Texas and Louisiana have always had a bit of a weird, neighborly friction. It’s mostly about who has better BBQ or better gumbo, but every four years—give or take a few preseason cameos—that rivalry spills into the NFL. The Houston Texans vs Saints matchup isn’t the oldest rivalry in the book, but it’s definitely one of the scrappiest.
Honestly, if you look at the history, these two teams are basically mirror images of frustration and sudden, explosive hope.
Most people think the Saints, with their Super Bowl ring and decades of "Who Dat" culture, would own this series. They don't. Since the Texans entered the league in 2002, the regular-season series is dead even at 3-3. Six games. Twenty-some years. No clear winner.
The Game That Changed Everything (Or Just Broke Our Hearts)
You can't talk about these teams without mentioning the 2019 Monday Night Football opener. It was peak Drew Brees versus a rising Deshaun Watson. If you weren't watching, you missed a literal heart-attack of a game.
Houston scores. New Orleans answers.
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With 37 seconds left, Watson throws a 37-yard bomb to Kenny Stills. The Texans take the lead. It felt over. Houston fans were already celebrating. But 37 seconds is an eternity for Brees. He marches them down, and Wil Lutz drills a career-long 58-yard field goal as the clock hits zero.
Saints 30, Texans 28.
That game is the perfect microcosm of this series. It’s never a blowout. It’s always a grinder. Even the most recent regular-season meeting on October 15, 2023, ended with a 20-13 Texans victory where the Saints had the ball at the end and just couldn't punch it in.
C.J. Stroud and the New Era
The vibe in Houston is different now. C.J. Stroud isn't just a "promising rookie" anymore; by the 2024 and 2025 seasons, he solidified himself as the guy. In that 2023 win over the Saints, Stroud didn't even have his best game—he threw his first career interception—but the Texans' defense, led by Will Anderson Jr. and Derek Stingley Jr., completely suffocated Derek Carr.
New Orleans, meanwhile, has been stuck in that awkward "post-Sean Payton" limbo.
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They’ve got the talent. Chris Olave is a stud. Alvin Kamara is still one of the most versatile backs in the league, recently surpassing Deuce McAllister for second on the Saints' all-time rushing list. But they've struggled with consistency. While the Texans have been building a young, fast core, the Saints have been trying to keep a veteran window open with Scotch tape and salary cap gymnastics.
Why This Matchup is a Trap for Bettors
If you’re looking at the Houston Texans vs Saints through a betting lens, be careful.
- The Turnover Factor: In their last few meetings, the team that wins the turnover battle wins the game, 100% of the time.
- Preseason Noise: These teams play in the preseason almost every year. Don't let those scores fool you. Houston beat New Orleans 17-13 in the 2023 preseason and then turned around and beat them by almost the exact same score in the regular season. That's a fluke, not a trend.
- Home Field: NRG Stadium and the Caesars Superdome are both loud, but the Saints' dome is a different beast. Houston has historically struggled with the noise levels in New Orleans.
Looking Forward: 2025 and Beyond
As of early 2026, the Texans are coming off a massive 2025 campaign. They finished 13-5, dominated the AFC South, and Stroud has basically become a top-five QB in everyone's rankings. The defense is terrifying. Will Anderson Jr. put up 12 sacks in 2025, and Danielle Hunter added 15. That is a lot of pressure for any quarterback to handle, let alone a Saints team that has had some "rotating door" issues on the offensive line.
The Saints are in a bit of a rebuild mode after a tough 6-11 finish in 2025.
They’re looking at a future that likely involves a new quarterback and a total defensive overhaul. When these two teams meet again—scheduled for the 2027 season in New Orleans—it could be a very lopsided affair unless the Saints find their next franchise cornerstone.
What Fans Get Wrong About the "I-10 Tussle"
People call this a regional rivalry, but it’s really a battle of identities.
Houston is the "new money" team. They’re corporate, they’re high-tech, and they’re finally shedding the "lovable losers" label. The Saints are "old guard." They represent a city that lives and breathes football as a religion.
The biggest misconception? That the Texans don't care about beating the Saints. Ask any Houston fan who lives near the border or in Beaumont. They hate seeing those black and gold jerseys in their stadium. It’s about pride. It’s about proving that the little brother in the AFC has finally grown up.
Actionable Insights for the Next Matchup:
- Watch the Offensive Line: If the Saints haven't fixed their pass protection by their next meeting, the Texans' edge rushers will have a field day.
- Monitor Kamara's Usage: The Texans' defense has historically struggled with "scat-back" types. If Kamara is involved in the passing game, New Orleans stays competitive.
- Check the Injury Report Early: Both these teams have had "injury bugs" in the last two seasons. Depth is usually the deciding factor in the fourth quarter of this specific matchup.
- Follow the Cap Space: Watch how the Saints manage their 2026-2027 contracts; it will tell you if they are going for a "retool" or a full "blow it up" rebuild before they face Houston again.
The next time the Houston Texans vs Saints appears on the schedule, ignore the jerseys. Look at the trenches. That’s where this weird, intermittent rivalry is always won.