By Gee Bino | The Who Dat Daily
The Saints 2026 season preview begins with a simple question: Can New Orleans become one of the NFL’s biggest surprise teams?
If you ask most national analysts, the answer is increasingly becoming yes.
After ending the 2025 season with four consecutive victories and posting a 5-3 record under rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, optimism has quietly returned to the Crescent City. While sportsbooks have set New Orleans’ projected win total at just 7.5 games, several analysts believe the Black and Gold possess the ingredients to dramatically outperform expectations.
With quarterback stability, offensive continuity, a revamped roster, and one of the NFL’s easiest schedules, the Saints are quickly becoming one of the league’s favorite “worst-to-first” candidates entering the 2026 season.
Here’s why.
1. Tyler Shough Is Poised for a Year-Two Breakout
For the first time since Drew Brees retired, the Saints enter a season with genuine excitement surrounding their quarterback.
Tyler Shough didn’t just show flashes during his rookie campaign—he changed the trajectory of the franchise.
After taking over as the starter late in the 2025 season, Shough guided New Orleans to a 5-3 record while helping the offense find an identity under head coach Kellen Moore. More importantly, the Saints finished the season by winning four consecutive games, giving the organization confidence that it had finally found its franchise quarterback.
Now entering his second season in Moore’s offensive system, Shough should play faster, process defenses quicker, and operate with far greater command at the line of scrimmage.
At 6-foot-5 with above-average athleticism and the ability to extend plays outside the pocket, he gives New Orleans an offensive ceiling the franchise simply hasn’t possessed in years.
If Shough takes the leap many expect, the Saints’ offense could become one of the NFL’s most improved units.
2. Kellen Moore Has Built an Explosive Supporting Cast
Quarterbacks succeed when surrounded by playmakers, and New Orleans has quietly assembled one of its most talented offensive groups in recent memory.
The Saints return star receiver Chris Olave, while adding eighth overall pick Jordyn Tyson, a dynamic rookie capable of stretching defenses vertically and creating explosive plays after the catch.
Speed remains a strength with Rashid Shaheed, while the backfield may now rank among the NFL’s best after the addition of Travis Etienne Jr., who joins veteran Alvin Kamara to form one of football’s most versatile running back tandems.
The tight end room also received a major facelift.
Veteran Noah Fant gives Moore another athletic receiving option, while rookie Oscar Delp brings size, physicality, and long-term upside.
Combined, the Saints now possess multiple weapons capable of stressing defenses from every area of the field.
That kind of versatility is exactly what Moore’s offensive system demands.
3. Coaching Continuity Could Unlock Another Level
One of the NFL’s most underrated advantages is continuity.
For the first time in years, New Orleans enters training camp without learning an entirely new offensive system.
Kellen Moore returns for his second season as head coach, Tyler Shough enters Year Two in the offense, and much of the coaching staff remains intact.
That matters.
Instead of spending training camp installing a brand-new playbook, players can focus on refining timing, improving communication, and executing at a higher level.
Year Two is often when offensive systems truly begin to flourish because players stop thinking and start reacting instinctively.
Defensively, coordinator Brandon Staley also benefits from another offseason with his personnel. His scheme helped New Orleans remain competitive despite numerous injuries in 2025, and another year of familiarity should only improve communication and execution on that side of the football.
Sometimes the biggest offseason acquisition isn’t a player.
It’s continuity.
4. The Schedule Sets Up Favorably
Even talented teams need opportunities.
Fortunately for New Orleans, the 2026 schedule provides plenty.
Based on opponents’ combined winning percentages from last season, the Saints enter the year with the second-easiest projected schedule in the NFL.
The NFC South also remains one of football’s most unpredictable divisions.
No team enters the season as a prohibitive favorite, creating a realistic opportunity for New Orleans to compete for a division championship.
Perhaps most importantly, the Saints finish the regular season with four crucial divisional games.
If they remain in contention entering December, they’ll have every opportunity to determine their own playoff fate.
A favorable schedule guarantees nothing.
But it certainly creates a pathway toward meaningful football late in the season.
5. The Saints Quietly Fixed Their Biggest Weakness
Championship teams are built from the inside out.
The Saints clearly embraced that philosophy this offseason.
Along the offensive line, veteran guard David Edwards brings experience, toughness, and championship pedigree while helping stabilize the interior. Meanwhile, former first-round picks Taliese Fuaga and Kelvin Banks Jr. are expected to take significant developmental steps, giving New Orleans one of its most promising young offensive lines in years.
Defensively, the front office continued investing in the trenches.
Veteran pass rushers Chase Young and Cameron Jordan now receive additional support from emerging talents Tyree Wilson, Vernon Broughton, and rookie defensive tackle Christen Miller, creating deeper rotations that should keep the defensive line fresh deep into games.
Winning in the NFL starts up front.
The Saints appear to understand that better than ever.
Can New Orleans Become the NFL’s Biggest Surprise Team?
The Saints still have questions to answer.
Tyler Shough must prove his late-season success wasn’t a small sample size. The young receivers must develop quickly, and the offensive line has to perform consistently against elite competition.
However, the overall picture is difficult to ignore.
A promising young quarterback.
A creative offensive coach entering Year Two.
An upgraded collection of skill players.
Improved depth in the trenches.
One of the NFL’s most favorable schedules.
Taken together, those ingredients explain why so many league observers believe New Orleans is one of the most intriguing “worst-to-first” candidates entering 2026.
The Saints aren’t just hoping to surprise the NFL.
They’ve quietly built a roster capable of doing exactly that.
Key Stats: Saints 2026 by the Numbers
| Category | Stat |
|---|---|
| Tyler Shough Record as Starter | 5–3 |
| Ended 2025 Season | 4 Straight Wins |
| Projected Win Total | 7.5 |
| Strength of Schedule | 2nd-Easiest |
| NFC South Finish Needed | Division Title in Reach |
What Do You Think, Who Dat Nation?
Can the Saints snap their playoff drought and win the NFC South in 2026?
Share your prediction in the comments below, and don’t miss Big Q’s complete 2026 Saints Season Preview on The Sports Coma for an in-depth breakdown of the roster, schedule, training camp battles, and playoff outlook.
Gee Bino is a senior writer and columnist for The Who Dat Daily, covering the New Orleans Saints, Pelicans, LSU athletics, and the Gulf South sports landscape. He specializes in roster construction, player development, salary cap strategy, and breaking news coverage. Follow The Who Dat Daily for daily news, analysis, and exclusive team coverage.