All right, Who Dat Nation.

Tomorrow it finally counts.

No more preseason. No more roster projections. No more talking about what this Saints team might look like.

Sunday at noon, the New Orleans Saints walk into Ford Field and open the 2026 season against the Detroit Lions.

And if you’ve been following Tony’s predictions, you already know what I did with this one.

I picked Detroit.

Before everybody starts throwing things at me, remember what I said when I made my season prediction: I was going to TRY to take off the black-and-gold glasses and look at every game with my head instead of my Saints heart.

I picked the Saints to finish 9–8.

And unfortunately, my road to nine wins starts with a loss in Detroit.

TONY’S PICK: LIONS 27, SAINTS 24

There. It’s in writing.

And no, I’m not changing it the day before the game just because kickoff is getting close and I’m starting to hear Who Dat in my head.

Detroit at Ford Field is a tough place to start a season.

They’re a good football team. They’re at home. And the Saints are walking into Week 1 with plenty of questions that we simply can’t answer until somebody kicks the damn football.

But let me make something clear:

Picking Detroit doesn’t mean I think the Saints can’t win this game.

Far from it.

In fact, I think New Orleans can make this a hell of a lot closer than some people expect.

LET’S SEE YEAR TWO, SHOUGH

Everybody is going to be watching Tyler Shough.

That’s what happens when you’re the quarterback of the New Orleans Saints.

Shough went 5–4 as a starter last season, so this isn’t his first trip around the block anymore. Now I want to see what Year Two looks like.

Growth.

Composure.

Command of the offense.

Protect the football. Take what the defense gives you. Make the throws that are there. And don’t try to win the whole damn game on one play.

Most importantly?

Give the kid some time.

Detroit has people who can wreck an offensive game plan if you let them. If Shough spends Sunday running for his life, we’re going to have a long afternoon.

Protect him and let’s see what he can do.

GET OLAVE INVOLVED

If Shough gets time, I want to see the Saints test Detroit’s secondary.

And that means getting Chris Olave involved.

Olave is coming off a 100-catch, 1,163-yard, nine-touchdown season.

Use him.

Get him involved early. Make Detroit defend the entire field. Make that defense think twice about loading up near the line of scrimmage.

You don’t need Olave catching 15 balls.

You need him making Detroit worry about where he is on every snap.

SOMEBODY BETTER FIND JAHMYR GIBBS

This might be the biggest one for me.

You cannot let Detroit turn a five-yard play into 40.

Jahmyr Gibbs is exactly the kind of player who can make one missed tackle turn into six points before half the defense realizes what happened.

Contain him.

Tackle.

Don’t give him cheap yards.

Make Detroit earn everything.

Because if the Saints start missing tackles and letting Gibbs run around Ford Field…

My 27 points for Detroit might end up looking generous.

I DON’T NEED PERFECT — I NEED SMART FOOTBALL

This is Week 1.

There are going to be mistakes.

I don’t expect the Saints to look like a finished product.

What I want is a team that looks prepared.

Cut down the stupid penalties.

Protect the football.

Finish drives.

Tackle.

Don’t give Detroit short fields.

And when something goes wrong — because something WILL go wrong Sunday — show me how you respond.

That’s what I’m watching.

Not whether every play is perfect.

I want to know whether this team looks like it’s ready to compete.

AND YES, I’M STILL SAYING 9–8

Some of y’all already gave me hell about that prediction.

Apparently Tony became the pessimist around here overnight.

I’ve seen Who Dats predicting 10 wins, 11 wins, 12 wins and even more.

Good.

I hope you’re right.

But I’m not changing mine before we’ve played a single game.

9–8.

And yes, I’ve got us starting 0–1.

But here’s the beautiful thing about predictions:

The Saints don’t give a damn what Tony from the Westbank thinks.

Neither does Kellen Moore.

Neither does Tyler Shough.

And I hope every player in that locker room would look at my prediction and say:

“Screw you, Tony. Watch this.”

PLEASE DO.

PROVE ME WRONG

Nothing would make me happier than sitting down after this game and typing:

TONY WAS WRONG.

I’ll put it right in the damn headline.

I’ll take every comment.

Every screenshot.

Every “I told you so.”

Because if Tony is wrong Sunday, that means the Saints walked into Detroit and started the season 1–0.

I’ll take that loss all damn day.

So that’s it.

Saints 24. Lions 27.

Tony’s official Week 1 prediction.

Now go screw it up.

Prove me wrong, boys.

WHO DAT! ⚜️

— Anthony “Tony” from the Westbank

Well, Who Dat Nation, apparently I’ve got some explaining to do.

A couple days ago I put my 9–8 Saints prediction out there. I went through all 17 games, tried — and I emphasize TRIED — to take off the black-and-gold glasses and make every pick with my head instead of my Saints heart.

