Fansided

5 toughest NFL schedules in 2016

By John Buhler

November 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn looks on against the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter at Levi
November 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn looks on against the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter at Levi /
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Jan 6, 2016; Metairie, LA, USA; Sean Payton talks to the media after announcing he will remain as the head coach for the New Orleans Saints during a press conference at the New Orleans Saints Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 6, 2016; Metairie, LA, USA; Sean Payton talks to the media after announcing he will remain as the head coach for the New Orleans Saints during a press conference at the New Orleans Saints Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

15. . NFC. South. New Orleans Saints. 4. player

The 2015 Saints went 7-9 and finished in third place in the NFC South. New Orleans will play six games versus the NFC South, four against the AFC West, four against the NFC West, and two against two other third place teams in the NFC from the 2015 NFL season. Those two teams are the New York Giants of the NFC East and the Detroit Lions of the NFC North.

New Orleans’ 2016 opponents combined to go 140-116 for a .547 winning percentage in 2015. That is the fourth toughest 2015 opponents’ winning percentage entering the 2016 NFL season. Even though the Saints have a high-octane offense built around quarterback Drew Brees, head coach Sean Payton will certainly have his work cut out for him entering the 2016 NFL campaign.

New Orleans biggest strength is an innate ability to hold its own in shootouts. Brees seems to get better with age as a pocket passer and can no doubt continue to put up 450 yard, five touchdown performances to keep Saints in games. The problem is that the Saints’ pass defense has been historically bad for the better part of the last five years. That means New Orleans’ only path to victory is to win high scoring games with Brees in shotgun formation.

Very few teams on the Saints’ 2016 NFL schedule are in obvious decline,which will make it hard for the Saints to sniff at .500, let alone attempt to get back into the NFC Playoffs. The Saints performances in the NFC South and against the Giants and Lions will go a long way in determining if they can go 10-6 and earn an NFC Wild Card spot in 2016. However, with that daunting of a schedule, that seems unlikely.

Next: 3. Los Angeles Rams

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