The New Orleans Saints’ schedule is officially set for the upcoming season, and the buzz surrounding the team could not be higher. Fans, coaches, and players alike are excited and eager to get the 2026 year underway, but let’s take a look at how I see the team potentially faring against their opponents.
Week 1: @ Detroit Lions- WIN
Although they have the second-easiest strength-of-schedule projection, New Orleans was dealt a difficult opponent in week one of their second year under head coach Kellen
Moore. He, Tyler Shough, and the rest of the Saints will travel to Ford Field for a date with the Detroit Lions, led by former Saints staff member Dan Campbell. The Lions finished last place in the NFC North in 2025, but do not let their standing fool you. Detroit still competed in a tough division and finished with a 9-8 winning record. They will be looking for a bounce-back season, so while many fans are not happy with the start, I would much rather play the Lions early while they’re on their heels as opposed to running into a machine later in the year.
Current Record: 1-0
Week 2: @ Baltimore Ravens- LOSS
2026 will get harder before it gets any easier. Following the season kickoff versus Detroit, New Orleans will have to travel to Baltimore and square off against an AFC powerhouse in the Ravens. Baltimore is led by former MVP Lamar Jackson at quarterback, but the Ravens will be without longtime head coach John Harbaugh for the first time since 2007. Injuries riddled the Ravens’ season in 2025, forcing them to miss out on the playoffs for the first time since 2021. Although the coaching schemes may alter, the talented players on the field will be healthy once more. The Saints’ inexperience will cause them to fall in this one.
Current Record: 1-1
Week 3: Las Vegas Raiders- WIN
New Orleans will kick off a three-game home stand at the Caesars Superdome when they square off against the first-overall pick in this year’s draft, QB Fernando Mendoza, and the Las Vegas Raiders. The Saints may not be the best team in the league, but the improvements they made in the offseason certainly leave them leaps and at least one bound ahead of the worst team in the NFL last year. Give me the Saints in the home opener.
Current Record: 2-1
Week 4: Atlanta Falcons (MNF)- WIN
After being blackballed from any primetime TV slots a season ago, New Orleans will once more hit the national spotlight as the team and city host rival Atlanta Falcons in a celebratory 20th-anniversary game since football returned to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina. The dirty birds will travel in for a Monday Night Football game to cap Week 4 action across the league. It will be the team’s first true opportunity to capture some attention and have the focus set on the black and gold as the first month of the season wraps up.
Current Record: 3-1
Week 5: Minnesota Vikings- WIN
The Saints’ second NFC North foe of the year visits the Big Easy in week five as they take on the Minnesota Vikings. After finishing third in their division in 2025 and reloading defensively through the NFL Draft, Minnesota should be hitting the ground running. New Orleans will be the Vikings’ third road game in the first five weeks, however. Even on a shorter week, the Saints should be able to ride some winning momentum into a third straight victory.
Current Record: 4-1
Week 6: @ New York Giants- LOSS
All good things must come to an end, and unfortunately, I believe the Saints’ winning streak will come to a halt in New York. After a quick burst of wins at home, New Orleans will have to travel to MetLife Stadium, where they run into a buzzsaw of a defense. After hiring former Ravens coach Harbaugh, the NY Giants should have a much better feel for what winning football looks like. Expect a jump in the play and presence of young QB Jaxson Dart as he regains a healthy target in WR Malik Nabers. The Saints could be competitive, but I am sure they get tested and potentially caught looking ahead.
Current Record: 4-2
Week 7: Pittsburgh Steelers (Paris)- WIN
In one of the NFL’s nine scheduled International games this year, the New Orleans Saints will travel to Paris, France, and “host” the AFC’s Pittsburgh Steelers as the designated home team. The Steelers will once more have QB Aaron Rodgers at the helm of the offense, but will not have Mike Tomlin on the sideline as head coach for the first time in nineteen years after he announced his stepping down this offseason. Pittsburgh is scrappy, and they have a great traveling fanbase, but nobody is going to take down the team symbolized by the fleur de lis in the city of Paris. Give me the Saints to reach their fifth victory before heading home to the U.S.A. and their bye week.
Current Record: 5-2
Week 8: BYE
Week 9: Cleveland Browns- WIN
Following a European trip and a restful week off, the Saints are thrust right back into action at home with back-to-back games in front of the Superdome crowd. Week nine sees the Cleveland Browns, who are still facing question marks at the QB position, come to town. The Saints will be the third road matchup in as many weeks for the Browns. Two first-round picks in OT Spencer Fano and WR KC Concepcion will be showcased for Cleveland. I think New Orleans will take advantage of a much-needed break and continue their winning ways midway through the season.
