A Favorable Schedule on Paper
Based on 2024 records, the New Orleans Saints have the league’s second-easiest strength of schedule, with their opponents combining for a .419 win percentage last season. Throughout the 2025 campaign, Kellen Moore’s team will face:
- Six divisional games (Carolina, Tampa Bay, Atlanta)
- Four games each against the NFC West and the AFC East
- Three additional matchups based on 2024 standings: the Bears, Titans, and Giants
Here, we break down all 17 games and rank the Saints’ chances, from most difficult to most winnable.
Toughest Saints’ Opponent to the Easiest Opponent Power Rankings
1. Bills
2. Rams
3. 49ers
4. Bears
5. Buccaneers 2x
6. Cardinals
7. Seahawks
8. Dolphins
9. Falcons 2x
10. Patriots
11. Panthers 2x
12. Giants
Toughest Tests of the Season
Buffalo Bills (Week 4, Away)
On paper, the hardest game of the season comes in Week 4 on the road against the Buffalo Bills. Led by reigning MVP Josh Allen, the Bills have won at least 11 games in five straight seasons and had the NFL’s second-best offense last year.
Better teams than the Saints will struggle at Highmark Stadium. This will likely be one of New Orleans’ toughest outings.
Los Angeles Rams (Away) & San Francisco 49ers (Home)
Both NFC West opponents are poised for another playoff push in 2025. Sean McVay’s Rams and Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers are among the league’s most consistent contenders.
- 49ers (Week 2): After an injury-plagued season, they’re still dangerous and will visit the Superdome early.
- Rams: The Saints travel to LA right after the Rams’ London game and bye week, giving McVay an extra edge in preparation.
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Challenging But Winnable
Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals & Seattle Seahawks
This next tier includes four NFC opponents with potential but question marks.
- Bears (Week 7): Year two of Caleb Williams’ development with a retooled offensive line and new HC Ben Johnson. It could be unpredictable at Soldier Field.
- Buccaneers (Weeks 8 & 14): Tampa Bay has won four straight NFC South titles and five of their last six games against New Orleans. Divisional games are always a toss-up, but the Bucs have had the Saints’ number.
- Cardinals (Week 1): Open the season at home. Jonathan Gannon leads Arizona after a respectable 8-9 finish. Kyler Murray enters his seventh season under center.
- Seahawks: Seattle moved on from Geno Smith in favor of Sam Darnold and will look to build on a 10-7 season under second-year coach Mike Macdonald. This will be a tough, physical game.
Mid-Tier Matchups
Miami Dolphins & Atlanta Falcons
These two teams are expected to hover around .500 in 2025.
- Dolphins: An 8-9 finish last year was marred by Tua Tagovailoa’s injuries. Miami is still a quality team, but beatable—especially for a Saints squad looking to re-establish respectability.
- Falcons (Weeks 12 & 18): The rivalry remains fierce. With the all-time series tied at 56 wins apiece, pride and bragging rights are on the line in both games, especially the season finale in Atlanta.
Winnable Games with Upside Risks
New England Patriots & Carolina Panthers
Two rebuilding teams with young quarterbacks:
- Patriots (Drake Maye) and
- Panthers (Bryce Young)
Both finished near the bottom of the league in 2024 but added pieces through free agency and the draft. While they could surprise, the Saints should view these as must-wins:
- Giants (Week 5)
- Panthers (Weeks 10 & 15)
Must-Win Rebuild Matchups
New York Jets, Tennessee Titans & New York Giants
These teams are deep in rebuild mode and offer the Saints their best chances at victory.
- Titans: Feature No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward, but have a long road ahead. Tennessee earned the top pick for a reason.
- Giants (Week 5): Visit the Superdome with Brian Daboll on the hot seat. Former Saints QB Jameis Winston might even start against his old team.
- Jets (Week 16): New HC Aaron Glenn takes over a team with the NFL’s longest playoff drought (15 years). He orchestrated a turnaround in Detroit’s defense, but he’ll need a miracle in New York.
These three matchups, two at home, are absolute must-wins if the Saints are serious about contending in future seasons.
A Manageable Path Forward
With a .419 opponent win percentage and multiple rebuilding teams on the slate, the Saints’ 2025 schedule is more forgiving than most. They must capitalize on winnable games, navigate the NFC South rivalry matchups, and show resilience in hostile environments like Buffalo and Los Angeles.
This is a pivotal year for Kellen Moore and the new regime to take early steps back toward playoff relevance.
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