Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis recently released his projected strength of schedule for all 32 teams, and Saints fans should be happy with the results. While traditional strength of schedule analysis has been out for a while, Sharp’s method utilizes the team’s projected win totals in the upcoming season, rather than the combined winning percentage of last year’s records. This makes plenty of sense, as every single team has rebuilt its roster in some way, shape, or form over the past few months, and the Vegas win totals encapsulate those changes.
Using this methodology, Sharp projects the Saints to have the second-easiest strength of schedule in football. Surprisingly, they’re the only team in the NFC South with an easier-than-average strength of schedule, as the Falcons (20th), Buccaneers (23rd), and Panthers (29th) all face difficult opponents on paper.
Saints Strength of Schedule Revealed For 2026 Season; 2nd Easiest In NFL
For the first time since Drew Brees retired, the Saints are entering the season with legitimate hope for the future. While a Super Bowl run would be incredibly unlikely, New Orleans has to like its chances of reaching the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 season. While the Saints strength of schedule certainly plays to their favor, the biggest hope is quarterback Tyler Shough. Selected in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Louisville product started the season on the bench but brought some much-needed life to the team in his nine starts.
Guiding the team to a 5-4 record in his nine starts, including a 4-1 stretch to finish the season, Shough finished his inaugural campaign by completing 67.6% of his passes for 2,385 yards, 10 touchdowns, and six interceptions in nine starts (11 appearances). He did all this despite losing prominent deep threat Rashid Shaheed at the trade deadline and having no real receiving threat beyond former first-round pick Chris Olave. This is obviously a small sample, but Shough looked like the real deal and has a legitimate shot of being this team’s long-awaited heir to Drew Brees.
Shough will remain under center for the foreseeable future, but the team also used its first-round pick on Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson. While the wide receiver carries his fair share of injury risks, he has the potential to be the most dangerous receiver in his draft class. On paper, he and Olave could be one of the game’s best receiving duos, and this offense could be fun to watch next year. This is not a perfect roster by any stretch of the imagination, but it easily has a chance to be the most fun Saints team in years, and the strength of schedule only increases the odds of team success.
Projected Win Totals
The Saints strength of schedule is based on Vegas win totals, and the fine folks in the desert currently have the team’s win total set at 7.5 games. While the team is coming off an underwhelming six-win season, this total still feels low. As mentioned above, quarterback is the most important position in sports, and New Orleans appears to have their answer in Tyler Shough. The Louisville product won five of his nine starts as a rookie with a weaker supporting cast, so it stands to reason the team could win 9-10 games next year if he makes the Year 2 leap and continues to improve his game.
Of course, this doesn’t take into account the team’s easier competition. The Saints strength of schedule wasn’t exactly difficult last year, as they had the sixth-easiest slate of opponents. However, second-easiest is still preferable, and this team should have a pretty good shot of beating its Vegas win total. If nothing else, you have to like their odds of competing for the NFC South crown in the upcoming season.
