While we wait for the NFL Draft later this month, the league has given us a taste of what is to come with the release of the 2016 preseason schedule. That means we now know who the New Orleans Saints will face to prepare for their regular season.
If you take a quick look at the New Orleans Saints' schedule, they are facing three quarterbacks who have won the Super Bowl. They also face a quarterback who got a ring sitting behind a future Hall of Fame signal caller that replaced said quarterback right before the playoffs.
Week one of the preseason sees the Saints traveling north to face the New England Patriots (Aug. 11-15). Tom Brady versus Drew Brees, yes please. Two of the best quarterbacks in the league will see a quarter of action at most to start the preseason.
New England is always a great measuring stick for any ball club, and the Patriots always seem to feature players with ties to our state such as cornerback Malcolm Butler. This game should give a sense of the depth of to New Orleans, as New England always seems to have depth.
The Saints stay on the road in week two of the preseason as they travel to Texas to face the Houston Texans (Aug. 18-22). Former Denver Broncos starting quarterback Brock Osweiler, the one benched in favor of Peyton Manning, takes over under center for the Texans.
Defensive lineman J.J. Watt will get after Brees as long as he is on the field, and when he can’t get to the Saints super quarterback, he has a knack of getting his hands up to bat passes down. Houston normally has a strong defense to test the Saints' offense.
Starters for both the Saints and Texans should play a full quarter to a quarter and half in this game. It isn’t unheard of for starters to play the whole first half, either.
Normally, the third preseason game is considered the dress rehearsal for the regular season. Starters play at least a half to some point in the third quarter.
New Orleans gets their first home game of the preseason against the Pittsburgh Steelers (Aug. 25-28). Another Super Bowl winning quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger awaits the Saints defense.
Pittsburgh just about always has a stingy hard-hitting defense that will chase Brees all over the field and harass his receivers. The Steelers also feature several offensive weapons that could be limited due to recovering from injuries and suspensions.
The final preseason game for New Orleans is at home against the Baltimore Ravens (Sept. 1-2). Joe Flacco is the third and final Super Bowl-winning quarterback the Saints will face as they try to slow him down.
Just like the Steelers, Baltimore also features a top-notch defense nearly every year. The Ravens normally boast solid offense each year.
This game will see very little action, if any, from the starters, as both teams will play backups to make determinations on which players to keep and which to cut. This game is more about getting a job or showing well on tape to get signed to the practice squad or another team for players on the bubble.
All four games should provide a good test for any rebuilt Saints defense. If Osweiler is what the Texans paid him to be, their offense should take off this season. Brady, Roethlisberger and Flacco can test any defense on game day.
Here are some other notable preseason games.
Hall of Fame Game: Green Bay v. Indianapolis
Aaron Rodgers goes against Andrew Luck in this game, but 10 years ago, it would have been Brett Favre against Peyton Manning. Let's just hope Rodgers doesn’t see any UFOs.
Week One: Dallas at Los Angeles
The Cowboys are the first opponents for the Rams, who are back in Los Angeles. after stopping in St. Louis for a bit to win a Super Bowl and play in another. Maybe this will be the start of a new “Greatest Show on Turf.”
Week Two: Baltimore at Indianapolis and Philadelphia at Pittsburgh
The players don’t care, but long-time fans remember when the Colts were in Baltimore, not in Indianapolis. Instead of leaving in the middle of the night like the Colts did, teams now hold cities hostage for years and then move to L.A. So much has changed.
One of the best parts of preseason football are in-state teams that face each other like in this battle for Pennsylvania when the Steelers host the Eagles.
Week Three: New York Giants at New York Jets
Both teams share a stadium, but the Giants will be in the guest locker rooms for this game. Both of these teams do not like each other. Nothing like a good old-fashioned New York hatefest to get you ready for the season.
Week Four: Houston at Dallas
It is the battle for Texas, so of course we have to watch because everything is bigger there. Except for preseason football.
After all, it is still preseason football.
What do you like about the Saints preseason schedule? What did you hate about about it? Tell us at @JFPSports on twitter.
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