Well, Who Dat Nation, here we go again.

Last week I picked Detroit.

I said the Saints would lose 27–24.

They lost 31–30 in overtime, so technically Tony got the little L next to the Saints right. But anybody who watched that game knows I didn’t exactly have it figured out.

Down 21–0 on the road, I thought we were headed toward one of those Sundays where you turn the television off and go find something productive to do.

Instead, Tyler Shough and this Saints team got off the damn floor.

They fought back, tied the game, forced overtime and got within one play of walking out of Detroit with a win.

So now we’re headed to Baltimore.

And guess what?

I picked against us again.

Yep. Tony Picked Baltimore

When I made my season predictions, I had the Saints starting 0–2.

I’m not changing it now just because New Orleans showed me something in Detroit.

Baltimore is 1–0. We’re 0–1. The Ravens have Lamar Jackson. They have Derrick Henry. And we’re playing our second straight game on the road. Baltimore also has history on its side in this matchup, leading the Saints 6–2 all time.

So yes.

Tony’s pick: Ravens win.

But I’ll tell you something else.

I hope I’m wrong.

Because after what I saw last Sunday, I’m a whole lot more interested in this football team than I was when they were down three touchdowns.

Tyler, Now Show Me What Week 1 Taught You

Tyler Shough threw for 410 yards and three touchdowns against Detroit.

He also threw two interceptions.

That’s the whole story.

I’m not going to pretend the interceptions didn’t happen because I liked the comeback. And I’m not going to pretend the interceptions erase what that kid did afterward.

He kept throwing.

He kept attacking.

And when the Saints needed points to stay alive, he helped bring them all the way back.

Now comes the part I’m interested in.

What does he do with the experience?

The first game is over. The nerves should be different. He’s been punched in the mouth in a regular-season game, made mistakes, brought his team back and experienced an overtime finish.

Baltimore isn’t going to care about any of that.

So settle down, Tyler.

Protect the football.

And show us Week 1 wasn’t just one crazy afternoon in Detroit.

Everybody in Baltimore Knows About No. 12 Now

Chris Olave went for 10 catches and 182 yards last week.

You think Baltimore didn’t notice?

Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey made it pretty clear this week that limiting Olave is where Baltimore’s defensive plan starts. ESPN noted that Baltimore played zone on 76 percent of its defensive snaps last week, so they’re not going to simply forget where Olave is and let Shough feed him all afternoon.

That’s where this gets interesting.

If Baltimore dedicates extra attention to Olave, somebody else has to make them pay.

Devaughn Vele showed something last week.

Juwan Johnson showed something.

The Saints need enough weapons around Olave that Baltimore can’t just say:

Take No. 12 away and the offense disappears.

Make them choose.

And Then There’s Lamar

Here’s the matchup I’m watching.

The Saints played zone defense on 95 percent of Detroit’s dropbacks in Week 1. ESPN’s research points to a pretty significant difference in Lamar Jackson’s recent performance against man versus zone coverage.

Does that mean we’ve discovered the magic formula for stopping Lamar Jackson?

Come on.

If it were that easy, everybody would do it.

But it does make the Saints’ defensive approach worth watching.

Because Lamar can destroy you with his arm, destroy you with his legs, and just when you think you’ve got him contained, Derrick Henry comes running through the front door.

New Orleans has to stay disciplined.

Don’t give Lamar easy running lanes.

Don’t let Henry turn four yards into 14.

And for the love of everything black and gold, finish the damn tackle.

One Thing Nobody Talks About Until It Goes Wrong

Zach Wood is dealing with a calf injury and did not practice Thursday. That’s a name most fans probably don’t talk about very often—and that’s usually a compliment for a long snapper.

Wood has handled the Saints’ long-snapping duties for 149 consecutive regular-season games entering this season. That’s reliability you don’t appreciate until suddenly it isn’t there.

Special teams isn’t the sexy part of a Baltimore road game.

But one bad snap on a punt, field goal or extra point can become the biggest play of the afternoon.

Keep an eye on it.

So What Does Tony Want to See?

I don’t need another moral victory.

I liked the fight in Detroit. I liked seeing a young quarterback refuse to fold. I liked watching this team come back after getting buried.

But eventually you’ve got to turn “almost” into “won.”

Baltimore is a tough place to do it. The Ravens are a tough football team. That’s why I picked them.

But here’s the beautiful thing about predictions:

The Saints don’t have to give a damn what Tony thinks.

