Black and Gold X's and O's| A Way Too Early Game-By-Game Preview

The 2009 NFL schedule was released Tuesday evening. As a Saints fan, I, of course, was most interested in what the Saints schedule looked like. 

And at first sight, it looks pretty good. I will discuss it in more depth as we go along here, but I do have one beef.

I seriously think that NBC has something against the Saints. Just look at the schedule: no Sunday Night games. That’s okay with me, because I usually go to church in the evening during football season. But still, what the heck?

Furthermore, my monthly conspiracy theory is devoted to this.

If we go back to when ABC did Monday Night Football, it was rare for the Saints to play in that game. When the whole TV situation changed a few years ago, Sunday Night became the more glamorous game because it is done by the former Monday Night Crew.

So who is to blame?

One thing I know is that there is at least one constant throughout; Al Michaels. I have no clue if he is powerful enough to have that kind of clout, but the lack of Sunday Night games since the new deal (which coincided with the new era of Saints football with Payton and Brees), is astonishing.

The team was not originally scheduled to be featured on NBC in 2006 despite adding Drew Brees and Reggie Bush. It was only because Sean Payton and the Saints heading back to Dallas was a nice story, that the Saints were flexed into Primetime in ’06.

In ’07, they actually made two appearances on NBC. First they played in the Kenny Chesney Fan Bowl (Sean Payton and Peyton Manning have both appeared onstage at Kenny Chesney concerts) in the NFL Season Opener.

That had more to do with Indianapolis hoisting their championship banner. Then they were scheduled for Seattle in Week Five, which still makes no sense. NBC is probably still wondering how that happened.

The next two seasons (the upcoming season included), zero scheduled, and zero flexed in ’08, despite having the most explosive offense in the entire league, and possibly a new passing yardage champion.

I could go on, but I fear losing an entire subsection of readers who don’t share the passion for the Saints that I have. Let’s take a look at the 2009 Schedule, shall we.

Week 1

Detroit @ New Orleans 1:00 ET 

I’m going to go out on a limb early here and predict that Daunte Culpepper will be playing quarterback for the Lions in this game.

The fact the Saints get to start the season at home is exciting. The fact they get to start it against the worst team in the history of the NFL is like winning the lottery.

Atlanta opened at home against the Lions last season. And they had a pretty good season. Let’s hope history repeats itself.

It’s hard to imagine the Saints not scoring at least thirty five in this match up, but let’s not sell the Lions short.

Calvin Johnson will probably become the second best receiver in the league next year (behind only Larry Fitzgerald). He is a match up nightmare, and has both the speed and physicality to get open deep early and often.

Saints fans are going to find out quickly just how much, if at all, the secondary has improved.

Prediction:  Saints win 35-24

Week 2

New Orleans @ Philadelphia 1:00 ET

The Saints renew their semi-rivalry against the Eagles. Let me re-phrase that, the Eagles get a chance at revenge against the team that beat them twice in 2006.

Donovan McNabb generally plays really well at the beginning of the season, and the Eagles will likely come out in whites at home, since it’s September. All this, leads me to believe the Saints will get killed.

But don’t forget the Eagles will be searching for a replacement at the safety position. This could be a wild one, ladies and gentlemen.

Prediction:  Eagles win 38-35

Week 3

New Orleans @ Buffalo 4:05 ET

The Saints luck out by not having to play in the northeast in December. However, Terrell Owens probably won’t hate Trent Edwards yet.

Plus, they’re going to have to force him the ball since they will likely be without Marshawn Lynch (unless he gets off like Brandon Marshall did last season).

Jabari Greer gets a chance to prove early to his former team they should have kept him. My guess is that after this game, the Saints are going to wish they had.

T.O. will probably light him up, but the Saints will win because well it is the Bills.

Prediction:  Saints win 28-24

Week 4

New York Jets @ New Orleans 4:05 ET

What? You mean New Orleans actually gets to play one of those late afternoon home games? When’s the last time that happened? I can’t remember.

I’m confused how this could be conceived as a high-profile game though, unless the schedulers know something I don’t. Is Brett Favre going to come out of retirement again?

Are the Saints going to trade Marques Colston to New York? I’m pretty sure the answer to both those questions is no.

It’s only week 4, so I doubt Rex Ryan will have his defense playing up to their capability at this point. The Saints defense finally gets a rest with the aerial attack.

The fans should be ready since it’s later in the day. How could the Saints not win this game?

Prediction:  Saints win 31-17

Week 5

Bye

My suggestion, go run some errands for the wife. Or watch the baseball playoffs.

Week 6

New York Giants @ New Orleans 1:00 ET

Has Eli ever played in the Dome before? Not that I can remember. I have a feeling he won’t be feeling too much at home when this one is over either.

After the Bye Week, the Saints will be able to address any issues they may have had in the secondary and should be able to slow down the running game.

The only question remains how many picks will Eli throw?

Prediction:  Saints win 27-23

Week 7

New Orleans @ Miami 4:15 ET

Will ‘the Wildcat’ still be relevant? It’s hard to say. One thing I know is the Dolphins play some tough defense at home. Look for this to be a low-scoring battle between two former Parcells-disciples.

Prediction:  Dolphins win 19-16

Week 8

Atlanta @ New Orleans Monday Night 8:30 ET

There’s no way Matt Ryan duplicates his rookie season right? No.

