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Though NFL players and coaches this week learned on what days and at what times they’d meet their 2014 opponents with the release of the league’s schedule, there’s a lengthy preseason process they’d be unwise to overlook.

The May 8-10 draft, organized team activities, minicamps, training camps and preseason games all stand in the way of the first kickoff of Week 1.

But even Saints quarterback Drew Brees and inside linebacker Curtis Lofton — two of the players most responsible for keeping New Orleans’ locker-room focused on short-term priorities — couldn’t resist casting a glance at what’s in store several months down the road.

Judging from their remarks on national interviews, a regular-season opener in Atlanta as well as a trio of road prime-time games in Dallas, Carolina and at Chicago that were most conspicuous to them.

“We know it’s starting off with a bang,” Brees said to ESPN radio host Colin Cowherd on Thursday, noting that the opener in Atlanta was one of three away games the Saints will play in the first four weeks. “We’re going to find out a lot about ourselves … having to go on the road and win some tough games.”

Thus Brees renewed the time-honored question of whether the Saints are afflicted by any “road woes” when they travel away from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Perhaps the most meticulously chronicled storyline during last season was how the Saints, after winning their first two away games, dropped five of the next six as visitors before making the playoffs as a wild card.

They silenced detractors — at least temporarily — by beating the Eagles in Philadelphia in frigid temperatures, claiming the first road playoff win in Saints history in conditions many doubted New Orleans could handle.

But then they were eliminated in rainy, windy weather at Seattle, which went on to win the Super Bowl.

The Saints’ road doldrums — perceived or real — will almost certainly be a dominant storyline early this season. They’ll visit Atlanta, Cleveland and Dallas during Weeks 1 and 4; and they’ll travel for a fourth time to Detroit in Week 7 after the off week.

Though none of those teams managed to win more than half of their games in 2013, Brees in his conversation with Cowherd singled out Atlanta and Dallas as especially challenging.

Nine of the past 12 games between the Saints and the NFC South rival Falcons have been decided by eight points or fewer. While New Orleans is 13-3 against the Falcons — and 6-2 in Atlanta — since Brees became a Saint in 2006, very few of those victories have been easy.

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st thomas

bring um on, win and break the failclowns spirit at there nest right at the gun of the season. this defense will win this game and tons more. matty is already knee shakin knowing whos coming.

|Mitch|

But they did so much to improve this year! (yes; I'm joking!)

WhoDat!656

The Dude

They got this. With the draft, training camp, contract talks, and everything else going on I am sure the road games ahead are the least of their worries right now.

dizzle88

We will be a more complete team this year, defense has only improved, we need to start getting younger at WR which will happen in the draft and we have a three headed monster at RB

I think payton will rely on the running game more, just like 2009 and 2011

exile

I hate to be a debbie downer but playing on the road so much our margin of victory will probably decrease to about 15pts.

saintsfan1976

Better have minds on mini camp, training camp and staying healthy

Mardigras9

It's the later season road games starting in late November in Pitt and then Chicago that caught my eye more.

MaggieMayTB

And this will be my life!!
Tom, thank you for the Valentines gift, now just warn those local cheeseheads to stay off the lawn when I am at the church of NEW ORLEANS SAINTS.