NFL officials are telling us something with the league’s 2026 schedule. They still don’t believe the Saints are prime-time players.

The presence of Tyler Shough and a fleet of new offensive weapons wasn’t enough to convince the NFL’s schedule-maker and network partners the Saints are ready for the spotlight. The Saints are one of just seven teams to have one or fewer prime-time games on their schedule this season.

One year after having no prime-time TV games, the Saints will have just one this season: a Monday Night showcase against the Atlanta Falcons at the Superdome in Week 4. Otherwise, the Saints were shut out from the national spotlight.

That Falcons game, which will come a week after the 20th anniversary of the historic Dome-coming game, and the Saints’ Week 7 trip to Paris to play the Steelers are the highlights of the 17-game slate.

On paper, the schedule appears to be user-friendly. The Saints play just four teams that qualified for the playoffs last season — the Carolina Panthers (8-9), Chicago Bears (11-6), Green Bay Packers (9-7-1) and Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) — and just two other teams with a winning record from a year ago — the Detroit Lions (9-8) and Minnesota Vikings (9-8).

Five of the Saints’ opponents finished last in their respective divisions in 2025. In addition to the Lions and Browns, who finished last in the NFC North and AFC North, respectively, the Saints will play the fourth-place finishers from the NFC East (Giants), NFC West (Cardinals) and AFC West (Raiders) in the NFL’s scheduling formula.

Here’s what popped out at me about the slate:

Toughest stretchWeeks 1-2 at Lions, Ravens

The Saints will be underdogs in Weeks 1 and 2, as they are forced to open the season with back-to-back true road games for the first time in 12 years. And their mettle will be tested. The Lions and Ravens are two of the most physical teams in the league, and each features a high-powered offense. The Saints have a losing record in both Detroit and Baltimore. Another 0-2 start is a real possibility.

Easiest stretchWeeks 3-5, vs. Raiders, Falcons, Vikings

After the brutal doubleheader to open the season, the Saints return home to play three consecutive games in the Superdome against three beatable opponents. The Raiders, Falcons and Vikings went a combined 20-31 a year ago, and all have unresolved quarterback situations. Even if the Saints stumble out of the game, this stretch gives them ample opportunity to recover.

Most intriguing gameWeek 6 at Giants

A matchup of top young quarterbacks — Shough vs. Jaxson Dart — should make this a fascinating contest. The Saints have had the G-men’s number, having beaten them each of the past three seasons. But this Giants team figures to be a tougher out under first-year head coach John Harbaugh.

Least intriguing gameWeek 9 vs. Browns

I grew up a Browns fan, but they might be the least exciting team in the NFL. Their roster is as boring as their uniforms, and they appear to be positioning themselves for a run at Arch Manning or Dante Moore in the 2027 draft. At kickoff, most local fans will still be scratching the cobwebs out of their heads from the Alabama-LSU game the night before.

Most anticipated gameWeek 7 vs. Steelers

C’mon, this is a no-brainer. The first NFL game in France will be a has the makings a classic, especially if Aaron Rodgers elects to play a 22nd season. The Steelers are one of the league’s marquee franchises, and there are interesting subplots with former Saints Mike McCarthy and Omar Khan as head coach and general manager in Pittsburgh.

Game that could get uglyWeek 11 at Bears

Playing at Soldier Field is never easy, especially in late November when the winds off Lake Michigan often wreak havoc on the playing conditions. The Bears whipped the Saints 26-14 at Soldier Field a year ago, and the game wasn’t nearly as close as the final score indicated. The loss served as the nadir to the Saints’ season. It dropped them to 1-6 and greased the skids for a quarterback change two weeks later. The Bears went on to win the NFC North and are expected to be one of the league’s best teams again.

Game that looks like a lockWeek 4 vs. Falcons

I was told the Falcons wanted no part of being the opponent for this game, which will be one of the highlights of the Saints’ home schedule. Emotions will be sky high as the Saints and NFL celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the Dome-coming game and Steve Gleason’s iconic blocked punt. The Falcons will have no chance in this one. They’ll be sacrificial lambs just as they were in 2006.