New Orleans Saints fans have experienced a roller coaster ride through the first two months of the 2026 season. The Saints haven't shown they can hold onto a lead, and that trend continued in a nailbiter win over the New York Giants. If they can't figure out how to play a winning brand of football and continue to ask Tyler Shough to throw a ton of passes while trailing, their record will reflect it.

There is a path forward. If the Saints can get healthy and come out of their bye week with playmakers like wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, running back Travis Etienne Jr., and linebackers Kaden Elliss and Anfernee Jennings getting in the lineup, they just might go on a run. The weak NFC South keeps the door open for them and two games with the division-leading Carolina Panthers could prove decisive. But we've got to see the Saints string some wins together to believe they've learned some things.

The first six weeks

We actually predicted the Saints would be 3-3 right now, beating the Raiders, Falcons, and Giants while building some momentum. Instead they're 2-4 and haven't managed to hold onto a lead when they do get ahead. So where do they go from here?

Week 7 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (in Paris)

This is a winnable game for the Saints; the Steelers were just taken to overtime by the hapless Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Moore should be motivated to show up his old boss Mike McCarthy, but what are the chances he pulls it off? Playing a neutral-site game overseas will make for a unique environment. The Saints haven't won an international game since shutting out the Miami Dolphins 20-0 back in 2017. New Orleans need a much better performance out of their defense after they allowed the Giants to get back in it last week.

Week 8 on bye

We had the Saints at 4-3 during the bye, but they keep taking as many steps backwards as forwards. This team just has too many problems between coaching and personnel to believe they can fight their way back to relevance. But you never know. With the trade deadline coming up on Nov. 10, right after their game with the Browns, it's tough to see an environment where longtime general manager Mickey Loomis is willing to take a big swing -- unless his job is on the line. Does he punt on another season and start flipping assets for draft picks again instead?

Week 9 vs. Cleveland Browns

At least the Saints are getting healthy (or they should be). Both of their big offseason additions on offense are on track to return for this game: wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, if he hasn't already been activated, and running back Travis Etienne Jr. It'll also be their first home game at the Caesars Superdome since the Vikings loss, so maybe they can begin to turn things around against an aimless Browns team. Tyson at least should have a big coming-out party.

Week 10 vs. Carolina Panthers

It sure looks like the Panthers are the class of the NFC South, even at 2-2. Bryce Young is playing at an annoyingly high level and their defense is punching far above its weight class. But Moore and the Saints swept this team last year. Surely they can split the series this time, at least?

Week 11 at Chicago Bears

The Bears were rolling, at least until injuries made their quarterback situation a national fascination, but they should have all hands on deck by the time Week 11 gets here. And the Saints are the exact type of directionless team they should pad some stats against (just like last year, when Chicago ran for 222 yards on Brandon Staley's defense). This looks like the toughest game left on the schedule for New Orleans in 2026.

Week 12 at Cincinnati Bengals

You know, we can run this back with the same blurb we used in May: "Similar setup to the Bears game, here. It's going to be cold in Ohio in late November, and the Bengals have accomplished what the Saints hope to do by reaching the postseason and making some noise (a couple of years ago, sure). New Orleans must bring their A-game against a high-powered offense. They may not be there just yet."

The Packers have managed to steady themselves after an ugly start to the season where Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores shelled their offense with relentless blitzes; sound familiar? Even if fans in Green Bay are getting antsy, this roster is better than what the Saints are working with at almost every position group. And there's a wide gap between Kellen Moore and Packers coach Matt LaFleur.

Week 14 at Carolina Panthers

It's hard to beat the same team twice in one year, and the Panthers have shown enough growth that the Saints are sure to have a tough time against them in the rematch. Carolina should have some reinforcements coming off of injured reserve by this point in the season, which only makes the climb that much steeper for New Orleans.

Week 15 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers look like one of the few teams getting worse coaching and preparation for games each week than New Orleans. Matchups between common opponents are always difficult, but the Saints have a history of winning in Tampa Bay, so we'll give them this one. Maybe a late-season loss to the Saints is what it takes for Bucs ownership to move on from embattled head coach Todd Bowles (36-37 in his career and 1-4 this season so far).

Week 16 vs. Arizona Cardinals

This is a winnable game for the Saints, but mostly because the Cardinals have one of the worst rosters in the NFL. Arizona may have figured out some things by now but it's more likely they're jockeying for draft position with New Orleans. We'll take the Saints in a frustrating win for fans hoping to clinch a top-three draft pick.

Week 17 at Atlanta Falcons

Could the Saints play spoiler and ruin the Falcons' hopes of making the playoffs? Atlanta is one of the only teams with a longer active playoff drought than New Orleans (six years to the Saints' five) and this late in the season every NFC South matchup will impact the title race. Fans eager to rebuild won't be happy with a win, but getting to end Atlanta's hopes at the last minute and redeem that early-season blowout loss in prime time sure would be satisfying.

Week 18 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Take a dive. Whoever is coaching the Bucs can have this one. Whether or not Kellen Moore is still coaching the Saints as a lame duck, the NFC South crown is going to be well out of reach with just five wins and fans would be better served with a higher draft pick than some moral victory to end a lost season. To their credit, the Bucs have drafted well, and Tampa Bay could end the year with a win without any suspicion of tanking on the New Orleans sideline.

Final record prediction: 5-12

Regression from last year should cost Kellen Moore his job, full stop. Even if it's only by a single win. The Saints invested too much in his vision for the team to accept a step backwards. The week-to-week ineptitude and empty answers in postgame pressers has to stop. There must be consequences for failure. Settling for less would be a slap in the face to fans who put their own money and time into supporting a team that isn't as committed to winning as they are hungry for it.