2026 Saints Schedule: Previewing Week 3 home opener vs. Raiders

The New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders have played one of the most evenly balanced series on New Orleans’ schedule. The Raiders hold a narrow all-time edge, but the matchup has shifted back and forth enough over the years that no team has taken control. Their 2026 meeting holds extra weight since former Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak will return to the Caesars Superdome — this time as the Raiders’ head coach.

Las Vegas got the best of New Orleans in the most recent meeting, which was in 2024. When the two teams meet again in Week 3 of the 2026 NFL season, the Saints will have an early opportunity to avenge that loss while testing themselves against a new-look Raiders team.

Upcoming game in Saints vs. Raiders

• When: Sunday, Sept. 27 (Week 3) at 3:25 p.m. CT
• Where: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, La.
• Record: Raiders lead 8-7-1.

Last meeting in Saints vs. Raiders

• Raiders won 25-20 on Dec. 29, 2024.

The Saints’ last matchup against the Raiders was one of the final rough moments of the 2024 season, as they lost 25-10. The Raiders walked away with a win behind a steady performance from Aidan O’Connell, who threw for 242 yards and two passing touchdowns. Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson made four field goals, and running back Ameer Abdullah ran for 115 yards. Spencer Rattler threw for 218 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions, while the Saints’ lone touchdown came on a 30-yard completion to Foster Moreau.

Common connections in Saints vs. Raiders

• Newly-hired Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak spent the 2024 season as the Saints’ offensive coordinator before becoming the Seattle Seahawks’ offensive coordinator in 2025. After Seattle won the Super Bowl, he was named the 'Raiders' head coach and will now return to New Orleans early in his tenure.
• Pass-rusher Tyree Wilson was acquired by New Orleans during the 2026 NFL Draft in a trade with the Raiders. Las Vegas drafted him in the first round in 2023.

Notable changes since the last meeting in Saints vs. Raiders

• The Raiders moved on after the Geno Smith experiment last season. They selected Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, while also signing veteran Kirk Cousins. It’s likely that the latter trots into the Superdome as the Raiders’ starting quarterback.
• Las Vegas has also reshaped its offense around running back Ashton Jeanty, the Boise State product that the Raiders selected in the first round last season. All signs point toward Kubiak and the Raiders’ offense being focused on giving Jeanty a major workload in 2026.
• The Raiders made plenty of moves in free agency, signing former Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum (3-yrs, $81 million), former Colts pass-rusher Kwity Paye (3-yrs, $48 million, former Georgia linebackers Quay Walker (3-yrs, $40.5 million), and Nakobe Dean (3-yrs, $36 million). They gave Mendoza and Cousins another weapon by adding former Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor on a three-year, $35.03 million deal.
• The big question of the offseason was what the Raiders would do with superstar Maxx Crosby. Las Vegas opted to trade him to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for two first-round picks, but the trade was nixed after Crosby failed his physical. He’s likely to remain with the Raiders in 2026.

This game should be interesting for the Saints. The Raiders will be bringing back a former New Orleans offensive coordinator who will have a good understanding of the Saints’ environment. For the Saints, the formula for winning starts with keeping  Crosby from wrecking the game. Defensively, New Orleans will focus on slowing Jeanty early and forcing the Raiders’ young offense into longer passing situations.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2026 Saints Schedule: Previewing Week 3 home opener vs. Raiders