Free Agency has all but wrapped up. The NFL Draft is over. All schedules have been set for the upcoming season. Last Word on Sports is in the process of ranking all games for all teams, giving a preview of exciting matchups this NFL season. The 2020 New Orleans Saints received a first-place schedule and drew the AFC West and NFC North as other opponents. This creates some exciting matchups for the Saints of rising teams and established powerhouses. Let’s examine the 2020 opponents and rank the New Orleans Saints’ most difficult games, 1-16 with 1 being easiest and 16 being the most difficult.
New Orleans Saints Most Difficult Games in 2020
1. Week 15: vs Kansas City Chiefs
A Week 15 matchup which could already be a Super Bowl preview, before the season has even begun. The defending champions go to New Orleans in the middle of a very tough three-game stretch for the Saints. Drew Brees versus Patrick Mahomes will get all the headlines but it will be interesting to see what the Saints defense can muster against the juggernaut Chiefs offense.
2. Week 10: vs San Francisco 49ers
In 2019, the Saints versus 49ers matchup was an instant classic. This year’s game should be the same. Can the 49ers maintain their status going into a season with high expectations? This mid-season matchup will be etched on everyone’s bulletin board as both teams look to prove they are the elite of the NFC.
3. Week 14: at Philadelphia Eagles
A surprise on this year’s toughest matchups. The Eagles had a slightly down year in 2019 but after having a good off-season and healing up, this will prove a tough matchup for the Saints. Going into Philadelphia is always difficult and this game comes at the end of a three-game road trip for the 2020 Saints. If Carson Wentz and his new receivers gel through the season, the Eagles will be a measuring stick for the Saints defensive unit.
4. Week 16: vs Minnesota Vikings
A Christmas matchup could prove to be a present or coal for the Saints. The Minnesota Vikings are always a tough matchup for the Saints and this year will be no different. The Vikings have spent most of the off-season improving their already good defense. This will most likely be a playoff seeding game and can show if the Saints are playoff ready. A short week after playing the Chiefs before is also of great concern but the game being in New Orleans does help overall difficulty.
5. Week 1: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This Week 1 contest pits two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks against each other and should be the most-watched non-primetime game of Week 1. Tom Brady and the new look Buccaneers bring many challenges. The Bucs already had fantastic offensive weapons and adding Brady upgrades the entire offense. New Orleans is notorious for starting every year slowly, making this game that much more difficult along with the unknown aspect of the 2020 Buccaneers.
6. Week 3: vs Green Bay Packers
It’s unusual to have this many difficult home games on a schedule and this game will be very important for seeding and seasonal odds. Should the Saints stumble against the Buccaneers in Week 1, this game will be hugely important to the NFC and a positive start to 2020. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers finished with 13 wins last season but looks to have taken a few steps backward this off-season. Overlooking the Packers would be detrimental.
7. Week 13: at Atlanta Falcons
The first divisional matchup on this list comes in the middle of a tough road trip for the Saints. The Falcons and Saints play twice within a three-week span. All divisional matchups are difficult and this one is no different. Matt Ryan and the Falcons offense usually are able to put up points on any defense. If the Saints defense cannot stop Calvin Ridley and Julio Jones, this game will light up the scoreboards.
8. Week 9: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A primetime, mid-season divisional matchup. The Saints are usually a very good team for nationally televised games and they will have to be in Week 9. Bruce Arians will have his team playing team football by this point in the season. The Saints offense will be tested against a very strong front from Tampa Bay. If points are difficult to come by, the Saints will need to be on alert to not let the many Buccaneer weapons control the game. The Tampa divisional matchups should prove to be in the top half of the Saints’ most difficult games in 2020.
Be sure to check out the eight easiest games on the New Orleans Saints 2020 schedule.
