We now know who the Saints will be playing and when, so you make plans to travel into town for some marquee matchups if you live out of town. The big shocker is the Saints opening at home on September 8th against the Altanta Falcons, as the NFL typically saves the big divisional matchups for later in the season. Even more shocking is that they play two NFC South teams in their first two weeks. Three of their first four games will be in the Superdome, before going on the road for two straight and then getting a bye. Tom Brady will have an opportunity to tie Drew Brees' consecutive games with a passing touchdown record against the Saints in week 6. Here's the schedule:
9/8 vs. Falcons noon
9/15 at Bucs 3:05pm
9/22 vs. Cardinals noon
9/30 (MNF) vs. Dolphins 7:40pm
10/6 at Bears noon
10/13 at Patriots 3:25pm
BYE
10/27 vs. Bills noon
11/3 at Jets noon
11/10 vs. Cowboys 7:30pm (Sunday night game)
11/17 vs. 49ers 3:25pm
11/21 at Falcons 7:25pm
12/2 at Seahawks 7:40pm
12/8 vs. Panthers noon
12/15 at Rams noon
12/22 at Panthers noon
12/29 vs. Bucs noon
My opinion is that's a BRUTAL schedule but at least they don't have to go anywhere really cold. The fact that the @ St. Louis game, in a dome, was pushed back to December is nice. At Jets and at Patriots are both in the early fall, so that's also nice. The Saints do run the gauntlet with hosting the 49ers on Sunday night, then facing the Falcons in Atlanta just 4 days later. Sound familiar? That's the same back to back scenario that officially killed their 2012 season. Then they have to go to Seattle after that. That is a brutal stretch. We have to hope they're sitting pretty prior to that stretch because they will get beat up in that three game span. BRING ON THE FALCONS!
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