With the sting of the Saints season ending too soon starting to dull, let's take a look at next season.

Five, count 'em five playoff teams await the Saints in the 2012 NLF Season.  Yikes!  Nah!  It's going to be all good.  The Saints have to tend to some business before they can start thinking about the 2012 schedule, but let's take a look at it assuming nothing bizarre happens in free agency and the draft. 

"It's going to be a tremendous challenge having to go to Green Bay again, having to go play at the Giants, having to go play at the Cowboys," Saints quarterback Drew Brees said of the 2012 slate of games.  In fact, the Saints could possibly open the 2012 season for the third year in a row if the NFL and the networks want the Saints and Giants as the kick off game on the opening Thursday night.

The Saints will have three road games against their NFC south foes: Atlanta, Carolina and Tampa.  Of those three, the Panthers appear to be the team ready to make the leap into contender status.  Atlanta is already there, and Tampa will likely have some growing pains with a new head coach in Gregg Schiano.  Outside of their three divisional road games, the Saints will make two west coast trips to Oakland and Denver. 

The Dates aren't set, but Tim Tebow and the Broncos bounced the Steelers from the postseason this past year.  Tebow mania will sure to be in full swing in the Mile High City.  Denver is always a tough place to play for visiting teams.  Oakland teetered on the brink of the play offs, and cleaned house afterwards.  Former Saints secondary coach Dennis Allen is the man in charge of the "Silver and Black."  New Orleans also has road tilts with the Packers, Giants, and Cowboys. Depending on when the Saints play Green Bay, Lambeau field could be icy and frigid making for a tough outdoor game.  The Giants will be motivated to defend their championship title on their turf.  Not to mention, the G-men have been embarrassed by the Saints in three meetings with Payton and Brees at the helm.  As for the Cowboys?  You could get the good, the bad or the ugly with Dallas.  This one is hard to project.  The Cowboys might just be the most enigmatic team in the NFL. 

Dome sweet Dome!  The Saints were unbeaten at home in 2011.  The Black and Gold finished 8-0 in the regular season and 1-0 in the postseason at home.  The Saints will have a tough task trying to duplicate that mark in 2012.  NFC challengers Philadelphia, Washington, and San Francisco visit the Big Easy next season along with two AFC west opponents in San Diego and Kansas City. 

The Eagles started the 2011 season 4-8 and finished the season on a 4 game winning streak.  Philly won't have the dream team label to deal with and will likely be a formidable team in 2012.  The game against the Redskins could be a homecoming for Peyton Manning, if he's released by the Colts.  Of course the "Who Dat Nation" revels at the chance to have the 49ers in their house after being treated rudely in candlestick in the divisional round loss to San Francisco.  The fans want this one almost as bad as they wanted Chicago in the Dome last season.  Will Jim Harbaugh and company suffer a sophomore slump?  The Saints will also host their three divisional opponents in the Superdome next season.