For the first time since 2006, the New Orleans Saints will start the season with both a new head coach and a new quarterback. The last time that happened, things turned out quite well as Sean Payton and Drew Brees helped the Saints end a 5-year playoff drought and set the table for the best run in franchise history.
New head coach Kellen Moore inherits a team that has missed the playoffs the last four seasons. The oddsmakers in Vegas don’t like the chances of the Saints ending that streak. The over/under on win totals is 5.5 and the odds of winning the Super Bowl by one site is a whopping +40,000. That makes the Saints the longest of all long shots in the entire NFL. Will the Saints be as bad as Vegas thinks?
Or will they be one of the NFL’s biggest surprises?
After the NFL released the 2025 schedule on Wednesday, here’s my annual (and way-too-early) game-by-game prediction for this season.
**Sept. 7 : vs. Arizona Cardinals, Noon**
**• Last meeting:** Saints lost 42-34 in 2022
**• Cardinals in 2024:** 8-9, third in NFC West
**PREDICTION:** Whether it’s Tyler Shough or Spencer Rattler, the Saints starting quarterback will get to start the season playing against his hometown team. Shough and Rattler both grew up in the Phoenix area and will get a chance to break the tie in a series that is tied 16-16. The Saints ended last season on a 4-game losing skid, but they have won six straight season openers. Make it seven. Saints 20, Cardinals 17. | **Record: 1-0.**
**Sept. 14: vs. San Francisco 49ers, Noon**
**• Last meeting:** Saints lost 13-0 in 2022
**• 49ers in 2024:** 6-11, fourth in NFC West
**PREDICTION:** The 49ers were a disappointment last season after making the Super Bowl the year before that. Two classmates from the 2017 draft class (Alvin Kamara and Christian McCaffrey) will share the field once again in this one. These two teams have alternated wins the last seven times they’ve played. History says it’s the Saints’ turn to win. But 49ers rewrite history and get their 50th win in franchise history over their old division rival. 49ers 28, Saints 27 | **Record: 1-1.**
**Sept. 21: at Seattle Seahawks, 3:05 p.m.**
**• Last meeting:** Saints won 39-32 in 2022
**• Seahawks in 2024:** 10-7, second in NFC West
**PREDICTION:** The Saint have won their last four games against the Seahawks. The last loss came in the playoffs of the 2013 season. Lumen Field can be a loud, intimidating venue. Klint Kubiak, who spent last season as Saints’ offensive coordinator for the Saints, is now calling plays in Seattle. He saw the Saints’ defense every day in practice last season so he knows the personnel very well. The Saints’ defensive scheme will be a little different now though. Seahawks get their first win against the Saints in over a decade. Seahawks 24, Saints 13.| **Record: 1-2.**
**Sept. 28: at Buffalo Bills, Noon**
**• Last meeting:** Saints lost 31-6 in 2021
**• Bills in 2024:** 13-4, won AFC East
**PREDICTION:** On paper, this looks to be the most difficult game on the Saints’ schedule. Well, at least it shouldn’t be too cold in the Bills’ final season playing in Highmark Stadium. The New Highmark stadium is set to open in 2026. The Bills are led by Josh Allen, who was named league MVP last season. This one could get ugly. Bills 31, Saints 10. | **Record: 1-3.**
**Oct. 5: vs. New York Giants, Noon**
**• Last meeting:** Saints won 14-11 in 2024
**• Giants in 2024:** 3-14, fourth in NFC East
**PREDICTION:** Saints defensive tackle Bryan Bresee blocked a last second game-tying field goal last season to preserve the victory. Now the Giants will come in with Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston or rookie Jaxson Dart playing quarterback. They also have former LSU receiver Malik Nabers. In a battle of two teams who aren’t expected to do much this season, the Saints barely escape the Giants for a second straight year. Saints 24, Giants 23 | **Record: 2-3.**
**Oct. 12: vs. New England Patriots, 3:25 p.m.**
**• Last meeting:** Saints won 34-0 in 2023
**• Patriots in 2024:** 4-13, fourth in AFC East
**PREDICTION:** Like the Saints, the Patriots enter 2025 with a new head coach. Mike Vrabel takes over on a team that he once played linebacker for. The Patriots lost six of their last seven games last season, with the lone win being in the season finale over the Bills who had nothing to play for. Drake Maye is expected to be the starting quarterback. The Saints won the last two games against New England by double digits. They may be able to do that again. Saints 20, Patriots 10. | **Record: 3-3.**
**Oct. 19: at Chicago Bears, Noon**
**• Last meeting:** Saints won 24-17 in 2023
**• Bears in 2024:** 5-12, fourth in NFC North
**PREDICTION:** Former Saints head coach Dennis Allen is now the defensive coordinator in Chicago under first year Bears head coach Ben Johnson. Johnson spent the past three seasons as the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator. With Johnson’s offensive mind and Allen’s defensive expertise, the Saints will experience some Windy City blues in this one. Bears 24, Saints 6. **| Record: 3-4.