New Orleans Saints 2012 Schedule: Ranking the Games from Easiest to Toughest

The NFL released the 2012 regular season schedule on Tuesday night, and all eyes will be on the New Orleans Saints once the season starts.

Here's why:

• They will go through the season without head coach Sean Payton;
• Teams will go at the Saints extra hard after "Bountygate";
• 22 to 27 defensive players face possible suspension for their involvement in the scandal.

After such an arduous offseason, I think it's fair to say we're curious to see how the Saints will fare this regular season.

Oh, and let's not forget about the Saints opponents in their 2012 schedule. It won't be easy for them; the Saints have the 11th toughest schedule in the league.

Let's take a look at the Saints schedule and rank each game from easiest to toughest—easy doesn't necessarily mean the team is terrible. Keep in mind that last year's team records don't mean anything. Every team starts with a clean slate.

16. Week 1 vs. Washington Redskins

It's fair to say that Robert Griffin III will be drafted by the Redskins with the No. 2 pick, right? It will be the rookie's debut in the NFL. The Redskins have a decent defense, but not good enough to stop the Saints' offensive juggernaut.

Even if the rookie QB has a good game, he won't be able to carry the Redskins offense to go toe-to-toe with the Saints.

Let's not forget that this game will be played in front of Who Dat Nation at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. This place is going to be rockin'.

15. Week 3 vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Just because the Chiefs are in this slot doesn't mean this is going to be an "easy" game. The Chiefs will be a different team from last season.

Last year was a terrible year for the Chiefs as they had crushing injuries to players Jamaal Charles, Eric Berry and Tony Moeaki. Let's not forget that Matt Cassel only played nine games. No, Cassel isn't a great quarterback, but he's a definite upgrade over Tyler Palko.

The Chiefs won't be a pushover, but their defense won't be able to completely shut down the Saints. The final score will be a bit closer than one would think, as the Chiefs pass defense is good and may be able to slow Brees down (key word is may), but their run defense is awful.

Believe it or not, there can be more to the Saints than just Brees torching defenses. The Saints running backs combined for 2,127 yards in the 2011 season.

14. Week 11 at Oakland Raiders

The Saints will have some new players on defense this season. They picked up Brodrick Bunkley, Curtis Lofton and David Hawthorne, to name a few. They also will play under new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

It should be interesting to see how the Saints run defense will hold up against Darren McFadden. McFadden, if healthy, can do a lot of damage.

Again, this will come down to the offenses. Carson Palmer and co. won't be able to keep up with the Saints offense.

13. Week 5 vs. San Diego Chargers

Two Pro Bowl quarterbacks. Brees facing his old team. Darren Sproles and Robert Meachem each facing their old teams, the Chargers and Saints, respectively. This will be a good game.

The San Diego Chargers were one of the top 10 offenses in the league. This will be a back-and-forth game, but this advantage has goes to the Saints. C'mon, they're playing in New Orleans, and last season were undefeated at home.

The Chargers are a good team, but as of late, they have not fared well in the month of October.

12. Week 15 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

As I mentioned in the introduction slide, records don't mean anything this season. The Bucs were 4-12 last season.

This team is a lot better than 4-12. They just finished having a monster offseason, picking up players like Vincent Jackson and Carl Nicks, to name a few. The Bucs may even pick up Trent Richardson in the draft.

But I don't think Josh Freeman is capable of beating the Saints at home. The Saints are almost impossible to stop at the Superdome.

Being this game is close to the end of the season, look for the Saints to try to keep momentum going into the playoffs (yes, I'm insinuating the Saints will make the playoffs).

11. Week 17 vs. Carolina Panthers

Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is going to turn this franchise around. That's a fact. Just take a look at his stats last year and you can tell he is the franchise. But there is a lot of room for improvement.

It's always tough and overwhelming to play at the Superdome. Like last season, Newton and the Panthers won't have enough firepower to keep up with the Saints, and the defense will have a hard time stopping the Saints offense.

Again, it's all about momentum going into the playoffs. The Saints will give it their all to make sure they go into the playoffs on a winning streak.

10. Week 10 vs. Atlanta Falcons

Division rival Atlanta Falcons. It's always tough against a rival, but the Saints have dominated the Falcons as of late. And when the Falcons faced the Saints in New Orleans, they got stomped on, 45-16.

As always, this will be a good game to watch. "Matty Ice" vs. automaton Drew Brees.

9. Week 2 at Carolina Panthers

This early in the season, the Saints will still be adjusting to defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's playbook. They will also have some new personnel. It will be a tough to adjust quickly and be able to completely stop human highlight reel Cam Newton in Carolina.

Carolina is another top-10 offense the Saints defense has to face early in the season.

8. Week 16 at Dallas Cowboys

Dallas is always a tough team. Look at their offense. Look at their defense. If Tony Romo can manage to control himself, he can be a great quarterback.

This is going to be played in Dallas, and it's the second to last game of the season. This game may have playoff implications for one or both teams. The result can also affect playoff seeding.

7. Week 7 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers have one of their four wins against the New Orleans Saints in Tampa. I'm curious to see how Vincent Jackson will do with Josh Freeman and the Bucs.

This will be a tough one in Tampa, especially if they draft Trent Richardson.

This is the game after the Saints' bye week, so the break may affect them.

6. Week 9 vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Michael Vick is always tough to contain with LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin on offense. You have sack machines Jason Babin and Trent Cole and Nnamdi Asomugha on defense.

Now that the "Dream Team" has another season under their belt, they will be very tough to beat—even in New Orleans.

5. Week 8 at Denver Broncos

It's Peyton Manning's season back from injury.

Manning vs. Brees. This is going to be one helluva game.

Manning at the helm makes the Broncos 10 times better than they were last year (sorry, Tebow Mania. Or am I?). From last season, we knew the Broncos defense kept the team in the game and were the main reason they made the playoffs. Now, add Manning to that mix.

This is also interim head coach Joe Vitt's first game back from serving a six-game suspension. There may be some kinks to work out.

4. Week 13 at Atlanta Falcons

It will come down to these two teams battling for the top spot in the division. Games against divisional rivals is always tough, especially away.

Last season, when these two met in Atlanta, it came down to the wire with the Saints squeaking out a win in overtime.

3. Week 14 at New York Giants

The defending Super Bowl champions, in New York. Last season, when these two teams met in New Orleans, the Saints kicked the Giants in the face, spanking them 49-24.

It might just be different this time around. The Saints were in the comfort of their own home last season. This season, they play outdoors in cold weather.

Both teams have good offenses, so it should be a shootout.

2. Week 12 vs. San Francisco 49ers

A rematch of last season's insane NFC Divisional Round.The 49ers have one of the best defenses in the league, but couldn't really contain Brees and the offense much.

But we can say the same about the Saints defense. Alex Smith torched and embarrassed the Saints.

I'm sure Who Dat Nation and the Saints remember that game all too well. This time, the game will be in New Orleans. The fans may just tear down the walls in this one.

1. Week 4 at Green Bay Packers

These two teams met last season in Week 1—and what a game that was. It was a shootout as expected, with several back-and-forth lead changes.

As I mentioned in an earlier slide, I don't think the Saints defense will be at full force this early in the season. Going against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense will not be easy. The Saints will have a difficult time in handling this Packers offense, but expect another shootout.

It's Mr. NFL MVP vs. Offensive Player of the Year; what do you think is going to happen?

Follow @itsjperalta