Go protect the football.

Get Olave involved without becoming dependent on him.

Keep Lamar contained.

Make somebody besides the stars beat you.

And if we’re still standing there in the fourth quarter with a chance to steal this thing?

Maybe those black-and-gold glasses I talked about before the season won’t look so crazy after all.

I picked Baltimore.

Now prove me wrong. Again.

And this time, finish the job.

WHO DAT!

Alright, Who Dat Nation.

I thought we were moving on to Baltimore.

Apparently not.

That Chase Young strip-sack, Jonas Sanker scoop-and-score is STILL all over my Facebook feed. Everybody has an opinion. Everybody has watched the replay 47 times. And apparently nobody is going to stop talking about it.

So fine.

Let’s talk about it.

First, let me tell you what Tony saw.

I saw Chase Young get to Jared Goff. I saw that football come out. I saw it travel BACKWARD. I saw Jonas Sanker pick it up and take it to the house.

And when I watched it live?

Touchdown Saints.

I didn’t need a law degree. I didn’t need a 300-page NFL rulebook. Ball went backward. Saints picked it up. Six points.

Except that’s not how the NFL rule works.

The replay officials determined Goff had already started his forward throwing motion before Chase Young’s hit affected the throw. Under the NFL rule, once that forward throwing motion begins, the play can be ruled an incomplete forward pass even though the contact causes the football itself to go backward. That’s why replay took the touchdown away.

Now here’s where Tony stands.

Do I like the rule? Hell no.

Because if you’re sitting on your couch watching a football leave a quarterback’s hand and fly backward, every football instinct you’ve developed over the last 40 years is screaming:

THAT BALL IS LIVE.

Apparently even Jared Goff wasn’t sure why it wasn’t a fumble, and Dan Campbell said he initially thought Detroit had lost the play. So Saints fans weren’t crazy for looking at that replay and wondering what the hell just happened.

But there’s a difference between saying “I hate that rule” and saying “the officials ignored the rule to screw the Saints.”

From everything I’ve read since the game, I can’t honestly say the second one.

The NFL applied its interpretation of the throwing-motion rule. I may think it’s ridiculous that a football can physically travel backward and still be treated as an incomplete forward pass, but that’s the rule they used.

And here’s the other thing.

Would that touchdown have changed the game?

Of course it would have.

Detroit was leading 7–0. Instead of the Saints tying it up, the touchdown disappeared. In a game New Orleans eventually lost 31–30 in overtime, seven points are pretty damn hard to ignore. The Saints’ own recap called that overturned touchdown a turning point in the first half.

But I’m still not going to sit here Monday morning and say:

“The refs cost us the game.”

We turned the ball over three times. We fell behind 21–0. We had opportunities. We fought all the way back. And after scoring in overtime, we had the football in our quarterback’s hands with one play to win it.

That’s football.

So Tony’s final ruling?

I hate the rule.

I understand why Saints fans are pissed.

I understand why the NFL overturned it.

And I damn sure understand why we’re still talking about it.

But Baltimore is next.

At some point we’ve got to stop trying to get those seven points back and go earn the next seven.

WHO DAT.

LIONS 31 — SAINTS 30 (OT)

“I picked Detroit. But after watching that comeback, don’t tell me this team doesn’t have some fight in it.”

Then I’d absolutely do “THREE GUYS WHO SHOWED UP” like the preseason graphic:

1. TYLER SHOUGH — QB
   35/56 • 410 YDS • 3 TD • 2 INT
   The interceptions matter, but so does what happened afterward. He helped bring the Saints back from 21–0, threw the tying touchdown with 1:07 left, then answered Detroit’s OT touchdown with another TD drive. That’s the kind of fight Tony wanted to see.
2. CHRIS OLAVE — WR
   10 REC • 182 YDS • 18.2 AVG • LONG 47
   This is exactly what we talked about before the game: get Olave involved. He was the Saints’ biggest weapon and gave Shough a legitimate difference-maker downfield.
3. JUWAN JOHNSON — TE
   3 REC • 54 YDS • 1 TD • LONG 27
   His 9-yard touchdown with 1:07 remaining tied the game 24–24, and his 27-yard reception in overtime put New Orleans at Detroit’s 8 and helped set up the final touchdown. That’s clutch production.

