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Saints' path to NFC South crown may come down to these 2026 games

ByDarrion Gray|
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Dec 14, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (12) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
Dec 14, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (12) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images | Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

The New Orleans Saints drew the short end of the stick to start the season. No one is asking to go on the road back to back against Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens. The end of the season, however sees a much more favorable set of matchups. It could be that part of the schedule that makes or breaks the Saints hopes at a NFC South title. 

The Week 16 matchup versus the Arizona Cardinals may be the easiest game on the schedule, and it’s surrounded by divisional opponents. The NFC South taking a step forward this year shouldn’t be shocking, but until they do, that last five games look like the easiest stretch of the season.

The Saints play the Panthers, Buccaneers, Cardinals, Falcons then the Buccaneers again for their last five games. That's a very winnable stretch. One thing that could make this more difficult is three of the games are on the road.

Saints could steal the NFC South in the last 5 games

You could make a strong argument there isn’t a more important set of games on the Saints schedule. With it sizing up to be the easiest, that’s a strong combination. Just like last season, the Saints have the end of their season loaded with divisional matchups. Last year, it was 3 of the last 5 games versus NFC South opponents. The schedule makers upped the number to 4 out of 5. 

The Saints one again only play division matchup in the first half of the year. It’s a heavily backloaded schedule in that aspect, with a heavy emphasis on the final five games. It makes the end of the season an even more critical stretch. 

It isn’t college football where your conference record is the end all be all, but divisional record could be massive in the NFC South. These games will impact tie breakers and also give New Orleans multiple chances to take matters in its own hands.  

The division was tightly contested a year ago, and it should be once again. Having this many divisional opponents in the final stretch of the season gives the Saints a chance to close the gap or create some separation. 

The Saints finished strong last season under very unique and specific circumstances. Doing it again could get them their first NFC South crown since the 2020 campaign. 

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