The New Orleans Saints' offseason is in full swing now that the NFL Draft and free agency are out of the way. From this point on, it's all about making the 90-man roster as good as it can be via OTAs, workouts, and training camp.
One key offseason aspect is hurling itself towards us over the coming weeks, as well, and that's the NFL's schedule release. We already know the Saints' 2024 opponents, but when and where they play the opposition is far more valuable than simply knowing who they play.
So, let's not waste any more time and go over everything we currently know about the Saints' 2024 schedule, and more.
Saints' Schedule Release Date
The NFL teased during the draft that schedules will be released in May, although it didn't give us an exact date. Based off the last couple of years, however, it should come out around the middle of May, as it was released on May 12 in 2022 and May 11 in 2023.
Once that comes out, we will update this with the Saints' exact schedule.
Home and Away Opponents
Games played at Caesars Superdome: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders
Games played on the road: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, New York Giants
Biggest Games on the Saints' 2024 Schedule
Every divisional game: The NFC South is one of the closest divisions in football, undoubtedly. New Orleans must take advantage of a weaker division than most, too. Going above .500 in the division is a must in 2024 for Dennis Allen. The Falcons added Kirk Cousins, and the Bucs retained most of their top talent.
Rams at Saints: This game could be massive for playoff implications. Both teams will contend for their division, expectedly, but a wildcard berth could also be on the table. They will both be highly motivated for a win. Sean McVay dominated Dennis Allen in 2023's matchup. Can DA bounce back in 2024?
Broncos at Saints: Welcome back, Sean. The long-time Saints head coach will get a chance at revenge against his old team, and the Saints can make themselves look even smarter with a victory over the veteran HC. Expect a ton of fans from both sides geared up for this one.
Predicting Primetime Matchups
Which games will be primetime viewing?
You can expect the Saints to to get a Thursday night game. They almost always do, annually. Besides that one, I'd expect a couple more primetime slots to fill out the schedule.
Saints-Broncos is a good bet. National media will want plenty of eyes on Sean Payton's return to New Orleans. Additionally, expect a division game between the Saints and Buccaneers or Falcons to get a primetime slot. Those three are all expected to be in play for the division crown, and all three share strong rivalries.
Strength of Schedule (based off Vegas win totals, not 2023 record)
Instead of ranking strength of schedule by last year's records, Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis bases his rankings on Vegas' projected win totals for the upcoming season. This methodology allows for a more accurate projection of how good teams are expected to be for the season.
At the time of this publication, Sharp hasn't updated it to reflect Vegas' updated, post-draft totals. Regardless, He has the Saints' SOS as the fifth-easiest. Only the Atlanta Falcons, Chargers, Chicago Bears, and New York Jets have easier schedules, as pictured below:
3 Must-watch Matchups
Marshon Lattimore vs. Mike Evans: Appointment viewing. Always. Marshon Lattimore has dominated Mike Evans on almost every occasion during their careers, leading to emotional outbursts from the Bucs wideout. Tempers flare in just about every matchup between the two. If both are healthy this year, that won't change.
Dennis Allen vs. Sean Payton: The newer era of Saints football meets the 2010s. Payton's Broncos have a new QB in Bo Nix, so we could see a rookie face the Saints in this matchup. Payton is the best coach in Saints history, and fans will always appreciate his work with Drew Brees. That being said, this is a game that New Orleans should be favored in when it rolls around.
Chase Young vs. Commanders: Chase Young was arguably the splashiest free agency addition for the Saints. Now, he will get a chance to prove that the Commanders made a mistake in not extending him once his rookie contract expired. He's a former top five draft pick that did not produce to that level with the Commanders. New Orleans needs him to rush the passer more effectively this year.
More must-reads: