saintfan

The New Orleans Saints are a bigger question mark than usual after a 7-9 meltdown and offseason makeover. They still might have the most talent in the NFC South, starting with quarterback Drew Brees. But they have to regain the home dominance that disappeared last season. (They have the NFL’s second-easiest home schedule, based on 2014 winning percentage.)

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 13, at Arizona, 4:05 p.m. ET

This isn’t the easiest way to open the schedule, but the Cardinals won’t be in midseason form yet as quarterback Carson Palmer tries to make it back from a torn ACL and they adjust with some new parts on defense. I’m picturing the Saints slugging out an ugly win, as they did to kick off the 2006 season in Cleveland. Saints 19, Cardinals 17. Record: 1-0

Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 20, Tampa Bay, 1 p.m. ET

This could be the first NFL road start for Jameis Winston if the Bucs draft him first overall and hand him the keys. Hopefully for New Orleans’ sake, it goes better than when rookie Robert Griffin III came into the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and smoked them in the 2012 season opener. Saints 30, Buccaneers 17. Record: 2-0

Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 27, at Carolina, 1 p.m. ET

The Saints would love to get some revenge over their division rivals, who won the NFC South last year by embarrassing New Orleans in a 41-10 rout in the Superdome in Week 14. But there’s bound to be some bumps in the road at some point, so I’ll pick the first one here as quarterback Cam Newton and running back Jonathan Stewart test the Saints’ run defense. Panthers 27, Saints 23. Record: 2-1

Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 4, Dallas, 8:30 p.m. ET

The Saints are usually awesome in prime-time games in the dome, and I imagine they’ll find a way to get their home “mojo” back this year. But Dallas has become an awfully tough matchup with that dominant offensive line. Two big questions: Who will be the Cowboys’ running back (Adrian Peterson, perhaps)? And will newly-signed pass rusher Greg Hardy be active? Cowboys 30, Saints 23. Record: 2-2

New Orleans Saints 2015 game-by-game predictions - New Orleans Saints Blog - ESPN

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