NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints will play three primetime games next season, including one at home against their former coach and another against the defending Super Bowl champs.

The NFL released its full 2024 schedule on Wednesday, and a Thursday night match-up between the Saints and Denver Broncos on Oct. 17 was perhaps the biggest highlight. The Broncos are coached by Sean Payton, who led the Saints to their only Super Bowl championship in 2009 and is the winningest coach in franchise history.

Payton had a 152-89 record with the Saints from 2006-21. He retired at the end of the 2021 season, then returned to the NFL as the Broncos’ coach in 2023. This will be his first game against the Saints.

New Orleans’ other primetime games are both on Monday Night Football. They will play on the road against the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 7, and at Green Bay on Dec. 23.

The season opener is Sept. 8 at noon, in the Superdome against NFC South rival Carolina. The Saints have won their last five season openers after losing five in a row from 2014-18.

After facing Carolina, the Saints will play at Dallas and at home against the Philadelphia Eagles the next two weeks. Following that, they’ll alternate two-game sets of road and home games through their bye week on Nov. 24.

The Saints are at Atlanta and Kansas City on Sept. 29 and Oct. 7, respectively; home against Tampa Bay and Denver on Oct. 13; at the Los Angeles Chargers and Carolina on Oct. 26 and Nov. 3; and back home to host Atlanta and Cleveland Nov. 10 and 17.

Following the bye week on Nov. 24, the Saints will play another home game against the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 1.
Two games against NFC East teams — at the New York Giants and home vs. Washington — are next, followed by the Monday night game at Green Bay two days before Christmas.

The game against Washington will feature the return of former LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels to Louisiana. He was selected No. 2 overall by the Commanders in this year’s NFL draft.

The season wraps up with a home game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Dec. 29, and a Week 18 road match-up at Tampa Bay.

Eight of the Saints’ 17 games will be against teams that finished with a winning percentage of .500 or better in 2023, and seven opponents went to the playoffs.

2024 New Orleans Saints schedule
Sept. 8 – Carolina, Noon (Fox)
Sept. 15 – at Dallas, Noon (Fox)
Sept. 22 – Philadelphia, Noon (Fox)
Sept. 29 – at Atlanta, Noon (Fox)
Oct. 7 – at Kansas City, 7:15 p.m. (ESPN)
Oct. 13 – Tampa Bay, Noon (Fox)
Oct. 17 – Denver, 7:15 p.m. (Prime Video)
Oct. 27 – at Los Angeles Chargers, 3:05 p.m. (Fox)
Nov. 3 – at Carolina, Noon (CBS)
Nov. 10 – Atlanta, Noon (Fox)
Nov. 17 – Cleveland, Noon (Fox)
Nov. 24 – Open date
Dec. 1 – Los Angeles Rams, 3:05 p.m. (Fox)
Dec. 8 – at New York Giants, Noon (Fox)
Dec. 15 – Washington, Noon (Fox)
Dec. 23 – at Green Bay, 7:15 p.m. (ESPN)
Dec. 29 – Las Vegas, Noon (Fox)
Jan. 5 – at Tampa Bay, TBA (TBA)