduled for 7:30 pm, and you can hear all the play-by-play action on EPSN 1420, as well as 97.3 The Dawg.

The Saints are still winless, at 0-2, while the Falcons will enter the match-up at 1-1.

The rivalry between New Orleans and Atlanta has been one of the best in the NFL since the Saints joined the league back in 1967, with the Falcons being born just two years prior.

The two franchises have been division rivals, as part of either the NFC West or the NFC South, since 1970.

The Saints began in the Capitol Division in 1967, before playing one year in the Century Division in 1968, back to the Capitol Division in 1969, and then the NFC West in 1970, while the Falcons were members of the Coastal Division prior to joing the NFC West in 1970.

The Falcons lead the all-time series, 49-45, but the Saints won both meetings last season, and have also won 8 of the last 11 match-ups, as well as 11 of the last 15.

All week long, in anticipation of the big Monday night affair, we’ll be taking a look back at some of the more memorable games between the two franchises.

On Tuesday, we remembered the first ever meeting between the two franchises, back in 1967.

On Wednesday, we went back to the season opener of 1973.

Today, we go back to Sunday, November 12, 1978, for the “Big Ben” game, where the Falcons defeated the Saints, 20-17, on an incredible final play of the game.

The Saints went into the game with a 5-5 record, while the Falcons, who had won four-straight, was 6-4.

Leading, 17-13, late in the fourth quarter, the Saints couldn’t put the game away, and were forced to punt, giving the Falcons only :19 to go 57 yards.

Atlanta was down 17 -13 with only seconds left in the game. The Falcons lined up with receivers Wallace Francis, Alfred Jenkins and Alfred Jackson off to the right, and then quarterback Steve Bartkowski threw it up for grabs. Francis tipped the ball to Jackson, who proceeded to run into the end zone for the game-winning score, giving them an eventual 20-17 win, and leaving the 72,000 fans at the Superdome in total shock.

The play became known as “Big Ben”.

New Orleans finished 1978 with an overall record of 7-9, including to excruciating losses to Atlanta, who went 9-7, and advanced to the NFC Divisional Playoffs.

The infamous Falcons "Big Ben Right" play is below:


On this day in Saints history-November 12th... by selawx

More From 103.3 The GOAT