How many primetime games do the Saints have in 2021?

The Saints‘ 2021 schedule was officially revealed and they’re currently slated to participate in five traditional primetime games as well as two late afternoon kickoffs. Fans weren’t sure if the Saints would still get any respect with the retirement of Drew Brees but the NFL is showing they’re still intrigued enough by New Orleans to give them several primetime games.

Here are the Saints’ primetime games for the 2021 season:

• Oct. 25 – at Seattle (Monday Night Football)
• Nov. 25 – vs Buffalo (Thanksgiving night game)
• Dec. 2 – vs Dallas (Thursday Night Football)
• Dec. 19 – at Tampa Bay (Sunday Night Football)
• Dec. 27 – vs Dolphins (Monday Night Football)

The Saints’ first game of the year, which is against the Packers, will be a late afternoon kickoff, as will their Week 8 matchup against the Buccaneers in New Orleans.

The Saints have five primetime games on their 2021 schedule.

One has to wonder if the schedule makers waited until Week 7 to schedule the Saints in primetime just in case they struggled in the post-Brees era. They’re definitely a hard team to peg because they have a new quarterback for the first time in a decade and a half so it makes sense that the league might be hesitant to include them in any early-season matchups.

For the primetime games they do have, these are all games the Saints have a good shot in. The road game to Seattle will be tough, especially if fans are allowed in the stands, but the Saints have held their own against the Seahawks in recent years. The road game to Tampa won’t be a cakewalk either, but the Saints handled the Bucs in both regular-season games last year. That’s the only Sunday night game currently on New Orleans’ roster.

Having three home games under the lights is great for Saints fans, but that Thanksgiving night game against the Bills is the most exciting. New Orleans will play on Turkey Day for the third time in the last four years so they’re no stranger to suiting up and taking the field on Thanksgiving.

The final primetime game of the season comes at home against what should be a feisty Dolphins team. Even though that game will be held in the comforts of the Superdome, the Fins aren’t going to be a cakewalk and will give the Saints all they have, especially so late in the season.

It’s hard to be upset with this slate of primetime games if you’re a Saints fan. The NFL would have had an excuse not to give them many primetime matchups but they not only gave them five but gave them winnable games as well.

Which primetime game are you the most excited about?