Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
While it’s not yet known what order games will be played in the 2026 season, the New Orleans Saints do know their opponents for the year.
The order in which games take place will be the most important piece to the schedule puzzle, however, the Saints can already rely on one unique scheduling quirk. They will play seven games against opponents that will have a new head coach at the helm.
New Orleans will take on the:
- Atlanta Falcons (2x)
- Arizona Cardinals
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cleveland Browns
- Las Vegas Raiders
- New York Giants
All of which will have a new leader on the sideline next year. Three of those games will be on the road, two of their divisional opponents and the other in Baltimore. The rest will be at home.
The Saints faced four teams with either a first-year or interim head coach in 2025, going 2-2 in the process with wins over the New York Jets and Tennessee Titans and losses to the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears. They also bested the New York Giants before head coach Brian Daboll was fired.
The team’s two wins came with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough behind center.
Additionally, New Orleans will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers twice as NFC South opponents. While head coach Todd Bowles is still in place, the team has moved on from offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard. That means that while the Buccaneers will have their head coach back, the offense will have a new playcaller.
Facing teams with a new head coach or playcaller won’t guarantee wins for the Saints, but depending on when those games are played, it may set up favorable matchups against clubs still trying to find their identity and connection. Another benefit to playing a last-place schedule.
If New Orleans can take advantage of those opportunities, it could set them up to realize general manager Mickey Loomis’ goal for the team: to be dominant in its division.
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