The Saints, who teamed with Atlanta, Carolina and Tampa Bay to form the NFC South in 2002, play home-and-home games with each of their divisional rivals (six games), the four teams from another NFC division on a rotating three-year cycle (four games), the four teams from an AFC division on a rotating four-year cycle (four games) and intraconference games based on the prior year's standings (two games against teams in the two NFC divisions the Saints are not scheduled to play that season (two games; 1st place vs. 1st, 2nd vs. 2nd, etc.).

The full NFL schedule (dates & times, national TV games, etc.) is usually announced by the league in mid-April prior to the NFL Draft.

SAINTS FUTURE SCHEDULE ROTATION (Non-NFC South games)

2006 (NFC East, AFC North)

Home: Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, Cincinnati, San Francisco; Road: Dallas, N.Y. Giants, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Green Bay

2007 (NFC West, AFC South)

Home: Arizona, St. Louis, Jacksonville, Tennessee, NFC-E; Road: San Francisco, Seattle, Houston, Indianapolis, NFC-N

2008 (NFC North, AFC West)

Home: Green Bay, Minnesota, Oakland, San Diego, NFC-W; Road: Chicago, Detroit, Denver, Kansas City, NFC-E

2009 (NFC East, AFC East)

Home: Dallas, N.Y. Giants, New England, N.Y. Jets, NFC-N; Road: Philadelphia, Washington, Buffalo, Miami, NFC-W