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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Alyssa Barbieri

Ranking all 17 Saints games in 2024 from easiest to toughest

Which matchups look most challenging on the New Orleans Saints’ 2024 schedule? Everyone knows that their Monday night meeting with the Kansas City Chiefs is going to be daunting, but how heavily does Sean Payton’s presence matter into the perception of the Saints’ Thursday night game against a bad Denver Broncos team? And what about the NFC South rivalry games?

It’s true that the Saints have been given an easy (on paper) strength of schedule again in 2024, even if the soft matchups pitched to them last year still resulted in nearly as many wins as losses. But Dennis Allen must prove he can take advantage of those vulnerable opponents to stack up wins before taking on the more challenging matchups. He hasn’t shown yet that he can do that.

Here is our take. We ranked all 17 games from easiest to toughest:

17
Week 1 vs. Carolina Panthers

Dec 10, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) is chased out the pocket by New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis (56) and defensive tackle Bryan Bresee (90) during the first half at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

The Panthers have added a lot this offseason, including a new head coach and supporting cast for Bryce Young. But they’re still one of the worst teams in the league until proven otherwise. Dennis Allen has started each of his first two seasons with a Week 1 win, and he should repeat that feat this year.

16
Week 17 vs. Las Vegas Raiders

Aug 13, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Amari Burney (56). safety Chris Smith II (42) and defensive tackle Nesta Jade Silvera (97) prepare to enter the field before the game against the San Francisco 49ers Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Raiders aren’t a bad team, but they don’t have a quarterback, and that means a lot late in the season — especially on the road, after they’ve likely been eliminated from playoff contention in the highly competitive AFC West. Las Vegas should be playing for draft positioning by the team they visit the Saints, and Derek Carr is going to be motivated to get one over on his old team.

15
Week 9 at Carolina Panthers

Sep 18, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) looks to pass as New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (94) pressures in the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

The Panthers may be more of a challenge by midseason, once Young has learned a lot while working in Dave Canales’ offense. And the Saints are going to be entering a hostile environment. This should be a much tougher matchup in Week 9, away from the Caesars Superdome, than in the regular season kickoff game. We’ll see if Carolina learned anything in this rematch.

14
Week 15 vs. Washington Commanders

Nov 5, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Washington Commanders cornerback Jartavius Martin (20) celebrates after an interception during the second half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

No one knows how competitive Washington might be this year, but Jayden Daniels should make them dangerous. And we can’t overlook all of their offseason additions in free agency as well as the draft. But this is a team that will need time to get all those new pieces used to working together. They might figure it out by Week 15, but this is a game the Saints should be favored to win.

13
Week 14 at New York Giants

Oct 22, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll reacts while looking up at the video scoreboard during the second half against the Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

The Giants would be a much tougher matchup if they had a quarterback. But whether it’s Daniel Jones or Drew Lock starting under center, the Saints ought to be able to confuse and rattle them. New York is hoping the addition of two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Brian Burns can elevate their defense. If the Saints’ offensive line is a mess this late in the year, and they might be, Burns and his tag-team partner Kayvon Thibodeaux might take over.

12
Week 7 vs. Denver Broncos

Oct 12, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton watches play against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Sean Payton is on the way, and his presence is going to bowl over every other narrative surrounding this game. But just how high can he take this team? The Broncos are a mess on both sides of the ball, and rookie quarterback Bo Nix is far from a finished product. He’s also the first rookie QB that Payton will be asking to run his offense from Week 1. Call it a hot take, but we like the Saints in this matchup, even if Payton is going to use every trick in his playbook to try and leave New Orleans with one last win.

11
Week 6 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Oct 1, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) runs against Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Christian Izien (29) during the fourth quarter at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports

Are the Bucs going to be good this year? They had to pay a ton of money to keep Baker Mayfield at quarterback and Antoine Winfield Jr. at safety, and it cost them a lot of depth — plus their best cornerback, Carlton Davis III, who was traded to the Detroit Lions. It might be tough for Tampa Bay to rally back from those departures, but they did beat the Saints in New Orleans last year.

10
Week 18 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Dec 31, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) greets Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) after a game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

The Bucs don’t enjoy a strong homefield advantage like other teams in the NFC South, and this game being the regular season finale does help with the weather, but it’s still a road game with all the interruptions and challenges those present. If the Saints drop an early-season loss to them, there’s a good chance it may happen again in Tampa Bay.

