The NFL’s early slate of Week 1 games have just about wrapped up, and the two contests most important to the New Orleans Saints’ interests are decided. The Carolina Panthers lost their home opener to the visiting Las Vegas Raiders despite late-game heroics from former Saints backup Teddy Bridgewater, and the Atlanta Falcons were easily dispatched in their own building by the road-warrior Seattle Seahawks.
So what does that mean, exactly? If the Saints can handle their business against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans will have a critical lead over their competition for the NFC South title.