Saints 2026 schedule sets up favorable path forward

Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

By Ross Jackson

The New Orleans Saints finished the 2025 season better than most expected. For a team that was projected to have the NFL’s worst roster and to struggle their way to four or five wins, the team overachieved its way to a 6-11 record.

Despite winning more games than most assumed they would, the Saints still landed a last-place finish in the NFC South, setting them up with an advantageous schedule going into 2026.

Here are the Saints’ opponents for next season, which include a hapless NFC South division and several basement-dwelling teams. For a team like the Saints who surged at the end of the season, their optimism moving into next season should be sky-high, especially if they put together a strong offseason building around rookie quarterback Tyler Shough.

2026 Home Opponents

Atlanta Falcons
Carolina Panthers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cleveland Browns
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
Pittsburgh Steelers
Arizona Cardinals
Las Vegas Raiders

2026 Away Opponents

Atlanta Falcons
Carolina Panthers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baltimore Ravens
Chicago Bears
Cincinnati Bengals
Detroit Lions
New York Giants

As of now, 11 of their 17 games next year will be against teams that finished with losing records in 2025. The Lions could make the count 12 if they drop their late afternoon Week 18 game against the Chicago Bears.

While one year’s schedules don’t always tell the tale of next year’s success, the Saints are hoping to be on the right side of the equation in 2026.