How does the New Orleans Saints’ loss to the Atlanta Falcons change your perception of the black and gold? Is any game left on their schedule looking like an easy win? The Saints are still in the hunt despite their 5-6 record, but it’s tough to see a path to the playoffs even with some winnable matchups lined up ahead of them.
There are six games left for the Saints to right the ship and prove they belong in the playoffs. Here are our updated week-by-week predictions for the rest of the 2023 season:
Week 13 vs. Detroit Lions
Lions 27, Saints 17 (5-7)
The Saints could take advantage of a vulnerable Lions pass defense — if their receivers were healthy. But they’re going to be without Michael Thomas, Chris Olave, and likely Rashid Shaheed for this game. Detroit’s offense is looking to rebound after a tough loss. Jared Goff is liable to turn the ball over, but Derek Carr hasn’t shown he can take advantage of those opportunities. Ben Johnson calls plays against a defense derived from Dennis Allen’s scheme every day in practice. This could get ugly.
Week 14 vs. Carolina Panthers
Saints 18, Panthers 13 (6-7)
Firing Frank Reich won’t cure what ails the Panthers: this is an offense with an overwhelmed rookie quarterback, a porous offensive line, and a receiving corps without any juice. The Saints should be able to take care of business against them.
Week 15 vs. New York Giants
Giants 17, Saints 16 (6-8)
This was a game that looked like one the Saints should run away with — but the Giants are fighting hard and forcing bad offenses to play on their terms, and there’s little reason to think the Saints won’t get slowed down just like the Patriots and Commanders were in recent weeks. This could be an ugly upset in the Caesars Superdome.
Week 16 at Los Angeles Rams
Rams 24, Saints 20 (6-9)
The Rams are doing all the right things after their bye week, namely playing complementary football. Their defense has recovered from a midseason shellacking in Dallas to hold their next three opponents to 20, 16, and 14 points. Carr’s offense is struggling to average 20 points per game themselves in that same span. L.A.’s offense is genuinely explosive and could challenge the Saints defense downfield.
Week 17 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers 17, Saints 15 (6-10)
Divisional games haven’t been good to the Saints offense: they’ve scored just two touchdowns on 32 possessions through three matchups with the Buccaneers, Panthers, and Falcons, and the Tampa Bay defense toyed with Carr in their last meeting. It’s tough to see the Saints rebounding even if Baker Mayfield isn’t playing at full health.
Week 18 vs. Atlanta Falcons
Saints 23, Falcons 22 (7-10)
We’ll never predict an Atlanta win over New Orleans. It’s just not happening. That’s not the nature of this rivalry. These two teams are more evenly-matched than Week 12’s loss would suggest; if Carr can avoid a boneheaded interception in scoring position to gift the opposition a free touchdown, that game looks differently. Whether he’s playing better by this point or has been benched, the Saints offense should be executing at a higher level by the season finale. But it might be too little, too late.
