The New Orleans Saints are entering the 2025 NFL season with a sense of renewal and a notable break from tradition.
For the first time since 2000, the Saints will not appear in a scheduled primetime game, a streak that spanned the entirety of the Drew Brees and Sean Payton era.
The shift comes as the franchise ushers in rookie quarterback Tyler Shough and first-year head coach Kellen Moore, signaling a new chapter for the team and its fans.
A Quarter-Century Streak Ends
ESPN’s Katherine Terrell highlighted the historic nature of this year’s schedule, drawing comparisons to days when the Saints were in the prime viewing slots on a very regular basis.
“The Saints don’t have a prime-time game, marking the first time since 2000 that they will not play a night game unless the NFL chooses to flex them into prime time later in the season,” she wrote
Despite the absence of scheduled night games, the Saints’ 2025 slate offers intrigue. The team will open with two home games against the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers, giving their young quarterback room to settle in before a challenging stretch of road games.
New Faces, New Hopes
The Saints’ offseason was marked by significant changes. Kellen Moore, fresh off a Super Bowl-winning stint as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator, was hired as head coach. The team also drafted Tyler Shough in the second round, making him the highest-selected Saints quarterback since Archie Manning. With Derek Carr’s retirement, the quarterback competition is wide open, but Shough is widely considered the frontrunner.
Shough, reflecting on his opportunity, said:
“That’s all you can ask for is an opportunity, at any position,” Shough said. “And I’m going to treat it the same way, as if whoever is on the roster, I’ve got to continue to grow and get better and do my best to elevate the QB room and the team … I’m just excited for what’s forward and the rest of our offseason”.
ESPN’s Field Yates predicted Shough will win the starting job, noting his “arm talent, ability to read the defense and mobility are the foundation of an impressive skill set”.
A Manageable Path Forward
The Saints benefit from the NFL’s second-easiest strength of schedule (.419), facing a last-place slate and a division that struggled in 2024.
Every NFC South matchup is winnable, and non-division games against the Bears, Giants, and Titans offer further opportunities.
However, the Saints will need to navigate a tough stretch in Weeks 3-5, with road games at Seattle and Buffalo.
Looking to Surprise
While national expectations are low, the Saints’ internal optimism remains high.
The lack of primetime games could allow Moore’s squad to develop away from the spotlight, potentially setting the stage for a surprise run in the NFC South.
As Terrell said, “Maybe, the Saints will surprise people”.
With a new quarterback, a new coach, and a new narrative, the 2025 New Orleans Saints will be a team to watch-even if it isn’t under the bright lights of primetime.