2007: McAllister Stars as Saints Edge Eagles in Divisional Playoff Game

The New Orleans Saints, just a year removed from being a team without a home on the way to a miserable 3-13 record, hosted the Philadelphia Eagles in a NFC Divisional Playoff contest on January 13, 2007. The Saints had a new head coach in Sean Payton and were back in the refurbished Louisiana Superdome, which had been badly damaged along with much of the rest of the city during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The offense was the NFL’s most productive, directed by QB Drew Brees. Power-running RB Deuce McAllister (pictured above) had come back from a knee injury in ’05 to form an excellent tandem with flashy first draft choice RB Reggie Bush. The less-known WR Marques Colston, a seventh round draft pick, also proved to be a valuable addition (70 catches, 1038 yards, 8 TDs). The defense had a bend-but-not-break quality and was strongest on the line that was anchored by ends Will Smith and Charles Grant. New Orleans topped the NFC South with a 10-6 record and earned a first-round bye in the playoffs. They had beaten Philadelphia during the regular season.

The Eagles were in the playoffs for the sixth time in Head Coach Andy Reid’s eight-year tenure, having dipped to 6-10 in 2005 after reaching the Super Bowl in ’04. After getting off to a 5-6 start, they managed to win six games in a row to place first in the NFC East, also with a 10-6 tally, despite losing starting QB Donovan McNabb. Veteran backup QB Jeff Garcia performed capably in relief, however, and all-purpose RB Brian Westbrook gained 1916 yards from scrimmage while wide receivers Reggie Brown and Donte’ Stallworth were productive. The aggressive defense was especially strong in the backfield that featured FS Brian Dawkins. Philadelphia defeated the Giants in the Wild Card round to advance to the Divisional level.

There were 70,000 excited fans present at the Louisiana Superdome. The teams exchanged punts to start the game, with Reggie Bush taking a huge hit from Eagles CB Sheldon Brown on the second play from scrimmage that sent him briefly to the sidelines. The second possession for the Saints started off with Deuce McAllister running for a gain of 28 yards from midfield to the Philadelphia 22 and, after reaching the 15, John Carney kicked a 33-yard field goal.

The clubs resumed trading punts until, starting from their own 36 late in the opening period, the Saints again commenced a series with a long run. This time it was Bush reversing field and going around left end for 25 yards, and Drew Brees followed up with a pass to WR Devery Henderson that gained another 35 yards to the Philadelphia four. However, as the game moved into the second quarter, New Orleans lost a net total of a yard in the next three plays and settled for another Carney field goal, this time from 23 yards.

Down 6-0, the Eagles struck back three plays into their next series when Jeff Garcia threw to WR Donte’ Stallworth for a 75-yard touchdown (pictured at left). David Akers kicked the extra point to put the visitors in front by 7-6.

The Saints responded with a long drive of 78 yards in 14 plays. Brees threw to Marques Colston for 14 yards and McAllister ran three straight times for a total of 15 yards. After Bush was tackled by MLB Jeremiah Trotter for a loss of six yards to set up third-and-11, Brees connected with Bush for 14 yards to keep the drive going and then to Colston for another five. Bush lost two yards but then ran for the needed seven yards on third down and another third down at the Philadelphia 28 resulted in a Brees throw to Colston for 19 yards. Two plays later, Bush ran four yards for a TD and, with Carney’s conversion, New Orleans was ahead by 13-7.

The Eagles put together a long possession of their own, covering 80 yards in 11 plays. Garcia completed a pass to WR Reggie Brown (pictured below) for 32 yards to convert a third-and-11 situation and a third-and-six pass to WR Hank Baskett picked up 25 yards to the New Orleans 20. Garcia completed two more passes, to RB Correll Buckhalter for eight yards and TE L.J. Smith for another eight, and Brian Westbrook scored on a one-yard touchdown dive. Akers kicked the point after to put Philadelphia up by 14-13 with 54 seconds remaining in the first half, and that remained the score at halftime when a final-play throw into the end zone by Brees was pulled away from Colston by CB William James.

The Eagles had the first possession in the third quarter and struck quickly when Westbrook broke away for a 62-yard TD on the third play from scrimmage. Akers extended the lead to 21-13 with the PAT. Following a 36-yard kickoff return by WR Michael Lewis, the Saints responded with a seven-play, 63-yard drive. McAllister ran effectively and Brees completed passes to TE Billy Miller for 15 and 29 yards. McAllister ran for a five-yard touchdown and Carney’s extra point put New Orleans just a point behind at 21-20.

