Saints Draw MVP Von Miller, Tough AFC West in 2016
By Dean Mullen
Without a doubt, the New Orleans Saints will have many challenges this year. One of the biggest that has not been talked about is the AFC opponents this year. Four of the Saints’ first nine opponents will be from the tough AFC West. If you add the Seahawks to the old AFC West, then it would be five. All of these teams have a legitimate chance of making it into the playoffs with the exception of maybe the Chargers
For comparison, the Saints made 31 sacks last season. The AFC West’s leading sack-artists from each team – Khalil Mack (15 sacks), Von Miller (11), Melvin Ingram (10.5), and Justin Houston (7.5) – combined for 44 sacks.
The Saints are a combined 17-25-1 (.407) against the AFC West in their all time history. Taking a look at the standings from 2015 the results look scary; 3 of the 4 teams finished above .500. The Broncos will no doubt be a very different team without Peyton Manning. However, look for the Raiders to compete for the division this year after finishing at 7-9 last season.
The one good thing about this year’s schedule is finally getting the old AFC West foe, the Seachickens, at home in the Superdome. The Who Dat Nation has been waiting for this moment for years to get revenge on the other dirty bird that gives fans the sick feeling of disgust. Surprisingly, that game is not a prime time game. It should be, and qualifies to be flexed into Sunday Night Football if the Saints start out hotter than expected.
The Saints host the Raiders at home opening day, which will be a very tough contest. While I don’t think it’s a must-win game it’s always good to start off 1-0, especially when you open at home.
Another great thing for Saints fans will be the Monday Night Football game against Atlanta on September 26th which be the 10th anniversary of the reopening of the Superdome. I’m confident they will win this game.
There is also surely a bright red circle that is around the Chargers game in Week 4 for Drew Brees. The Saints are much better than the Chargers but nothing is a given there. The 3rd overall pick in this year’s draft, Ohio State’s Joey Bosa, is waiting. Brees will light it up for sure, but will the defense be ready to light up some people as well?
In between the San Diego Chargers and Atlanta Falcons games is a business trip to the East Coast against the New York Giants. Your guess is as good as mine as to what Giants team will show up.
All in all, the first part of the Saints’ schedule looks like tough sledding. If you’ve been around awhile, you know those are games against soft-looking teams like the Giants, Chargers, and Falcons sometimes give the Saints headaches. A 2-2 start would be solid but really the momentum of 3-1 or better is needed with some very tough foes coming after: Carolina, Kansas City, and the Seattle Seahawks the next three up. All three reached the Divisional Round of the playoffs last year.
The Who Dat Nation wants a winner this year. The AFC West will add another level of challenge to the already stiff competition on the calendar this year.