The NFL released its full schedule on May 12 with each team’s 17-game schedule for the 2022 season. The three-hour show on the NFL Network and two-hour program on ESPN2 provided previews and highlights including key games to watch.
That includes the New Orleans Saints, who finished 9-8 last season and missed the playoffs for the first time in four years.
The Saints have a new head coach for the 2022 season. Dennis Allen takes over after serving as New Orleans defensive coordinator since 2012. The 20-year NFL veteran has coached in the Saints organization for 12 years and has been an NFL head coach for two seasons with the Oakland Raiders in 2012-2014.
With online sports betting in Louisiana now available as of Jan. 2022, Saints fans will be looking forward to a full season of supporting their favorite team in Louisiana.
Here’s a look at the Saints 2022 schedule and key dates and games.
Former LSU starts return to play for Saints
Star running back Alvin Kamara will have healthier skill position players to join him in improving offensive production. A full season with Jameis Winston at quarterback and newly-signed Andy Dalton as backup is expected to help.
But the signing on Friday of Louisiana native, 5-time Pro Bowler and former LSU standout Jarvis Landry to join a healthy Michael Thomas at wide receiver is expected to ignite the Saints’ offense. Landry can slide comfortably into the slot — his position of strength.
New Orleans also drafted WR Chris Olave in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and OT Trevor Penning as their second Round 1 pick.
The Saints’ defense got a boost earlier this week with the signing of former Chiefs strong safety Tyrann Mathieu. Both Landry and Mathieu were free agents who joined the Saints, and former teammates on the 2011 LSU football team that made it to the national title game and finished 13-1.
Saints’ 2022 schedule, opponents and odds
- Home: Rams, Seahawks, Ravens, Bengals, Raiders, Vikings, Falcons, Panthers, Buccaneers
- Away: Cardinals, 49ers, Browns, Steelers, Eagles, Falcons, Panthers, Buccaneers
Early advance betting lines are available and provided courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook.
| Week | Date | Saints Opponent | Line | Week | Date | Saints Opponent | Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun, Sept 11 | at Atlanta | Saints -3.5 | 10 | Sun, Nov 13 | at Pittsburgh | Steelers -1 |
| 2 | Sun, Sept 18 | Tampa Bay | Bucs -4 | 11 | Sun, Nov 20 | LA Rams | Rams -3 |
| 3 | Sun, Sept 25 | at Carolina | Saints -2 | 12 | Sun, Nov 27 | at San Francisco | 49ers -4.5 |
| 4 | Sun, Oct. 2 | vs Minnesota (London) | N/L | 13 | Mon, Dec 5 | at Tampa Bay | Bucs -7 |
| 5 | Sun, Oct 9 | Seattle | Saints -4.5 | 14 | Bye | ||
| 6 | Sun, Oct 16 | Cincinnati | Bengals -1 | 15 | Sun, Dec 18 | Atlanta | Saints -5 |
| 7 | Thurs, Oct 20 | at Arizona | Cardinals -3.5 | 16 | Sat, Dec 24 | at Cleveland | Saints -1.5 |
| 8 | Sun, Oct 30 | Las Vegas | Pick 'em | 17 | Sun, Jan 1 | at Philadelphia | Eagles -3 |
| 9 | Sun, Nov 7 | Baltimore | Pick 'em | 18 | Jan 7 or 8 | Carolina | Saints -3 |
The betting lines will change ahead of each week’s game, and the Saints’ Week 1 betting line has already adjusted. Caesars Sportsbook opened the Saints as a 3-point favorite, and the line is now up to -3.5.
That’s because Caesars has already taken the largest Week 1 bet so far on the Saints with a Louisiana bettor supporting their team with a $5,500 bet to win $5,000 on the Saints. Caesars’ Assistant Director of Trading Adam Pullen said:
“Our trading team comes up with our numbers and we try to find middle ground. That’s how we set the lines. We are really all in the dark, and using what happened last year and forecasting the upcoming season. It is a guessing game. It is always interesting to see how people bet the lines right off the bat.”
The Saints have three prime-time games in Week 7 Thursday at Arizona, Week 9 on Sunday Night Football vs Baltimore, and Week 13 on Monday Night Football at Tampa Bay.
The team will also play overseas in Week 4 against the Vikings in London as part of the league’s international series. The Saints play Christmas eve at Cleveland and New Year’s Day at Philadelphia.
Key division games
The Saints finished 9-8 last season and 4-2 in division games. A pair of division wins over AFC South champion Tampa Bay was a highlight, but a 3-5 record in home games was a low point.
The Saints scored just 21.4 points per game to rank No. 19 in the league – the first time New Orleans has ranked outside the top 10 in league scoring since 2010. The Saints scored just 18 points per game at home to rank No. 29 in the league.
The Saints open the 2022 season with three straight division games. New Orleans has opened as the betting favorite in four division games, and an underdog to Tampa Bay in both match-ups.
The Saints opened as a 7-point underdog in their Monday Night Football match-up at Tampa Bay on Dec. 5.
Saints’ 2023 Super Bowl and division odds
Caesars Sportsbook currently has the Saints 2023 Super Bowl odds at +4000, or 40/1 to win the Lombardi Trophy. The Saints are +1800 to win the NFC, but an underdog to make the playoffs at +160. The odds the Saints will miss the playoffs are -180.
The Saints’ regular-season win total is 8 (-110 over/under). New Orleans is the second favorite to win the division behind the Buccaneers.
Odds to win the NFC South
- Buccaneers (-260)
- Saints (+450)
- Panther (+800)
- Falcons (+1000)
The Louisiana Problem Gamblers Helpline
Betting on sports and the Saints should be fun. But as we recently reported, Louisiana ranks as the 6th-most gambling-addicted state in the country.
If you find yourself struggling to handle your gambling limit or emotions, reach out to the resources below.
Call or text 1 (877) 770-STOP (7867). Louisianans can get FREE residential help at the Center for Recovery (CORE) in Shreveport. 1-318-424-HELP (4357).
