Saints fans should be excited about the 2020 schedule, but be prepared for changes

These are strange and crazy times living amid the deadly COVID-19 pandemic and they get stranger and crazier by the day.

Case in point:

Imagine for a moment, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees matched up against Tampa Bay’s new dynamic duo of Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski in Week 1 of the 2020 NFL season. I am more than ready for some football or any other sport for that matter, including the Little League World Series.

Imagine, too, three sure-fire first ballot Hall of Famers sharing a national stage inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to kick off the season, AND NO ONE COMES TO SEE THEM!

NFL teams playing in empty stadiums — or virtually empty stadiums — is a distinct possibility this season. As of today it certainly can’t be ruled out.

The NFL released its 2020 schedule Thursday night, devoting three hours of prime-time viewing on its cable network to whet the appetites of football-starved NFL fans everywhere.

And schedule makers wasted no time in feeding the masses, pitting the Saints and Buccaneers in the late afternoon time slot Sept. 13 with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman of Fox on lead vocals. Incidentally, the Saints are way-early 5 point favorites, according to BetOnLine.com. Of the 16 games, they are favored in 14 with two pick-’ems (at Tampa Bay in Week 9, at Philadelphia in Week 14).

Based on recent statements from the NFL, I expected the schedule would feature non-divisional games in September and October and divisional games in November and December as our country continues to grapple with the novel coronavirus.

And in a sense the NFL kept its word with the Saints, leaving their five remaining divisional games to be played over the last 11 weeks of the season after a bye in Week 6 (Oct. 18).

Like all of us, the NFL is hoping for the best (an uninterrupted season and the playing of Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7 in Tampa, Florida) and preparing for the worst (postponements/cancelations).

Rest assured, the NFL will take every precaution to protect players, fans and essential workers and not put anyone in harm’s way in Week 1 and every other week of the season.

That much we know.

“We will be prepared to make adjustments as necessary,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell vowed.

In the end, if we can make it safe, people of all ages, color and means will have confidence to venture out to churches, retail outlets, restaurants, salons, schools, gyms, playgrounds and sports stadiums like the Superdome.

That said, I’m betting the Saints-Bucs season opener will end up being must-see TV on Sept. 13 for a vast majority of Who Dat ticket holders.

If the game is played at all.

This story was originally published May 8, 2020 at 6:31 PM.