Barring any flex scheduling, the New Orleans Saints won't appear in a primetime game for the first time in a quarter century.
There have been many takes and much discussion around that topic, but none land quite as well as that of DT Khalen Saunders, who shared his reaction to the news on social media Thursday morning.
"Zero prime times is f***** insane. Wow bro, wow," Saunders posted. "League said here take yall funky ass schedule and gtfo my face."
It's a bit blunt, but no wholly inaccurate. The last time the Saints were shut out of primetime was in 2000, and the Saints are one of three NFL teams, along with the Browns and Titans, to not appear in a single Thursday Night Football, Sunday Night Football or Monday Night Football broadcast in 2025. They were also shut out of holiday broadcasts and the international slate.
The Saints were on three prime time broadcasts in 2024, with Saunders becoming the surprise star in a Week 5 showdown with the Chiefs on Monday Night Football when he intercepted Pat Mahomes at the goal line before showing off the big-man wheels with a 37-yard return. The Chiefs went on to win the game 26-13. The Saints appeared on Monday Night Football again later in the year and were shut out 34-0 by the Packers.
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That idea of zero primetime games must feel even more unusual for Saunders and the several other current Saints players who spent time on the Kansas City Chiefs roster in recent years, a franchise that lands on national television as much as anybody and has gone to three consecutive Super Bowls. Kansas City will appear in prime time seven times during the 2025 season, including the season-opener set to take place in Brazil.
One thing to note for the Saints is they do appear in the afternoon slot in six different games, the biggest draw likely being the Week 12 matchup at the Caesars Superdome against the rival Atlanta Falcons. That game would represent the first by QB Michael Penix as Atlanta's starter.
The Saints open their season on Sept. 7 when they host the Arizona Cardinals.