Saints Schedule: Way too early game-by-game predictions for 2022

Week 2 vs. Buccaneers (Sept. 18 — 12 CST)

If we’re only counting the regular season, New Orleans is 4-0 against the Tom Brady-led Buccaneers and it gives me so much joy. Even if Brady and the Bucs sweep the Saints this year, he’ll still be 2-4 against them as a Buccaneer and that makes me smile.

Anyway, onto the matchup itself, the Saints’ home opener will be against the team most are picking to win the division. If New Orleans wants to prove that they’re a contender to win the NFC South as well, they need to continue that regular-season winning streak against Tampa.

Call me an optimist, but I predict they get it done. They’ve done it many times before with less impressive rosters than what they have now. The Dome will be rocking and the Saints will move to 2-0 with this win.

Prediction: Saints win 27-20 (2-0)

Week 3 @ Panthers (Sept. 25 — 12 CST)

Three weeks, three NFC South opponents, but that’s okay, right? When the Saints faced the Panthers in Week 2 last year, they were hit hard with COVID-19 cases and that showed on the field. When they two met up later in the season, we saw how much better of a team the black and gold were than the Panthers.

If Christian McCaffrey plays in this game, that’s the only reason I’d be somewhat inclined to pick the Panthers. The Saints are the more talented team on paper so I predict that they’ll move to 3-0 with this win.

Prediction: Saints win 21-10 (3-0)