Defense Is the Best Unit
The Saints want to win through a multiple-front defense, but the defense has not earned trust yet. Demario Davis is still the anchor but how much longer does he have?
New Orleans Saints 2026 Team Rankings and Ratings
PFM Team Alerts
Subscribe for Saints updates
Get an email when the New Orleans Saints PFM Team Score changes, a new badge is earned or a PFM Reporter update is added.
72.7PFM Team Scorei
PFM Verdict
Why PFM Ranks the Saints Here
The defense has an edge rusher who can win without sending extra bodies in Demario Davis. The offense has two targets who can separate at different levels in Chris Olave and Travis Etienne, but the line has to create clean downs for a young quarterback. The offense does not have enough big-play production to recover when protection breaks down.
NFL Rank#29Current PFM ranking
NFC Rank#15Among NFC teams
QB Stability#25Tyler Shough · QB Limbo
Season OutlookNeeds More Help
Head coachKellen Moore
Offensive coordinatorDoug Nussmeier
Defensive coordinatorBrandon Staley
Regular-Season Baseline
Baseline September 8, 2026PFM Trend
Current stateBaseline set
New Orleans starts the regular season with a 72.7 PFM Team Score and the No. 29 spot in PFM’s NFL rankings. Movement will appear after the first published weekly ratings update.
PFM Team Score72.7
Score movementStarts here
NFL RankNo. 29
Rank movementStarts here
PFM Team DNA
View all NFL team rankingsNew Orleans Saints Team DNA
New Orleans Needs One Quarterback Answer
Kellen Moore has to solve offensive-line stability around a young quarterback before it becomes the part of New Orleans' game opponents can attack every week.
PFM CALL
Locks September 13th at 1:00 PM EDT
Who wins New Orleans Saints vs. Detroit Lions?
Week 1 matchup
AwayNO0-0
HomeDET0-0
Pick the winner.
PFM ROAD AHEAD
2026 New Orleans Saints Strength of Schedule
New Orleans has one of the league’s more favorable schedules at No. 31, with opponents averaging 77.4. Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers still give the schedule a real test, but one game against a current top-10 team keep the full road from looking as heavy as most.
Difficulty Rank#31No. 1 is toughest
Opponent PFM Avg.77.4Average across opponents
Next 3 Avg.80.1Upcoming opponents
Top-10 Matchups1Games vs. current top 10
Away games left8
Top-10 road opponents1
at Detroit Lions86.5 PFM · #5
Sep 13 · 1:00 pmAwayTop 10
at Baltimore Ravens81.2 PFM · #15
Sep 20 · 1:00 pmAway
vs. Las Vegas Raiders72.7 PFM · #28
Sep 27 · 4:25 pmHomeBottom 10
Toughest remaining opponent: Detroit Lions at 86.5 PFM.
PFM ReporterReported
Alvin Kamara Expected to Miss 4-6 Weeks
Alvin Kamara is expected to miss four to six weeks with a sprained MCL, pushing his absence into the start of the regular season.
Travis Etienne can absorb much of the rushing workload but Kamara was still the staple of that offense. Kellen Moore loses another reliable receiving option in an offense that already ranks last in PFM and just lost Jordyn Tyson for roughly two months.
Around the League
League Context
Closest Team DNA Match
Built Like Las Vegas Raiders
Las Vegas RaidersMatch distance: 3.44 rating points
Shared profile: QB Stability and Coaching Direction.
New Orleans creates downfield pressure through the offensive line, whereas Las Vegas creates early-down control through the offensive line. QB Stability and Coaching Direction line up because each quarterback has a defined answer when the first read changes and the staff needs a counter. Las Vegas owns the roster edge because more positions have a dependable second answer behind the headline players.
Where they separate: Roster Strength. Raiders hold the stronger current rating.
Division Pressure
NFC South
New Orleans Saints sits 3rd in the division, 5.9 PFM points from Tampa Bay.
Supporting Team Information
More About the Team
New Orleans Saints in the Super Bowl Era
New Orleans is 1–0 in the Super Bowl, winning Super Bowl XLIV in 2010.
- Super Bowl Titles
- 1
- Super Bowl Appearances
- 1
- Super Bowl Record
- 1–0
- Last Appearance
- 2010 Super Bowl XLIV
Current Injuries
PFM ratings updated
How PFM grades NFL teams