The kickoff of the 2026 Saints season begins with fresh optimism in New Orleans. This Saints team enters the season with second-year head coach Kellen Moore and second-year quarterback Tyler Shough for their first full season behind the wheel together. Thanks to a draft that has added some high-quality parts to this rebuilt chassis, these Saints find themselves poised to turn some heads this season.
The expectations have greatly increased for the Saints this season, with the team expected to be a front-runner for the division title, following a last-place finish a season ago. These Saints might not quite yet have what it takes yet to compete for the Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl LXI in Los Angeles, California next February, but they will certainly attempt to shock the league. Their chance to open the throttle and kick into the next gear begins here in Week 1.
All season and postseason, we will be presenting you with each and every game on the NFL schedule along with my picks for each game. It’s been a long wait for this season to begin, so let’s get started.
WEEK 1
Wednesday, September 9th – NFL Kickoff 2026
Patriots at Seahawks
This rematch of February’s Super Bowl LX will hopefully turn out much better than that game. Seattle’s rivals in Los Angeles are getting the spotlight this season, but the reigning Super Bowl Champions will remind everyone that they are still the team to beat. New England has had an interesting offseason to say the least, but this team is every bit as good as the one that reached the Super Bowl last season. The problem for the Pats is that Seattle is still just as talented and well coached as they were that Super Bowl Sunday. Seattle wins 26-17.
Pick: Seahawks
***
Thursday, September 10th – NFL International Game
49ers at* Rams – East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Few teams enter an NFL season with the level of expectations that the Rams face this season. They boast arguably the most intimidating defensive line we have seen in many years, and soon we will see if this team is more than just the hype that precedes them. On the other side, their rivals from San Francisco have faced an offseason full of turmoil and injuries. Despite it all, the Niners have an annoying ability to play better than they have any right to, under Kyle Shanahan. Without Aaron Donald, and with great familiarity between these bitter rivals, this showdown Down Under will be a pretty close one. Los Angeles wins 33-26.
Pick: Rams
***
Sunday, September 13th – Early Games
Bears at Panthers
Chicago found themselves so very close to the NFC Championship Game last season, and now look to take that next step under second-year coach Ben Johnson. The reigning NFC South Champs hope their triumph from last season wasn’t just a fluke. Tough break for the Panthers, facing these Bears right from the jump. Chicago wins 26-14.
Pick: Bears
***
Buccaneers at Bengals
Tampa saw their unimpressively long reign atop the NFC South come to an unceremonious end last season, and this season may very well prove the Bucs’ glory days are in the past. Cincy, on the other hand, looks to regain their place among the AFC’s contending elite. While Cincy’s reworked defense looks to get its footing, their offense will take care of business. Cincinnati wins 37-23.
Pick: Bengals
***
Bills at Texans – Game of the Week
If not for some bad bounces on both sides, it could’ve been these two teams that played each other in last season’s AFC Championship Game. Now they face off in a game that starts the season, but may have long-term ramifications come the end of the season. Buffalo is hoping that a change at head coach is just what they need to finally reach their elusive goal, but this elite Houston defense will win this game for the home team. Houston wins 23-20.
Pick: Texans
***
Ravens at Colts
Both of these teams hade the making of AFC contenders to start last season, but both ultimately missed the playoffs in the end. Now, a season of redemption arrives for both teams. Indy, with a returning Daniel Jones at QB, and Baltimore, with a new head coach leading the franchise. This will be a close one, but Baltimore wins this one in the closing moments. Baltimore wins 25-24.
Pick: Ravens
***
Browns at Jaguars
Jacksonville started the Liam Coen era by winning the AFC South Championship last season, and look to fend off a division that improved across the board during the offseason. The offseason for Cleveland has left Browns fans wanting for more, a sentiment they will certainly feel throughout this season. Jacksonville wins 25-20.
