WEEK 1 vs. ARIZONA CARDINALS
I can absolutely see the Saints surprise a few people with a home victory against the Arizona Cardinals. That team has not won in the Superdome since 1996, so even though New Orleans will most likely be the underdogs, they at least do a good job at giving their fans enough false hope to begin the season. However, winning this game is not going to be an easy feat. Kyler Murray did not have a hard time bouncing back from his torn ACL and showed that this is still his team for the foreseeable future, James Conner is still a workhorse at running back, and Marvin Harrison Jr. established himself as the focal point of the passing game. Trey McBride rightfully earned a contract extension to make him the highest paid tight end in the NFL, but I am curious to see how Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch are going to perform in what should be make-or-break seasons for both receivers in the league. The fact that Arizona has one of the best offensive lines in football after being such a garbage heap a few seasons ago should indicate that this unit will be very efficient. The question is can they be consistent, because that has been the biggest con of Kyler Murray’s tenure in the NFL.
What I was really more impressed with was their defense with Jonathan Gannon leading the charge. I still feel their pass rush can get a lot better, but totaling forty-one sacks last year showed promising signs of improvement. It is why they drafted Walter Nolen with their first round pick and signed Josh Sweat to a long-term deal, giving players like Darius Robinson and Baron Browning chances to have improved in the 2025 campaigns. I am also expecting the run defense to get better because even though they have Zaven Collins, there is a reason why Arizona signed a proven veteran in Dalvin Tomlinson. The secondary is also an above average unit that at least made the effort of adding a potential number one corner by drafting Will Johnson in the second round, so that should take a lot of pressure off of Budda Baker’s shoulders. It is still a very young group, so I am anxious to see which guys are going to step up, especially as we approach the second half of the season.
The Saints have not lost an opening game since 2018 when former Buccaneers quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick entered the Superdome and torched them with over 400 yards and five touchdowns. The Cardinals are a better football team than the one Tampa had back in the day, but one thing that New Orleans does know how to do well is get their seasons off to strong starts, especially at home.
WEEK 2 vs. SAN FRANCISCO 49ers
Unfortunately, this is going to be the first game where a lot of the flaws and weaknesses of the Saints are going to be exposed into the light. Even though they will stay at home, they have to take on the San Francisco 49ers, a team that is trying to prove that last year never even happened. There will be no more offseason drama now that Brock Purdy got his contract extension, so now that the offense is healthy, it is time to see what he can do. Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and Trent Williams will be returning. Unfortunately, Deebo Samuel and Jaylon Moore will not. However, the 49ers still have an incredible amount of depth at wide receiver and the offensive line has been a stable unit for the most part. Deebo might be gone, but if Aiyuk cannot fully recover from the injury, then there is another trio that could pick up the slack: Jauan Jennings, Demarcus Robinson, and Ricky Pearsall. It might not sound totally inspiring, but with Shanahan as the play-caller, they will be effective and efficient.
At the start of the offseason, the 49ers saw many of their stars depart elsewhere. Javon Hargrave, Talanoa Hufanga, Dre Greenlaw, and Charvarius Ward were the most notable names to leave. The good news is that they still have two of their key cornerstones in Nick Bosa and Fred Warner. Not only that, but Robert Saleh is coming back as the defensive coordinator, so a familiar face will be more than welcomed back in the building. The 49ers made sure to give Bosa some extra help by drafting Mykel Williams in the first round, but I truly do not know if this team is going to be truly better than they were last year. With Greenlaw gone, you don’t know who is going to pair up with Warner on the second level. Deommodore Lenoir got himself a nice contract extension, but who is his right hand man? On the other hand, Hufanga’s void will be filled with the likes of Malik Mustapha and Ji’Ayir Brown, along with veterans Jason Pinnock and Richie Grant hoping to adapt to their new change of scenery.
The biggest factor that is forcing me to pick the 49ers is because they have the better constructed roster. They have their quarterback of the future, their offense is more dynamic as a result, and the defense is a stronger unit. New Orleans has to do a lot to prove that they can be a decent team this season, so an upset at home requires perfection.
