Going back to Week 9 of this season, if someone had told me that the New Orleans Saints have six wins going into Week 18, QB Tyler Shough looks like a potential franchise QB, and the Saints have a chance of finishing second in the NFC South, I would have called that person a liar. Well, I would have been wrong.
Due to the NFC South’s unpredictable nature, the Saints could finish this season in fourth, third, or second place in the division.
How Each Divisional Outcome Materializes and Its Impact on the Saints’ Future
New Orleans has a chance to finish in three different spots throughout the division depending on the outcomes of the Week 18 NFC South matchups. Today, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers face off for first place in the division, and the Saints play the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
Using PFSN’s Playoff Predictor, here is how the Saints would achieve each divisional outcome:
Fourth Place
Starting with the worst-case scenario and easiest path, New Orleans could finish last in the NFC South by losing on Sunday against the Falcons. A pretty simple outcome that, due to the Saints’ injuries, is also becoming more likely than not.
If the Saints end up fourth, it’s not the end of the world. New Orleans has an immense amount of positive takeaways from this season, and Tyler Shough looks like a potential franchise QB. Additionally, the Saints’ schedule for next season would be somewhat easier, with games against the New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals, and Las Vegas Raiders (each team is last in their respective divisions).
Third Place
To finish in third place, New Orleans and Tampa Bay would have to win in Week 18. For the entire NFC South, the Buccaneers would finish first, the Panthers second, the Saints third, and the Falcons fourth.
For New Orleans, this season’s record is already better than last season’s, and a third-place finish would be a significant improvement in the NFC South. Last year, the Saints finished last and had five wins.
Second Place
Lastly, the Saints’ highest possible finish is second place. The way this can happen is a Saints and Panthers victory, which is definitely not out of the question. Carolina is at the top of the division and has way more momentum than Tampa Bay. In the other game, New Orleans is one of the hottest teams in the NFL.
Yes, 2026 schedule-wise, it will become way more difficult for the Saints regarding their future opponents (Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks or San Francisco 49ers, and Los Angeles Chargers if the Saints finish second), but honestly, who cares?
The Saints would somehow finish second, with extreme momentum heading into next season, and why not test this team as much as possible in year 2 of the rebuild?
