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The NFL’s early slate of Week 1 games have just about wrapped up, and the two contests most important to the New Orleans Saints’ interests are decided. The Carolina Panthers lost their home opener to the visiting Las Vegas Raiders despite late-game heroics from former Saints backup Teddy Bridgewater, and the Atlanta Falcons were easily dispatched in their own building by the road-warrior Seattle Seahawks.
So what does that mean, exactly? If the Saints can handle their business against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans will have a critical lead over their competition for the NFC South title. The Buccaneers would trail them by a game, while the Panthers and Falcons would be a game-and-a-half behind (by virtue of a divisional win).
Of course, that also holds true for the Buccaneers. If the Saints have one of their typical slow starts to open the season, they’ll be playing catch-up right out of the gate. That’s not something they can afford, even in a long 16-game season. Kickoff is just minutes away, so tune in on your TV, radio, or streaming device of choice.
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