Although the Saints’ weekly schedule has yet to be released, the opponents of each NFL team in 2011 were determined as soon as the 2010 regular season ended. Here’s how the Saints’ 10 non-divisional games are allocated each season :

  • The four teams from one of the other three NFC divisions, rotating each year.
  • The four teams from one of the other four AFC divisions, alternating each year.
  • Two NFC games based on 2010 standings. Because the Saints finished second in their division in 2010, they will play the corresponding second-place teams from the two NFC divisions the Saints do not yet have. on your calendar.

On paper, New Orleans appears to have a much more favorable non-division schedule than its NFC South peers. While it’s too early to make any predictions with absolute confidence, the Saints’ current schedule appears to have them well-positioned to reclaim their place atop the division. Here’s a breakdown of the team’s non-divisional opponents in 2011.

NFC Division Matchup – NFC North

schedule – vs. Bears vs. Lions, @ Vikings, @ Green Bay

Unfortunately, the Saints don’t get to play in the NFC West every year (though maybe that’s a good thing, considering the team suffered two embarrassing losses in Week 5 at Arizona and a playoff loss at Seattle). Next season, they will face the formidable NFC North, the division that claims both NFC Championship Game participants. The only game on the Saints’ 2011 schedule that really scares me comes from this division, as the Saints have a trip to Green Bay to make. The Saints’ other home opponent would be a tough matchup in Chicago, especially if the game comes late in the season with a high probability of heavy snow; however, the Saints should be able to handle the Bears in the Dome. As for the team’s two road games, Minnesota won’t be able to make any noise this season unless they can land a new QB franchise, and while the Lions are getting better, they’re still at least a year away from seriously contending.

Projected record: 3-1

Hawks/Bucs – Atlanta travels to Chicago and Detroit, while the Bucs have road games in Green Bay and Minnesota. Realistically, I see the Falcons going 3-1 against this division as well, while the Bucs could go anywhere from 2-2 most likely to 3-1 least likely.

NFC Division Matchup – AFC South

schedule – vs. Texans vs. Colts, @Titans, @Jaguars

This schedule simply couldn’t have gone better for the Saints. New Orleans hosts the two most talented teams in the division at the Dome and travels to two teams trending down. You can rest assured that the Super Bowl XLIV rematch in New Orleans between the Saints and Colts will be televised nationally, and the Peyton Manning primetime invincibility theory has been ruled out after last season. The Texans have a lot of young talent, but there’s just no way Houston’s pass defense can improve enough in an offseason to contain Drew Brees. The two road trips to Jacksonville and Tennessee seem like a no-brainer compared to the avoided trips to Houston or Indy (although that’s what we’re all thinking about Cleveland and Arizona this season), as both teams have too many holes on both sides of the soccer to hang out with New Orleans.

Projected record: 4-0

Hawks/Bucs – Atlanta is hit with a buzzsaw, having to travel to both Houston and Indianapolis, neither of which will be easy. Although both of their home games should be guaranteed wins, there’s a chance the Falcons won’t be favored in either of these two road games. The Bucs have the same home/away roster as the Saints. I think both the Falcons and Bucs finish 3-1 against this division, though both could easily go 2-2 thanks to a tough schedule on the road from Atlanta and a young Bucs team that could be more prone to lapse.

last two games

schedule – vs. Giants, @Rams

The Saints take another break with these two games. If the schedule had been reversed, the most likely outcome would be a 1-1 finish; however, because New Orleans has an away game in a dome against an inferior team while hosting the tougher opponent, they should be able to win both games. New York went 0-3 on the road against .500-plus teams in 2010, being outscored by an average of more than 20 points per game; I expect more of the same in 2011 from a team that hasn’t shown much resilience since its Super Bowl XLII win three years ago.

Projected record: 2-0

Hawks/Bucs – Atlanta’s last two games consist of a home matchup against the Eagles and a trip to Seattle. Although in most cases he would prefer to play against the toughest team at home, this scenario is very different. As Saints fans learned the hard way, Seattle’s Qwest Field is one of the toughest places to play in the NFL; the venue recorded a seismic rating on Marshawn Lynch’s touchdown run. If that wasn’t enough, the Falcons’ home game will be Michael Vick’s homecoming to the city where he first ignited his NFL career; he can be sure that he will be at the top of his game for that. I see Atlanta splitting those two games. Tampa Bay hosts the Cowboys and travels to the 49ers. I don’t think anyone expects either of those two teams to play as poorly as they did last season, which means the Bucs will be very busy. They should split those two games, but I wouldn’t be totally surprised by any of the four possible outcomes.

Non-divisional registrations expected

New Orleans: 9-1

Atlanta: 7-3

Tampa Bay: 6-4

Carolina: 3-7

To summarize, there are two main reasons why they should expect to exit their nondivisional schedule before their fellow NFC South opponents. First, New Orleans will benefit from playing tougher opponents at home, while traveling to take on less talented teams. The Saints’ game against the Packers is also their only game away from the NFC South against a team with a winning record in 2010. Second, the only possible game in which New Orleans would have to deal with inclement weather and a cold brutal. It is in Bahia Verde. While I expect the Saints to lose to the Packers, they should be favored in each of their other nine nondivisional games. As a result, the New Orleans Saints undoubtedly have the scheduling advantage over the rival Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.