Mickey the Mouth
The Syndicate News Wire
- May 21, 2026
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Every year in the NFL, there are teams that have missed the playoffs because they came up on the short end on tiebreaker scenarios. Such has been the case for the New Orleans Saints a few times. In 2021 and 2023, the Saints missed out on the postseason with identical 9-8 records because of a few excruciating losses that cost them dearly in the tiebreakers.
In 2026, the Saints are hoping to snap a five-year playoff absence. New Orleans comes into the year with high expectations, despite their 6-11 record last year. This is mostly because of four wins in five games to end last season, the play of Tyler Shough at quarterback along with an improved defense, and several notable offseason roster upgrades.
On paper, the Saints have one of the easier schedules in the NFL this season. Of course, reality doesn't always play out that way. Obviously, it's critical that New Orleans performs well in their NFC South matchups against the Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Atlanta Falcons. The Saints went 3-3 against the division last year. Nearly as crucial are their games against other NFC opponents. Aside from divisional matchups, here are six games that could make or break the Saints in 2026.
New Orleans opens their season on the road against one of the most explosive offenses in the league. The Lions went a disappointing 9-8 last season, but came into the year as a Super Bowl favorite and are looking to rebound strongly. Detroit has some questions defensively, but still possess one of the NFL's most potent offenses.
Defensively, the Saints have questions at edge rusher, cornerback, and linebacker that will be tested right out of the gate. On offense, several new weapons will need to get on the same page quickly. This will especially be the case if the Saints get into a shootout with the explosive Lions on the road.
New Orleans hasn't had a pretty history against Minnesota, losing several costly games against the Vikings. Four of those losses have famously been in the playoffs, but a 2023 last-minute defeat at the hands of Minnesota also cost the Saints heavily in tiebreaker scenarios. On paper, the Saints look more talented overall than the Vikings, but they must take advantage in the win column.
Minnesota went 9-8 in 2025, but have dangerous weapons like wideouts Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, tight end T.J. Hockenson, and a very formidable defense. The Saints must take advantage of the Vikings red flag at quarterback and manufacture an offense with their new weapons. This will be the third straight home game for New Orleans, one of only twice this season they'll have back-to-back home games. Holding serve at home is vital. Doing so against a conference foe even more so. If the Saints are in the postseason mix down the stretch, a win here likely has them at least in the conversation.
An offseason coaching change to John Harbaugh and the expected maturation of promising second-year quarterback Jaxon Dart has some making (ridiculous) comparisons to the run that the New England Patriots made with Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye last year. While that's unlikely, expect the Giants to be a much-improved squad over the 4-13 abomination from last year. This will probably be billed as a quarterback duel between Tyler Shough and Dart, but it will be so much more than that.
Saints vs. Giants have historically yielded unpredictable results. Each team is rebuilding into hopeful contender status, so this contest could show just how far along each are in the process. The Saints must be careful not to fall in the trap of coming off three straight home games the week before their Paris trip against the Pittsburgh Steelers. A young team could have a letdown in such situations. While the Giants are far from the most formidable opponent on the schedule, it's still an NFC team and therefore carries more importance in end season tiebreakers. Remember that it was a loss at home to a woeful Giants team that finished 4-13 in 2021 that helped cost New Orleans a playoff berth.
Chicago looks like a tough enough opponent after an 11-6 record and an NFC North championship in 2025. Facing them on the road in unpredictable late-November weather is an even bigger task. The Bears should have a big-play offense behind explosive quarterback Caleb Williams. They also have an opportunistic defense under former Saints coach Dennis Allen.
Playoff teams, especially true contenders, come up big in road tests. This is arguably the biggest road test on the Saints schedule when you combine opponent skill and potential elements. A win here could be a huge step forward for New Orleans in their hopes of developing into a contender.
After two games up north at Chicago and Cincinnati, the Saints return home. In doing so, they'll face a Packers team that finished 9-7-1 in 2025 and have made the playoffs in six of seven years, including three straight appearances. The Packers have an above average quarterback in Jordan Love, some decent offensive weapons, and a highly underrated defense capable of taking over games.
Green Bay has beaten New Orleans in three of their last four meetings, including two consecutive times. The most painful of that stretch was a comeback 18-17 win in Green Bay early in the 2023 season. That loss directly cost the Saints a playoff spot, as the 9-8 Packers advanced to the postseason over 9-8 New Orleans based on that head-to-head tiebreaker.
New Orleans comes out of Christmas with a home date against a Cardinals squad that was a putrid 3-14 in 2025 and is expected to be perhaps as bad in 2026. Remember though, that one of those Arizona wins was in the Superdome against the Saints to kick off the 2025 campaign. The Cardinals have holes everywhere, but are hoping to show progress under a new staff and personnel as this game is in the closing stretch of the season.
While Arizona is predicted to be among one of the NFL's worst and the Saints are hoping to push for a playoff spot, this could still be a trap game. New Orleans will be coming off a critical six-week stretch that includes three division games, two against the Bears and Packers, and one against the Bengals. After the Cardinals, the Saints close out the season against division rivals Atlanta and Tampa Bay. Overlooking a team like Arizona if they are as bad as projected could lead to disaster. The Cardinals are the last of six games against NFC opponents that are nearly as important to the outcome of the Saints season as their games within the NFC South.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Pivot points: Six games that could decide Saints' 2026 season
Continue reading...
