Only time will tell whether the 2020 NFL season kicks off on time and holds its standard 17-week regular season. But even with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic abbreviating teams' in-person offseason programs -- and perhaps, eventually, eliminating them entirely -- the league is preparing to proceed as planned come September, with 256 games on the slate starting Sept. 10.

If/when games begin, few teams are expected to do as well as the New Orleans Saints, who enter the 2020 campaign having strung together two straight 13-3 seasons. The NFC South contenders haven't been nearly as lethal in the playoffs as of late, but that doesn't mean they aren't among the top-billed candidates for a Lombardi Trophy run this year.

In celebration of (hopefully) football on the horizon, here's a way-too-early week-by-week prediction for all 16 of the Saints' regular season games on the schedule, complete with over/under win totals for every opponent courtesy of William Hill Sports Book, as well as Week 1 and Week 2 lines. The Saints' O/U is 10.5:

Week 1 vs. Buccaneers

Line: Saints -4
Opponent win total: O/U 9.5

Prediction: Tom Brady brings some juice to the Superdome, and his weapons are deadly enough to give the Saints' secondary some fits. But New Orleans reaps the benefit of opening at home and offers plenty of its own firepower to kick off the Drew Brees Retirement Tour. Like Week 1 in 2019, when the Texans came to town, this one goes down to the wire before the Saints win 29-26.

Projected record: 1-0

Week 2 at Raiders

Line: Saints -5
Opponent win total: O/U 7.5

Prediction: Derek Carr's shiny new toys are on full display in Las Vegas, with Henry Ruggs all but single-handedly threatening an upset with a bomb of a touchdown just before halftime. The Saints' defense turns it on after the break, however, headlined by a strong showing from Cameron Jordan. Brees proceeds to chew up clock with killer efficiency down the stretch. Saints win 31-21.

Projected record: 2-0

Week 3 vs. Packers

Opponent win total: O/U 9

Prediction: Riding high off a 2-0 start, the Saints keep up the offensive showcase during their return home, but to the surprise of many around the NFL, Matt LaFleur's increased reliance on the ground game pays dividends. Brees hardly touches the ball for long stretches, while Aaron Rodgers operates with enough precision to silence naysayers and ensure the Saints lose 27-24 in OT.

Projected record: 2-1

Week 4 at Lions

Opponent win total: O/U 6.5

Prediction: Sean Payton breathes a deep sigh of relief as he enters Ford Field, knowing full well the NFL couldn't have gifted his team a better layup following a tough Week 3 matchup. Matthew Stafford airs it out a bunch with Kerryon Johnson banged up yet again, but it's not nearly enough. Brees and Co. have a field day on the Motown turf, lighting up Matt Patricia's rebuilt secondary to win 38-23.

Projected record: 3-1

Week 5 vs. Chargers

Opponent win total: O/U 7.5

Prediction: First-rounder Justin Herbert gets the nod for L.A. (with a nudge from the front office) after Tyrod Taylor spends the week as a game-time decision, but it doesn't matter who's under center for the Chargers; Anthony Lynn's squad puts up a decent first-quarter fight in prime time, but Michael Thomas victimizes Chris Harris en route to a big Monday night. Saints win 30-20.

Projected record: 4-1

Week 7 vs. Panthers

Opponent win total: O/U 5.5

Prediction: Teddy Bridgewater gets a standing ovation as he returns to town with the Panthers, then quickly realizes he might've been better suited sticking it out as Brees' backup for one more year. Payton's staff knows exactly how to pressure Bridgewater and keep Matt Rhule's squad out of sync, and Carolina's transitioning "D" proves far too wet behind the ears to keep up. Saints win 41-17.

Projected record: 5-1

Week 8 at Bears

Opponent win total: O/U 8

Prediction: Off to just as good of a start as 2019, the Saints don't take Chicago lightly, putting an extra emphasis on Taysom Hill packages to try to throw off the Bears' pass rush. Still, Chi-Town's front seven proves it can still change a game, limiting New Orleans' play-makers all afternoon. With a system catered to his strengths, meanwhile, Nick Foles finally tops the Saints, who lose 26-22.

