2015 New Orleans Saints Schedule: Full Listing of Dates, Times and TV Info

Just take a look around at the 2015 New Orleans Saints. Things certainly look different after an offseason of roster overhauling, and now the fresh faces aren’t the only new thing around—the 2015 schedule is out.

If the Saints are going to navigate the new slate and reach the playoffs, they may need an approach other than the aerial attack of quarterback Drew Brees that has defined the team in years past.

Gone is tight end Jimmy Graham, who was traded to the Seattle Seahawks for strong run-blocker Max Unger. Gone is wide receiver Kenny Stills, who was traded to the Miami Dolphins. Gone is mainstay running back Pierre Thomas.

The Saints brought in running back C.J. Spiller and re-signed running back Mark Ingram, so it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if they are more committed to the rushing attack this season. New Orleans also brought in cornerback Brandon Browner but released linebacker Curtis Lofton.

Judy Battista of NFL.com commented on the larger purpose of the headline-making offseason:

"

It doesn't take much reading between the lines there. The explosiveness of a Drew Brees-led offense has been fun to watch and is hard to leave behind, but last year, it simply didn't produce the desired results, in large part because the defense was abysmal. The sorry state of the D (31st in yards allowed, 28th in points allowed) coupled with poor pass protection took a toll on Brees, who turned the ball over 20 times in a highly disappointing 7-9 campaign. By the end of last week, the Saints' intentions were in better focus: This will be a much different looking -- and, they hope, better -- team, with a shored-up defense and an offense that Payton can scheme into success.

"

Brees is 36 years old entering the 2015 campaign and probably doesn’t have too many potential runs to the Super Bowl left in the tank. New Orleans fans surely hope the offseason moves pay dividends and the team rebounds from a disappointing 2014 campaign. 

Here is a look at the schedule New Orleans will have to overcome if it hopes to reach the postseason after missing out last year:

Week	Date	Opponent	Time (ET)	TV
1	Sunday, Sep. 13	at Arizona Cardinals	4:05 p.m.	Fox
2	Sunday, Sep. 20	vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers	1 p.m.	Fox
3	Sunday, Sep. 27	at Carolina Panthers	1 p.m.	Fox
4	Sunday, Oct. 4	vs. Dallas Cowboys	8:30 p.m.	NBC
5	Sunday, Oct. 11	at Philadelphia Eagles	1 p.m.	Fox
6	Thursday, Oct. 15	vs. Atlanta Falcons	8:25 p.m.	CBS/NFL Network
7	Sunday, Oct. 25	at Indianapolis Colts	1 p.m.	Fox
8	Sunday, Nov. 1	vs. New York Giants	1 p.m.	Fox
9	Sunday, Nov. 8	vs. Tennessee Titans	1 p.m.	CBS
10	Sunday, Nov. 15	at Washington	1 p.m.	Fox
11	BYE WEEK
12	Sunday, Nov. 29	at Houston Texans	1 p.m.	Fox
13	Sunday, Dec. 6	vs. Carolina Panthers	1 p.m.	Fox
14	Sunday, Dec. 13	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	1 p.m.	Fox
15	Monday, Dec. 21	vs. Detroit Lions	8:30 p.m.	ESPN
16	Sunday, Dec. 27	vs. Jacksonville Jaguars	1 p.m.	CBS
17	Sunday, Jan. 3	at Atlanta Falcons	1 p.m.	Fox

Analysis

Outside of the annual division clashes with the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the first games that jump off the schedule are the showdowns with the NFC East.

Part of the reason for that is the fact that the NFC East teams are always in the national spotlight and often grace the prime-time games throughout the season, but these will be important contests for the Saints.

Like New Orleans, the Philadelphia Eagles underwent a number of drastic changes this offseason and could contend for a playoff spot. The Dallas Cowboys still have Tony Romo and Dez Bryant and will look to build off of a division crown in 2014. The New York Giants and Washington are trying to bounce back from disappointing campaigns.

In terms of cross-divisional games within the NFC, things could have been slightly more difficult for the Saints. The NFC East is formidable, but it isn’t the NFC West, which could theoretically see at least three teams compete for the playoffs, including the two-time defending NFC champion Seattle Seahawks.

The Saints also caught something of a break with the AFC games against the AFC South.

Yes, the Indianapolis Colts figure to be one of the best teams in football behind superstar quarterback Andrew Luck, but the Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans leave much to be desired, at least on paper. This slate of games is very manageable for the Saints, which should help them in the wild-card race against other NFC divisions with more difficult AFC opponents.

Still, the key to the season and putting together a solid record against this schedule lies in New Orleans’ defense.

Brian Blanco/Associated Press

It was 31st in total defense, 25th against the pass, 29th against the run and 28th in scoring defense last season and has to face aerial attacks that include Calvin Johnson, Bryant, the Eagles' uptempo attack, Luck, Romo and Matt Ryan in 2015. If the Saints don’t improve on that side of the ball, they will once again miss the playoffs. 

General manager Mickey Loomis suggested as much, per Battista: "At the end of the day, it comes down to this: We've had a good offensive team for a number of years. We do well on that side of the ball, but we've got to improve ourselves on defense."

Pivotal Matchups

Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

No games will be more important for the Saints than the six divisional ones after such a close race between the Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons and Saints in 2014.

Carolina eventually won the division, and the only way for New Orleans to change that in 2015 is with head-to-head victories against the rest of the NFC South. The contests in the Superdome will be especially critical since the Saints rely so heavily on home-field advantage and the raucous home crowds they draw every season.

For potential wild-card purposes, showdowns with the Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys will be key as well.

The Dallas game in particular jumps out, and not just because it is “America’s Team.” The game is at home for the Saints, and there should be a good mix of fans. With potential playoff implications down the line, expect a postseason-type of atmosphere as the new-look Saints try to establish some ground with a head-to-head win over a 2014 playoff participant.

If they can get enough of those with this newly released schedule, New Orleans will be a playoff contender this time around.