The Saints’ 2020 schedule is beginning to take shape

A few of the Saints’ 2020 matchups have already begun to leak and it is shaping up to be an interesting season for the black and gold.

Week 1: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints, 3:25 PM Central

To start, Nick Underhill broke that the Saints will open the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home in New Orleans at 3:25 PM Central. This matchup opening the season makes a ton of sense, both for the individual teams but also for the NFL. Getting Brady vs. Brees in the first week of the year is a big win for the league. While it is possible there may not be fans in the stands Week 1. This will draw the eyes of football fans watching from home all over. The Saints and Bucs have open the season against one another three times, most recently in 2018. The Saints are 2-1 in those games with the loss coming in the 2018 matchup.

Meanwhile, the Saints look to be well on their way to a handful of primetime games in 2020. Should be no surprise as they have some exciting games on their schedule. So far three of them are at home, if you consider the Minnesota game primetime as it will be the only game on the day it is played. Nevertheless, at least three national games are hosted in New Orleans.

Week 2: New Orleans Saints at Las Vegas Raiders, MNF

After an exciting Week 1 matchup, the Saints look to be heading to Vegas per Jeff Duncan. They will square off against the Raiders in their new home stadium on Monday Night Football. With this only being the second week of the season, there is potential, likely potential, that this will be the inaugural game Allegiant Stadium. The Raiders have added some explosive weapons this offseason and the Saints secondary, now led by Malcolm Jenkins, will face another test in Week 2.

Update: Some reports are showing that the Panthers may open the season at home against the Raiders. That would mean that New Orleans would indeed be a part of the first ever game played at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.

Week 3: Green Bay Packers at New Orleans Saints, SNF

The national eyes are heavy on the Saints the first three weeks with a second primetime game in a row and potentially third national spot. After opening the season with Brees vs. Brady, the schedule follows up soon with Brees vs. Rodgers. The Saints and Packers approached their offseasons a bit differently with many Cheeseheads wishing for more attention to the skill positions, particularly at WR. Meanwhile, the Saints have added Emmanuel Sanders opposite Michael Thomas and might have added another receiving threat in Adam Trautman in the draft. But Conference matchup early in the season for New Orleans.

Week 5: Los Angeles Chargers at New Orleans Saints, MNF

The popular preseason matchup has finally found its way to the primetime regular season slot. With this game, the Saints will have played a Monday or Sunday night matchup in three of four weeks with Week 4 being the only current exception.

Will Justin Herbert be at the helm by Week 5? Or will the Saints face Tyrod Taylor for the first time since the 2018 season when he suited up with the Browns? Either way, Saints fans will more than certainly get a look at the popular Saints mock draft pick in LB Kenneth Murray who the Chargers traded up to select at 23 ahead of the Saints in this year’s draft. So far, this also marks three home games in the first five weeks.

Week 6: Bye Week

Week 9: New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, SNF

The Saints return to Sunday Night Football in November for Brees vs. Brady part 2.

Up next: A tough road trip followed by some big games to wrap up the Saints’ playoff push.

Week 12: New Orleans Saints at Denver Broncos

Week 13: New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons

Week 14: New Orleans Saints at Philadelphia Eagles

Week 15: Kansas City Chiefs at New Orleans Saints

Probably the most highly anticipated game of the season, though it could be just behind the Brees vs. Brady. The Saints will host the reigning Super Bowl champions on after a three game road trip. Last season the Saints did not have more than two games away from the Dome in a row. This season, not only will they have a back-to-back-to-back section of the schedule, but will then host Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs immediately after at a crucial and important point late in the season.

Week 16: Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints, Christmas Day, 3:30 PM Central

Really hard pressed to find anything more iconic on Christmas than family feuds. So the NFL looks to be ready to give fans the next best thing with two teams playing on Christmas Day that have some bad blood.

The Wildcard rematch many Saints fans will be waiting for looks to be part of the Christmas Day festivities in this Week 16 of 17 matchup. Christmas Day is usually the NBA’s, but it looks like the NFL is staking its corner of the holiday as well. Unusual to see a Friday game scheduled on the NFL’s docket, as observed by Kat Terrell of The Athletic it will be the first time since 2009. Saints fans will get to see their highly-anticipated rematch with the team that bounced New Orleans from the 2019 playoffs and surely get a first hand look at former LSU Tiger Justin Jefferson, who many had hopes for in the Saints 2020 draft. All on Christmas Day, at that.

Although not confirmed yet, it looks like a 3:00 PM or 3:25 PM kickoff may be the plan.

That means two home games and one early away showdown on the books so far, with many more to come throughout the day.

Which games are you most excited about? Any predictions for the rest of the schedule? Let us know in the comments. Make sure you follow Canal Street Chronicles on Twitter at @SaintsCSC, “Like” us on Facebook at Canal Street Chronicles, and make sure you’re subscribed to our new YouTube channel. As always, you can follow me on Twitter @RossJacksonNOLA