It’s encouraging to see that the New Orleans Saints won’t have a tough road ahead of them when the 2024 schedule is released. Sharp Football Analysis ranked all 32 NFL teams by their strength of schedule based on the projected win totals set by oddsmakers for each of their opponents.
And it’s looking very favorable for the Saints. Because they play in a weak division and drew a second-place schedule (drawing from the 2023 standings), New Orleans clocks in with the fifth-easiest slate of opponents. But does that matter with Dennis Allen at head coach and Derek Carr at quarterback? The Saints had a very easy schedule last season, too, and they received a ton of breaks with teams playing without star talent or starting quarterbacks. The Minnesota Vikings took a commanding 27-3 lead before Carr exited with an injury midway through the third quarter, and they did it without Kirk Cousins or Justin Jefferson. Allen hasn’t shown us he can consistently take advantage of vulnerable opponents.
Maybe he changes that trend in 2024. Here’s how all 32 teams ranked, from the easiest to the most difficult strength of schedule:
1
Atlanta FalconsBrett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Cowboys, Chiefs, Chargers, Giants, Seahawks, Steelers, Broncos, Raiders, Eagles, Commanders, Vikings
2
Los Angeles ChargersJayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Ravens, Bengals, Saints, Buccaneers, Titans, Falcons, Panthers, Browns, Steelers, Patriots, Cardinals
3
Chicago BearsMatt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Jaguars, Rams, Seahawks, Titans, Panthers, Patriots, Cardinals, Texans, Colts, 49ers, Commanders
4
New York JetsVincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Texans, Colts, Rams, Seahawks, Broncos, Cardinals, Jaguars, 49ers, Titans, Steelers, Vikings
5
New Orleans SaintsStephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Broncos, Raiders, Eagles, Commanders, Rams, Browns, Cowboys, Chiefs, Chargers, Giants, Packers
6
Cincinnati BengalsKatie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Broncos, Raiders, Eagles, Commanders, Patriots, Cowboys, Chiefs, Chargers, Giants, Titans, Panthers
7
Indianapolis ColtsNathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Bills, Bears, Lions, Dolphins, Steelers, Packers, Vikings, Patriots, Jets, Broncos, Giants
8
Miami DolphinsGeoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Cardinals, Jaguars, 49ers, Titans, Raiders, Texans, Colts, Rams, Seahawks, Browns, Packers
9
Philadelphia EaglesEric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Falcons, Panthers, Browns, Steelers, Packers, Jaguars, Ravens, Bengals, Saints, Buccaneers, Rams
10
Carolina PanthersJasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Cowboys, Chiefs, Chargers, Giants, Cardinals, Bengals, Broncos, Raiders, Eagles, Commanders, Bears
11
Tampa Bay BuccaneersKim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Broncos, Raiders, Eagles, Commanders, 49ers, Ravens, Cowboys, Chiefs, Chargers, Giants, Lions
12
Kansas City ChiefsKirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Ravens, Bengals, Saints, Buccaneers, Texans, Falcons, Panthers, Browns, Steelers, Bills, 49ers
13
Washington CommandersJoe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Falcons, Panthers, Browns, Steelers, Bears, Titans, Ravens, Bengals, Saints, Buccaneers, Cardinals
14
Jacksonville JaguarsMorgan Tencza-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Packers, Vikings, Patriots, Jets, Browns, Bills, Bears, Lions, Dolphins, Raiders, Eagles
15
Seattle SeahawksSteven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Bills, Packers, Dolphins, Vikings, Giants, Broncos, Bears, Lions, Patriots, Jets, Falcons
16
Arizona CardinalsCharles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Bears, Lions, Patriots, Jets, Commanders, Chargers, Bills, Packers, Dolphins, Vikings, Panthers
17
Los Angeles RamsKirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Bills, Packers, Dolphins, Vikings, Eagles, Raiders, Bears, Lions, Patriots, Jets, Saints
18
San Francisco 49ersCary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Bears, Lions, Patriots, Jets, Cowboys, Chiefs, Bills, Packers, Dolphins, Vikings, Buccaneers
19
Green Bay PackersDan Powers-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Cardinals, Texans, Colts, 49ers, Saints, Dolphins, Jaguars, Rams, Seahawks, Titans, Eagles
20
New York GiantsVincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Ravens, Bengals, Saints, Buccaneers, Vikings, Colts, Falcons, Panthers, Browns, Steelers, Seahawks
21
Detroit LionsJunfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
Non-divisional opponents: Jaguars, Rams, Seahawks, Titans, Buccaneers, Bills, Cardinals, Texans, Colts, 49ers, Cowboys
22
Dallas CowboysTim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Ravens, Bengals, Saints, Buccaneers, Lions, Texans, Falcons, Panthers, Browns, Steelers, 49ers
23
Buffalo BillsGregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Cardinals, Jaguars, 49ers, Titans, Chiefs, Texans, Colts, Rams, Seahawks, Ravens, Lions
24
Las Vegas RaidersStephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Falcons, Panthers, Browns, Steelers, Jaguars, Ravens, Bengals, Saints, Buccaneers, Dolphins, Rams
25
Denver BroncosIsaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Falcons, Panthers, Browns, Steelers, Colts, Ravens, Bengals, Saints, Buccaneers, Jets, Seahawks
26
Houston TexansTroy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Bills, Bears, Lions, Dolphins, Ravens, Packers, Vikings, Patriots, Jets, Chiefs, Cowboys
27
Tennessee TitansAndrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK
Non-divisional opponents: Packers, Vikings, Patriots, Jets, Bengals, Bills, Bears, Lions, Dolphins, Chargers, Commanders
28
Minnesota VikingsJeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Cardinals, Texans, Colts, 49ers, Falcons, Jets, Jaguars, Rams, Seahawks, Titans, Giants
29
Baltimore RavensGary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Broncos, Raiders, Eagles, Commanders, Bills, Cowboys, Chiefs, Chargers, Giants, Texans, Buccaneers
30
Cleveland BrownsKen Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Cowboys, Chiefs, Chargers, Giants, Dolphins, Broncos, Raiders, Eagles, Commanders, Jaguars, Saints
31
New England PatriotsCharles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Texans, Colts, Rams, Seahawks, Chargers, Cardinals, Jaguars, 49ers, Titans, Bengals, Bears
32
Pittsburgh SteelersKen Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Non-divisional opponents: Cowboys, Chiefs, Chargers, Giants, Jets, Broncos, Raiders, Eagles, Commanders, Colts, Falcons