The New Orleans Saints are heading into the 2026 NFL season with a chip on their shoulder—and for good reason. According to the latest odds from sportsbooks, the black and gold are listed as underdogs in 12 of their 17 games this year. That's a staggering number for any team, but especially for one that plays in the NFC South, a division that's been wide open in recent seasons.

Despite the lack of confidence from oddsmakers, the Saints' win total is set at 7.5, suggesting there's still a belief they can hover around .500. And with one of the easiest strength-of-schedule ratings in the league, there's reason for optimism in New Orleans.

The schedule isn't without its challenges, though. The Saints open the season with two tough road tests, facing the Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens in back-to-back weeks. That's no easy start, especially for a team still finding its identity under head coach Kellen Moore.

Later in the season, from Weeks 10 through 14, the Saints face a brutal stretch. Sandwiched between two NFC South matchups against the Carolina Panthers, New Orleans will travel to face the Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Bengals before returning home to host the Green Bay Packers. That's a gauntlet that could define their season.

But there's plenty of excitement brewing in the Big Easy. Quarterback Tyler Shough finished the 2025 season with a breakout stretch, and the front office went all-in on surrounding him with talent. The Saints signed big-name free agents like running back Travis Etienne and offensive lineman David Edwards, and they used the eighth overall pick in the draft to add receiver Jordy Tyson. That's a statement of intent.

While the Saints are favorites in just five games this season, the schedule includes winnable matchups against the Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland Browns, and Arizona Cardinals. With two games a year against a rebuilding NFC South, there's a path to exceeding expectations.

At Canal Street Chronicles, our most recent win total projection landed at 9-8—a bit more optimistic than the sportsbooks, but grounded in the belief that a second year in Moore's system and continued growth from Shough could be the formula for a turnaround. The Saints may not be the favorites on paper, but they're shaping up to be one of the most intriguing teams to watch in 2026.