NEW ORLEANS, La. \u2014 (WLOX) \u2014 The New Orleans Saints kick off the season Sunday, September 13, on the road against the Detroit Lions.<\/p>\n
WLOX Sports reporter Matt DeGregorio<\/a> said expectations differ this year from last year as the team enters the season with second-year quarterback Tyler Shough.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThis roster is dialed in. They\u2019re good enough, especially on the defense,\u201d DeGregorio said.<\/p>\n New and returning players<\/p>\n DeGregorio said the Saints\u2019 defense was a top-10 unit in the NFL last season and the team added pieces to it this offseason. Even though the team lost veteran Demario Davis<\/a>, DeGregorio said the rest of the group is largely intact.<\/p>\n \u201cOutside of that loss, it\u2019s really the same group coming back, which should excite a lot of Saints fans,\u201d DeGregorio said.<\/p>\n He said most of the questions come up when talking about the team\u2019s offense. Alvin Kamara has been present but limited by injuries.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s going to miss the first couple of games of the season, most likely,\u201d DeGregorio said.<\/p>\n This season, the Saints brought in running back Travis Etienne<\/a>, who DeGregorio believes will take a bulk of the carries. He also said Kamara is expected to serve as a short-yardage, goal-line option once healthy.<\/p>\n The Saints drafted wide receiver Jordyn Tyson<\/a> in the first round with the No. 8 overall pick.<\/p>\n DeGregorio said he disagreed with the pick when it was made and said Tyson was limited throughout rookie minicamp, OTAs, and the start of training camp. <\/p>\n Tyson then suffered a hamstring injury<\/a> during the team\u2019s joint practice against the Jacksonville Jaguars on August 13.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s going to miss at least a month, maybe two in the season. And that is not a recipe for success when talking about a rookie coming into the fold,\u201d DeGregorio said.<\/p>\n Schedule and division<\/p>\n The schedule for the black and gold<\/a> starts with two road games against the Lions and the Ravens, but DeGregorio said the rest of the slate is manageable, and he believes the NFC South is not a strong division.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are better, I think, on paper than all three other teams in the division,\u201d DeGregorio said. \u201cRight now, looking at the New Orleans Saints, there\u2019s no reason that this team should not be a division winner.\u201d<\/p>\n Predictions<\/p>\n WLOX News anchor Hugh Keeton<\/a> predicted the Saints will finish 9-8, win the NFC South and lose in the first round of the playoffs.<\/p>\n