Pick: Jaguars
***
Falcons at Steelers
Pittsburgh finds themselves in unfamiliar territory, no longer being led by longtime head coach Mike Tomlin, but Mike McCarthy instead. It feels like an timeline in flux in the City of Steel, but they are being gifted an opening matchup with Atlanta, who features a head coach they are very familiar with in Kevin Stefanski and a quarterback they should have no problems with. This could easily be the start of a very long season for the Falcons. Pittsburgh wins 17-13.
Pick: Steelers
***
Jets at Titans
This matchup of two of last season’s worst teams certainly won’t spark much interest to start the season, but Tennessee’s investments in their young offense should pay dividends this week. Tennessee wins 27-17.
Pick: Titans
***
Saints at Lions
The Saints open the season with a notably brutal one-two punch at Detroit and Baltimore. The 2026 Saints should be a dramatic improvement over last year’s version, but they face quite an uphill battle right at the starting line on the road this week. Tyler Shough has been given more weapons to work with, as well as an upgrade in protection, and that should do wonders for the sophomore signal caller. If the defense can play up to their levels from a season ago, the Saints should certainly see themselves fighting for control of the NFC South this season.
Can the Saints win this game? Certainly. Will the Saints win this game? It just doesn’t feel like it. Detroit may not have been a playoff team last year, but like the Saints, they are a team primed for a rebound. Dan Campbell still has quite a talented roster at his disposal, and Detroit’s division will forge his team in fire this year. Injuries to the Lions’ secondary will keep this one close throughout, but unfortunately, the task will be a little too tall for the Saints to open the season. Detroit wins 26-21.
Pick: Lions
***
Sunday, September 13th – Late Games
Cardinals at Chargers
The Chargers are looking to keep pace with a very difficult fight for the top of the AFC West. They have the coach, they have the quarterback, they have the overall roster to reach the next level, but something always seems to be missing. Thankfully for the Bolts, they face an Arizona team still searching for their identity going forward, and they will win a game that is much closer than is has any business being. Los Angeles wins 21-20.
Pick: Chargers
***
Dolphins at Raiders
The Fernando Mendoza era will be here soon enough, but until then Kirk Cousins will lead the Silver and Black under new head coach Klint Kubiak. Miami also enters this season with a new head coach and quarterback, but it will be the home team that starts off their new era with a win. Las Vegas wins 27-16.
Pick: Raiders
***
Packers at Vikings
These fierce NFC North rivals look not only to fend off each other but the reigning champion Bears and the likely resurgent Lions. Every divisional game in the NFC North will be crucial, and this one will come down to Green Bay’s advantage at quarterback, in the end. Green Bay wins 26-22.
Pick: Packers
***
Commanders at Eagles
After facing each other in the NFC Championship Game two seasons ago, these NFC East rivals suffered through disappointing campaigns last season, with Philly unceremoniously failing in the playoffs, while Washington missed the playoffs entirely. Now, both look to rebound, but Philly will take this one at home. Philadelphia wins 23-21.
Pick: Eagles
***
Sunday Night Football
Cowboys at Giants
Dallas looks primed to take advantage of an NFC East that seems to be in flux after a tumultuous season a year ago. The Giants consider themselves a division contender with John Harbaugh taking the reigns in the Big Apple, but even with their premier young pass-rushers on defense, they will be overmatched by the dangerous Dallas offense in the Sunday Night opener. Dallas wins 35-28.
Pick: Cowboys
***
Monday, September 14th – Monday Night Football
Broncos at Chiefs
If not for a devastating injury to Bo Nix, which kept the QB out of the AFC Championship Game, it could have very well been the Denver Broncos that represented their conference in the Super Bowl. Now, Sean Payton looks to take this team to the heights that their opponents in Kansas City are all too familiar with. The Chiefs are fresh off their most disappointing season of the Patrick Mahomes/Andy Reid era, and a win over the reigning AFC West Champs. Even with Mahomes returning from his ACL injury to start this game, KC is not prepared to beat Sean Payton’s Broncos in this first matchup. Denver wins 21-16.
Pick: Broncos
***
That’s how I see it, tell us how you see Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season unfolding. Leave your comments and insight below. Finally, Saints football is back!