WEEK 3 @ SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
I actually took a while to pick the winner of this game. On the surface, the Seahawks should easily win because they are at home and they have more pieces, but there is a thought in the back of my mind that Sam Darnold is going to screw this up. Many are hoping that his 2024 season was not just a “one year wonder” and that he does not revert back to his Jets form. Myself included. When I look at the supporting cast around him, it is not as great as it was when he was with the Vikings, but it is still manageable. The Seahawks have an underrated running back tandem of Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet, two guys that can punish defenders with physicality and acceleration on yards after contact. No more Tyler Lockett or DK Metcalf, but Jaxon Smith-Njigba has emerged as a number one option and he will have a promising right-hand man in Cooper Kupp. Hopefully, the former Super Bowl MVP can stay healthy because he has proven he can still play. You just need him on the field. Seattle also has an emerging tight end in AJ Barner, and there are a couple of depth guys in Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Jake Bobo that are hoping to have some role in this offense. However, the state of the offensive line always worries me, from the days of Russell Wilson. One red flag about Darnold’s play is that he tends to hold onto the ball too long, and you cannot have that in Seattle, because he is not going to have a clean pocket most days. They might have drafted Grey Zabel in the first round, but if Charles Cross is the only good lineman they have again, then this team is going to be extremely disappointing to watch.
The main strength of the Seattle Seahawks last year was their defense, despite the fact they missed the playoffs with a ten-win season. They have an incredible amount of playmakers on all three levels and Mike MacDonald did a great job of making sure that this unit cleaned up any issues that they might have had in the past. Leonard Williams is still an absolute beast of a pass rusher and there were plenty more guys that stepped up as well. Boye Mafe and Derick Hall had breakout seasons last year, and now that Demarcus Lawrence is coming on board, this is a defensive line that will have depth. In the linebacking corps, Ernest Jones will hopefully have a full season under his belt with the team, because he is an incredibly versatile player that any team would love to have. The safety has a plethora of name talent like Riq Woolen, Julian Love, Devon Witherspoon, and Coby Bryant. The hope is that if the offense finds some consistency, the defense will not suffer any setbacks. MacDonald is a hell of a coach, so I am truly hoping for the best.
I am going to give the Seahawks the benefit of the doubt and say that they win this game, but it has been a long time since they beat New Orleans, whether it is in the Northwest or in the Superdome. I will not be surprised if the Saints win, but the lack of certainty at quarterback is the one thing that is preventing me from picking the upset at the moment.
WEEK 4 @ BUFFALO BILLS
The first time you see this matchup, you think that the Bills are easily going to win, and rightfully so. But one historical fact that nobody knows about is that they have not beaten the Saints at home since 1983, which is absolutely mind-boggling. Normally, this would be the game where I pick an upset to take place, but there are some streaks that I feel have to come to an end at some point. Buffalo is expected to be a perennial championship contender and the biggest reason why is because of the reigning MVP they have at quarterback: Josh Allen. If it were not for Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, Allen might actually have at least one Super Bowl ring to wear, but that has been the only knock on his tenure with the Bills. The supporting cast around him is pretty good, but it is the quarterback that has lifted them to a higher tier. The only true star that they have is running back James Cook, but he is currently unhappy with his current contract, and there is a strong chance that he could hold out for a new one. On the other hand, I have faith that Ray Davis could elevate his game and Ty Johnson has served as a quality third down back. Their receiving room is not as average as it was last year. Keon Coleman has the potential to be a promising number one receiver, but we need to see more from him to truly believe it will happen. I have always liked Khalil Shakir in the slot, and I think both Josh Palmer and Elijah Moore could put up decent numbers as depth pieces. On paper, the Bills have a formidable tight end duo of Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox, but their numbers from last year do not indicate that. What masks this flaw is their offensive line, which gave up the fewest sacks in the league. As long as they have Josh Allen fully healthy, then this team is going to be favored to win the division and be a perennial championship contender.
Unfortunately, Sean McDermott’s defenses have not held his end of the bargain of trying to deliver a championship to the city of Buffalo. Their defensive line has household names like Greg Rousseau and Ed Oliver, but they were just okay last season. I don’t really know if bringing in Michael Hoecht or Joey Bosa is going to make them a whole lot better, but my guess is that Buffalo is banking on AJ Epenesa and Javon Solomon to take big leaps. I think one of the biggest reasons why the Bills defense has not been as feared over the last couple of seasons is because both Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard had to deal with long-term injuries, thus affecting their run defense and the strength of the entire unit as a whole. It is no wonder why this secondary is on its heels every day, but even they have their limits. It looks like Christian Benford will be their number one corner after receiving a long-term extension, but I need to see more from him to truly believe he has what it takes. They brought back Tre’Davious White and Dane Jackson, yet they are not the same players that they were in 2021. If you had to ask me who would start alongside Benford, it would be Cam Lewis and Taron Johnson, with Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp manning the safety positions. That will allow rookie Maxwell Hairston to sit back and learn, rather than be thrusted into the fire and rush his developmental process.