Projected record: 5-2

Week 9 at Buccaneers

Opponent win total: O/U 9.5

Prediction: Weathered a bit by their trip to Chicago, the Saints get Tom Brady for the second time in 2020, and this time, Father Time himself has things firing on all cylinders. A late-game sack briefly forces Brees out of the game, so Jameis Winston enters against his former team and, a few plays later, has a bobbled pass picked off. Brady, meanwhile, deals under the lights. Saints lose 31-25.

Projected record: 5-3

Week 10 vs. 49ers

Opponent win total: O/U 10.5

Prediction: Fired up after two straight losses, Payton enters with even more juice thanks to some leftover bitterness from 2019's 48-46 loss to San Francisco. Fortunately for him, he doesn't need to do anything fancy to get the Saints back on track. Unfilled holes in the Niners' interior put Jimmy Garoppolo under fire, and Michael Thomas has his way with Richard Sherman. Saints win 28-21.

Projected record: 6-3

Week 11 vs. Falcons

Opponent win total: O/U 7.5

Prediction: Matt Ryan makes good use of his top targets on the road, hitting Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Todd Gurley all for big plays. Save for Dante Fowler, however, Atlanta's defense struggles mightily. It's a divisional game, so it's close, but the score doesn't tell the whole story; the Saints prove they are still the far superior contender and win 34-26.

Projected record: 7-3

Week 12 at Broncos

Opponent win total: O/U 7.5

Prediction: John Elway watches from his booth and enjoys a mental rabbit trail as Drew Lock ignites Broncos Nation with a nearly flawless performance chucking it to Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton: Had Lock not surprised down the stretch in 2019, Elway may have tried his darnedest to pry Brees from New Orleans and fulfill his latest veteran-QB dream. Saints lose 29-26 in OT.

Projected record: 7-4

Week 13 at Falcons

Opponent win total: O/U 7.5

Prediction: Dan Quinn revenge game? Nope. With Gurley sidelined and neither Hayden Hurst nor Laquon Treadwell stepping up as Ryan's No. 3 target, the Falcons once again struggle to put up a legitimate fight, even with an extra wild card spot still within their most outstretched grasp. The Saints sweep their South rivals as they win 27-16.

Projected record: 8-4

Week 14 at Eagles

Opponent win total: O/U 9.5

Prediction: Alvin Kamara comes close to breaking personal records while feasting on the Eagles' young linebacker corps, but this one's all about the QBs. Brees is just fine playing dink-and-dunk, but Carson Wentz is motivated down the stretch and -- surprise -- Jalen Hurts is just as prominent as Taysom Hill here, scoring on a short run to ensure the Saints lose 34-31.

Projected record: 8-5

Week 15 vs. Chiefs

Opponent win total: O/U 11.5

Prediction: Coming back home helps, but it doesn't help quite enough. Knowing a loss won't kill their chances of securing a Wild Card out of the South, the Saints give it their all but can't keep pace with Patrick Mahomes, whose free-wheeling and play-making is reminiscent of his Super Bowl second half. Emmanuel Sanders puts up big numbers, but the Saints still lose 37-28.

Projected record: 8-6

Week 16 vs. Vikings

Opponent win total: O/U 9

Prediction: Kirk Cousins is ultra-efficient with Dalvin Cook, Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson all on track. And Jeff Gladney is feisty in the slot while matched up with Michael Thomas. None of the Vikings' offense -- or past miracles over the Saints -- can make up for a generally porous defense, however. Brees carves up the rest of Minnesota's young secondary, and the Saints win 32-24.

Projected record: 9-6

Week 17 at Panthers

Opponent win total: O/U 5.5

Prediction: With a fourth straight double-digit win total on the line, the Saints strike gold with a rematch against Carolina. By this point, Rhule's squad has fully bought in on a 2021 push, and Will Grier gets a handful of reps at QB with the Panthers eyeing the offseason. Payton dials up a relatively simple game plan, but it works to a tee, with Latavius Murray leading the way. Saints win 27-14.

Projected record: 10-6