NEW ORLEANS -- Quarterback Tyler Shough understood the fans' frustration after the New Orleans Saints' 45-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

The Saints were booed several times throughout the blowout loss, including going into halftime and at the end of the game. Saints fans left in droves before the end of the fourth quarter, leaving only Falcons fans in red jerseys in the stands.

"Fans understandably are upset," Shough said. "We had some opportunities that we didn't take advantage of and you're playing the Falcons and you lose like that. I mean, I'd boo, too. That sucks."

The Saints (1-3) went into the primetime game with a lot of emotion. The franchise was celebrating the 20th anniversary of the return to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina forced them to play on the road the entire 2005 season.

Former Saints safety Steve Gleason, who famously blocked a punt to help beat the Falcons in that game in 2006, was honored during the game and in attendance with several other key figures, including Drew Brees and Roger Goodell.

But that emotion was quickly snuffed out after the Saints fell into a 24-7 deficit to their rival by halftime, turning cheers from the home crow to boos.

"I'm disappointed. More than anything, you lose the Falcons like that and especially on a Monday night game, it sucks," Shough said. "There's nothing you can say., like, 'Ah man, it doesn't suck.' It definitely does. But I do know as a team that we're extremely close and we're going to keep going and keep our eyes forward. We have really good leadership and our leadership on the team admits that we got to get better. We have to get better and watch the film and evaluate that. There's no hiding that. But at the same time, it is a long season and there's a lot of games yet to be played to where we can do that."

Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan said the team got "punched in the mouth early" and that the Falcons "had their way today." The Falcons rushed for 205 yards and five touchdowns between Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson Jr.

"Everybody gets punched in the mouth in this game. Any given Sunday. But it's how you respond," Jordan said. "So we lost this game. Trash ass birds, they beat us, it is what it is. We have to be able to respond. That'll show you what type of team we are. We could go on for days ... about what we could do better. Break down the film, head to next week, we have to be a better team. Or this is what we'll get each and every week."