Stranger things have happened so if the Saints pull off the upset, then you can come back to this page and tell me that I was the first to point it out. However, I am sure that the Bills are not going to let a game like this pass them by and make sure to handle their business on both sides of the ball… for now.
WEEK 5 vs. NEW YORK GIANTS
The matchup that nobody wanted in 2025! If both of these teams turn out to be as bad as I fear they are going to be this season, then this is going to be unwatchable for everybody. We already talked enough about the Saints, but let’s see what type of vision the Giants have for this season. They signed Russell Wilson, then traded up for Jaxson Dart in the first round. They have a promising running back in Tyrone Tracy, but drafted Cam Skattebo. Malik Nabers is a stud at wide receiver, but the next best options are Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson, both inconsistent in their respective positions. At least Andrew Thomas is coming back to stabilize the offensive line, but with the uncertainty at the quarterback position, who knows how many times that group will be set up to fail? One more horrid start and John Mara is cleaning house.
Hopefully, the defense emerges out of the shadows and gives us promising flashes throughout the season. Their pass rush is stacked with the likes of Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Dexter Lawrence. They added Chauncey Golston and Roy Robertson-Harris to solidify that front, but the run defense has been underwhelming with Bobby Okereke and Micah McFadden leading the way. What I am really going to pay attention to is their secondary because the Giants made sure to overhaul it in the offseason. They brought in Paulson Adebo to be their number one corner, signed the best safety in free agency in Jevon Holland to man the deep end, and are hoping for breakout seasons from Andru Phillips and Tyler Nubin. Yet, the biggest disappointment in that group has been Deonte Banks, who has not lived up to the first round pedigree he had as he allowed six touchdowns just last season.
This can really go either way. The Saints are at home, yet the Giants have the better quarterback. It is not saying much at all, but I think that we can expect New York to win for the latter reason. It is not going to be a blowout at all, but Russell Wilson is a better option than whoever New Orleans has at quarterback right now.
WEEK 6 vs. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
I definitely see this as a winnable game for the Saints because in their last two matchups against the Patriots, they have not only won, but outright crushed them at Gillette Stadium. However, New England is trying to start a fresh new chapter with Mike Vrabel as their head coach. The Jerod Mayo experiment failed, so a more proven and successful man will do his best to develop Drake Maye into the stud that he is supposed to transform into, and the cast around him is ten times better than whatever the heck he had last year. Rhamondre Stevenson had a rough season with fumble issues, which is why New England drafted Trayveon Henderson in the second round, but he is still a flexible back that can fight for yards after contact and bruise defenders with his physicality. They signed Stefon Diggs to be their new number one option, but I have been skeptical about the wide receiver room for the last five years now. It’s not only about the supporting role players, but the fact that Diggs is coming off a torn ACL and is not getting any younger. Fortunately, Hunter Henry is still around and has always been a reliable security blanket, but my biggest area of focus is the offensive line. New England did everything they could to overhaul that unit and managed to do that within a few months. They drafted left Will Campbell with the fourth overall pick, replaced the recently retired David Andrews with Garrett Bradbury, and signed Morgan Moses in free agency to be their right tackle. The only returning starters will be Cole Strange and Michael Onwenu, so their biggest priority is making sure Drake Maye does not get crushed on a weekly basis, or else this season is going to be a disaster.
Just like Bill Belichick did in 2021, Mike Vrabel retooled this defense into a respected juggernaut. They gave Milton Williams a huge contract to be their spearhead on the defensive line, brought in Harold Landry to fly off the edge, added Robert Spillane to be the new starting middle linebacker, and even signed Carlton Davis to complement a rising superstar in Christian Gonzalez. New England had to let go of a few remaining veterans to make these signings possible, but there is no doubt they will have one of the best defenses in football at the end. These signings are going to take the pressure off of guys like Keion White, Christian Barmore, Anfernee Jennings, Jahlani Tavai, and Kyle Dugger to do their best to keep a faded empire alive the year before.
