At this point, schedule release day has become less about the actual schedule and more about how teams present the schedule. It's one of the better recent changes made. We already know who the New Orleans Saints are playing, and we have for months. Attaching the dates to it gives more context, but it's still a finite thing.
Making it a spectacle by focusing on the presentation has created a much more fun experience for fans to look forward to. Instead of just being something that was discussed on that night, schedule releases get talked about for weeks. People still talk about when the Titans asked random people on Broadway to name Titans' opponents simply from the logo.
Opposed to when schedules were announced via a show, each team delivering their own schedule release is a cool competition of creativity. Teams compete against other teams, as well as their own previous videos. With games being leaked throughout the day, schedule release videos also give something to look forward to when it's time to officially release the schedule.
What to know ahead of Saints' schedule release
Saints already who and when they're playing in Paris
There haven’t been many games leaked for the Saints. The first game that was leaked is the Saints facing the Steelers in Paris. The next morning it was confirmed by the Saints. The NFL announced date and times for all the international games. International games tend to be announced early, so it wasn’t a surprise we knew this game before the rest of the schedule.
This isn't the first time the Saints have played internationally, but Mickey Loomis understands this time is different. "This one is really special because of the historical connections between Louisiana and France. Being that Louisiana was originally a French colony, all you have to do is walk through our city and there are constant reminders of that connection," Loomis said.
Saints have more home games than road games... technically
With the shift to 17 games, teams alternate between having an extra home game and an extra road game. This was the Saints' season to have an extra home game. They used that extra game to play in Paris. With the connections the Saints have been fostering for years in France, it will be like a home game. It's not the same as the Superdome, but the Saints should have some sort of advantage. Let's call it 8.5 home games for the Saints this year.
Saints are a bigger draw
It doesn't feel like a large statement to say the Saints have fallen into the exciting young team category. They have a quarterback, some shiny toys and closed out last season on a hot streak. The talk around the team in the offseason is a bit more optimistic than it's been in years. The difference in tone around the team could result in multiple primetime games.
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