Current Record: 6-2
Week 10: Carolina Panthers- WIN
It took ten weeks for the New Orleans Saints to play their first divisional game in 2026, but the Carolina Panthers will travel to the dome for the first of two meetings. Carolina, the 2025 NFC South champions, was ousted from last season’s postseason by the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round. WR Tetairoa McMillan was named last season’s Offensive Rookie of the Year and will seemingly expand on his role this year. However, I believe that Brandon Staley has enough in his defensive backfield to limit Tet as the Saints earn another victory over the Panthers, whom they swept last year.
Current Record: 7-2
Week 11: @ Chicago Bears- LOSS
Following back-to-back wins at home after the bye week, New Orleans will have to travel to the Windy City for a date with the Chicago Bears the weekend prior to Thanksgiving. Head coach Ben Johnson and former Saints HC Dennis Allen have worked in tandem to turn the Bears into a real NFC threat. Chicago made it all the way to the NFC Divisional round in 2025 before losing in overtime to the Rams. The cold weather and familiarity could overwhelm the Saints in this one.
Current Record: 7-3
Week 12: @ Cincinnati Bengals- WIN
The team will most likely enjoy some turkey and cranberry sauce on the road as they prep for an away game against the AFC’s Cincinnati Bengals in late November. The Bengals are coming off a rocky 2025 in which they had two separate four-game losing streaks. Although Cincinnati is a tough place to play in the winter, I have a strong feeling that the Saints will earn the victory to rebound from the Chicago loss.
Current Record: 8-3
Week 13: Green Bay Packers- LOSS
After a two-game road trip, New Orleans will return home in week 13. However, the Green Bay Packers and the “cheesehead” faithful will be well rested and ready to pounce on the black and gold. Green Bay is set to square off against the Los Angeles Rams on Thanksgiving Eve, giving the Packers more than a week off before facing Tyler Shough and the Saints. Historically, the Packers lead the all-time series and have won the last two meetings. I would expect this trend to continue.
Current Record: 8-4
Week 14: @ Carolina Panthers- WIN
Over the final five weeks of the regular season, New Orleans is set to play four divisional games, beginning with a road trip to Carolina. After defeating the Panthers earlier in the season, the Saints will get everything that Carolina can throw at them, but I still believe that the Saints have more than enough to topple the cats once more. For the second consecutive season, give me New Orleans to earn the sweep.
Current Record: 9-4
Week 15: @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers- LOSS
For the first time in the 2026 campaign, New Orleans will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during a week 15 contest. After splitting the season series a year ago, the Bucs are scheduled to host the Saints first and will more than likely give them the advantage at home necessary to earn a statement win. Continuing the flip-flop scenario of win-loss-win-loss, I think the Saints lose a little traction as they’re defeated by Tampa Bay.
Current Record: 9-5
Week 16: Arizona Cardinals- WIN
Catching a break from the division, the Saints will host one of 2025’s worst teams in the league when the Arizona Cardinals come to town. After much speculation about whether New Orleans would seek a trade-up in this year’s NFL Draft to select him, it was Arizona that wound up choosing Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love as their next star player. The Superdome crowd will surely be treated to some top rookie talent hitting the field this season, but I think the Saints take this one handily.
Current Record: 10-5
Week 17: @ Atlanta Falcons- WIN
This bitter rivalry is almost always a guarantee for fireworks and theatrics, especially when the teams square off towards the end of the season. This year should be no different. After the Saints earned a home victory over the Falcons in week 4’s MNF contest, the dirty birds and their fans will be hoping to ruin playoff hopes and dash Saints fans’ happiness. Kellen Moore and New Orleans will have no part of that this year, though. Atlanta defeated the Saints in last year’s season finale, but the Saints earn the sweep this season.
Current Record: 11-5
Week 18: Tampa Bay Buccaneers- WIN
Before you know it, the regular season finale will be upon us, and to this point, the Saints have everything rolling for them. New Orleans will host the Buccaneers in week 18 as the teams face one another twice in just a month. Having already crossed the double-digit win threshold, the Saints will be hoping to cap this season in style, and what better way than by earning a revenge victory over a division rival. Give me the Saints’ victory to split with the Bucs this year.
Current Record: 12-5
New Orleans has a win total set at 7.5 right now across most major outlets, but it appears that the general consensus across the league is that the Saints should be expected to hit the over in this circumstance with little to no issue.
What do you think about this season’s prediction? Would you be satisfied with the overall result, or do fans need to see more from the team?
