The New Orleans Saints have released their 2026 schedule, sparking predictions about their potential wins and playoff chances. Fans are eager to see if the team can break a five-year playoff drought.
Key points
New Orleans Saints released their 2026 schedule
Predictions suggest potential struggles in early games
Fans hope to see an end to the five-year playoff drought
Analysis identifies winnable and challenging matchups
New Orleans SaintsDetroit Lions
The New Orleans Saints released their 2026 schedule on Thursday, but what do you make of it? Are more wins on the horizon? Can the Saints finally end their five-year playoff drought? What kind of expectations should fans have for the upcoming season? Which games on their schedule look winnable, and which look most challenging? Let's dive in with game-by-game predictions.
This could be a big statement game for the Saints against a tough Lions team trying to work their way back to the playoffs after coming up short last season. But we're guessing Detroit's experience and deeper talent pool will make a difference. They've won a lot of games together the last few years and it would be a heck of an upset for the Saints to knock them out in Week 1.
It's going to be a very different Ravens team coming out of the tunnel this season than what we've seen over the last decade with John Harbaugh at the helm. Unlike the Lions, there aren't many certainties with them after hiring a new coach and turning over some important positions up and down the depth chart. This is a winnable game for New Orleans on the road, but Lamar Jackson could turn the tide on his own.
Overlooking this Raiders team is a mistake. Whether it's Kirk Cousins (who has a winning record against the Saints) starting at quarterback or Fernando Mendoza, overhauled their coaching staff and made huge free agency investments after hiring a smart coach. Still, there are so many new pieces to install that the Saints should come away with a win in front of their home crowd.
Q&A
What is the New Orleans Saints' 2026 season schedule?
The New Orleans Saints' 2026 season schedule includes various matchups, with predictions suggesting they may struggle in early games.
How many wins are predicted for the Saints in the 2026 season?
Predictions for the Saints' 2026 season suggest they may face challenges, particularly in tough matchups, impacting their overall win total.
Can the Saints end their playoff drought in 2026?
The Saints are looking to end their five-year playoff drought in 2026, but their schedule presents significant challenges.
Which games are considered winnable for the Saints in 2026?
The analysis of the Saints' 2026 schedule identifies certain games as winnable, though specific matchups vary in difficulty.
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The first Saints prime-time home game in years will kick off after the 20th anniversary of their return to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina, and you can bet it's going to be an energetic environment. While the Falcons did a good job keeping their productive defense together this offseason after hiring an accomplished head coach, it's tough to see them repeating last year's season sweep of the Saints. New Orleans takes this one.
Can the Saints win each of their games in this three-week homestand? Can Kyler Murray lift one of the NFC's lowest-scoring offenses? It could be difficult for the Saints to regroup on a short week, and Minnesota's stingy defense won't make it easy for them. The idea of Kool-Aid McKinstry lining up against Justin Jefferson isn't very appealing. We'll give this one to Minnesota, but it'll be close.
The Giants were outgunned by a Spencer Rattler-led Saints offense last season, and now the Saints appear to have truly hit their stride after making the change to Tyler Shough. They also did more to upgrade their supporting cast for Shough than New York did for Jaxson Dart this offseason. New Orleans gets back in the win column.
Whether it's a washed up Aaron Rodgers or an unimpressive backup like Will Howard or Mason Rudolph starting at quarterback, the Steelers look like a team without a real answer under center. Their defense is still legit and they've built a strong receiving corps, but that can only take you so far without a competent QB to direct it. Kellen Moore is going to be itching for a win against his old boss Mike McCarthy, and he should get it.
Prediction: Win (Record: 5-2)
Week 8 on bye
The Saints go into the break riding a five-game win streak after starting the season 0-2 -- hey, crazier things have happened. One of the benefits of finishing fourth in the NFC South last year is getting to play all of these other last-place teams in 2026. It's imperative they take advantage of that. The trade deadline has been pushed back to Nov. 17, after Week 10's games, but we could see Mickey Loomis roll the dice on a win-now move during the bye after such a strong start.
The Browns are like a worse version of the Steelers. They don't have a quarterback they can win with, their receiving corps is leaning hard on rookies, and their defense goes as far as Myles Garrett can take them. Getting to play this game after a week of extra rest is a big benefit, too.
The Saints swept this Panthers team last year, but it's a tough trick to pull off year in and year out. Look for the Panthers to keep it tight after making some big offseason upgrades of their own like signing edge rusher Jaelan Phillips to a massive contract in free agency. But the Saints have an advantage playing in front of their home crowd.
It would be really sweet to beat the Bears on the road, but Chicago got where the Saints are trying to go with their 2025 playoff push. This is a well-coached team that has drafted and developed a lot of talent in a short amount of time. With potential wintry weather in the mix on the shore of Lake Michigan, the Bears are going to be favored.
Similar setup to the Bears game, here. It's going to be cold in Ohio in late November, and the Bengals have accomplished what the Saints hope to do by reaching the postseason and making some noise (a couple of years ago, sure). New Orleans must bring their A-game against a high-powered offense. They may not be there just yet.
This is the point where the Saints' lack of depth starts to be felt. They're just too thin at too many position groups (cornerback, linebacker, and on the defensive line, to name a few just on that side of the ball) to handle too many injuries. The Packers are a good team that stocks the cupboard as well as anyone in the league. That makes a difference late in the season.
Prediction: Loss (Record: 7-5)
Week 14 at Carolina Panthers
Didn't we just say it's tough to sweep a team twice in two years? That may be true, but the Panthers were wicked overachievers last season, and they could fall back to Earth now that the rest of the NFC South has caught up to them. This is a great opportunity for the Saints to end their losing streak and stay alive in the division title race.
Just when you think it's back to how it should be, the Bucs jump out and surprise you. Tampa Bay had a great draft, and while replacing Mike Evans is next to impossible, the moves they made could open up their offense in other ways. The Bucs will need a lot more out of Emeka Egbuka after the Saints held him to five catches for 50 yards on 18 targets last season. For now, Tampa looks like the better team.
Are the Cardinals the worst team in the league? Maybe, but star running back Jeremiyah Love and their expensive offensive line will do their best to lean on opponents and make life easier for their quarterback (whoever that turns out to be). But this is the kind of matchup the Saints should win by stopping the run, forcing their opponent to throw, and winning those battles through the air.
Prediction: Win (Record: 9-6)
Week 17 at Atlanta Falcons
It doesn't matter the circumstances -- we aren't ever predicting a Saints loss to the dirty birds. At this point in the season every game is going to impact the division title fight and the playoff picture. Four of the last five games falling in the NFC South will make each of them pivotal. That means a Saints win this late in the season could very well end Atlanta's season. Let's hope so.
Prediction: Win (Record: 10-6)
Week 18 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It all comes down to this. Can the Saints get this monkey off their back and wrest control of the NFC South back from the Bucs? In front of their home crowd, with a playoff berth on the line? Maybe so. They need to be firing on all cylinders, and they just might be. Let's speak it into existence.
Prediction: Win (Record: 11-6)
Final record prediction: 11-6
This is probably too optimistic, but if the Saints are as improved as we expect them to be, they should be well-positioned to take advantage of a weak schedule. Ending their playoff drought and proving they have a real-deal quarterback and coach would be transformative. Let's see if we hit the mark.