Like many other games that the Saints have to play this season, the opponent has a better constructed roster. The Patriots did their best to make sure that they did not have another pathetic season, and I am sure that beating a team like New Orleans has to be a huge objective in order for them to make tremendous strides.
WEEK 7 @ CHICAGO BEARS
I don’t want to hear any Saints fans be upset that I have them losing that many games. You started off 2-0 and then went into a free-fall, so nobody should be surprised whatsoever. With Ben Johnson as the new head coach of the Chicago Bears, the city is hoping that this is finally the year that things turn around for the better. It has been redundant to say that the Bears are expected to finally turn things around, but this has to be the year that things are different. Caleb Williams is hoping to take a huge leap into his sophomore season, perhaps proving that offensive coordinator Shane Waldron really was a hack and should not have been the guy to guide him in his rookie year. Entering 2025, the pieces are more and less the same, but they are hoping to improve as well. D’Andre Swift is still a capable running back, DJ Moore is a number one option for any quarterback in the NFL, Cole Kmet is always a serviceable tight end, and Rome Odunze is hoping to make sure that his second year is a breakout one. However, I think that there are definitely a couple of additions that could make a difference. The fact that wide receiver Luther Burden fell to the second round was absolutely shocking because he is an incredible playmaker that can take off after the catch, so this is definitely somebody that Caleb would absolutely dream to have as a teammate. In the first round, the Bears drafted a stunner in tight end Colston Loveland over Tyler Warren, but Ben Johnson knew that this guy would fit the Sam LaPorta mold perfectly. Loveland is also going to give Kmet something to think about in training camp, because if he develops in the right direction, then the starting job for tight end is definitely going to change hands at some point in the season. The biggest improvements that Chicago made with their offense revolved around their line. They traded for a four-time champion in All-Pro guard Joe Thuney, made another trade for Jonah Jackson, and signed the best free agent center in Drew Dalman. You pair those three with Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright, that is a solid line. Last year, it was a complete abomination as it gave up the most sacks in the entire NFL, so Johnson is hoping that they make a very quick turnaround.
Despite the Bears defense finishing tenth in takeaways, this unit was average at best. They allowed the sixth most yards in football, ranked sixteenth in both passing and sacks, finished the fifth worst in rushing yards allowed, and placed thirteenth in points given up. I really don’t see Dennis Allen as an upgrade over Matt Eberflus, but he is at least a better coordinator than a head coach. The biggest moves that Chicago made with its defense in free agency is with the defensive line, just to make sure that the identity was not “Montez Sweat or bust.” By the way, he only had 5.5 sacks in 2024. Fortunately, he has a lot more help around him this time. Dayo Odeyingbo got himself a big contract of $48 million over three years, and even though I think they overpaid a tad too much for Grady Jarrett, he is at least a proven pass rusher that might have just needed a change of scenery. What I want to see, though, is the younger guys stepping up. This means that Chris Williams, Austin Booker, and Gervon Dexter are going to need to post bigger numbers. Otherwise, it won’t be long before Ryan Poles sends any one of them to another organization. In the linebacker room, they still have Tremaine Edmunds and TJ Edwards as a rock-solid duo, but they also need to prove that whatever happened last year was just a fluke. The secondary is still an opportunistic unit with a lot of key playmakers. Jaylon Johnson is easily a top three cornerback, Jaquan Brisker is one of the most underappreciated safeties in football when he is on the field, Tyrique Stevenson still has plenty of room to grow, and Kyler Gordon will hope to have a bounce-back year as well. I’m not saying that this defense is going to be great, but if Ben Johnson can get the offense back on track, then there won’t be an overwhelming amount of pressure that they have to drag throughout the season.
What makes this a difficult matchup for the Saints to win is that they are on the road and the Bears are hoping to finally make a push for a playoff spot. Because New Orleans has little to no expectations this season, they are going to be the odd ones out most of the time.