In 2026, the Saints are hoping to snap a five-year playoff absence. New Orleans comes into the year with high expectations, despite their 6-11 record last year. This is mostly because of four wins in five games to end last season, the play of Tyler Shough at quarterback along with an improved defense, and several notable offseason roster upgrades.
On paper, the Saints have one of the easier schedules in the NFL this season. Of course, reality doesn't always play out that way. Obviously, it's critical that New Orleans performs well in their NFC South matchups against the Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Atlanta Falcons. The Saints went 3-3 against the division last year. Nearly as crucial are their games against other NFC opponents. Aside from divisional matchups, here are six games that could make or break the Saints in 2026.
Week 1 at Detroit Lions (Sunday, Sept. 13)
New Orleans opens their season on the road against one of the most explosive offenses in the league. The Lions went a disappointing 9-8 last season, but came into the year as a Super Bowl favorite and are looking to rebound strongly. Detroit has some questions defensively, but still possess one of the NFL's most potent offenses.
Defensively, the Saints have questions at edge rusher, cornerback, and linebacker that will be tested right out of the gate. On offense, several new weapons will need to get on the same page quickly. This will especially be the case if the Saints get into a shootout with the explosive Lions on the road.
Week 5 vs. Minnesota Vikings ( Sunday, Oct. 11)
New Orleans hasn't had a pretty history against Minnesota, losing several costly games against the Vikings. Four of those losses have famously been in the playoffs, but a 2023 last-minute defeat at the hands of Minnesota also cost the Saints heavily in tiebreaker scenarios. On paper, the Saints look more talented overall than the Vikings, but they must take advantage in the win column.
Minnesota went 9-8 in 2025, but have dangerous weapons like wideouts Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, tight end T.J. Hockenson, and a very formidable defense. The Saints must take advantage of the Vikings red flag at quarterback and manufacture an offense with their new weapons. This will be the third straight home game for New Orleans, one of only twice this season they'll have back-to-back home games. Holding serve at home is vital. Doing so against a conference foe even more so. If the Saints are in the postseason mix down the stretch, a win here likely has them at least in the conversation.
Week 6 at New York Giants (Sunday, Oct. 18)
An offseason coaching change to John Harbaugh and the expected maturation of promising second-year quarterback Jaxon Dart has some making (ridiculous) comparisons to the run that the New England Patriots made with Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye last year. While that's unlikely, expect the Giants to be a much-improved squad over the 4-13 abomination from last year. This will probably be billed as a quarterback duel between Tyler Shough and Dart, but it will be so much more than that.
Saints vs. Giants have historically yielded unpredictable results. Each team is rebuilding into hopeful contender status, so this contest could show just how far along each are in the process. The Saints must be careful not to fall in the trap of coming off three straight home games the week before their Paris trip against the Pittsburgh Steelers. A young team could have a letdown in such situations. While the Giants are far from the most formidable opponent on the schedule, it's still an NFC team and therefore carries more importance in end season tiebreakers. Remember that it was a loss at home to a woeful Giants team that finished 4-13 in 2021 that helped cost New Orleans a playoff berth.
Week 11 at Chicago Bears (Sunday, Nov. 22)
Chicago looks like a tough enough opponent after an 11-6 record and an NFC North championship in 2025. Facing them on the road in unpredictable late-November weather is an even bigger task. The Bears should have a big-play offense behind explosive quarterback Caleb Williams. They also have an opportunistic defense under former Saints coach Dennis Allen.
Playoff teams, especially true contenders, come up big in road tests. This is arguably the biggest road test on the Saints schedule when you combine opponent skill and potential elements. A win here could be a huge step forward for New Orleans in their hopes of developing into a contender.
Week 13 vs. Green Bay Packers (Sunday, Dec. 6)
After two games up north at Chicago and Cincinnati, the Saints return home. In doing so, they'll face a Packers team that finished 9-7-1 in 2025 and have made the playoffs in six of seven years, including three straight appearances. The Packers have an above average quarterback in Jordan Love, some decent offensive weapons, and a highly underrated defense capable of taking over games.
Green Bay has beaten New Orleans in three of their last four meetings, including two consecutive times. The most painful of that stretch was a comeback 18-17 win in Green Bay early in the 2023 season. That loss directly cost the Saints a playoff spot, as the 9-8 Packers advanced to the postseason over 9-8 New Orleans based on that head-to-head tiebreaker.
Week 16 vs. Arizona Cardinals (Sunday, Dec. 27)
New Orleans comes out of Christmas with a home date against a Cardinals squad that was a putrid 3-14 in 2025 and is expected to be perhaps as bad in 2026. Remember though, that one of those Arizona wins was in the Superdome against the Saints to kick off the 2025 campaign. The Cardinals have holes everywhere, but are hoping to show progress under a new staff and personnel as this game is in the closing stretch of the season.
While Arizona is predicted to be among one of the NFL's worst and the Saints are hoping to push for a playoff spot, this could still be a trap game. New Orleans will be coming off a critical six-week stretch that includes three division games, two against the Bears and Packers, and one against the Bengals. After the Cardinals, the Saints close out the season against division rivals Atlanta and Tampa Bay. Overlooking a team like Arizona if they are as bad as projected could lead to disaster. The Cardinals are the last of six games against NFC opponents that are nearly as important to the outcome of the Saints season as their games within the NFC South.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Pivot points: Six games that could decide Saints' 2026 season
Continue reading...