On the ensuing kickoff, RB Reno Mahe returned 11 yards and then lateraled to WR Jason Avant for another 28 yards to give the Eagles good starting field position at their 46. Westbrook had a run for 18 yards, but Garcia was unsuccessful on all three of his passes, forcing a punt. Starting from their 16, the Saints advanced methodically. Brees completed passes to McAllister for 10 yards and Miller for 13 and, when Bush fumbled following a 10-yard carry, WR Terrance Copper recovered at the Philadelphia 49. Brees threw to TE John Owens for 21 yards and, after a gain by Bush was negated by a holding penalty, a sack by DE Trent Cole was also nullified due to illegal contact. With a first down at the 34, McAllister ran for a 23-yard gain and that set up a Brees throw to McAllister for an 11-yard TD. Carney converted and New Orleans was back in the lead by a 27-21 score.

Garcia closed out the period with pass completions to Smith for 15 yards and Stallworth for 11 and, after a holding penalty backed the Eagles up to start the fourth quarter, he connected with Brown for a gain of 24 yards to the New Orleans 28. Westbrook carried twice for 24 yards to give Philadelphia second-and-one at the four. But in a pivotal set of plays, Westbrook was stopped for no gain and a pass to FB Thomas Tapeh lost two yards. The Eagles were forced to settle for a 24-yard Akers field goal.

The Saints punted following their next series and Philadelphia went three-and-out and did likewise. On a drive that consisted primarily of McAllister running the ball, New Orleans advanced to the Philadelphia 32, but Bush couldn’t handle a high pitchout from Brees and the loose ball was recovered by DE Darren Howard to give the Eagles possession at their 44 with 3:18 remaining on the clock.

Once again the visitors were unable to move the ball on offense and opted to punt after three plays. They never regained possession as, with all of Philadelphia’s timeouts expended, McAllister ran for five yards on a third-and-one play with 1:37 left. New Orleans won by a final score of 27-24.  

The Saints led in total yards (435 to 355) and first downs (27 to 14), with 208 of their yards coming on the ground. New Orleans also suffered the only turnover and the Eagles recorded three sacks, to one by the Saints. 

Deuce McAllister became the first player in franchise history to run for over a hundred yards in a postseason game as he gained 143 yards on 21 carries. He also caught four passes for 20 yards and scored a touchdown apiece by running and receiving. Drew Brees completed 20 of 32 passes for 243 yards and a TD with no interceptions. Reggie Bush (pictured below) contributed 52 yards on 12 rushing attempts that included a score and gained another 22 yards on three catches. Marques Colston had 5 pass receptions for 55 yards and Billy Miller accumulated 64 yards on his four catches.

For the Eagles, Jeff Garcia was successful on 15 of 30 throws for 240 yards and a touchdown while giving up no interceptions. Brian Westbrook rushed for 116 yards on 13 attempts that included two TDs. Donte’ Stallworth gained 100 yards on three catches that included the one long touchdown and Reggie Brown had 76 yards on his three receptions. On defense, DT Darwin Walker recorded two of the team’s sacks.

“Deuce was fantastic tonight and they weren’t going to stop him,” said Coach Sean Payton of McAllister’s performance. “He ran his heart out.”

New Orleans reached the NFC Championship game for the first time ever, but lost to the Chicago Bears by a 39-14 score. With heightened expectations, the Saints dropped to 7-9 in 2007 and didn’t reach the playoffs again until 2009, although with better results. The Eagles dropped to 8-8 in ‘07 but returned to the playoffs in 2008, advancing to the NFC Championship game. 

2010: Browns Intercept Brees Four Times on Way to Upset of Saints

The game between the New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns on October 24, 2010 looked to be a classic mismatch. The Saints, playing at home, were the defending NFL Champions and, while not as dominating as in ’09, were still 4-2. Head Coach Sean Payton’s team again had a high-powered offense that was led by outstanding QB Drew Brees throwing to a fine group of receivers, although injuries were affecting the running game.

Meanwhile, the visiting Browns, coached by Eric Mangini, were 1-5 and starting a rookie, Colt McCoy, at quarterback. Hard-running Peyton Hillis was a capable running back, but there was little else going for Cleveland. They had added LB Scott Fujita in the offseason, who had been a key defensive player with the Saints, and he would prove helpful in facing his former team’s offense.

