The New England Patriots’ unexpected Super Bowl run has done more than just energize Foxborough-it’s sparked hope across the league. It’s the kind of turnaround that makes struggling teams take a hard look in the mirror and ask, Why not us? And if you’re searching for a team that could follow in New England’s footsteps in 2026, don’t overlook the New Orleans Saints.
Let’s rewind for a second. Just a year ago, the Patriots were coming off a last-place finish in the AFC East.
They entered the 2025 season with a rookie quarterback in Drake Maye, a new direction, and plenty of question marks. Fast forward to now, and they’re a win away from the Super Bowl-something even Josh Allen and the Bills haven’t managed to pull off.
That kind of leap doesn’t just happen by accident. It takes the right mix of coaching, quarterback play, and momentum at the right time.
Now, New Orleans isn’t being penciled into next year’s Super Bowl just yet. But if you’re looking for a team that could go from worst to first in their division, the Saints have a case worth hearing.
There’s growing belief that New Orleans could make real noise in the NFC South next season. Why? It starts with two words: Tyler Shough.
After taking over for Spencer Rattler midway through the 2025 season, Shough didn’t just hold his own-he flashed the kind of upside that makes front offices rethink their draft boards. His late-season surge, including multiple 300-yard games and a four-game win streak, flipped the narrative. What once looked like a team destined to pick a quarterback early in the 2026 NFL Draft now looks like a team ready to build around one.
That’s a big deal. Because when you believe you’ve found your quarterback, everything else starts to fall into place.
And with the Saints finishing the season strong, they’ve slipped far enough down the draft order that they’re likely out of range for top QB prospects like Fernando Mendoza anyway. All signs point to New Orleans rolling into 2026 with Shough under center-and that might not be a bad thing at all.
Then there’s the coaching angle. Kellen Moore enters his second year at the helm, and while he’s still young in head coaching terms, he brings a much-needed offensive identity to a team that’s lacked one in recent years.
Moore’s background as a play-caller and quarterback developer could be exactly what Shough needs to take the next step. It’s not a carbon copy of what New England did-Bill Belichick’s defensive roots contrast Moore’s offensive mindset-but the parallels are hard to ignore.
Of course, there’s still plenty of work to be done in New Orleans. The Saints aren’t a finished product.
They’ll need to shore up several areas of the roster, retain key contributors from last year’s squad, and hit on impact players in both the draft and free agency. But here’s the thing: the NFC South is wide open.
The division winner in 2025 posted just eight wins. That’s not exactly a murderers' row of contenders.
In a division like that, a team with momentum, a promising young quarterback, and a clear offensive identity has a real shot.
So while the Patriots are busy preparing for the biggest game of the year, the Saints are quietly building something of their own. It might not be flashy yet, and it certainly won’t come easy, but if Shough continues to ascend and Moore keeps pushing the right buttons, New Orleans could be next in line for a turnaround story of their own.
Worst to first? It’s been done before. And in 2026, the Saints just might be the team to do it again.