JACKSON: Final Saints season record prediction

By Ross Jackson

Season predictions are always a fun way to start the NFL year. But “fun” in this case will be a little subjective because I’m projecting the New Orleans Saints to have a long, challenging but beneficial year for their 2025 NFL Season.

My final record prediction for the Saints, after seeing their training camp and preseason games up close and in person every step of the way, has not shifted.

I’m projecting the Saints finish 5-12 this season.

However, context matters. You may be wondering how a 5-12 season could be “beneficial” for an NFL team and the answer is simple. Success can’t be decided simply by this year’s win-loss record.

While every team enters the season with Super Bowl aspirations, it’s unrealistic to hold the New Orleans Saints to the same expectations as the Kansas City Chiefs.

Success will be defined differently by a team like New Orleans, which has a new head coach, new starting quarterback and two new systems coming off of the backs of a few surprise retirements and roster change moves. That’s a very different starting place heading into the season than a team like the Chiefs who have appeared in five of the last six championship games.

What does a successful year look like?

First and foremost, staying healthy. 

Injuries are going to occur, and they are going to do so around the league to big names. It’s a part of the game, managing attrition. However, the Saints have been snakebit with injury for much of the post-COVID era. The team must find a way to curb this bad luck throughout 2025. New Director of Sports Performance, Ted Rath, could be the catalyst for turning health around for the Saints.

The next progress could be found from the new coaching staff. Head coach Kellen Moore, along with coordinators Doug Nussmeier, Brandon Staley and Phil Galiano, must quickly establish chemistry with their staff and players while guiding the cultural, structural and on-field shift for the Saints.

Finally, finding promising play from their quarterbacks could change everything. The Saints boast plenty of talent across the roster, but the team is often viewed as incomplete, whether due to depth concerns or uncertainty surrounding young, unproven players at key positions. 

All of that begins to dissipate if Spencer Rattler grabs the opportunity ahead of him by the horns and plays well, getting better as the season continues. If not, rookie Tyler Shough is likely to get his shot at some point during the year. If either of these passers shows real promise over multiple, competitive games, that’s a huge win for New Orleans.

With a successful quarterback on a rookie deal and a genius head coach and coordinator group, New Orleans becomes a beacon for talent that they will finally be able to afford. 

The success of 2025 may not immediately show in the record, but maintaining roster health, highlighting strong coaching leadership, and developing a young franchise quarterback could create lasting benefits for years to come.