I figured I’d get called crazy for predicting nine wins.

Instead?

Y’all are calling me a pessimist!

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, go check out the conversation on our Facebook page. Who Dat Nation had plenty to say about my prediction:

See the Facebook discussion and make your prediction

We’ve got people predicting 10 wins. 11 wins. 12 wins. Even 13 wins.

One Who Dat told me we’re not starting the season with a loss to the “kittinz.”

Another said 11–6.

Another has us at 12–5.

And apparently almost NOBODY likes me splitting with Atlanta.

Believe me, people…

Nothing would make me happier than being wrong about that one.

Y’ALL REALLY DON’T LIKE MY ATLANTA PICK

This seems to be one of the biggest disagreements.

I’ve got New Orleans and Atlanta splitting their two games.

A bunch of you basically told me:

HELL NO, TONY. WE’RE SWEEPING ATLANTA.

Billy even jumped in and said he thinks we beat Atlanta twice.

Fine.

You know what?

If January gets here and the Saints swept the Falcons, I’ll happily sit right here with my cigar and admit:

Tony screwed that one up.

Some losses don’t hurt very much.

That would be one of them.

BUT ONE COMMENT REALLY GOT ME THINKING

One Who Dat pointed out something about my prediction that I think is completely fair.

Basically, he said:

Tony, you’ve got us going 9–8 without really beating one of the upper-tier teams.

That’s a good point.

Because if this Saints team is going to be more than just an average football team — if we’re seriously talking about competing for a playoff spot — we’re probably going to have to beat somebody we’re not supposed to beat.

Maybe that’s Minnesota at home.

Maybe Cincinnati.

Maybe Green Bay walks into the Dome and gets a surprise.

Maybe we shock somebody completely different.

But somewhere along the way, a playoff-caliber team usually needs one of those wins that makes everybody around the league look up and say:

Wait a minute…maybe these guys are better than we thought.

I’d love to see one.

I’M STILL STICKING WITH 9–8

For now.

I’m not changing my prediction before we’ve even played a game.

I said 9–8, so Tony’s staying with 9–8.

But here’s the funny part.

I tried to be the reasonable one.

I tried to take emotion out of it.

Meanwhile, Who Dat Nation looked at my prediction and basically said:

Tony, get those black-and-gold glasses BACK ON.

And I love it.

Because that’s what this place has always been about.

We don’t all have to agree.

We can argue about quarterbacks.

We can argue about coaches.

We can argue about the schedule.

We can argue whether this team wins seven games or eleven.

But when Sunday gets here?

We’re all pulling for the same damn team.

And here’s the best part:

I hope every single one of you predicting 10, 11 or 12 wins gets to come back in January and tell me:

“Told you so, Tony.”

I’ll take that abuse all day long.

Because if you’re right and I’m wrong?

It means the Saints had one hell of a season.

Keep the predictions coming.

Then Sunday, we finally stop guessing.

WHO DAT! ⚜️

— Anthony “Tony” from the Westbank
See the Facebook discussion and make your prediction

All right, Who Dat Nation.

I’ve been watching everybody put out their Saints predictions. Some have us winning six games. Some have us around seven. Some think we might surprise people.

So I figured, hell, Tony might as well put his name on one too.

I tried — and I emphasize TRIED — to take the black-and-gold glasses off for this one.

I looked at the schedule. I looked at where we’re playing. I looked at the roster Kellen Moore has put together. I looked at the teams across from us. And I tried not to pick a game just because my heart says WHO DAT!

Did I succeed?

Probably not completely. I’ve been doing this too damn long.

But here’s what I came up with:

TONY’S PICK: 9–8

And here’s how I get there.

Week 1 — at Detroit: LOSS

I would LOVE to start this thing 1–0.

But Detroit on the road is a hell of a way to open a season. Until the Saints show me they can go into a place like Ford Field and beat a good football team, I’m not picking it just because I want it.

0–1.

Week 2 — at Baltimore: LOSS

And the schedule doesn’t get any nicer.

Baltimore on the road one week after Detroit? That’s a tough first two weeks for anybody.

Starting 0–2 won’t mean the season is over. It means the schedule handed us two damn difficult road games right out of the gate.

0–2.

Week 3 — vs. Las Vegas: WIN

Now we’re home.

After two weeks on the road, this is where I expect the Saints to settle down and show us something.

If we’re going to be better than people expect, this is a game we have to win.

1–2.

Week 4 — vs. Atlanta: WIN

Falcons.

Superdome.

Do I really need to explain this one?

All right, I’m probably wearing the black-and-gold glasses here.

I don’t care.

Beat Atlanta.

2–2.

Week 5 — vs. Minnesota: WIN

This is where my prediction starts getting interesting.

Three straight at home, and I think the Saints take advantage of it. This is one of those games where home field needs to matter.

