If past history is any indication, the release of the NFL schedule should be right around the corner.
For the last three years, the league has unveiled its slate for the oncoming season during the second week of May, usually on a Wednesday or Thursday. The league hasn’t confirmed this year’s date, except to say that it’ll happen this month. As usual, expect the dog-and-pony primetime show that always comes with it.
Until then, how about we have some fun? Mock drafts, my friends, are out of season. But mock schedules are all the way in.
No, this isn’t going to be a full 2024 mock schedule that predicts every game and time across the league – I'm not that deranged. But because we already know the New Orleans Saints’ opponents next season, and truthfully because there’s still a few days until rookie minicamp and it’s otherwise quiet this time of year, let’s take a stab at guessing the exact order of the Saints’ schedule.
To emphasize, this is a full-on guess – and this will likely be so wrong in retrospect that I’ll be thrilled if I get even one right. But what’s the harm in that?
Without further ado, here’s a mock schedule for the Saints in 2024 ordered by week, date and kickoff time.
Week 1, Sunday, Sept. 8 (noon): Washington Commanders
Twelve years ago, Heisman Trophy-winner and No. 2 overall pick Robert Griffin III made his electric debut for Washington in the Caesars Superdome when he led Washington to an upset over New Orleans. So naturally, the parallels with Jayden Daniels – the LSU quarterback and Heisman winner who the Commanders took second overall – are too hard to ignore. Daniels beginning his career with a return to New Orleans would also be a bonus storyline.
Week 2, Sunday, Sept. 15 (noon): Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Saints haven’t opened the season with two straight home games since 2018, so it’s time to switch things up. But the matchup is far from a cake walk as Baker Mayfield and the reigning NFC South champ Bucs come to town.
Week 3, Sunday, Sept. 22 (noon): at Green Bay Packers
It always feels like these teams play early in the year, and a quick Google confirms that’s the case: Five of the last seven regular-season meetings took place in September. Also, selfishly, it would be better for New Orleans-area writers if they didn’t have to travel to Wisconsin in the dead of winter.
Week 4, Sunday, Sept. 29 (noon): at Carolina Panthers
The Dennis Allen era has been littered with noon games for the Saints, and I don’t see that changing this year. The league seems to prefer stacking division games early and then late, so here’s a second NFC South showdown for New Orleans.
Week 5, Sunday, Oct. 6 (noon): Las Vegas Raiders
Derek Carr faces his former team for the first time, but since it’s not a return game, it avoids primetime. This schedule maker was tempted to put this later in the season given the stakes could be much better if either of these teams are borderline fighting for the playoffs and Carr faces his former team, but alas.
Week 6, Monday, Oct. 14 (7:15 p.m.): Denver Broncos
All right, now let’s add some juice. The Saints might not receive that many primetime games in 2024, but it would be shocking if Sean Payton’s return to New Orleans wasn’t one of them. For entertainment’s sake, let’s hope Bo Nix captures the Broncos’ starting job rather than having to watch Zach Wilson or Jarrett Stidham in primetime.
Week 7, Sunday, Oct. 20 (noon): at Kansas City Chiefs
A third-straight AFC West showdown for New Orleans ends with arguably toughest game on this year’s slate against Patrick Mahomes and the defending Super Bowl champs. The Chiefs rarely kickoff at noon these days, but they did so twice at home last year. The Saints fit the criteria of a noon opponent.
Week 8, Sunday, Oct. 27: BYE
With Taylor Swift in town, the NFL becomes generous enough to give the Saints the weekend off rather than have them play on the road. And two bonus predictions: 1. This is also Kansas City’s bye so that tight end Travis Kelce can go spend the weekend with Swift in New Orleans. 2. NFL officials attend the concert in a desperate attempt to convince Swift to play this year’s Super Bowl.
Week 9, Sunday, Nov. 3 (noon): Cleveland Browns
Is this late enough in the season to where Jameis Winston might have to suit up for an unavailable Deshaun Watson and thus play against his former team? Probably not. But the storyline would be fun if it happens. Winston is set to be Cleveland’s backup next season, but Watson has missed 22 games the last two seasons because of suspension and injury.
Week 10, Sunday, Nov. 10 (3:25 p.m.): at Atlanta Falcons
This could be a game for first-place in the NFC South. But depending on how Kirk Cousins’ first year with the Falcons goes, it might also be a spot in which rookie Michael Penix makes his first start if things somehow fall off the rails for Cousins.
Week 11, Sunday, Nov. 17 (noon): at New York Giants
Look, I’ll be honest: I needed somewhere to put this game. After filling out the sections and writing the blurbs, this was one of the only ones left. To avoid a home-away-home-away trend, back-to-back road games makes sense for New Orleans.
Week 12, Sunday, Nov. 24 (noon): Los Angeles Rams
This was a “Thursday Night Football” showdown last year, but what are the chances that happens again? In Amazon’s two years of exclusively controlling that package, only Commanders-Bears was scheduled back-to-back years on the streaming network. (Those two teams also play again this year, giving Amazon a chance at the trifecta.) Anyway, the Rams come to the Superdome this time around.
Week 13, Sunday, Dec. 1 (noon): Carolina Panthers
The Sunday after Thanksgiving features another divisional showdown. The Saints played the Falcons after the holiday (and the bye) last year, but this time, the Panthers take the slot.
Week 14, Thursday, Dec. 5 (7:15 p.m.): at Dallas Cowboys
The NFL has a habit of scheduling a Thursday night game for the Cowboys a week after they play on Thanksgiving. How about the Saints for this spot? This game could matter for Wild-Card seeding purposes if neither team wins the division.
Week 15, Sunday, Dec. 15 (3:25 p.m.): at Los Angeles Chargers
California in December in back-to-back years sounds good to me. Book the flight.
Week 16, Sunday, Dec. 22 (noon): Atlanta Falcons
This rematch might make sense for a Saturday evening showdown since the league plans on having a few Saturday games again this year (and another two Christmas games). For now, let’s pencil in a Sunday noon kickoff.
Week 17, Sunday, Dec. 29 (noon): Philadelphia Eagles
These two teams also played in Week 17 in Allen’s first season as coach of the Saints. A rematch two years later could be very important for New Orleans’ playoff chances (and possibly Allen’s job).
Week 18, Sunday, Jan. 5 (noon): at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Division games as season finales are all the rage these days. And for good reason. They’re fun. After closing last year against the Falcons, the Saints switch things up by ending at Tampa.