There were over 70,000 fans filling the Louisiana Superdome. The Saints had the first possession and punted, which provided plenty of excitement when WR Josh Cribbs returned the kick seven yards and then lateraled to DB Eric Wright, who went another 62 yards to the New Orleans 19. Six plays later, Phil Dawson kicked a 23-yard field goal to give the Browns the early lead.

New Orleans was held to a three-and-out possession and punted, with Cribbs returning it 17 yards to his own 44. Two carries by Peyton Hillis yielded 14 yards and a pass interference call on the Saints added 38 more. Hillis ran for a four-yard touchdown and, with Dawson’s extra point, the visitors were ahead by 10-0.

The Saints followed up with a long and methodical drive that featured Drew Brees completing short passes and RB Chris Ivory picking up yardage on the ground. However, an apparent Brees scoring throw to WR Lance Moore was nullified by a penalty and, two plays into the second quarter, the ex-Saint Scott Fujita intercepted a Brees pass at his own three yard line and returned it 16 yards.

The teams traded punts, with neither offense able to move, until New Orleans put together a 10-play scoring drive. Brees completed three passes and Garrett Hartley finally got the home team on the board with a 32-yard field goal.

The Browns responded by going 75 yards in eight plays, although the biggest was a fake punt by Reggie Hodges that he turned into a 68-yard run to the New Orleans nine (pictured below; the longest carry by a NFL punter in  forty years). Cleveland was unable to reach the end zone from there but came away with more points on a 21-yard Dawson field goal to extend the lead to 13-3.

On the second play of the following series, Cleveland’s margin got larger when a Brees pass was picked off by LB David Bowens (pictured at top), who returned it 30 yards for a TD. Dawson added the PAT and the Browns had an improbable 20-3 lead with less than two minutes remaining in the first half. For emphasis, CB Sheldon Brown intercepted another Brees pass before the teams headed for the locker rooms, with the home crowd booing the defending champs as they left the field.

The clubs traded punts through a scoreless third quarter, although the game was delayed for ten minutes after one in which a sideline chain holder was injured when the punt return went out of bounds. Heading into the fourth quarter, the Saints scored when Brees connected with TE David Thomas for an 11-yard touchdown. Adding the extra point, Cleveland’s lead was cut to 20-10 with plenty of time remaining.

The Browns put together a long series of 13 plays that covered 61 yards and burned up 7:34 off the clock. They converted two third downs while keeping the ball on the ground as Hillis carried eight times and even completed an option pass to Colt McCoy for 13 yards. Dawson capped the drive with a 48-yard field goal for a 13-point lead.

Brees came out throwing on the next possession, with passes to RB Ladell Betts for 16 yards and TE Jeremy Shockey for 19. But after reaching the Cleveland 34, a short pass intended for Betts was intercepted by Bowens, who scored for a second time with a 64-yard return. It was the key play of the game and effectively finished off the Saints. While New Orleans scored another touchdown on an eight-yard pass from Brees to Colston, it came with less than two minutes to play. The Browns won in a stunning 30-17 upset.

The Saints easily outgained Cleveland (394 yards to 210) and had far more first downs (25 to 12). However, New Orleans also had the four big turnovers, two of which directly led to scores, while the Browns didn’t turn the ball over at all, and big plays on special teams helped the visitors as well.

Colt McCoy (pictured at left) completed just 9 of 16 passes for 74 yards, but while he didn’t throw for any touchdowns, he also didn’t give up any interceptions. Peyton Hillis ran for 69 yards on 16 carries that included a TD and also completed a pass for 13 yards, while Reggie Hodges had the one 68-yard carry out of punt formation. WR Brian Robiskie was Cleveland’s top receiver with three catches for 25 yards.

For the Saints, Drew Brees went to the air 56 times and completed 37 for 356 yards and two TDs, but also had the four interceptions. Marques Colston had 10 pass receptions for 112 yards and a score and Ladell Betts contributed 8 catches for 48 yards out of the backfield. Chris Ivory led the ground game with 48 yards on 15 attempts.

“They say I’m the oldest guy to score two touchdowns since Larry Csonka,” joked 33-year-old David Bowens, who had the two big scoring returns of interceptions. In 11 previous seasons, he had scored one TD that came on a blocked punt.

The Browns pulled off an upset of the Patriots following their bye week but returned to earth with just two more wins in their last eight games to end up third in the AFC North at 5-11. New Orleans recovered to win six consecutive games and placed second in the NFC South with an 11-5 record. Qualifying for a Wild Card berth in the playoffs, they were upset by the Seattle Seahawks – who had won the weak NFC West with a mediocre 7-9 tally – in the first postseason round.

