We’re inching closer to the second half of the season, and New Orleans Saints fans should be feeling optimistic. Their team has won 7 of its first 8 games, largely without Drew Brees. Now they’re resting up during the bye week with Brees back in the lineup, having turned in a near-vintage performance to go into the break with a win.
But where do the Saints go from here? They’re set to run through a four-game series against NFC South rivals, host one of the two remaining undefeated teams, and make a few cold-weather road trips to close out the regular season. Here are our predictions for each of the eight remaining Saints games in the 2019 regular season.
It would be too easy to just say the Saints will win out, all the way to Super Bowl LIV; even if it’s possible. The Saints and New England Patriots are the only two teams favored in every game throughout the second half of the season, per projections from Mike Clay of ESPN. So we’ve made our best guess at which games might trip them up down the stretch.
Week 10, vs. Atlanta Falcons
Saints coach Sean Payton is one of the NFL’s best after the bye week, and he’s facing a very familiar (if downtrodden) opponent. The Falcons defense has struggled to stop anyone all season long, which is great news for a Saints offense that’s put up 30-plus points in their last two games without Alvin Kamara. Now that Brees is back in the lineup and Kamara is on his path to recovery from knee and ankle injuries, they should be poised to run wild over Atlanta.
Prediction: Saints win (8-1)
Week 11, at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers have been a thorn in the Saints’ side for some time now, especially in Tampa Bay; last year, New Orleans trailed deep into the third quarter, until a Taysom Hill blocked punt swung momentum back their way and opened the door for a 28-14 beatdown. The 2017 regular season finale was a loss for the Saints on the road, in which breakout receiver Chris Godwin won it on a last-second touchdown catch, 31-24. Expect similar troubles for the Saints this time around.
Prediction: Saints lose (8-2)
Week 12, vs. Carolina Panthers
It’s tough to envision a worse first-half for the Panthers (but not too hard; the Falcons are proof of how bad things can get). They can’t say with confidence whether Cam Newton will play for them again as he consults a specialist on his still-injured foot, and their defense was brilliantly exposed by the 49ers a week ago. This is a team the Saints know well and can handle with or without Newton. This one shouldn’t be close, especially if they’ve gotten a wake-up call from the Buccaneers.
Prediction: Saints win (9-2)
Week 13, at Atlanta Falcons
Here we go, Saints at Falcons, on Thanksgiving night. It’s the latest opportunity for the Saints to ruin a big holiday for Atlanta after beating them 31-17 on Thanksgiving in 2018, and winning 23-13 on Christmas Eve in 2017. There’s a chance the Falcons won’t have head coach Dan Quinn at this point if he keeps losing games after a 1-7 start, and quarterback Matt Ryan could get put on ice if his injured ankle worsens. Bad times for the Falcons usually mean happiness for rival Saints fans, and this year is no different. Expect more great photos of Cameron Jordan and Sheldon Rankins destroying a turkey after the game.
Prediction: Saints win (10-2)
Week 14, vs. San Francisco 49ers
This is the best team the Saints will face all year, but it’s worth considering if the 49ers are as good as their record suggests. They haven’t really beaten any great teams; the Los Angeles Rams have been inconsistent-at-best since their dubious performance in last year’s Super Bowl, and the Cardinals just took San Francisco down to the wire days after the Saints obliterated them. We’ll give them some benefit of the doubt and say this turns into an NFC championship game preview, with the 49ers escaping New Orleans with an unexpected win.
Prediction: Saints lose (10-3)
Week 15, vs. Indianapolis Colts
This Monday Night Football kickoff should be a good one, despite Andrew Luck’s surprising preseason retirement. The Colts have built one of the deepest rosters in the NFL and can challenge the Saints all over the field. But New Orleans arguably has more top-end talent at key positions on defense, and they can do enough to limit Jacoby Brissett’s effectiveness while Brees and Kamara go to work. Expect the final prime-time Saints game of the year to end on a high note.
Prediction: Saints win (11-3)
Week 16, at Tennessee Titans
Tennessee has been a high-variance team this year, even if backup quarterback Ryan Tannehill has stepped in to stabilize the offense a bit. They have a decent offensive line and a few productive running backs who should provide a great test for the Saints in this late-December road game. However, the Titans defense simply doesn’t have the personnel to match the pace of play the Saints set on offense. While this game may not have a high score (look for free safety Kevin Byard, one of the NFL’s most underrated talents, to make a difference) it should come out in the Saints’ favor.
Prediction: Saints win (12-3)
Week 17, at Carolina Panthers
Unlike last year, the Saints should be looking to compete in the regular season finale. Two teams will get a bye week in the playoffs, and the Saints are one of three candidates fighting for it (along with the 49ers and Green Bay Packers). If the Saints trip up too often late this season, they’ll find themselves playing their starters in Week 17 against Carolina in hopes of securing that critical bye and the home-field advantage that comes with it. The Panthers have long odds of making the playoffs, but they’ll be doing just that if they can get Newton back to good health.
Prediction: Saints win (13-3)
