Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
Now that the schedules have been officially announced across the NFL, the lingering questions around travel, road trips and rough patches around the New Orleans Saints’ schedule are answered.
With that, here is a way-too-early game-by-game prediction of the 2026 regular season.
Of course, injuries, roster construction and more will have an impact before the first game is even played. That’s the truth for every NFL team. But all things being even, it’s not hard to see a clearly improved Saints team being back in contention for the NFC South and achieving their first double-digit win season since 2020.
Week 1: At Detroit Lions
The Saints haven’t proven yet that they can start games or seasons early under the new regime. Until that’s proven, it’s hard to pick a season opener away from home in their favor. Limiting running back Jahmyr Gibbs will be the focus of the matchup.
0-1
Week 2: At Baltimore Ravens
This is the hardest game in the Saints’ schedule due to the combination of opposing talent and game location. But this could be a confidence-builder even in a loss, much like the Buffalo Bills loss last year. The combination of explosive run game and quarterback Lamar Jackson’s play making turn this one into a tough matchup.
0-2
Week 3: vs. Las Vegas Raiders
The home opener brings the Saints their first win of the season. Facing former offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, the Saints will have something to prove here. The Raiders will either be starting a rookie quarterback in Fernando Mendoza or a familiar passer in Kirk Cousins. Either should be a positive matchup for New Orleans.
1-2
Week 4: vs. Atlanta Falcons (MNF)
The last Domecoming anniversary game didn’t go well for the Saints. This year they can right that ship after being overlooked on last year’s primetime schedule. This game is a must-win on pride alone and serves as a true arrival opportunity for the team and quarterback Tyler Shough on his first NFL national stage.
2-2
Week 5: vs. Minnesota Vikings
This feels like an awkwardly placed matchup of unknowns. Therefore, it’s not a favorable one. Coming off of the emotions of a big Monday night victory, the Saints stumble.
2-3
Week 6: at New York Giants
Before heading to Paris, the Saints get a favorable matchup in New Jersey. The Shough vs. Jaxson Dart storyline is going to be a lot of fun here as the debate rages in between the two second-year passers. Shough comes out on top with an improved team that toppled the Giants recently without the new additions.
3-3
Week 7: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Paris)
It’s hard to imagine that this game will be able to be a focused matchup for New Orleans, its organization and the players. The NFL wants so desperately for the International Series initiatives to work that it will likely pull the first ever host team in France every which way, serving up a disadvantage as the roster tries to prepare for a football game.
The Saints lose their first Parisian matchup, but at no fault of their own. This comes down to the league’s lust for pomp and circumstance.
3-4
Week 8: Bye Week
A well placed bye establishes the end of the Saints’ challenging opening stretch and allows for calibration before the schedule lightens and the season kicks into high gear.
Week 9: vs. Cleveland Browns
This game begins a years-long run of winning out of the bye. Head coach Kellen Moore and the Saints get something figured out during the break and come out on fire out of the off-week. The Shough vs. Shedeur Sanders debate dominates the lead up, but ultimately turns out to be a one-sided arrangement in practice.
4-4
Week 10: vs. Carolina Panthers
The sweep continues as the Saints win their third consecutive game against the Panthers, stacking back-to-back wins out of the bye week.
5-4
Week 11: at Chicago Bears
One of the best litmus tests of the middle of the season, New Orleans rebounds from last year’s loss to the Bears with a statement victory against former head coach Dennis Allen. Shough at the helm brings some highlight moments leading up to and in this matchup.
6-4
Week 12: at Cincinnati Bengals
The loss that should have been a win, the shootout with Joe Burrow (again, we’re assuming health across the board for this exercise) comes up short on the road. It’s close, but a loss.
6-5
Week 13: vs. Green Bay Packers
This is the second-toughest game of the schedule. A strong opponent, but at home. Unfortunately, home field advantage is still rebuilding and not enough just yet and the Packers eek out a victory. Questions begin to swirl about the Saints’ previous streak.
6-6
Week 14: at Carolina Panthers
The rebound begins by completing the sweep against Carolina at Bank of America stadium.
7-6
Week 15: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The upward ascension is here, but it’s non-linear. The Bucs win a close one against the Saints and then never stop talking about it until Week 18 when the two teams meet again.
7-7
Week 16: vs. Arizona Cardinals
This game presents another favorable opportunity for the Saints to topple an opponent that handed them a loss last year. They fare surprisingly well against Offensive Rookie of the Year frontrunner Jeremiyah Love and start an important streak while in contention for the NFC South.
8-7
Week 17: at Atlanta Falcons
The Saints may lose a home game in the Superdome this year because of the exciting Paris matchup, but this game on the road in Atlanta ends up feeling like a home game. Fans travel knowing that this game is a key matchup to win in the division. The Saints come out on top and sweep the Falcons for the first time since 2022.
9-7
Week 18: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In a win-and-in scenario at home, dome field advantage officially returns to close out the season. The Saints stamp their first playoff ticket since 2020.
10-7
