The Saints regular season starts 3 weeks from today, and it already feels like yesterday when Brees came up short on Marino's record and that great offensive comeback faltered to Carolina in the last seconds at the Superdome.  Feels like yesterday when we picked up Greer and Sharper.  Feels like yesterday when we were kind of surprised the Saints didn't trade down in Round 1 to get more picks and instead got the best player available in Malcolm Jenkins.

We're already 2-0 in preseason and still have quite an uphill battle to be the best Saints team in years.  Two "problem areas" of our team are already looking quite solid with the defense so far only giving up 21 points entering Preseason Week 3 and our running game being even more of a surprise.

So with our heads held high and hoping that injuries won't happen (or at least will stay at a minimum), here are the Five Most Important Regular Season Games the Saints will be in for 2009.

#1: Week 2 @Philadelphia Eagles

The First True Test to See How Really Good the '09 Saints are Gonna Be

Sure, I could put the season opener against Detroit on here.  The Lions are hungry for an upset (especially after that 42-7 loss still ringing in the back of their minds) and on paper have kind of a decent roster.  I'm confident we'll win because it's the Dome and we're even hungrier than they are to prove ourselves...

The first real Saints game comes one week later.  On the road.  In front of a violent, rabid Eagles fan base.  And against a good NFC team.  Our problems of recent have been winning on the road, so that's reason #1 to prove ourselves.  Plus, it's probable that every sports writer/analyst will be going with Philly to win this game.  If we hang in there on offense and our defense puts enough pressure on McNabb and co., we could win this one.  And if we do, there's no doubt in my mind that we have finally arrived, and we'll be as dangerous as ever.

#2 Week 6 vs. New York Giants

Grant, Smith (possibly Hartley) All Return to the Dome, Against an Elite NFC Team

After a bye week, realistically I see the Saints standing at 3-1.  Charles Grant and Will Smith return to the starting lineup at the perfect time, against the New York Giants (I noted Hartley as "possible" because who knows who Payton will take as kicker once the roster is locked up.  I like the kid, but then again, "who knows?")  Another game where we will have to prove ourselves against a legion of sports analysts and general football fanatics.  Our defense will stop at nothing to create havoc and mismatches, and the fact that the Giants don't look too great with their WR position may actually benefit our secondary, who by Week 6 could be fiery and unstoppable.  A balanced offensive attack and controlling the clock will be the other 2 keys to win this one, then we can b*tch slap the naysayers and pundits who at that point will probably jump on the Black and Gold bandwagon, months after saying how disappointing we are.  Another game to prove the nonbelievers wrong, against the right team to do it, too.

#3 Week 8 vs. Atlanta Falcons

Battle for the NFC South Crown (Round 1)

So here we are, our first Division matchup.  Honestly, I'm not too sold on Carolina this season.  They've NEVER had back-to-back winning seasons, they have the most brutal schedule in football, Delhomme will choke, one of the Williams/Stewart tandem will be injured by Week 5, and John Fox will more than likely be out of a job come January.  And Tampa?  Please, if they win 4 games this year, it'll be for defensive reasons.

So it's us and the Falcons this year.  I'm not too worried about them.  Because they've become such a good team, other teams will start heavily game-planning against them, and they face us after facing the likes of the Patriots, Bears, and Cowboys, so they will at least be pretty beaten up once they take to the turf at the Dome.  But they are riding high on the Tony Gonzalez acquistion, Matt Ryan's surprise rookie year, and Michael Turner's great '08 season.  This will be a game where man-to-man coverage is crucial, and the run D must stay on their toes.  And since their defense could be a bit shaky at this point, Brees will have to light up the secondary and our RB's will have to grind out the yards.  If we win one game against them this year, it'll definitely be this one.

#4 Week 12 vs. New England Patriots

For the First Time in his Coaching Career, Sean Payton Squares Off Against Bill Belichick

In Prime Time, baby!  At the Dome!  Arguably the most exciting Saints game of '09, this is gonna be the roughest, toughest shoot-out for the ages.  Brady and co. return to the Superdome to face the Saints...only this time it's Sean Payton's Saints.  Against the passing assault of Drew Brees and his fearless ammuntion.  A very crucial game for both teams, by Week 12 they'll be battling for control of their respective divisions.  And if we beat the Pats?  Watch out world, The New Orleans Saints are officially the team that no one wants to face.  After all, we do have a knack for humiliating great teams on Monday Night Football (Vikings game excepted)  By this point in the season, we could be looking at first place at the right time.

#5 Week 14 @Atlanta Falcons

Battle For the NFC South Crown (Round 2)

It'll be real interesting to see the standings by Week 14.  Sure, we have 3 more games to go (2 against division rivals), but it's all gonna come down to this game.  Hopefully by then we'll be a good road team and the Falcons could possibly be so beaten up that we edge them out of this one.  But I did say "Hopefully".  Who knows?  I do know that the Saints will be a lot better (even record-wise) than everyone else thinks they'll be.  Sure, we may lose a game here and there, but this NFC South showdown could be the most important Saints game of the year.  The Falcons will stop at nothing to take the division, and the Saints will just continue rolling hard on both sides of the ball to make sure they take the crown.  The Saints are also gonna be fueled by momentum come December, and I see streak of wins and dominance that could possibly take them deep in the playoffs. Who's gonna win this one?  Time will tell.

Will the Saints, in the 42 years as a team, make their first Super Bowl appearance?  Again, time will tell.  But if so, make this list The 6 Most Important Games for the New Orleans Saints in '09.