The Saints were the strongest team in the mighty NFC South last season. For New Orleans to build on that playoff run, it will need to navigate through one of the NFL's strongest schedules in 2018.
The combined 2017 record of New Orleans' opponents, thanks in part to having two other playoff teams in its division, is 137-119. That's tied with Detroit for the second toughest in the league.
Here's breaking down the Saints' entire schedule and how their 2018 games set up Drew Brees & Co. for a Super Bowl push.
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Saints schedule 2018
Saints regular-season schedule
| Date | Opponent | Kickoff time | TV network |
| Sept. 9 | vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1 p.m. | (FOX) |
| Sept. 18 | vs. Cleveland Browns | 1 p.m. | (FOX) |
| Sept. 23 | at Atlanta Falcons | 1 p.m. | (FOX) |
| Sept. 30 | at New York Giants | 4:25 P.M. | (CBS) |
| Oct. 8 | vs. Washington Redskins | 8:15 p.m. | (ESPN) |
| Oct. 14 | BYE | ||
| Oct. 21 | at Baltimore Ravens | 4:05 p.m. | (FOX) |
| Oct. 28 | at Minnesota Vikings | 8:20 p.m. | (NBC) |
| Nov. 4 | vs. Los Angeles Rams | 4:25 p.m. | (FOX) |
| Nov. 11 | at Cincinnati Bengals | 1 p.m. | (FOX) |
| Nov. 18 | vs. Philadelphia Eagles | 1 p.m. | (FOX) |
| Nov. 22 | vs. Atlanta Falcons (Thanksgiving) | 8:20 p.m. | (NBC) |
| Nov. 29 | at Dallas Cowboys | 8:20 p.m. | (FOX/NFLN) |
| Dec. 9 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1 p.m. | (FOX) |
| Dec. 17 | at Carolina Panthers | 8:15 p.m. | (ESPN) |
| Dec. 23 | vs. Pittsburgh Steelers | 4:25 p.m. | (CBS) |
| Dec. 30 | vs. Carolina Panthers | 1:00 p.m. | (FOX) |
Saints preseason schedule
| Week 1 | at Jacksonville | 7 p.m. |
| Week 2 | Arizona | 8 p.m. |
| Week 3 | at Los Angeles Chargers | 8 p.m. |
| Week 4 | vs. Los Angeles Rams | 8 p.m. |
MORE 2018 NFL SCHEDULES:
Home, away opponents for each team
Toughest tests: The Saints were able to go 7-1 at home last year on their way to an 11-5 overall mark. It will be tough to duplicate that Superdome success with the Falcons, Panthers, Rams, Eagles and Steelers bringing their best to New Orleans. The good news: It would be a lot harder to face those teams outside of the Big Easy.
Biggest breaks: Outside of the division games and the Vikings matchup, the Saints have a favorable away slate and should finish better than .500 on the road. With Minnesota and Dallas on the schedule, that leaves only three games in which there might be weather concerns. Then again, with New Orleans' improved running game and defense, it's an undaunted team built for all seasons.
Bottom line: Brees was re-signed and got some help in the passing game, and the defense got better in the back seven. Those moves came before the draft, from which both sides of the ball will be boosted even more. Despite the degree of difficulty in their schedule, the Saints are on par talent-wise with the heavyweights they will be playing. Brees and coach Sean Payton are back in business as threats to lead New Orleans to its first NFC title in nine years. Record prediction: 12-4