I considered Kendre Miller because he scored the Saints’ first touchdown, and Noah Fant because he caught the overtime TD. But if we’re choosing three players who best tell the story of the whole game, Shough–Olave–Johnson is my trio.

The “Three Things We Learned” section

This is where Tony can really sound like Tony:

✓ THIS TEAM DIDN’T QUIT
Down 21–0 on the road and they fought all the way back. Last year’s Saints might not have finished that comeback.

✓ SHOUGH HAS SOME DAMN FIGHT IN HIM
410 yards and three touchdowns don’t erase two interceptions. But neither do two interceptions erase what he did bringing this team back.

✓ TURNOVERS WILL KILL YOU
New Orleans had 469 yards to Detroit’s 369 and still lost. Three Saints turnovers versus one for Detroit is the statistic Tony should circle in red.

Then I’d give the decision at the end its own box:

TONY ON GOING FOR TWO

“I’M GOOD WITH IT.”

“On the road. Overtime. You’ve just driven the field and scored. You’ve got one play to beat Detroit. I have no problem with Kellen Moore putting the ball in his quarterback’s hands and saying, ‘Let’s win the damn game.’ It didn’t work. That doesn’t mean it was the wrong call.”

And at the bottom I’d set up Week 2:

0–1 DOESN’T FEEL GOOD.
BUT THIS DIDN’T LOOK LIKE A TEAM READY TO LAY DOWN.

NEXT: SAINTS AT RAVENS — WEEK 2

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! ⚜️

• 

Well, Who Dat Nation, this is the part of preseason where football becomes a business.

Friday night against Dallas, we watched a bunch of guys get one final opportunity to convince Kellen Moore and his staff that they belonged on this football team.

Some played well.

Some made plays.

Some probably walked off that field thinking they’d done enough.

And some of those same guys still got the phone call nobody wants.

The Saints officially made the moves Sunday to get down to the NFL-mandated 53 players. And after looking through what they did, I’ve got some things I like, a couple that surprised me, and one that still has me asking:

Wait…we just traded for that dude.

The Saints announced the final round of moves Sunday afternoon after already waiving 10 players Saturday night.

THE GOOD: Daniel Carlson Made One Hell of a First Impression

If you’re going to bring in a veteran kicker six days before roster cuts, you might as well find out immediately whether he can handle pressure.

Daniel Carlson gave the Saints a pretty good answer.

New Orleans signed the former two-time All-Pro on Monday. Friday night against Dallas, Carlson hit a 38-yard field goal, an extra point and then a 53-yard field goal that ultimately won the game, 27–24.

Then Sunday, the Saints waived Charlie Smyth.

I’m not going to declare anything permanent because NFL rosters can change quickly this time of year.

But come on.

Signed Monday.

Game-winner Friday.

Still standing Sunday.

If Carlson was looking for a way to introduce himself to Who Dat Nation, I’d say he found it.

THE GOOD: Some Young Guys Made the Coaches Think

One of the things I wanted to see against Dallas was whether some of these younger players would actually do something with their opportunities.

Barion Brown did.

Brown got two carries and turned them into 19 yards and a touchdown, including a seven-yard scoring run on a jet sweep.

Spencer Rattler also responded when he got his opportunity, completing 8 of 10 passes for 79 yards and running for an eight-yard touchdown without throwing an interception.

That’s what preseason is supposed to be.

Give the coaches something to think about.

THE SURPRISE: Ronnie Bell

Here’s your reminder that one good preseason game doesn’t guarantee you anything.

Ronnie Bell led the Saints in receiving against Dallas with six catches for 65 yards.

Then Saturday night, the Saints waived him.

That’s a tough one.

Bell did exactly what you’d tell a player fighting for his job to do: when the ball came his way, make something happen.

He did.

And it still wasn’t enough.

That’s the NFL.

Sometimes you’re not just competing against the guy across from you.

You’re competing against numbers.

You’re competing against special-teams needs.

You’re competing against contracts.

You’re competing against what the coaching staff thinks the roster needs two weeks from now instead of what happened Friday night.

Bell’s performance wasn’t enough to save his roster spot.

ANOTHER SURPRISE: CJ Donaldson

I was curious about CJ Donaldson, too.

The rookie running back got plenty of work against Dallas: nine carries for 33 yards, plus two receptions for 25 yards.

Sunday, the Saints waived him.

With everything we’ve watched at running back, I thought Donaldson had at least given the coaches something to consider.

Apparently, not enough.

