1983: Rogers Runs for 206 Yards as Saints Defeat Cardinals

The New Orleans Saints opened their 17^th NFL season on September 4, 1983, and while they had yet to finish with a winning record, there was hope for continued progress following a 4-5 result in the strike-shortened ’82 season. Heading into their third year with Bum Phillips as head coach, the Saints had assembled promising young talent that included RB George Rogers, LB Rickey Jackson, DE Bruce Clark, and others who were making the club more competitive. Rogers, in particular, had rushed for 1674 yards as a rookie in 1980 after winning the Heisman Trophy at South Carolina, but was coming off of an injury-plagued ’82 season and was looking to bounce back. Another promising player, QB Dave Wilson, had missed all of the previous year due to knee surgery and was viewed as the heir to the starting quarterback job, although 37-year-old Ken Stabler had resurrected his career with New Orleans in ’82 and was still the quarterback of the present.

Opposing the Saints in the opener were the St. Louis Cardinals, coming off of a 5-4 record that had qualified them for the playoffs in the expanded tournament format adopted due to the strike. Starting their fourth year under Head Coach Jim Hanifan, the Cards were also in the midst of a transition at quarterback, with Neil Lomax having taken over the starting duties from 39-year-old Jim Hart. RB Ottis Anderson was highly productive and there were talented targets in WR Roy Green, a converted defensive back, and Pat Tilley, a fine possession receiver.  

There were 65,225 fans in attendance at the Louisiana Superdome. Following a short series by the Saints that ended with a punt (not to mention the loss of Ken Stabler due to injury suffered when hit by DT Elois Grooms while passing), the Cards, starting off with good field position at the New Orleans 47, drove to the game’s first score. Ottis Anderson carried four times for 29 yards and Neil Lomax completed two passes, the second for an 11-yard touchdown to TE Doug Marsh. Neil O’Donoghue added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

New Orleans took possession and George Rogers carried twice for 16 yards before Dave Wilson, the replacement for Stabler, threw to TE Hoby Brenner for nine yards and then to WR Jeff Groth for a 42-yard gain to the St. Louis 35. However, the Saints came up empty when, three plays later, LB Bob Harris intercepted a Wilson pass.

The teams traded punts as the game headed into the second quarter and New Orleans then put together an 88-yard drive in seven plays. The big play along the way was a 36-yard carry by Rogers to the St. Louis 15, and three plays later RB Wayne Wilson ran nine yards up the middle for a TD. Morton Andersen’s extra point tied the score.

The Cards responded by moving the ball well on their next series. Lomax completed three passes, including one to WR Mike Shumann for 33 yards to the New Orleans 19 in a third-and-five situation. A penalty on the Saints advanced the ball inside the ten, but two Lomax passes fell incomplete and O’Donoghue’s field goal attempt from 24 yards sailed wide to the left.

Starting from their own 20, the Saints drove into St. Louis territory once again. Rogers carried three times for 24 yards and FB Hokie Gajan ran for 14 yards, but on a third-down play at the Cards’ 38, Wilson fumbled while being sacked by DE Al “Bubba” Baker and DT Mark Duda recovered. St. Louis made the Saints pay for the turnover, advancing 21 yards in seven plays that resulted in O’Donoghue booting a 47-yard field goal with 48 seconds left on the clock. The Cardinals took a 10-7 lead into halftime.

Lomax was out with a shoulder injury and the veteran Jim Hart was at quarterback when St. Louis started off the third quarter, and he completed his first four passes, most notably one of 26 yards to Pat Tilley. The drive bogged down after reaching the New Orleans 14, however, with Anderson being thrown for a loss on a draw play and Hart tossing two incompletions. The Cards came up empty when O’Donoghue missed on a 38-yard field goal try.

It didn’t take long for the Saints to turn the tables. On their second play, Rogers took a handoff, went through the middle of the line, and then cut to the right, breaking a couple of tackles along the way to a 76-yard touchdown. Andersen added the extra point and, instead of the Cardinals adding to their lead, New Orleans was in front by 14-10.

It got worse for the visitors on the second play after the kickoff when a Hart pass was deflected and intercepted by LB Dennis Winston, who fumbled after returning it 15 yards, but CB Rodney Lewis (who knocked the ball off course in the first place) recovered at the New Orleans five. Three plays later, Rogers scored again, this time from a yard out. Andersen’s PAT put the Saints up by 11 points at 21-10.

The teams exchanged punts before the Cardinals put together a long series that extended into the final period. Just before the end of the third quarter, Hart completed a third-and-19 pass to Roy Green for 20 yards to reach the New Orleans 46. Green picked up another 25 yards on a reverse, but once again the drive bogged down and a field goal attempt went awry, this time due to a bad snap that was batted away and gave the Saints possession at midfield.

The Saints capitalized on their good fortune, moving 50 yards in five plays. Wilson threw deep for WR Kenny Duckett in the end zone, who hauled it in for a 35-yard touchdown. Andersen converted and the Saints enjoyed a comfortable 28-10 lead.

