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The New Orleans Saints will play a considerably tougher schedule in 2016 than they did in 2015, based on the team's cumulative strength-of-schedule records.

The Saints' 2016 opponents combined for a 140-116 record (.547) in 2015, which appears to be more challenging than the 129-127 (.503) mark posted by their 2015 foes.

Although the Saints will play nine games in 2016 against teams they also played in 2015, a bulk of the Saints' beefed-up schedule will come against NFC West and AFC West opponents.

The four NFC West teams on the Saints' 2016 schedule combined for 35 wins in 2015, with the Arizona Cardinals (13 wins) and Seattle Seahawks (10) both securing double-figure totals. The four AFC West teams combined for 34 wins, with the Denver Broncos (12 wins) and Kansas City Chiefs (11) also in double figures.

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SmashMouth

7-9 season yet again?

saintsfan1976

Might as well play a tougher schedule. The easier schedule didn't seem to help.

burningmetal

As if we have any idea how any of those teams will play next year. This is the NFL. Mediocrity reigns supreme, but for the VERY few.

hagan714

yeah yeah lets skip the season all together go to the playoffs and talk 2017 draft right now

foreverfan

There are no easy schedules in the NFL and in order to be the best, you have to be the best so I don't see a problem.

Danno

And I'll add that the difference between a 6-10 team and a 10-6 team is razor thin.

Teams make huge swings in their records every year.

Danno

The Saints' 2016 opponents combined for a 140-116 record (.547) in 2015, which appears to be more challenging than the 129-127 (.503) mark posted by their 2015 foes.

So in 2015 our opponents finished the previous year at 8-8
Now, our 2016 opponents finished the previous year at 8-8

Wow, it does look much tougher!

ScottF

Stupid.
this never means anything

Note: the Panthers account for 8 of 11 wins that are the differential from '15 to '16
The Bucs also account for a +4 improvement, and Falcons +2

So, using Good Will Hunting math, our schedule outside of our division is actually 3 games EASIER

WillSaints81

^Not exactly, the top tier teams we play are much stronger than the colts, texans, cowboys, and eagles. We have the cards, seahawks, broncos, and chiefs. The defenses are the bigger problem, as they are better than what we faced this year. That's the thing that should be determined, not the record but the defense.