WEEK 8 vs. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Yes, I actually have the Saints beating the Buccaneers at home. However, this is not going to be an easy feat. Not only has Tampa won the last few matchups in the Superdome, but they have been a respected playoff contender for a long while now. It began with Tom Brady and Baker Mayfield has done more than his job to make them a respected foe. He might have his third different offensive coordinator in his three years with the team, but I think that as long as the pieces are still there and the system does not change, then it should not be too big of an issue. Bucky Irving emerged as one of the more promising rookie running backs in the league, so any time the passing game does get held in check, then he and Rachaad White can pick up the slack. Say it is the other way around, then you have Mike Evans to worry about, somebody that is essentially guaranteed to total a thousand yards in a season. Chris Godwin is coming back, Jalen McMillan showed tremendous promise as a rookie, and Tampa drafted Emeka Egbuka to round out the receiving room. Their offensive line is also a well-rounded unit that showed improvement towards the second half of the season, but based on Mayfield’s style of play, it is a unit that might give up more sacks than you would like.
My only real concern with the Buccaneers is their defense, which should not be the case with Todd Bowles as the head coach. If you ask me, it is an average unit with a few key stars, but not much else. They have a beast in Vita Vea anchoring the pass rush, Lavonte David still playing at a high level at middle linebacker, and one of the best safeties in the league in Antoine Winfield Jr. However, they allowed the fourth most passing yards out of any other team and their secondary only totaled seven interceptions. I understand that Tampa drafted two corners with their mid-round picks and signed Haason Reddick in free agency, but I don’t believe that those additions moved the needle with this group. Although they have guys they can show up in spurts, Tampa does not have a lot of players that are difference makers, and that is critical if they want to make a deep playoff run.
I do not think that the Saints are going to have this bad of a record before their bye week soon, so I am going to predict that they have at least two surprising upset victories this year. However, this is not going to be a sweep.
WEEK 9 @ LOS ANGELES RAMS
I hate to say this but I feel like the euphoria will last a little longer than expected as they have to head on the road for what should be an extremely challenging matchup against the Rams. They have always been a consistent playoff contender under Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford. Their offense has always been their bread and butter, regardless of the different pieces they had over the years. Kyren Williams is a touchdown machine just like a certain man named Todd Gurley. The Rams have one of the best young receivers in the league in Puka Nacua, and while the Cooper Kupp era unfortunately had to come to an end, it is not terrible getting Davante Adams as a consolation prize. I personally thought it was a bummer that Demarcus Robinson departed in free agency, but knowing Sean McVay, there are going to be at least a couple guys that will carve out bigger roles. My guesses are Jordan Whittington and Tutu Atwell. Unfortunately, Tyler Higbee is not the same tight end that he once was, but I think both Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen have a strong chance of stealing the starting spot at some point in the season. Their offensive line gave up the sixth fewest sacks in the league, so if you are a team that does not have a scary pass rush, then it might take a while before you actually get to the quarterback.
Their defense has a boatload of playmakers, but I still feel like there is a lot of room for improvement. Braden Fiske and Jared Verse made instant impacts in their rookie seasons, while Kobie Turner and Byron Young showed the young guys how it was done. Their biggest loss was letting Christian Rozeboom walk away in free agency because they do not really have anybody else that could replace him. Hopefully, the secondary could ease things for the time being. Derion Kendrick is coming back from injury and Darious Williams is back, but this group proved that there were plenty of guys that successfully adopted the “next man up” mentality. Kamren Kinchens and Jaylen McCollough thrived in the safety positions, while Ahkello Witherspoon and Cobie Durant might have found a new home. It is not the most explosive defense, but they are hungry for blood, a group that is not afraid to get nasty when things get difficult.
Once again, the Saints are on the road, which does not give them a competitive advantage against a Rams team trying to go on a deep playoff run. It is one thing to upset a division rival at home, but for them to win two weeks in a row, that will require perfection.
WEEK 10 @ CAROLINA PANTHERS
The last time that these teams played in Carolina, the Panthers pulled off one of the most stunning upsets of the season, and it ended up getting Dennis Allen fired afterwards. Nobody could have anticipated what would happen afterwards for Bryce Young, and if he truly does pick up where he left off, then this is going to be a hellish matchup to watch. After seeing his career nearly get destroyed to begin the 2024 season, he completely rebounded down the stretch and is now a sign of optimism rather than the biggest liability. Head coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan are hoping that he and the rest of this offense can pick up where they left off, because they showed more positive flashes than they did in the last five years. Chuba Hubbard emerged as one of the best running backs in the league and he will have a nice right hand man in Rico Dowdle to step in when needed. Adam Thielen is not getting any younger, but that is a reason why Carolina used their first round pick to draft Tet McMillian, who will join a receiving corps featuring Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker. They also have a rising tight end in Ja’Tavion Sanders that will be seeking more opportunities, along with an offensive line that only let up thirty-six sacks. I do not think they will be a top ten unit right away, but if Carolina continues to head into the right direction, then they can absolutely be one of the more efficient offenses in the league.