The Cardinals fought back with a nine-play, 72-yard possession. Hart completed five passes, the last for 16 yards and a TD to Tilley, but that was it. There were just over five minutes remaining to play, and the visitors had the ball once more to no effect before succumbing by a final score of 28-17.

The Saints gained the most yards (383 to 340) while St. Louis had the edge in first downs (20 to 15). New Orleans was far more productive on the ground, gaining 272 rushing yards, while the Cardinals produced 225 net yards through the air. The Saints recorded four sacks, to one by St. Louis, although they were also penalized 14 times, at a cost of 101 yards, to 8 flags for 50 yards on the visitors. New Orleans also turned the ball over twice, to one suffered by the Cards, but St. Louis was damaged by failures on field goals, two by missed kicks and one on a bad snap.

George Rogers rushed for a team-record 206 yards on 24 carries that included two for scores. Hokie Gajan added six attempts for 34 yards and Wayne Wilson contributed 32 yards and a TD on his 10 carries. Dave Wilson didn’t go to the air often, completing 7 of 11 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown along with an interception. Jeff Groth, Kenny Duckett, and Hoby Brenner each had two catches apiece, for 50, 44, and 23 yards, respectively, and Duckett scored a TD on one of his. 

For the Cardinals, Neil Lomax was successful on 11 of 16 throws for 111 yards and a touchdown, while giving up no interceptions, before leaving the contest and Jim Hart went 11 of 20 for 141 yards with a TD and an interception in relief. Ottis Anderson ran for 60 yards on 18 carries. Roy Green (pictured above) caught 8 passes for 82 yards and added 25 yards on his one running play. Pat Tilley contributed 65 yards on four receptions that included one for a score.

New Orleans lost the next week but went on to post an 8-8 record and finished third in the NFC West, just missing out on a winning record and playoff spot with a loss to the Rams in the season finale. The Cardinals started out at 1-5 before surging during the second half of the year and ending up with an 8-7-1 tally and third place in the NFC East.

George Rogers injured his knee the following week and missed three games, but was productive the rest of the way as he rushed for 1144 yards on 256 carries (4.5 avg.) and scored five touchdowns. He went over a hundred yards three more times. After being dealt to Washington in 1985, Rogers matched his 206-yard rushing total, also in a contest against the Cardinals.

1986: Dolphins Beat Saints to Overcome 203-Yard Rushing Day by Mayes

The Miami Dolphins were struggling at 6-7 as they faced the New Orleans Saints on December 7, 1986. Head Coach Don Shula’s team, which had been to the playoffs in each of the five preceding years and had come within a game of repeating as AFC Champion in ’85, still had a prolific offense that was directed by fourth-year QB Dan Marino (pictured at right). However, the defense, despite the addition of star rookie LB John Offerdahl, was playing poorly and had twice given up 50 or more points in a game.

New Orleans, under first-year Head Coach Jim Mora, was also at 6-7 after having lost the two preceding games. Rookie RB Rueben Mayes was exceeding expectations and the defense was tough against the run, but QB Dave Wilson, who regained the starting job when newcomer Bobby Hebert (like Coach Mora, a refugee from the USFL) went down with an injury early in the year, was nothing special.

There were 64,761 fans in attendance at the Louisiana Superdome. The Dolphins had the ball first and went 80 yards in 12 plays. Dan Marino connected on all six of his passes and RB Lorenzo Hampton carried five times for 32 yards, including a four-yard sweep around end for a touchdown. Fuad Reveiz added the extra point.

New Orleans responded by also putting together an 80-yard drive, using eight plays.  Dave Wilson started off with a 20-yard completion to WR Mike Jones and had two throws to TE John Tice for 26 yards. Rueben Mayes ran for a 20-yard TD and, adding Morten Andersen’s PAT, the score was tied at 7-7.

RB Craig Ellis returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards to give the Dolphins good starting field position, and they made the most of it. Marino threw to Hampton for 13 yards and, after Hampton ran twice to pick up another ten yards, Marino completed three more passes. The last was to TE Dan Johnson for a 13-yard touchdown and, with Reveiz’s successful conversion, the Dolphins led by 14-7 after a quarter of play.

The Saints punted to start the second quarter and Miami, surviving a scare when an interception of a Marino pass was nullified by a penalty, again put together a scoring drive, going 61 yards in six plays.  Hampton and FB Woody Bennett both had good runs along the way and Marino connected with TE Bruce Hardy for a four-yard touchdown. Reveiz kicked another extra point and the Dolphins were ahead by 21-7.

New Orleans went 66 yards on the next series, the big play being a pass from Wilson to Jones for 45 yards to the Miami 19. The drive finally stalled at the 10, but Andersen narrowed the margin with a 27-yard field goal. Marino connected on short passes on Miami’s next possession, although he overthrew a wide-open WR Mark Duper at one point. Reveiz finished the 14-play, 59-yard series with a 43-yard field goal to make the tally 24-10.

