NEW ORLEANS — With the National Football League releasing the complete 2024 schedule on Wednesday, CBS Sports published how the strength of schedule rankings break down for all 32 teams heading into the 2024 season.
For the second straight year, the New Orleans Saints find themselves facing one of the NFL's softest schedules – this year tied for the easiest with NFC South rival the Atlanta Falcons.
Opponents for both teams compiled a 131-158 record with a .453 winning percentage.
Last year, the Saints (9-8) trailed only the Falcons (7-10) in ease of schedule.
Despite possessing the second-to-last ranking on strength of schedule in 2023, the Saints only managed a 9-8 record and failed to make the playoffs for a second straight season under second-year head coach Dennis Allen.
Now entering his third year, Allen will once again have a favorable list of opponents that includes NFC South rivals Tampa Bay, Carolina and Atlanta – all of which they play twice. The NFC South ranked as the worst division in the NFL with a combined 27-41 record. The Buccaneers, Panthers and Falcons went 19-33 combined.
Three AFC North teams top the strength of schedule in terms of toughest opponents.
The Cleveland Browns are first with an opponent winning percentage from last season at .547, followed by the Baltimore Ravens (.536) and Pittsburgh Steelers (.533).
The Saints will officially announce their 17-game schedule on Wednesday, May 15.
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