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Saints’ first four weeks appears challenging

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 20: Head coach Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints reacts after a no-call between Tommylee Lewis #11 of the New Orleans Saints and Nickell Robey-Coleman #23 of the Los Angeles Rams during the fourth quarter in the NFC Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 20, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 20, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

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The NFL wasn’t happy with how the Saints handled the post-NFC Championship Game controversy. The Saints can’t be happy with the NFL’s scheduling of the first quarter of their season.

Strength of schedule never is determined until the end of the season. What happened last year doesn’t matter, so a strength of schedule based on last season is meaningless.

But one look at the Saints’ schedule tells you they face a tough test -- if not a Murderers’ Row -- to start.

They open the season at home against the Texans, but the game is on Monday night. So that leads to a short Week Two, which is a West Coast trip to the Rams for a rematch of the NFC title game.

The Saints then stay on the West Coast for a game at the Seahawks before returning home to face Dallas in a Sunday night game in Week Four.

All of the Saints’ first four opponents made the playoffs last season.