What do you make of the New Orleans Saints after their bye week? Between a 2-5 record, a roster full of holes, and a coaching staff without answers, it's tough to believe they can turn things around under Kellen Moore's direction. On the flip side, Moore is a young coach, and maybe he has learned some things after a week of self-scouting. With so many games left to play against their division rivals in the NFC South, maybe the Saints can make a run at the division title and the playoff seed that comes with it. Maybe not. Here's how we see the back half of the season playing out:
The first seven weeks
- Week 1 at Detroit Lions: Loss (0-1)
- Week 2 at Baltimore Ravens: Win (1-1)
- Week 3 vs. Las Vegas Raiders: Loss (1-2)
- Week 4 vs. Atlanta Falcons: Loss (1-3)
- Week 5 vs. Minnesota Vikings: Loss (1-4)
- Week 6 at New York Giants: Win (2-4)
- Week 7 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: Loss (2-5)
Week 8 on bye
We had predicted the Saints would be 4-3 at this point back in May, so it's very disappointing to see them so far under .500. Kellen Moore's team has gotten worse every
week and his failure to get guys ready for games and in a position to make plays stands out as a major flaw. Moore and his coaching staff must figure out how to win. Let's see if they have it in them. With the trade deadline coming up on Nov. 10, right after their game with the Browns, it's tough to see an environment where longtime general manager Mickey Loomis is willing to take a big swing -- unless his job is on the line. Does he punt on another season and start flipping assets for draft picks again instead?
Week 9 vs. Cleveland Browns
There may not be a weaker five-win team in the NFL than Cleveland, which hasn't won a single game by more than four points while fielding a terrible offense and overrated defense. They define the idea that it's better to be lucky than good. The Saints defense should be able to get to Deshaun Watson (he was sacked eight times on Sunday). They just need their offense to put up some points.
Prediction: Win (Record: 3-5)
Week 10 vs. Carolina Panthers
This game looks winnable, on paper. And if things go their way the Saints could take the field with a chance to take control of the NFC South. But we've got to see it to believe it. Kellen Moore's team has squandered most of their opportunities this season. If they're going to turn this season around, they need to win this game. It's just tough to believe they have it in them right now.
Prediction: Loss (Record: 3-6)
Week 11 at Chicago Bears
Few teams are as hot as Chicago, especially after they traded for superstar defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons. New Orleans lost this matchup at this same field around this time last year and they haven't gotten better since. The Bears should win on their home turf.
Prediction: Loss (Record: 3-7)
Week 12 at Cincinnati Bengals
What a game by the Bengals, who were willed to victory by Joe Burrow even as he set them back with a series of interceptions. Cincinnati looks like one of the league's best offenses yet again but their defense needs to do a better job of pulling their weight. This doesn't look like a good matchup for a low-scoring Saints team that lacks difference-making talent on defense.
Prediction: Loss (Record: 3-8)
Week 13 vs. Green Bay Packers
Green Bay can't run the football, but their passing attack has kept them in almost every game this year, and their defense is so effective they can play with a big margin for error. They shouldn't have trouble with the Saints as this team is currently put together.
Prediction: Loss (Record: 3-9)
Week 14 at Carolina Panthers
It's tough to beat the same team twice, and this is division rivalry game pits two very familiar opponents against one another, so we're giving the Saints an edge. This feels like a classic-but-sloppy 20-17 afternoon in the NFC South.
Prediction: Win (Record: 4-9)
Week 15 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs are a tough team to figure out. They can run the ball when they commit to it, and while their defense ranks high against the run and pass they do allow a lot of scoring drives (ranking 21st). Baker Mayfield wasn't living up to the big preseason extension he signed even before he suffered an injury. But on paper, this is a better team than what the Saints have fielded. It should be a big day for running back Bucky Irving.
Prediction: Loss (Record: 4-10)
Week 16 vs. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals have surprised some teams this year (just ask the Dallas Cowboys) but this is still a bad roster without a quarterback. The only reason New Orleans shouldn't win this game is if they're throwing it to improve their draft positioning.
Prediction: Win (Record: 5-10)
Week 17 at Atlanta Falcons
We'll never pick the dirty birds, and we've seen the Saints and Falcons trade blowout losses with upset wins in the same year before. Winning a couple of games late in the season could build some positive momentum going into the offseason.
Prediction: Win (Record: 5-11)
Week 18 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs have had the Saints' number in the post-Sean Payton years, winning six of the last eight meetings and four straight at the Caesars Superdome. It would be great to see New Orleans end that streak even if it costs them a slightly better draft pick, but we've got to see it to believe it.
Prediction: Loss (Record: 5-12)
Final record prediction: 5-12
This result should get Kellen Moore fired (and general manager Mickey Loomis, too). Regressing from last year's six-win season after investing so many resources in free agency and the 2026 draft with nothing to show for it cannot be accepted. With a weak division, a winnable schedule, and a talented quarterback, there's just no reason the Saints should look as inept as they have each week. If that trend continues through the back half of the season, it should cost people their jobs.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2026 Saints schedule: Game-by-game predictions update after bye week