9
Week 10 vs. Atlanta Falcons

Jan 7, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Atlanta Falcons linebacker Nate Landman (53) tackles New Orleans Saints running back Jamaal Williams (21) during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

The Saints and Falcons always play each other tough, but if we had our pick every game would be in Louisiana. There’s nothing like watching two teams that really, truly dislike each other compete in front of a raucous crowd, and that’s always the case at the Superdome. But that doesn’t mean we can take the Falcons lightly.

8
Week 11 vs. Cleveland Browns

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – OCTOBER 22: Myles Garrett #95 of the Cleveland Browns reacts as he leaves the field after the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 22, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

The Browns are in the place the Saints hope to reach soon — a playoff team that leans on its strong defense to make up for its shortcomings on offense. They just have the talent stacked up and the coaching in place to get that job done. This should be a great barometer for where the Saints are at, especially falling so close to midseason.

7
Week 4 at Atlanta Falcons

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 26: Jonnu Smith #81 of the Atlanta Falcons jostles with Paulson Adebo #29 of the New Orleans Saints after a play in the second quarter of the game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Falcons’ fickle fanbase doesn’t show up for many games, but they do bring a great atmosphere when the Saints are in town, and this should go no differently. Meeting so early in the year will give both teams an opportunity to make a statement and establish the NFC South hierarchy. Atlanta is riding a ton of momentum after signing Kirk Cousins and they’ll want some payback after the Saints embarrassed them to end the 2023 season.

6
Week 8 at Los Angeles Chargers

Oct 12, 2020; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) throws a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the second quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Are the Chargers going to be a problem this year? They’re one of several teams falling in a gray area of uncertainty. They might be Super Bowl contenders with Jim Harbaugh running the show. They might be pushovers who lack the personnel to run the offense he wants, and without enough firepower in the receiving corps to compete with the league’s best passing attacks. But we don’t like the matchup of a run-first and Harbaugh-coached team against a Saints run defense that’s fallen apart in big moments.

5
Week 16 at Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, WI – DECEMBER 02: A statue is seen in the snow before a game between the Green Bay Packers and the Arizona Cardinals at Lambeau Field on December 2, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

The Saints had their way with the Packers through three quarters last season, at least until Derek Carr was knocked out of the game with an injury. They need to seal the deal this time, and in front of a national audience in prime time, too. The talent gap between New Orleans and Green Bay isn’t that significant. We’ll see how great a factor the weather becomes in late December at Lambeau Field, but the Saints have won outside in the cold before. If the Saints are getting to the playoffs, they’ll need to compete with teams like the Packers.

4
Week 13 vs. Los Angeles Rams

Dec 21, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (15) carries the ball against New Orleans Saints cornerback Paulson Adebo (29) in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Rams were hardly challenged by the Saints last year in L.A., but bringing the game to New Orleans (while leaving Aaron Donald on a beach somewhere in retirement) doesn’t make it any less challenging. It’s still the same Sean McVay offense that gave Dennis Allen fits. Maybe Donald’s departure is exactly as big a loss as it looks, and it’s possible Allen learned a lot of painful lessons in that loss. But we’re not picking the Saints to win this one.

3
Week 3 vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Nov 21, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) calls a play against the New Orleans Saints during the third quarter during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

This is going to be a tough one — the Eagles have gotten the better of the Saints in recent years, though they did take care of business when Gardner Minshew, not Jalen Hurts, was under center late in the 2022 season. But Philadelphia sees itself as a Super Bowl contender. They’ve built a strong roster with talent in the trenches to challenge the Saints on both sides of the ball, and Hurts’ ability to run will be dangerous against a team that has struggled to stop him before.

2
Week 2 at Dallas Cowboys

Sep 29, 2019; New Orleans, LA, USA; A Dallas Cowboys fan in the second quarter of their game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

The Cowboys are another team that’s lost a lot this season, but their expectations are to be right in the thick of the playoffs, and they see the Saints as a speed bump on that journey. New Orleans needs to prove they’re closer than that. Dallas can run the ball and pass on any defense, and they have the pass rushers to get after the quarterback themselves. They’ll challenge the Saints in every phase. Are the Saints up to the task? We’ll see. An early-season upset would be huge for Dennis Allen’s team.

1
Week 5 at Kansas City Chiefs

Jan 13, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) gets ready prior to a 2024 AFC wild card game against the Miami Dolphins at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

It kind of feels like the NFL schedule-makers are serving the Saints up to the Chiefs on a silver platter. A night game at Arrowhead Stadium in prime time is intimidating for anyone. For it to happen this early on when the Saints might still be figuring themselves out, well — that’s extremely challenging. Taking on Patrick Mahomes, Chris Jones, and all of their Super Bowl champion teammates is a tall order. Maybe the Saints can shock the world and return to New Orleans with a win.

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