But here’s something to remember:

That doesn’t necessarily mean we’re finished seeing him.

The Saints can begin establishing their practice squad Monday.

Donaldson is exactly the kind of young player I’ll be watching to see whether New Orleans tries to bring him back.

THE SHOCKER: Zamir White

All right.

This is the one.

If there’s one move that made Tony look at the screen and say, “What the hell are we doing here?”, it’s Zamir White.

And I checked the timeline because it sounds strange.

On August 24, the Saints acquired White from the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for linebacker Deion Jones.

Four days later, White suited up against Dallas.

He carried the ball four times for 23 yards and scored an 11-yard touchdown.

Then Sunday, August 30, the Saints terminated his contract.

So yes:

Trade for him Monday.

He scores Friday.

Release him Sunday.

Six days.

Now, I’m not sitting in Mickey Loomis’ office. There could be roster mechanics or another move coming that makes the whole thing make more sense.

But looking at it strictly as a Saints fan?

That one surprised the hell out of me.

You don’t see many guys arrive by trade and leave six days later after scoring a touchdown in their only game.

I’m going to be interested to see whether there’s another chapter to that story.

THE VETERAN SECONDARY TOOK A HIT

White wasn’t the only veteran whose contract was terminated Sunday.

The Saints also moved on from defensive backs Terrell Burgess, Michael Davis and Isaac Yiadom.

That’s some experience walking out the door.

Davis entered camp with 10 years of NFL experience, Yiadom with nine and Burgess with six.

Maybe the Saints simply believe they have younger players ready.

Maybe they’re planning another move.

Whatever the reason, that’s a position group I’m going to keep an eye on before Detroit.

SOME NAMES ARE MISSING FOR A DIFFERENT REASON

This is important because there’s a difference between getting cut and getting moved to an injury list.

The Saints placed Dalys Beanum, Mike Heldman, David Long Jr., Devin Neal and Barry Wesley on injured reserve.

They also placed linebacker Jaylan Ford and rookie receiver Jordyn Tyson on injured reserve with designation to return.

That’s a very different situation.

Those two can potentially come back.

Mason Tipton was placed on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list, while rookie receiver Brock Rechsteiner was placed on Reserve/Suspended by Commissioner.

So don’t look at every name missing from the active 53 and assume that player simply lost a roster battle.

There are several different things happening here.

AND DON’T GET TOO ATTACHED TO THIS 53

Here’s the other thing Who Dat Nation needs to remember:

This is the initial 53.

It isn’t necessarily the exact group we’re going to see against Detroit.

There are going to be waiver claims.

There may be other veterans signed.

And beginning Monday, the Saints can start putting together their practice squad.

So if you’re looking at today’s roster and thinking, “Wait, we’re thin over there,” give it another couple of days.

Mickey Loomis probably isn’t finished.

TONY’S BOTTOM LINE

Here’s where I am tonight.

I liked seeing Daniel Carlson answer the call immediately.

I liked seeing young guys like Barion Brown make something happen when they got the football.

I hate seeing a guy like Ronnie Bell catch six balls for 65 yards Friday and still get cut Saturday, but that’s life on the edge of an NFL roster.

I’m interested to see whether CJ Donaldson gets another opportunity on the practice squad.

And I’m still trying to figure out exactly what the Saints saw — or didn’t see — during the six-day Zamir White era.

That one is going to take me a minute.

But here’s the bigger picture.

The preseason is over.

The cuts have been made.

The first version of the 2026 New Orleans Saints is here.

And now we’re two weeks away.

The Saints open the regular season Sunday, September 13, at Detroit. Kickoff is noon Central at Ford Field. That’s straight from today’s official Saints roster announcement.

No more preseason.

No more auditions.

No more “the score doesn’t matter.”

The next one counts.

Detroit is waiting.

And so is Who Dat Nation.

WHO DAT! ⚜️

— Anthony “Tony” from the Westbank

That’s it. Two weeks from today, the preseason talk is over and the Saints walk into Detroit for Week 1.

But first, there’s some tough business to finish.

The final 53 is being decided TODAY.

Some guys played their way onto this football team Friday night. For others, the phone call nobody wants is coming. By this evening, we’ll have a much better idea of who we’re taking into the 2026 season.

Then it’s time to turn the page.

Saints. Lions. September 13.

We’ve waited long enough.

Two more weeks, Who Dat Nation.

WHO DAT! ⚜️

— Tony from the Westbank