And he definitely won’t duplicate the success he enjoyed at the Dome a season ago. In that game he was one of only a couple quarterbacks to out-pass Drew Brees, when he threw for 315 yards and one TD.

The Dome will be rockin’ and the Falcons defense will be even worse than it was a season ago. Look for this one to look more like the last time these teams played in the Dome on Monday Night.

Prediction:  Saints win 31-10

Week 9

Carolina @ New Orleans 4:05 ET

If the schedule is any indication, I guess we’re going to be pretty good. We have all these late afternoon games, I don’t know what I’m going to do on Sunday mornings now.

I haven’t been a Saints fan long enough to remember the last time the Saints beat Carolina in the Dome.

If Jake Delhomme is still lobbing balls up for Steve Smith, I like the Saints chances with Darren Sharper being the difference in this new equation. If the Saints do win this game, I predict they are Super Bowl-bound. If they don’t, then I’m an idiot.

Prediction:  Saints win 23-17

Week 10

New Orleans @ St. Louis 1:00 ET

The Rams were horrible a year ago. They should be minimally better. And this is the time of year where some of those “who?” guys show up.

After an emotional home victory over Carolina, the Saints could be ripe for the upset.

Drew Brees will have a big day, but Steve Spagnuolo won’t allow Pierre Thomas or Reggie Bush to beat him on the ground.

As a result, the Rams hold the Saints to a season-low 81 yards rushing and force Brees to throw 59 times. You can’t win when you throw the ball that many times.

Prediction:  Rams win 26-24

Week 11

New Orleans @ Tampa Bay 1:00 ET

The last time New Orleans played in Tampa in November, it rained.

Well, this time Drew Brees is going to make it rain. Look for Payton to call deep vertical passing routes intended for the pirate killer-aka Devery Henderson. He seems to hit for a big reception every time he plays these guys.

Tampa may be able to throw the ball a little bit, so the Saints corners will be tested. But Jason David will be up to the task. That’s right, he’s going pick-six to the house.

Prediction:  Saints win 41-15

Week 12

New England @ New Orleans Monday Night 8:30 ET

Tom Brady’s knee will likely be healthy. G&*$^#()#! Just kidding, I don’t speak like that, but the idea of a healthy Brady and Moss is very scary. And by this time, New England’s new offensive coordinator should be very comfortable.

Thank goodness half the Pats defense will be trying to collect AARP checks. This could be a classic shoot-out, reminiscent of the First Half of last season’s Monday Night game vs. Green Bay. Let’s hope for the same result.

Prediction:  Saints win 41-35

Week 13

New Orleans @ Washington 1:00 ET

This is potentially the most “cold-weather game” the Saints will play this season. The Redskins play a tough brand of defense, and are banking on guys like Albert Haynesworth and Deangelo Hall allowing them to cause more turnovers.

That’s bad news for the Saints since they struggle to hold on to the football in cold weather.

Assuming Jason Campbell still holds the starting spot for D.C., which I think he will, and then some, the Redskins will hold on to the football and win the game late, a la last season’s 29-24 victory.

Prediction:  Redskins win 23-19

Week 14

New Orleans @ Atlanta 1:00 ET

Atlanta will be looking for revenge from the whoopin’ they took on Monday Night in Week 8. The New Orleans defense won’t have the home crowd to lean upon, and the Falcons are going to pound the ball between the tackles.

Defensively, the Falcons are going to force Drew Brees to beat them as they did in their home match up a season ago. That didn’t work out so well for New Orleans. And it probably won’t again.

Prediction:  Falcons win 27-20

Week 15

Dallas @ New Orleans Saturday 8:20 ET

The Saints figure to have two advantages here; the home crowd and Tony Romo trying to win a game after Thanksgiving.

Dallas’ defense looks to be more of a solid defense this year than the big play defense they’ve been the past two years. But without T.O., they will likely struggle to score points, especially against a defense that will be hungry.

Prediction:  Saints win 28-17

Week 16

Tampa Bay @ New Orleans 1:00 ET

At this point, Tampa Bay could be playing for next season. The Saints could be playing for home-field advantage. And if history repeats itself (2006 at home versus Washington, the only time I’ve been to the Super Dome), this scenario might not be a good one for the Saints.

It’s even scarier, because if you remember they played (and killed) Dallas the week before. Doo-duh-doo-doo!

I say Sean Payton and company learn from that experience and play their most solid football of the season. The defense will be coming into its own, and the offense will be sharp and focused.

Prediction:  Saints win 34-7

Week 17

Carolina @ New Orleans 1:00 ET

This game could mean very little for New Orleans, if the season goes the way I have predicted. I wonder why we always seem to end the season versus Carolina. Is there a rule that we have to?

Matt Moore will play well for the Panthers in a game resembling a pre-season game. Brees and company will play a quarter at the most. It will be a good chance for some rookies, and young players to get some regular season game experience.

Prediction:  Panthers win 27-14

So there you have it. In my April simulation, the Saints will finish the season at 10-6 in a weaker (than a season ago) NFC South. They will gain the No. 2 seed in the NFC and host a Divisional Round playoff game at the New Orleans Super Dome. From there, they will go on to win the Super Bowl.

Saints fans, you can now return to reality.

Geaux Saints!