The win was Colt McCoy’s first as a starting pro quarterback. In eight games, he completed 60.8 percent of his passes for 1576 yards and six touchdowns with nine intercepted. Peyton Hillis rushed for 1177 yards on 270 carries (4.4 avg.) and caught 61 passes for 477 more yards, leading the club with 13 total touchdowns. Neither would prove to be a long-term solution for the Browns, however.

Drew Brees, who threw 11 interceptions in all of 2009, was up to 10 in seven games after the loss to the Browns and went on to toss 22 for the year, which ranked second in the NFL. However, he also led league in completion percentage (66.3) and the NFC with 33 touchdown passes and 4620 passing yards and was selected to the Pro Bowl for the third straight year (and fifth time overall).

-------

(NOTE TO READERS: Today’s post marks the fourth anniversary of the launch of Today in Pro Football History. For regular readers, thank you, I hope you have enjoyed it and will continue to do so. For newcomers, I encourage you to take a look at the archived material. Feedback and suggestions are always welcome – there is an email link on my profile page.)

2010: Saints Defeat Vikings in Overtime for First NFC Title

The NFC Championship game on January 24, 2010 featured the New Orleans Saints, who had never been to a Super Bowl in their history dating back to 1967, against the Minnesota Vikings, who had been to four, but none since 1976.

The Saints, in their fourth season under Head Coach Sean Payton, featured an exciting and high-scoring offense. QB Drew Brees (pictured at right) compensated for his relatively short stature (6’0”) with outstanding passing accuracy and a quick release. The receiving corps was talented and led by WR Marques Colston (70 catches, 1074 yards). The running backs were more nondescript, but RB Pierre Thomas had emerged as the best of the group. Defense had been the team’s downfall in prior years, but under first-year defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, the platoon had become more aggressive and opportunistic. MLB Jonathan Vilma went to the Pro Bowl, as did the tandem of SS Roman Harper and 34-year-old FS Darren Sharper, who intercepted 9 passes. New Orleans won its first 13 games before losing its last three, but pulverized the Cardinals by a score of 45-14 in the Divisional playoff round.

The key player for Minnesota was 40-year-old QB Brett Favre. After 16 years with division-rival Green Bay and a season with the Jets, Favre ended the annual speculation regarding his retirement to sign with the Vikings in the preseason. Proving the critics wrong who believed he could no longer hold up to the rigors of a full season, he passed for 4202 yards and 33 touchdowns, with only seven interceptions. He was helped by the arrival of rookie WR Percy Harvin (60 catches, 790 yards) and the improved play of WR Sidney Rice (83 catches, 1312 yards), who both were selected to the Pro Bowl. RB Adrian Peterson rushed for 1383 yards and 18 touchdowns. The defense led the NFL in sacks, spearheaded by DE Jared Allen, and was second best against the run.

There was a record crowd for a Saints game of 71,276 at the Louisiana Superdome. It was the Vikings scoring first, however, on the initial series of the game as they drove 80 yards in 10 plays. Favre completed six passes for 47 of those yards and Peterson closed out the drive with a 19-yard touchdown run. New Orleans came right back on its first possession, however, going 76 yards in seven plays that ended with Brees throwing a short pass to Pierre Thomas out of the backfield that covered 38 yards for a TD.

It seemed certain to be a shootout when Minnesota responded with another scoring drive. Penalties helped the Vikings along, with a defensive holding call converting a third down and, after a 15-yard gain on a Favre pass to WR Bernard Berrian that took the ball into New Orleans territory, a 15-yard unnecessary roughness call following a short running play moved them to the 31. Favre threw to Harvin for 20 yards on a third-and-seven play and, on another third-down pass, he connected with Rice for a five-yard TD. The score was 14-7 after one quarter of action.

The pace slowed as the teams traded punts, but then on a third-and 10 play from his own 36 yard line, Brees passed to RB Reggie Bush for a 28-yard gain. Two runs by Pierre Thomas, surrounding an 11-yard pass completion to TE Dave Thomas, set up a nine-yard scoring pass to WR Devery Henderson. With the successful extra point, the game was again tied at 14-14.

The contest again settled down to the teams trading punts until late in the second quarter. The Vikings got a break when Bush muffed a punt deep in his own territory and LB Kenny Onatolu recovered for Minnesota at the ten yard line. Peterson ran for six yards, but then a handoff exchange from Favre to Peterson was fumbled and LB Scott Fujita grabbed it to end the threat. The score remained tied at the half.