**
**Oct. 26: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 3:05**
**• Last meeting at home:** Saints lost 51-27 in 2024
**• Bucs in 2024:** 10-7, won NFC South
**PREDICTION:** The Bucs have won their last three games in the Superdome. That includes last season’s debacle when the Saints gave up 51 points. It was the most points they’ve given up since allowing 52 points to the New York Giants in 2012. Things shouldn’t be that bad this time around. Bucs 24, Saints 20. **| Record: 3-5.**
**Nov. 2: at Los Angeles Rams, 3:05 p.m.**
**• Last meeting:** Saints lost 21-14 in 2024
**• Rams in 2024:** 10-7, won NFC West
PREDICTION: The Saints have played the Rams three times in L.A. since the Rams moved back to California from St. Louis. Including the stint in St. Louis, the Saints have lost five consecutive road games against the Rams. The Rams have added Davante Adams to a receiving corp that already had Puka Nacua, so it will be a tough day for the Saints’ unproven cornerbacks. Rams 35, Saints 17 | **Record: 3-6.**
**Nov. 9: at Carolina Panthers, Noon**
**• Last meeting in Charlotte:** Saints lost 23-22 in 2024
**• Panthers in 2024:** 5-12, third in NFC South
**PREDICTION:** The Saints trip to Charlotte last season ended up being the nail in the coffin of Dennis Allen’s time as head coach. Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, in his third season, seems to finally have started to figure things out. As a result, the Panthers send the Saints home with a loss for the second straight season. Panthers 27, Saints 20 | **Record: 3-7.**
**Nov. 23: vs. Atlanta Falcons, 3:25 p.m.**
**• Last meeting at home:** Saints won 20-17 in 2024
**• Falcons in 2024:** 8-9, second in NFC South
**PREDICTION:** The Saints haven’t lost to the Falcons in the Dome since the 2021 season. Two of the last three games in the Dome vs. the Dirty Birds were decided by three points. This one may not be as close as Michael Penix plays in the Dome for first time since leading the University of Washington to a Sugar Bowl victory over Texas in the semifinals of the College Football Playoffs two seasons ago. Falcons end their 3-game skid in the Big Easy. Falcons 28, Saints 13 | **Record: 3-8.**
**Nov. 30: at Miami Dolphins, Noon**
**• Last meeting:** Saints lost 20-3 in 2021
**• Dolphins in 2024:** 8-9, second in AFC East
**PREDICTION:** The Saints’ last trip to Miami was in 2009 when they beat the Dolphins 46-34 in the regular season. As you know, the Saints later went on to win the Super Bowl that season. The Saints were scheduled to return to Miami in 2017, but that game was played in London and the Saints blanked the Dolphins 20-0. The Saints were missing 16 players due to COVID when the teams played in 2021. This one won’t be quite that bad. Dolphins 24, Saints 17 | **Record: 3-9.**
**Dec. 7: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Noon**
**• Last meeting in Tampa:** Saints lost 27-19 in 2024
**PREDICTION:** The Bucs are looking to become the first team since the NFL’s realignment in 2002 to win the NFC South five times in a row. The Saints can at least try to play a spoiler role with this late season game at Raymond James Stadium. The Bucs swept the Saints last season and now will do it for a second straight season. Bucs 28, Saints 20. **Record: 3-10.**
**Dec. 14: vs. Carolina Panthers, 3:25 p.m.**
**• Last meeting at home:** Saints won 47-10 in 2024
**PREDICTION:** When the Panthers came to New Orleans in last year’s season opener, the Saints hung 47 points on them and optimism was sky-high about offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s new offense. That early season magic wore off after two weeks and Kubiak left after one season. Chances are slim the Saints will put up 47 points this time, but they do enough to get their first win since Week 6 and snap a 7-game losing streak. Saints 20, Panthers 17 | **Record: 4-10.**
Dec. 21: vs. New York Jets, Noon
**• Last meeting:** Saints won 30-9 in 2021
**• Jets in 2024:** 5-12, third in AFC East
**PREDICTION:** First-year Jets head coach Aaron Glenn was a main target for the Saints’ in their head coaching search. Glenn played one season for the Saints and spent five seasons in New Orleans as an assistant under Sean Payton before moving on to be the Lions defensive coordinator. He’ll be amped up for this one, but it won’t matter. Saints 27, Jets 17 | **Record: 5-10.**
**Dec. 28: at Tennessee Titans, Noon**
**• Last meeting at home:** Saints won 16-15 in 2023
**• Titans in 2024:** 3-14, fourth in AFC South
**PREDICTION:** The Titans won just three games last season, tied for the worst record in the NFL. They selected quarterback Cam Ward with the first overall pick, meaning this game could be a battle between two rookie quarterbacks. This is one of the few road wins the Saints may be able to get this season. But giving a slight edge to Ward and Company at home. Titans 14, Saints 13 | **Record: 5-11.**
**Week 18, TBA: at Atlanta Falcons, TBA**
**• Last meeting in Atlanta:** Saints lost 26-24 in 2024
**PREDICTION:** The Saints had their hearts broken in Mercedes Benz Stadium last season when Younghoe Koo drilled a 58-yard field goal in the final seconds. It was the Falcons second straight home win over their rival they list on the scoreboard as “visitors” instead of “Saints.” The Saints now can try to crush the Falcons' bid for an NFC South crown. They keep it close, but leave the ATL with a loss and same record as last season. Falcons 17, Saints 14 | **Record: 5-12.**