The devastation of Hurricane Ida has disrupted life in Louisiana to the point where it will takes months, even years for the region to recover.
The New Orleans Saints have announced they will not play any games in the first quarter of the season at the Superdome, which reportedly escaped with minimal damage.
Sean Payton said the Saints are planning to be away from New Orleans for the first quarter of the NFL season and will adjust accordingly.
— Jeff Duncan (@JeffDuncan_) August 31, 2021
Saints’ HC Sean Payton told reporters that the team will be away from New Orleans through September as the city recovers from Hurricane Ida. This means the regular-season week 1 Packers-Saints matchup is not expected to be played in New Orleans, as scheduled.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 31, 2021
The New York Giants are scheduled to play the Saints in the Big Easy on October 3 but that game could be in jeopardy, or even moved to another city.
After Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005, the Giants were scheduled to play the Saints in the Superdome in Week 2 of the regular season, but the game was moved to Giants Stadium due to the extensive damage to the Superdome.
The Saints are scheduled to open the season at home against the Green Bay Packers on September 9. They play their next two games — against Carolina and New England — on the road before the Giants come to town in Week 4.
The most logical city for the Saints to play their opener is Dallas.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said about the chances of the Saints playing the Packers in AT&T Stadium, “It’s certainly possible. We’re having discussions. There are a lot of moving parts.”
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