New Orleans got off to a fast start in the third quarter when WR Courtney Roby returned the second half kickoff 61 yards to the Minnesota 37. Brees tossed a pass to Dave Thomas that gained 17 yards and three plays later Pierre Thomas put the Saints in front with a nine-yard touchdown run.

The Vikings came back with a nine-play, 80-yard series. The big plays were three Favre passes to TE Visanthe Shiancoe (pictured at right) that totaled 67 yards. Peterson carried for the last yard and, with the successful PAT, it again was a tie game at 21-21.

Following a punt by the Saints, Minnesota was backed up to its 10 yard line but put together another promising drive. Running effectively and getting 15 yards on a roughing-the-passer penalty on a third-and-four play, the Vikings advanced to the New Orleans 34. But in a second-and-eight situation, Favre was intercepted by Jonathan Vilma. Not only did the Saints get a takeaway, but the veteran quarterback suffered a leg injury (he returned to the contest).

New Orleans again had to punt on the final play of the period. Two plays into the fourth quarter, Harvin fumbled and NT Remi Ayodele recovered for the Saints at the Minnesota 12. Brees threw to Bush for a five-yard TD (thanks to a successful challenge by Payton, as the running back was originally ruled down at the one) and the home team was once more in front at 28-21.

Again the Vikings mounted a threat as Peterson ran for a 27-yard gain to midfield and, in a third-and-10 situation, Favre connected with Berrian for 30 yards to the New Orleans 20. But two plays later, another turnover undid a promising drive as Berrian fumbled when hit by CB Tracy Porter after catching a pass and Vilma recovered at the five.

The Saints went three-and-out on their next possession. Taking over at their 43 following the punt, the Vikings put together a seven-play scoring drive highlighted by Favre passing to Shiancoe for 16 yards on a third-and-six play and Peterson rushing for an 18-yard gain. It was Peterson finishing the series with a two-yard carry for a touchdown and Ryan Longwell again tied the score at 28-28 with the extra point.

New Orleans had another short series and punted. With 2:37 left in regulation, the Vikings again mounted a drive. On a third-and-eight play, Favre passed to Berrian for 10 yards and followed up with a throw to Rice for 20 that took the ball into Saints territory. RB Chester Taylor carried for a 14-yard gain, but the New Orleans defense stiffened and stopped two running plays before the Vikings were penalized for having too many players in the huddle. Facing a third-and-15 situation at the New Orleans 38, Favre, rolling to his right, threw an ill-advised pass that was intended for Rice but instead was intercepted by Porter. The game remained tied after four quarters and went into overtime.


The Saints won the toss and started off at their 39 after Pierre Thomas returned the kickoff 40 yards. A defensive holding penalty on a third-and-six play kept the series going and a nine-yard Brees completion to Henderson set up a fourth-and-one situation at the Minnesota 43. Taking the chance and going for it, Thomas dove ahead for two yards and New Orleans continued the advance to the Minnesota 22. From there, first-year PK Garrett Hartley (pictured at left) booted a 40-yard field goal and at 4:45 into overtime the Saints were winners by a score of 31-28 and on their way to the first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.

The Vikings dominated statistically, outgaining New Orleans (475 yards to 257) and leading in first downs (31 to 15). However, they also fumbled six times, losing three of them, and turned the ball over a total of five times – it proved to be their undoing. The Saints turned the ball over once.

Drew Brees completed 17 of 31 passes for 197 yards and three touchdowns with none intercepted. Devery Henderson led the New Orleans receivers with 4 catches for 39 yards and one TD. Pierre Thomas gained 38 yards on his two receptions that included a TD and rushed for 61 yards on 14 carries with another score.

For Minnesota, Brett Favre went to the air 46 times and completed 28 for 310 yards and a touchdown, but with the two big interceptions. Adrian Peterson (pictured below) ran the ball 25 times for 122 yards and three TDs. Bernard Berrian caught 9 passes for 102 yards and Visanthe Shiancoe contributed 4 receptions for 83 yards.


“I've felt better,” said a disappointed Favre afterward. “It was a physical game - a lot of hits. You win that and you sure feel a lot better.”

“It was as loud as I have ever heard it in the dome,” Drew Brees said. “It feels so good to know we have given our fans an NFC championship. We have another championship to go after in two weeks.”

