The New Orleans Saints could not have written a better ending to their storybook season last year, knocking off a couple of the area’s most legendary athletes in quarterbacks Brett Favre and Peyton Manning en route to winning their first-ever Super Bowl title.  Drew Brees is now the most popular player in New Orleans and rightfully so following his MVP performance in the team’s biggest game ever.  The Saints open up defense of their championship with back-to-back appearances on national television but seem to have a relatively easy schedule after that until what looks like a make-or-break stretch of four road games in five weeks toward the end.

Odds to win NFC South Division: -175

Odds to win the NFC Conference: 9/2

New Orleans Saints Odds to win Super Bowl XLV: 10/1

Regular Season Wins Total Line: 10.5

*all odds quoted from Bodog*

Here’s what this year’s schedule looks like for the Saints:

 

Week 1             Thursday, September 9, 2010   vs. Minnesota Vikings

Analysis: The Saints open the season with two straight appearances on prime-time television, starting with this NFC Championship rematch against Brett Favre and the Vikings.

Week 2             Monday, September 20, 2010    @ San Francisco 49ers

Analysis: New Orleans will have 11 days to prepare for the 49ers, who will be playing their home opener following a visit to Seattle.

Week 3             Sunday, September 26, 2010    vs. Atlanta Falcons

Analysis:. The Falcons averaged 25 points in two meetings with the Saints last year but were not able to come up with a win either time.

Week 4             Sunday, October 3, 2010          vs. Carolina Panthers

Analysis: The Panthers beat the Saints 23-10 in last year’s regular-season finale, but New Orleans had already locked up the top seed in the NFC playoffs.

 

Week 5             Sunday, October 10, 2010         @ Arizona Cardinals

Analysis: The Saints play the first of back-to-back road games at Arizona in a rematch of their 45-14 blowout win in the playoffs back on January 16.

Week 6             Sunday, October 17, 2010         @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Analysis: Tampa Bay was one of three teams to beat New Orleans last year and one of two to win at the Superdome, but the Bucs got crushed 38-7 at home against the Saints.

Week 7             Sunday, October 24, 2010         vs. Cleveland Browns

Analysis: The Saints play consecutive home games against AFC North foes and should be very familiar with new Cleveland QB Jake Delhomme from his days in Carolina.

Week 8             Sunday, October 31, 2010         vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Analysis: The Steelers will have QB Ben Roethlisberger back for this game following his suspension, but he will be thrown into the fire against the defending Super Bowl champs.

Week 9             Sunday, November 7, 2010       @ Carolina Panthers

Analysis: The Panthers host the Saints in the middle of road games at St. Louis and Tampa Bay.

Week 10                       — BYE WEEK —

 

 

Week 11           Sunday, November 21, 2010     vs. Seattle Seahawks

Analysis: New Seattle head coach Pete Carroll meets former USC player Reggie Bush and the Saints, who only have two home games left after hosting the Seahawks.

Week 12           Thursday, November 25, 2010 @ Dallas Cowboys

Analysis: The Saints get an opportunity to avenge their first loss of last season as they begin the most difficult part of their schedule.

Week 13           Sunday, December 5, 2010       @ Cincinnati Bengals

Analysis: The Bengals will be coming off a physical meeting with the Jets but get to play three of their next four games at home.

Week 14           Sunday, December 12, 2010     vs. St. Louis Rams

Analysis: The Rams have the tough task of playing the last of three straight road games at New Orleans after visiting Denver and Arizona.

Week 15           Sunday, December 19, 2010     @ Baltimore Ravens

Analysis: The Ravens host the Saints in between road games at Houston and Cleveland and might be the best team New Orleans plays all season.

Week 16           Monday, December 27, 2010     @ Atlanta Falcons

Analysis: The Falcons return home for their last two games following three straight on the road and could be playing for the AFC South title here.

Week 17           Sunday, January 2, 2011          vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Analysis: With playoff positioning quite possibly already decided, could the Bucs possibly win at New Orleans for the second year in a row?