New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (12) can't pull in a pass as he is defended by Detroit Lions cornerback Avonte Maddox (29) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Detroit.
AP Photo/Rey Del Rio
The New Orleans Saints (1-1) play their home opener Sunday when they welcome the Las Vegas Raiders (2-0) to the Superdome. Here are our staff predictions.
**Jeff Duncan (Season record: 1-1)**
**Saints 23, Raiders 13:** I’m sorry, but I’m not buying the Raiders’ 2-0 start. It feels fraudulent to me, and I believe the Saints will expose things in their offense and defense that the Dolphins and Chargers could not. If the Saints can get after Kirk Cousins and make him uncomfortable in the pocket, I expect it to lead to some takeaways. It won’t surprise me if this is a walkover for the Saints.
**Zach Ewing (Season record: 1-1)**
**Saints 24, Raiders 22:** This will be a challenge. Klint Kubiak’s juice as a play-caller has followed him into his role as a head coach, Kirk Cousins has six touchdown passes and the Las Vegas defense ranks ninth in the NFL and is tied for first with eight sacks. Ultimately, I don’t see the Saints losing in front of a juiced-up crowd in their home opener, but it’ll be close — maybe as close as needing to stop a two-point conversion in the final seconds.
**Luke Johnson (Season record: 1-1)**
**Saints 27, Raiders 23:** Two weeks on the NFL schedule is enough to let you get an idea of a team, but not enough to feel great about that idea. I think the Saints are good; I think the Raiders 2-0 start is not a mirage. One way or another, we should get some clearer answers on who these two teams are this week, and I think the Dome will provide the edge the Saints need defensively.
**Matthew Paras (Season record: 1-1)**
**Saints 21, Raiders 18:** Former Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has Las Vegas out to a scrappy start, and his offense could very well give New Orleans some trouble. But I like the Saints in this one, especially with Chris Olave being able to feast on the Raiders' secondary.
**Rod Walker (Season record: 1-1)**
**Saints 31, Raiders 20:** This won’t be the gimme that I thought it would be when the schedule came out. The Raiders have shown improvement, beating the Dolphins and Chargers to start the season. But the Dome should be rocking for this one, enough to finally get Tyler Shough and Company off to a much-needed fast start. Saints handle their business at home and give the Who Dat nation a treat in their home debut.