After much speculation and a ton of leaks, the official schedule for the 2026 NFL season has been released. For the first time since 2024, the New Orleans Saints have gotten a primetime game. This year it's against the Atlanta Falcons. It's disappointing on the surface, however, with all things considered, the Saints might be lucky to have the one primetime game.
The Saints finished with a 6-11 record last year and ended up with a top 10 draft pick because of it. Kellen Moore and Co. were obviously figuring things out last year, with the quarterback change and the struggling run game.
Eyebrows might rise even higher when people see that even the first overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, did not get a primetime game. Last year's first overall pick, Cam Ward, has also yet to play a night game at the professional level. With teams like the Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, and Arizona Cardinals missing out, people across the league must see something in the Black and Gold.
The Saints' struggles last season might be the reason for the lack of primetime appearances this season
The disappointment some fans are bound to feel is understandable. New Orleans was one of the more exciting teams in the league last season. However, what was enough for the Who Dat Nation just wasn't enough for the national media, or whoever makes the schedule.
The team still struggled, even if the excitement of Tyler Shough overshadowed said struggles. Their run game could barely be considered as such at times and forced the first-year head coach to rely on the first-year quarterback. That in turn caused some glaring growing pains that could be seen in real time, like when Shough threw a deep ball to Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Zyon McCollum.
No player on the Saints had 100 or more rushing yards in a game last season. A lop-sided offense was evident, and it's obviously something that worried the schedule makers heading into this year. If the Saints can't run the ball during a game, it opens the door for some hard-to-watch football, and the people paying the big bucks would rather not leave a national audience disappointed.
The reason for the one primetime game might be really simple in reality. This season, it'll be the 20th anniversary of the Domecoming. A matchup that the Atlanta Falcons initially didn't want to do, the teams will face each other about a week shy from the actual anniversary of the Saints' return to the Superdome.
This year, the Saints can show people that they deserve the respect of multiple primetime games. It's time for the team to punch people in the mouth and show what they're made of.
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