However, I think the true X factor of this team is their defense, which was a disaster last year. It ranked dead last in total yards, passing, and points. They had the fourth fewest sacks and totaled nine interceptions, with a lot of it attributed to guys like Derrick Brown and Shaq Thompson missing the entire season. Brown will be returning, along with highly touted cornerback Jaycee Horn, but I do not think that this unit got drastically better. I like Tershawn Wharton, Christian Rozeboom, Tre’von Moehrig, and Pat Jones II. I think those are highly respected players that will be beneficial to this group. Yet, are those three really going to move the needle? Their leading tackle Xavier Woods is gone, Josey Jewell was okay, and neither Jadeveon Clowney nor DJ Wonnum made a difference on the defensive line. We knew that defensive coordinator Ejero Evero was going to have his hands full, but I seriously cannot tell if this group will overachieve or not. As much as I want them to, this team does not have the right personnel to do that at the moment, unless their offense turns back the clock a decade and starts ripping everyone’s hearts out.
This is another divisional series that I do not see ending in a sweep, but the Panthers have proven to have the Saints’ number in Bank of America Stadium. If I remember correctly, Carolina has won three out of the last four matchups in that building, so don’t be surprised if we get the same outcome in 2025.
WEEK 11: BYE WEEK
WEEK 12 vs. ATLANTA FALCONS
After New Orleans fired Dennis Allen amidst a seven game losing streak, they ended it with a win at home against the Atlanta Falcons. This is a division rivalry that always finds ways to implode when you have a semblance of faith in them, so you know that these matchups between these teams are going to bring a lot of tension down the stretch. Now that Michael Penix has the full keys to the Atlanta offense, one of two things is going to happen. Either he surges like Lamar Jackson did in his sophomore year and carries the team to relevance, or the flaws keep rearing their ugly heads as they walk into another mediocre season. As I said, this is a team that has plenty of talent to get over the hump. Bijan Robinson is easily one of the top five running backs in all of football and Drake London broke through in his third year with over 1200 receiving yards. However, for this offense to truly rise up the charts, they need Kyle Pitts to get back on the map. After his rookie season, he was expected to be a huge focal point of the offense. Then all of a sudden, his play diminished and he has been in a lot of trade rumors. At some point in time, the quarterback cannot be the scapegoat for this anymore, so it will be really interesting to see how Pitts performs in 2025. Let’s not forget that Darnell Mooney fell eight yards short of a thousand last season and Ray-Ray McCloud set career highs in targets, catches, and yards! I don’t have a lot of concerns for the offensive line, even with the loss of Chris Dalman, because it is a group with proven starters. The Falcons only gave up thirty-two sacks the year before and was considered one of the best run blocking lines in football, so it really comes down to the receivers getting open and Penix being smart with his decision making.
As for the defense, it was really the most disappointing in the league. There is a reason why they did not decide to bring Matthew Judon or Justin Simmons back after signing them to prove-it deals for one year. They also knew that they could not keep Grady Jarrett around much longer because after the extension he received in 2019, he never totaled more than six sacks in a season. The good news was that Atlanta had two first round picks and decided to boost the edge with those selections. They finally made a smart decision and took Jalon Walker with their first pick, but then stunned all of us by trading a future first for James Pearce Jr. That means that head coach Raheem Morris sees them as immediate impactful players to complement Arnold Ebiketie. The rest of their defensive line has proven veterans like Leonard Floyd and David Onyemata, but they are also not getting any younger, so a lot more weight is going to be given to the young guys. They finished with the second fewest sacks in the NFL, so even though that number will get higher this season, I do not see a drastic improvement. I never had an issue with the linebacking room. Kaden Elliss is an extremely versatile linebacker and I have hopes for JD Bertrand, so I think the signing of Divine Deablo can help this group instead of hurt them. But the one position group that I have never been fond of is the secondary. AJ Terrell and Jessie Bates might be All-Pro caliber players, but who do they have to help out? I like Dee Alford, but he had an up-and-down season as he struggled with coverage. Jordan Fuller is a guy that I liked when he was on the Rams, but he tailed off in Carolina and got cut after one year for a reason. Mike Hughes did not do too bad and Atlanta brought him back on a new contract, yet I am worried that last year might have been a blimp in the radar.