Facing the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl (the first time the top-seeded teams in each conference faced each other for the title since 1993), the Saints finished off their climb to the top with a 31-17 win. They returned to the postseason in 2010 with a lesser record (11-5) and as a wild card, although still offensively potent, and were upset in the first round by the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks.

Brett Favre (pictured below) returned for a twentieth season that proved to be disastrous – not just for him, but the team. His streak of playing in 299 straight games finally ended amid a rash of injuries, and it appeared that age had finally caught up to him. Beyond Favre, the offensive line and defense showed signs of decline and the Vikings sank to 6-10. By the end, Coach Brad Childress was already gone and Favre retired for good.

2006: Parker Runs for 213 Yards as Steelers Beat Brees & Saints

The Week 10 matchup on November 12, 2006 at Heinz Field featured two teams whose fortunes were moving in opposite directions from the prior season. The Pittsburgh Steelers, coached by Bill Cowher, were the defending league champions, but had thus far compiled a less-than-august 2-6 record. QB Ben Roethlisberger, who played so well in his first two years, suffered both an offseason motorcycle accident and appendectomy and was now more tentative and mistake-prone. The offensive line was having difficulty with both run blocking and pass protection, but the defense was still sound. Fundamentally, the Steelers still had the key players in place from the Super Bowl-winning club of 2005, but had yet to play up to their potential in ‘06.

The New Orleans Saints had suffered through a dismal 2005. Following the devastation of the Crescent City by Hurricane Katrina just prior to the start of the season, rendering the Louisiana Superdome in need of significant repair, the Saints were forced to play the entire schedule on the road. The result was a 3-13 disaster. In the offseason, they gained a new head coach in Sean Payton and a new quarterback in free agent Drew Brees, previously of the Chargers. A rejuvenated franchise back in its refurbished home stadium, New Orleans won the first three games of the ’06 season to equal its total of the year before and was 6-2 and the talk of the NFL coming into Pittsburgh.

The Steelers struck first, having been galvanized by an emotional team meeting prior to the game in which several veterans spoke up. Following a 40-yard opening kickoff return by RB Najeh Davenport, they took six plays to reach the end zone as Roethlisberger connected with WR Hines Ward for a 37-yard touchdown. Two plays into the following possession, Brees completed a pass to TE Billy Miller, who fumbled when hit by LB James Farrior. DE Brett Keisel recovered for the Steelers, giving them possession at the New Orleans 29.

Pittsburgh made the most of the opportunity. With RB Willie Parker (pictured above) running and Roethlisberger completing a pair of short passes, the Steelers advanced to the two yard line, and from there the quarterback known as “Big Ben” threw to TE Heath Miller for a TD and 14-0 lead.

The Saints came back with a long drive that covered 52 yards in 12 plays, following a 43-yard kickoff return by WR Michael Lewis. New Orleans converted four third downs along the way, including one on a 22-yard pass play from Brees to WR Terrance Copper in a third-and-11 situation, and another pass to Copper for a three-yard touchdown on a third-and-goal play. The score was 14-7 after one quarter.

Following a Pittsburgh punt, the Saints put together another 12-play scoring drive, this one covering 78 yards. Brees completed a 27-yard pass to WR Marques Colston along the way, and the same combination came together to convert a fourth-and-two situation at the Steelers’ 26 with a 10-yard gain. John Carney booted a 20-yard field goal to finish off the possession and Pittsburgh’s lead was cut to 14-10.

After another short possession by the Steelers, the Saints drove 71 yards in eight plays. Brees passed to Colston for a 28-yard gain on a third-and-ten play that moved the ball to the Pittsburgh 32. A 15-yard roughing-the-passer penalty set up a 15-yard touchdown run by RB Reggie Bush, after taking a handoff from Colston on a double reverse.

It was now 17-14 in favor of New Orleans with 2:22 on the clock in the first half. Passing out of the shotgun formation, Roethlisberger completed three passes, including one to WR Santonio Holmes that gained 46 yards to the Saints’ 13. Jeff Reed kicked a 32-yard field goal and the score was tied at 17-17.

There was still time remaining, and now it was Brees firing out of the shotgun formation with two completions for 33 yards to get into Pittsburgh territory at the 39. A long pass to Colston gained 29 yards, and RB Deuce McAllister ran for a four-yard TD on a broken play that put the Saints back ahead at 24-17 at halftime.

New Orleans had the first possession of the second half and punted, giving the Steelers the ball at their own nine yard line. They put together a good drive, with Parker running three times for 26 yards and catching two passes. Roethlisberger completed a pass down the middle to WR Nate Washington that gained 22 yards on a third-and-ten play and had another 22-yard throw to Miller. However, after the drive stalled at the New Orleans 18, Reed was wide on a 35-yard field goal attempt.