I’m giving us the upset.

3–2.

Week 6 — at New York Giants: WIN

A road game I think New Orleans can get.

If we’re serious about being in the playoff conversation, you can’t only win the easy ones at home. You’ve got to steal some on the road.

I think this is one.

4–2.

And suddenly everybody who buried us after 0–2 is paying attention.

Week 7 — vs. Pittsburgh in Paris: LOSS

This one is weird.

International game. Different routine. Different environment. And Pittsburgh is the kind of team that can turn an ugly football game into exactly the game they want.

I’m giving Pittsburgh the edge.

4–3 heading into the bye.

Week 8 — BYE

And frankly, after Paris, that’s about the perfect time for it.

Get home. Get healthy.

Because the second half is where we’re going to find out what this team really is.

Week 9 — vs. Cleveland: WIN

Coming out of the bye, at home?

This is another one I have circled as a game the Saints should win if they’re going to finish above .500.

Take care of business.

5–3.

Week 10 — vs. Carolina: WIN

Division game, so I’m not calling anything easy.

But we’re home, and I think we’re the better football team.

6–3.

Now we’re cooking.

Week 11 — at Chicago: LOSS

Here’s where things start getting rough.

Chicago on the road is one of those games I can absolutely see the Saints winning, but if I’m trying to make these predictions with my head instead of my heart, I’m giving the Bears the advantage at home.

6–4.

Week 12 — at Cincinnati: LOSS

Another tough road trip against a team that can put points on the board.

This is where the Saints offense would have to prove it can keep up.

Until I see it, Cincinnati gets my pick.

6–5.

Week 13 — vs. Green Bay: LOSS

This might be the one people argue with me about because it’s in New Orleans.

And yes, the Superdome matters.

But I’m trying to pick games based on what I think will happen — not what I want to happen.

Green Bay gets it.

6–6.

Remember when we were 6–3?

Welcome to an NFL season.

Week 14 — at Carolina: WIN

Stop the bleeding.

Division road games are never automatic, but if this Saints team is going to finish the way I think it can, this is one they need.

7–6.

Week 15 — at Tampa Bay: LOSS

Tampa on the road late in the season?

I don’t like it.

Maybe New Orleans proves me wrong. I hope they do.

But I’m putting this one in the red column.

7–7.

Week 16 — vs. Arizona: WIN

Back home.

Three games left.

Season probably hanging in the balance.

This is exactly the type of game you simply cannot give away.

Saints win.

8–7.

Week 17 — at Atlanta: LOSS

I know.

I KNOW.

Tony picking Atlanta to beat us?

Remember what I said about trying to take the fan hat off.

Road division game in January. Atlanta could have just as much riding on it as we do.

I’m calling a split with the Falcons.

8–8.

Which means…

Week 18 — vs. Tampa Bay: WIN

Here we go.

Final game.

Superdome.

Possibly a winning season on the line. Maybe something more.

You really think I’m picking Tampa Bay to walk into New Orleans and finish our season?

Not happening.

Saints win.

FINAL RECORD: 9–8

There it is.

Screenshot it.

Save it.

Come yell at me in January.

Maybe I’m completely wrong.

Maybe we start 2–0 and make me look stupid right away.

Maybe one of those games I’ve got marked green goes sideways. Maybe we steal one of those red ones nobody expects us to win.

That’s football.

But looking at this schedule today, I see a team that could struggle out of the gate, find itself during that home stretch, hit a rough patch later in the season and still have an opportunity to be playing meaningful football in January.

And that’s really what I want.

Give me meaningful football in January.

Everybody seems ready to tell us what the Saints can’t do this year.

Fine.

I’m saying 9–8.

And if those black-and-gold glasses added a win somewhere?

Hell, I’m Tony from the Westbank.

What did you expect?

Now it’s your turn, Who Dat Nation.

What’s your prediction?

WHO DAT! ⚜️

— Anthony “Tony” from the Westbank

For Who Dat Nation, I would keep it simple and respectful:

For generations of Saints fans, Mike D. was more than a football analyst. He was one of those familiar Louisiana voices you listened to because you knew he had done his homework and knew the game.

For more than 40 years, his knowledge of the Saints, LSU, the NFL Draft and Louisiana football made him one of the most respected voices in our sports community. Sundays, draft season and Saints football simply won’t sound the same without him.

Our thoughts are with his wife Linda, his family, his friends and everyone at WWL who worked alongside him for so many years.

Rest easy, Mike D. You will be missed by the entire Who Dat Nation. ⚜️

— WhoDatNation.com

New Orleans Saints statement on Mike Detillier

The waiting is almost over. One week from today, the Saints head to Detroit and the games finally count.

Time to get excited, Who Dats.

Saints. Lions. Week 1. LET’S GEAUX!

WHO DAT! ⚜️