Even though the Falcons should have a better team on paper, this is definitely the type of rivalry that gives us fans plenty of surprises. I feel that both these teams have a lot to prove this season, so the home-field advantage will be the biggest factor into deciding a winner.
WEEK 13 @ MIAMI DOLPHINS
This is another game that I feel like is winnable for the Saints, although it will be a difficult task. The Dolphins should be a championship contender on paper, but their self-inflicted failures over the past few years make them look nothing more than a mediocre pretender. Tua Tagovailoa has proven to be a solid NFL quarterback, but his health has always been the biggest X factor for this football team, and the team plummets when he is not on the field. It should not be the case because this offense has a boatload of speed and talent. De’Von Achane has emerged as the starting running back and Jaylen Wright is hoping to break out in his sophomore season. The top two receiving options are Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, they just signed Nick Westbrook-Ikhine to give this offense more verticality, and Jonnu Smith surprised a lot of people with a productive 2024 season. The only real liability that this group has is their offensive line. Terron Armstead retired, the interior is a mess, and Austin Jackson is the only consistent veteran they have. Hopefully, their second round pick Jonah Savaiinaea turns into a solid player, but center Aaron Brewer and left tackle Larry Borom should not be full time starters at the most important positions on the front five.
The Dolphins better hope that they do not suffer any injuries with their offense, or else that defense is going to get eaten alive, especially since Jalen Ramsey might be traded before the season begins. It is a unit that has a likable coordinator in Anthony Weaver Jr. and promising young pieces like Chop Robinson, Tyrel Dodson, and rookie Kenneth Grant. Yet, I don’t see any depth whatsoever. Jevon Holland left in free agency, Kendall Fuller and Nik Needham were released, Jordan Poyer was not brought back, and Calais Campbell left to go back to Arizona for what might be his last season. Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips cannot stay healthy, Zach Sieler is nearing thirty years old at an extremely physical position, and Miami has nobody else in their secondary that has been a proven shutdown defender. Kader Kohou is probably the closest one, but he is mainly a nickel corner, so there is nobody on the outside I can think of that can step up in a big way.
I am going to say that Miami will win this game for the sole fact that they are home, but that is considering that they will not get in their own way and screw things up. The Dolphins might have patches and flaws themselves, but they have a faster offense that is a nightmare for anybody in the league, so I will say that they make just a couple more plays to hang on.
WEEK 14 @ TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Even though it will be nice that the Saints will be staying in Florida, I do not see them beating the Buccaneers twice this season. As of right now, Tampa is the team that is expected to win the NFC South, and I know that they are not going to let somebody else take it from them, especially when they have a chance to close things out at home.
WEEK 15 vs. CAROLINA PANTHERS
However, I do expect the Saints to beat the Panthers in the Superdome. It has not been done since 2018, when both teams were playing backups in the regular season finale and neither team had anything left to play for at that point. With both teams at full strength, I think that New Orleans should control both lines of scrimmage and find a way to get it done on their home field.
WEEK 16 vs. NEW YORK JETS
Could I see the Saints winning this game? Most definitely because the Jets are once again in a rebuilding phase. With Aaron Glenn at head coach and Darren Mougey as the new general manager, New York is hoping that this tandem will finally be the one that will get this franchise back on the map. It might not be immediate, but if things continue to improve, then there is no doubt that the future is bright for this football team. The biggest X factor is their quarterback Justin Fields. It is nice to see the Jets not reach for a veteran or desperately draft somebody in the first round because a minimum deal for a fringe starter is not a bad option. We know what we are getting from Fields week to week: he will not completely embarrass himself, he will show you tremendous flashes with his legs and his arm, but he will not be a guy that will take you to a Super Bowl. Maybe new offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand will unlock something that Fields’ previous coaches could not, but the biggest knock on the quarterback’s career is that he has never been able to maximize his potential. Fortunately, there are more than a few promising pieces around him that could scratch the surface. Breece Hall and Braelon Allen are a legitimate running back tandem that bring acceleration and power, Garrett Wilson is poised for a breakout year with a former Buckeye throwing him the ball, but the big question is figuring out who will step next in line. It could be Allen Lazard, it might be Malachi Corley. Heck, maybe rookies Arian Smith and Mason Taylor could leapfrog their way onto the depth chart. Their offensive line had an okay season last year, but maybe with Fields under center, they can improve their production. The Jets used their first round pick in the draft to select the best right tackle prospect Armond Membou to complement Olu Fashanu. They are banking on Joe Tippmann to solidify himself as the starting center, with John Simpson and Alijah Vera-Tucker to his left and right.