The Steelers got the ball back quickly. On the Saints’ second play, Bush fumbled and FS Ryan Clark recovered for Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger wasted no time as he immediately went to the air and tossed a 38-yard touchdown pass to WR Cedrick Wilson. With the extra point, the game was once again tied at 24-24.

Brees came out throwing when the Saints regained possession. After McAllister ran for three yards, the quarterback threw to Bush for 13 yards and then to Copper for 32. But after advancing to the Pittsburgh 14, Carney missed from 32 yards out on a field goal attempt and the score remained knotted.

Roethlisberger was sacked on Pittsburgh’s next play, but the Steelers got all that back and much more when Parker burst through the line for a 72-yard gain to the New Orleans 14. Parker started the fourth quarter off with a three-yard touchdown run, and Pittsburgh was back in front by 31-24.

The Saints again made it into Steelers territory on their next possession, but punted into the end zone after reaching the 39. On Pittsburgh’s second play, it was Parker making another big run as he carried the ball around right end, this time for a 76-yard gain to the New Orleans four. The third-year running back ran it in for a TD from there on the next play, and it was a 38-24 game.

With almost ten minutes to play, the Saints were far from done. Brees threw to RB Aaron Stecker for 48 yards and followed up by connecting with Colston for 13 more to the Pittsburgh eight yard line. McAllister ran for another four-yard touchdown and it was again a one-touchdown game.

The Steelers crossed midfield and had to punt on their next possession. Starting at their 19, the Saints moved methodically down the field as Brees completed short passes. They converted two third downs, but Copper fumbled the ball away after gaining 20 yards to the Pittsburgh 25 in a third-and-ten situation with under a minute remaining on the clock, and the Steelers held on for a 38-31 win.

Pittsburgh was weakened in the defensive backfield during the course of the game due to concussions suffered by star SS Troy Polamalu and CB Deshea Townsend and the Saints had more total yards (513 to 467) and first downs (29 to 19). However, New Orleans suffered three costly turnovers, to none by the Steelers.

Willie Parker was the star of the game as he rushed for 213 yards on 22 carries that included the two touchdowns set up by his long runs. Ben Roethlisberger completed 17 of 28 passes for 264 yards with three TDs and none intercepted. Hines Ward was the leading receiver with 5 catches for 86 yards and a score.


Drew Brees had another productive passing game as he went to the air 47 times and completed 31 for 398 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. Marques Colston (pictured at right) caught 10 passes for 169 yards and Terrance Copper added 92 yards on his 6 receptions that included a TD. Deuce McAllister led the running game with 49 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown and Reggie Bush contributed 10 attempts for 49 yards and a TD on the ground and 7 catches for 40 yards as a receiver out of the backfield.

“We had three turnovers, and that can't happen,” Drew Brees said in summing up afterward. “The defense gave up a couple of big plays. That can't happen. Special teams gave them good field position. That can't happen. If eliminate one of those, we should have been able to fight back.”

It was a big win for the Steelers and turned around their season – they won five of their last seven games, and while it was too much ground to make up to have a shot at making the playoffs and defending their title, they finished at a respectable 8-8 for third place in the AFC North. New Orleans lost again the next week to the Bengals but went on to win the NFC South with a 10-6 record and advanced to the NFC Championship game before succumbing to the Bears.

Willie Parker gained a career-high 1494 yards rushing on 337 carries with 13 touchdowns. He also scored three times as part of his 31 pass receptions and his 16 TDs overall tied for third in the NFL. Parker was named to the Pro Bowl.

Ben Roethlisberger led the league by throwing 23 interceptions and was also sacked 46 times. Still, he ranked seventh in the NFL by throwing for 3513 yards and averaging 7.5 yards per attempt and fourth with 12.5 yards per completion. Drew Brees (pictured below) had a big year, leading the league in passing yards (4418) and ranking third with 26 touchdown passes, a passer rating of 96.2, and 8.0 yards per attempt.

2010: Saints Finally Reach the Top, Defeat Colts in Super Bowl XLIV

The New Orleans Saints had endured a long road to respectability after joining the NFL as an expansion team in 1967. They didn’t have so much as a .500 season until 1979 and didn’t post a winning record or appear in the playoffs until 1987. The Saints spent a year on the road in 2005 after heavy damage from Hurricane Katrina forced them to abandon their home stadium while it underwent repair and raised questions as to the franchise’s future in New Orleans. But they bounced back in ’06 to advance to the NFC Championship game, losing to the Bears. After dipping to 8-8 in 2008, they rebounded strongly in ’09 and, on February 7, 2010, reached the highest point of all as they met the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.

