The 2025 season is officially in the rearview mirror for the New Orleans Saints, and honestly, it was a bit of a rollercoaster. After a rough 6–11 finish and a fourth-place standing in the NFC South, fans are already looking toward the horizon. If you’re asking who do the Saints play next, the short answer is: nobody for a while. The Saints missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, meaning their next meaningful snap won’t happen until the 2026 preseason in August.
But just because there isn't a game this Sunday doesn't mean the schedule is a mystery. Because the NFL uses a rotating formula based on division standings, we already know exactly which teams will be heading to the Caesars Superdome and who the Saints will have to face on the road in 2026.
The 2026 Opponents: A Last-Place Silver Lining
One "perk" of finishing at the bottom of the division—if you want to call it that—is that the Saints get a fourth-place schedule. This means they'll match up against the other teams that finished last in their respective NFC divisions. While the dates and times won't be out until the official NFL schedule release in May, the opponent list is locked in.
Home Games at the Superdome
The Saints will host nine games in New Orleans this coming season. The Superdome crowd is going to see a mix of familiar rivals and some heavy hitters from the AFC North and NFC North.
- Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The standard home-and-home divisional slate.
- Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings: The NFC North is coming to town. Expect these to be high-draw games.
- Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers: The AFC North rotation brings these physical teams to the Dome.
- Arizona Cardinals: This is one of those "seeded" games based on the 2025 standings.
- Las Vegas Raiders: Another seeded matchup that brings a bit of West Coast flair to New Orleans.
Road Trips on the Horizon
The away schedule looks fairly brutal, especially with a few potential "cold weather" games in late-season windows.
- Atlanta, Carolina, and Tampa Bay: The usual divisional travel.
- Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals: Two tough AFC North environments.
- Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions: Trips to the NFC North. A December game in Chicago is never fun for a dome team.
- New York Giants: The Saints will head to MetLife Stadium to face a Giants team that, like New Orleans, is looking for a spark.
The Tyler Shough Factor
One of the most intriguing storylines for the "next" version of this team is the quarterback situation. Tyler Shough took over the reins late in the 2025 season and actually showed some real flashes of talent. He led the team to a few dramatic victories, including a Week 17 win against the Titans.
The front office seems to be leaning into Shough as the bridge—or potentially the future—as they navigate a tricky salary cap situation. Honestly, seeing Shough with a full offseason as "the guy" is probably the biggest reason for optimism right now. The defense also found a second wind late in the year, with guys like Carl Granderson and Chase Young finally finding a rhythm in Kellen Moore's first year as head coach.
A Schedule Full of New Faces
Something weird is happening in the NFL this year. There is a massive coaching carousel spinning, and the Saints are scheduled to play a ton of teams that will have new leadership.
Recent reports from Louisiana Sports and Who Dat Dish point out that nearly half of the Saints' 2026 opponents will be led by new head coaches. We're talking about the Falcons, Cardinals, Ravens, Browns, Raiders, and Giants. Even the Buccaneers have a new offensive coordinator.
Why does this matter? Well, playing a team in its first year under a new system is usually an advantage. They’re still finding their identity. If the Saints can keep their coaching staff stable under Kellen Moore, they might be able to jump out to a fast start while their opponents are still learning where the cafeteria is at their own practice facilities.
The International Stage: Saints in Paris?
There’s a massive rumor—and some early confirmation from local outlets—that the Saints might be heading across the pond in 2026. Not just to London, which they’ve done before, but potentially to Paris. The NFL has been pushing to expand its global footprint, and the cultural connection between New Orleans and France makes this a marketing dream. If this happens, one of the "home" games listed above will likely be moved to a neutral site in Europe.
What Needs to Happen Before Kickoff
Before the Saints play that next game, Mickey Loomis and the front office have a mountain of work to do.
- Veteran Decisions: Demario Davis and Cameron Jordan are legends, but they aren't getting any younger. Both are pushing 37. The team has to decide if they're bringing them back for one last ride or if it’s time to embrace a full youth movement.
- The Salary Cap Dance: It wouldn't be a Saints offseason without cap gymnastics. They are once again projected to be over the limit, requiring restructures and potentially some painful cuts.
- Draft Strategy: With a fourth-place finish, the Saints have a premium draft pick. Most experts expect them to look at the offensive line or perhaps another playmaker to help Chris Olave, who was the team's lone All-Pro (2nd team) in 2025.
The road back to the playoffs isn't going to be easy, but the 2026 schedule offers a "silver lining." Between the last-place opponents and the sheer number of teams in transition, the path is there. We just have to see if the Black and Gold can actually walk it.
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Actionable Next Steps:
Keep a close eye on the NFL Scouting Combine in late February; this is where the Saints' front office will likely tip their hand regarding whether they'll stick with Shough or use their high draft pick on a new signal-caller. Also, check the official NFL schedule release in mid-May to see if that Week 17 trip to Chicago is going to be a "Snow Bowl" or a lucky early-season draw.