The NFL schedule isn't this huge secret. You can see most of the New Orleans Saints' future opponents and where they'll play them years in advance. Right now, their opponents are set until 2028. There's just three games that remain unknown each year. Now that the 2025 campaign is over, those blanks have been filled in for 2026.
The Saints will now play the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals, which are the last place teams in the AFC West, NFC East and NFC West.
Outside of divisional opponents, who the Saints will play at home and on the road, the Saints will host the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Raiders and Cardinals. They'll travel to play the Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions and New York Giants. There's quite a few opportunities for a cold weather games on that road slate, but at least the Saints have more home games than road games this year.
The 2026 schedule could absolutely help the Saints turnaround
You see teams go from worst to first, and the Saints should be a prime candidate to make that jump. The NFC South finally has a new champ for the first time since Drew Brees retired. The Carolina Panthers are the NFC South champions, and the Saints swept them this year.
On top of that, the Saints found their quarterback in Tyler Shough as a part of a foundational draft class. The Saints found a handful of players that became key contributors as rookies and played well. That plus the successful close to the season should have Saints fans optimistic about what could be in 2026.
The schedule is just another benefit. The Saints closed the year as an ascending team, and now they'll have the easiest schedule among their division. This creates an opportunity that the Saints are not only need to but are in position to take advantage of.
They'll have to play two divisions that will be tough. The NFC North will have two teams in the playoffs and the Vikings and Lions on the outside looking in. The AFC North will only have one team in the playoffs, but the three teams who didn't make the playoffs have Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, Joe Burrow and Ja'marr Chase and Myles Garrett and a great Browns defense. Luckily for the Saints, they share those matchups with the rest of the NFC South.
The Saints shouldn't be projected to be NFC contenders, but they could absolutely be divisional contenders. The team has the young talent, the momentum and the schedule is just the cherry on top.