The New Orleans Saints are nearing the home stretch of their 2020 schedule, with just four weeks of games left to play before the playoffs kick off. With two kickoffs on the road and a pair of back-to-back matchups sandwiched in-between, they’ve got a great shot at finishing the year strong. Especially with Drew Brees’ return from injured reserve inching closer each day.

Week 14: Saints 20, Eagles 14

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Jalen Hurts should give the Eagles offense a much-needed spark, but he can only elevate a bad supporting cast and banged-up offensive line so much. Maybe he narrows the gap in garbage time after Taysom Hill takes his foot off the gas in what’s likely to be his final start this season.

Week 15: Saints 27, Chiefs 24

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I keep flipping on this one. The Chiefs have looked very beatable in recent months, and while some analysts write it off as Patrick Mahomes and his teammates being bored with a winning formula, there have to be some real flaws at work in their defense, which Brees will exploit upon his return. But the question here should be whether the Saints defense can come up with enough stops to make it matter.

Week 16: Vikings 24, Saints 23

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The Saints have to play the Vikings and Chiefs in a five-day span, and it’s tough to see New Orleans winning both matchups with tough opponents — especially when Mike Zimmer’s team has always played the Saints tough, going 2-2 since 2017. We’ll write this off as another Vikings upset, this time off a big game from Dalvin Cook against a gassed Saints defense short on rest from their boat race with Mahomes and the Chiefs.

Week 17: Saints 30, Panthers 13

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This one shouldn’t challenge the Saints. Not if they’re really Super Bowl contenders. They should go into Carolina and stomp the Panthers, with or without Christian McCaffrey. And the way the schedule is shaking out (with the Green Bay Packers threatening to steal the No. 1 seed) makes this a likely must-win for the Saints. If the Saints don’t win this one in dominant fashion, they’ll enter the postseason with serious doubts about how far they’ll go.