With Glenn taking over as the head coach, the hope is that the defense can have a better season than the up-and-down roller coaster they were on last season. That is what happens when Robert Saleh gets scapegoated in the middle of the season. Fortunately for Glenn, he has a hell of a group to work with. On the defensive line, Quinnen Williams has still proven to be one of the best defensive tackles in the league and they have an absolute stud in edge rusher Will McDonald that is coming off of a breakout season. With Jermaine Johnson coming back from a season ending injury, the hope is that this defensive line can regain the grit and tenacity that they lacked in the second half of the season. Their run defense was the team’s biggest weakness over the last few seasons, but Glenn is hoping to fix that with Jamien Sherwood and Quincy Williams. However, the group that was really disappointing last season was their secondary. Sauce Gardner is coming off an up-and-down year, Michael Carter II had injuries hold him back, and the team just lost DJ Reed and Ashtyn Davis in free agency. I do not like the signing of Brandon Stephens since he was considered the weak link in Baltimore, so it looks like some of their younger prospects will have to step up quickly. At least their safety group looks solidified with rookie Malachi Moore and rising stud Tony Adams. If Andre Cisco can bounce back from last year, it will be even better.
To me, this just comes down to which quarterback can step up in the biggest moments, and I do not feel confident in who the Saints have starting for them. It is not going to be a high scoring affair, but I have enough faith in the Jets to make sure that they show more urgency and tenacity from start to finish.
WEEK 17 @ TENNESSEE TITANS
This is one more game that I struggled with because this is not going to be an entertaining one to watch, barring some unexpected turnaround from either side. The Titans had the worst record in the league last season and clinched the first overall pick, which they used to select quarterback Cam Ward. I loved watching him when he was at Miami, but head coach Brian Callahan is going to throw this kid into the fire early, and I honestly cannot determine how he will perform. The pieces around him are not terrible, but then again, they only won three games with essentially the same supporting cast around him. You have Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears manning the backfield, Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett as your expected top receiving targets, and an offensive line that honestly did not improve over the offseason. I have hopes for rookies Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Deke, but I still cannot understand why new general manager Mike Borgonzi gave Dan Moore Jr. $50 million guaranteed to be their starting left tackle.
As for the defense, it really gave us a bunch of mixed signs every week. They were the second best group in yards allowed, yet were the third worst in points surrendered. All of the veterans that they acquired that offseason were let go before the 2024 season could even conclude, and a couple more might join them if they implode once again. Harold Landry was released, Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs were cut in the middle of the year, and Ernest Jones was traded. Hopefully, things do not head in the opposite direction once again because they have solid guys in their group. Jeffery Simmons, Arden Key, and T’Vondre Sweat held their own on the front four. Cody Barton and Dre’Mont Jones were brought in from Denver to help pick up the slack. L’Jarius Sneed is trying to return to form and will have guys like Amani Hooker and Jarvis Brownlee Jr. to step up on their end.
There are only two reasons why I have the Titans winning: they are at home and they have a more promising quarterback. Obviously, I might be wrong by the time this matchup arrives, so let’s see where the cards fall when we get there.
WEEK 18 @ ATLANTA FALCONS
If there is one silver lining to take away from this, it is that the Saints will be 3-3 in their division. However, their season is not going to end in a happy way, in my opinion. Hopefully, New Orleans finally takes a look in the mirror and realizes that their model of success does not work anymore, and makes the drastic changes necessary to move forward and get off to a fresh start. It will be the best for everybody and nobody wants to see them continue to bumble and stumble into ineptitude.
FINAL RECORD PREDICTION: 4-13