The Saints looked to be moving toward another score as Wilson threw to Jones once again, this time for a 23-yard gain, but a throw up the middle to WR Herbert Harris that was good for 27 yards to the Miami 17 was for naught when the receiver fumbled and CB Mike Smith recovered for the Dolphins at the two. Pinned back deep, Miami went three-and-out, but got the ball back three plays after punting it away when a Wilson pass was picked off by CB Don McNeal.

Starting at the New Orleans 41 with less than a minute remaining in the half, the Dolphins took four plays to score again, this time with Marino throwing to RB Tony Nathan, who went the distance from 23 yards out. Reveiz’s PAT put the visitors in front by 31-10 at the intermission, but while Miami had largely dominated the first half, the momentum would shift in the second half.

The Saints took the second half kickoff and went 80 yards in six plays. Mayes (pictured at left) had two runs that totaled 18 yards to start the series and, after being sacked, Wilson tossed passes to Harris for 11 yards and Tice for 24. Mayes ran the last 34 yards for a touchdown and, with Andersen’s conversion, Miami’s lead was narrowed to 31-17.

The Dolphins punted following a short possession and New Orleans again drove into Miami territory, helped along by Mayes running for 32 yards on the first play and a first down picked up on a fake punt. However, the Saints came up empty when Andersen’s 50-yard field goal attempt was wide to the left.

The Dolphins again had to punt and New Orleans put together a 68-yard series in 12 plays. Mayes had a 22-yard run along the way and Andersen kicked a 29-yard field goal to make it an 11-point game heading into the fourth quarter.

Miami drove to the New Orleans 36, but Hampton was held to no gain by LB Sam Mills on a fourth-and-one carry to give the ball back to the Saints. Wilson connected on passes to Mayes for 14 yards, Tice for 15, and Jones for another 15 yards and Mayes continued to run effectively. The eight-play, 68-yard possession ended with Wilson tossing a three-yard TD pass to Tice in the middle of the end zone and Andersen’s extra point made it a four-point contest with just under seven minutes remaining.

The momentum remained on the home team’s side as the Dolphins went three-and-out and had to punt. Starting at their 34, the Saints again drove into Miami territory. Mayes ran on the first three plays for a total of 24 yards and Wilson threw to WR Eric Martin for 20 yards to the Miami 22. After runs by RB Dalton Hilliard and Mayes netted six yards, Wilson converted a third-and-four situation with a 10-yard completion to Jones that got the ball to the six yard line. Mayes ran for five yards and then had an apparent TD that was nullified by a motion penalty. Two running plays lost yardage and, facing fourth-and-goal from the eight, Wilson threw a pass intended for Harris in the end zone that was too low and fell incomplete. That effectively ended the game, in which the Dolphins held on to win by a score of 31-27.

The Saints significantly outgained Miami (526 yards to 352), with 257 of that total coming on the ground, and also had the edge in first downs (26 to 25). New Orleans suffered the only two turnovers of the game, as well as the only sack and five of the six penalties.

Dan Marino completed 27 of 41 passes for 241 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Lorenzo Hampton (pictured at right) rushed for 88 yards and a TD on 17 carries and caught 7 passes for 64 more yards. Tony Nathan, typically used as a receiver out of the backfield more than a runner from scrimmage at this point in his career, added 6 pass receptions for 57 yards and a score. Mark Clayton contributed the most of any of the wide receivers with four catches for 47 yards.

For the Saints, Rueben Mayes had a big day with 203 yards on 28 rushing attempts that included two touchdowns. Dave Wilson was successful on 19 of 34 throws for 276 yards and a TD with one interception. Mike Jones was the top receiver with 6 catches for 119 yards and John Tice added 5 receptions for 68 yards and a TD.

“I hate to lose the way we did today,” said a disappointed FB Buford Jordan for the Saints. “We came back from a 21-point deficit at the half and we lost the way we did. It hurts.”

The Dolphins had only slender playoff hopes following the win and they were ultimately extinguished as the club finished at 8-8 and in third place in the AFC East. New Orleans ended up with a 7-9 record for fourth place in the NFC West. The sense that the teams were heading in different directions would be confirmed in the next few years – Miami would not return to the postseason until 1990 while the Saints had a franchise-first winning record in ’87 and went to the playoffs.

Dan Marino led the NFL in pass attempts (623), completions (378), yards (4746), and TD passes (44) and was a consensus first-team All-Pro selection for the third straight year as well as Pro Bowl choice for the fourth. Lorenzo Hampton had a productive year as he rushed for 830 yards and 9 touchdowns and caught 61 passes for 446 more yards and another three TDs.

Rueben Mayes was named to the Pro Bowl and also received consensus Rookie of the Year honors after rushing for 1353 yards on 286 carries (4.7 avg.) despite playing with a damaged Achilles tendon that required surgery after the season.