New Orleans Saints 2026 Schedule: Dates, Times, Opponents, Scores

The New Orleans Saints enter their 60th NFL season in 2026 still searching for their first playoff appearance since 2020. After a 6-11 finish in Kellen Moore’s first year as head coach, the franchise is betting that continued development from second-year quarterback Tyler Shough and a more experienced supporting cast can produce a step forward in the competitive NFC South.

Read up on how to watch the Saints game.

Moore, who arrived in New Orleans after coordinating the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX-winning offense, inherited a team that started 2-10 in 2025 before rallying to win four of its final five games. Shough took over as starter midseason that year and went 5-4, posting a 91.3 passer rating.

New Orleans Saints 2026 Schedule: Scores & More

The Saints added weapons around him in the offseason, including running back Travis Etienne Jr. and tight end Noah Fant, while retaining veteran running back Alvin Kamara and All-Pro caliber wide receiver Chris Olave. The offensive line features promising young tackles Kelvin Banks Jr. and Taliese Fuaga. On defense, longtime edge rusher Cameron Jordan remains a presence alongside newer additions such as Chase Young.

The Saints now sit at 0-1 heading into a Week 2 road game at the Baltimore Ravens on September 20. Early-season road tests against Detroit and Baltimore set a demanding tone before a three-game homestand that includes a Monday Night Football matchup against the Atlanta Falcons—timed near the 20th anniversary of the team’s emotional 2006 return to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina.

A unique highlight arrives in Week 7: the Saints will face the Pittsburgh Steelers at Stade de France in Paris, the first NFL regular-season game played in France. After a Week 8 bye, New Orleans plays a mix of NFC South rivals and interconference opponents, with four of the final five games against division foes. The schedule is viewed as challenging, particularly the road slate that also includes Chicago and Cincinnati.

Expectations remain modest but hopeful. The NFC South has been wide open in recent years, and Moore’s staff—featuring offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier and defensive coordinator Brandon Staley—is still installing its schemes. If Shough can cut down on early-game mistakes while maintaining the explosive second-half production he showed in Week 1, and if the defense can generate more consistent pressure, the Saints have a path toward contention. For now, the focus is on securing that first win of 2026 in Baltimore.

2026 Regular Season Schedule

Note: Week 18 date and time to be determined. Times and networks for later weeks subject to flexible scheduling.

Preseason results were mixed: a 24-20 home loss to Jacksonville, a 34-0 road defeat at the Rams, and a 27-24 win at Dallas. Those exhibitions offered limited insight compared with Shough’s high-volume Week 1 performance, which already ranks among the more prolific single-game passing outputs in recent Saints history.

Week 1 vs. Detroit: 30-31

The season opened with a heartbreaker. On September 13 at Ford Field, Shough threw for a career-high 410 yards and three touchdowns, but New Orleans fell 31-30 in overtime to the Detroit Lions after a failed two-point conversion attempt.

The coming months will reveal whether that late-game surge becomes the new standard or an isolated highlight in another rebuilding year.

More From NolaFi.com:

How Tyler Shough became QB1 in New Orleans

Where to Watch the Saints Game in New Orleans