New Orleans Saints 2020 NFL schedule: 5 must-win games

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 05: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints and Michael Thomas #13 of the New Orleans Saints take the field during the NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 05, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 05: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints and Michael Thomas #13 of the New Orleans Saints take the field during the NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 05, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 19: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers drops back to pass against the San Francisco 49ers in the second half during the NFC Championship game at Levi’s Stadium on January 19, 2020, in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 19: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers drops back to pass against the San Francisco 49ers in the second half during the NFC Championship game at Levi’s Stadium on January 19, 2020, in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

2. Home: Green Bay Packers

We’ve now hit the portion of the Saints’ schedule that will directly impact New Orleans’ chances of securing home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The new playoff structure rewards only one team with a first-round bye, and getting that bye means having the best record in the conference.

The Saints will need to win their tiebreakers with other NFC powerhouses, and one of the biggest is the Green Bay Packers. Those two teams, along with the San Francisco 49ers, finished in a three-way tie for the best record in the NFC in 2019.

The tiebreakers did not go New Orleans’ way, directly leading to the Saints’ elimination in the first round. The Saints did not have an opportunity to match up with the Packers in 2019, but that won’t be the case this season since Green Bay is slated to come to the Superdome.

The Packers don’t have as much offensive firepower as the Saints, but they do provide a significant challenge on the defensive side of the football. The Green Bay defense can get after the passer and challenge even the best offensive lines, making it imperative that the Saints find a way to protect Drew Brees.

Getting a win over the Packers would be massive for the Saints’ chances of securing that home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. Combining that win with another big one may well ensure that the road to the Super Bowl in the NFC goes through the Superdome.