The countdown to the 2026 NFL schedule release is nearly over, but the leaks are already heating up—and the New Orleans Saints are right in the middle of the action. According to the latest buzz, the Saints are set to face the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, October 18, with a kickoff slated for Noon CT/1 p.m. ET. That Week 6 showdown would serve as a perfect springboard for the Saints' highly anticipated Week 7 trip to Paris, where they'll take on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

This scheduling puzzle makes plenty of sense from a travel perspective. Flying directly from New York to France clocks in at around seven and a half hours, and with a private chartered flight, the Saints could cut that time even shorter. It's a strategy they've used before: back in 2022, the team flew from Charlotte, North Carolina, to London, England, for their last NFL International Series game. That extra week to adjust to a new time zone could be a game-changer as they prepare for the Steelers.

But let's not overlook the Giants matchup itself. The Saints have been on a roll against Big Blue, winning four of their last five meetings to even the all-time series at 17-17 since their first clash back in 1967. This year's game promises a fascinating quarterback duel between second-year signal-callers Tyler Shough and Jaxson Dart. Both are looking to prove themselves in the NFL, and a head-to-head win could ignite plenty of narrative fuel for their budding careers.

With the official schedule release dropping Thursday evening, Saints fans won't have to wait much longer to lock in their travel plans—whether it's a road trip to New York or a transatlantic flight to Paris. Either way, this is shaping up to be a season to remember.