The Saints, in their fourth season under Head Coach Sean Payton, featured an explosive offense led by QB Drew Brees (pictured above), who led the NFL with a 109.6 passer rating, a record 70.6 completion percentage, and 34 touchdown passes while throwing for 4388 yards and giving up only 12 interceptions. The receiving corps was a very talented one, led by 6’4”, 225-pound WR Marques Colston and including deep threats Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson. The running game consisted of a committee of backs led by RB Pierre Thomas. The defense, long a problem area, responded to the leadership of defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and featured DE Will Smith, MLB Jonathan Vilma, CB Tracy Porter, and FS Darren Sharper.

New Orleans won its first 13 games of the 2009 regular season before finally succumbing to the Cowboys and ended up losing the last three contests to finish at 13-3. Having won the NFC South, if on something of a down note, the Saints crushed Arizona in the Divisional playoff and then got past the Vikings in overtime to win the NFC Championship.

Indianapolis, led by first-year Head Coach Jim Caldwell, was in the postseason for the eighth straight year and had won the Super Bowl following the 2006 season. As had been the case throughout, the key player was QB Peyton Manning, who threw for 4500 yards and 33 touchdowns, and was selected to the Pro Bowl for the tenth time. WR Reggie Wayne and TE Dallas Clark both caught 100 passes and were Pro Bowl choices as well. RB Joseph Addai led a decent, if not spectacular, group of runners. The aggressive defense contained ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, MLB Gary Brackett, and FS Antoine Bethea.

Like the Saints, the Colts started off strong with 14 wins in ’09 before losing the last two to top the AFC South at 14-2. They defeated the Ravens in the Divisional round and outdistanced the spirited New York Jets in the AFC Championship game.

There was a crowd of 74,059 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami as New Orleans received the opening kickoff but went three-and-out in the first series. The Colts came out fast, utilizing a no-huddle offense through much of their initial drive. Manning started off with an 18-yard completion to Clark and was successful on a total of six short passes as Indianapolis went 53 yards in 11 plays, ending with a 38-yard field goal by Matt Stover to take the early lead.

The Saints got to midfield on their next possession and Thomas Morstead’s punt seemingly pinned the Colts down at their four yard line. But once again Indianapolis put together a solid drive, going 96 yards in 11 plays to score. In addition to Manning’s passes, Addai ran effectively, with 53 yards on just three carries. WR Pierre Garcon hauled in a Manning pass for a 19-yard touchdown and the Colts led by 10-0 after one quarter of play.

New Orleans drove into Indianapolis territory, helped by a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty, but after reaching the 22 yard line, Brees was sacked by Freeney for a seven-yard loss on a third-and-three play. The Saints settled for a 46-yard field goal by Garrett Hartley.

Following a short possession by the Colts, New Orleans again mounted a long drive. Brees hit on six straight passes, including 21 yards to WR Lance Moore and 27 yards to Colston, to get down to the Indianapolis three. Following a pass to Moore that gained nothing, a false start penalty moved the Saints back five yards, but they regained all of that and more when Thomas ran seven yards to the one. However, runs by RB Mike Bell on third down and Thomas on fourth down failed to penetrate into the end zone, and the Colts took over on downs.

Indianapolis was only able to get out to the ten yard line and punted. Brees fired a pass to Henderson for a 19-yard gain and two more completions got the ball down to the Colts’ 26. Hartley kicked a 44-yard field goal as the half ended, and the score stood at 10-6.

Kicking off to start the second half, the Saints surprised the Colts with Morstead executing an onside kick that bounced off the hands of Indianapolis WR Hank Baskett and was recovered by New Orleans safety Chris Reis. Starting at their own 42, the Saints made the most of the gamble and scored in six plays. Five of those plays were completions by Brees, including a 16-yard touchdown on a screen pass to Thomas (pictured below) that put New Orleans ahead, 13-10.


The Colts came right back, however, again going into a no-huddle offense and driving 76 yards in ten plays, converting a fourth-and-two situation along the way. Manning completed five passes, the longest of 27 yards to Clark, and Addai ran the final four yards for a TD that put Indianapolis back in front at 17-13.

The Saints responded with another scoring drive, with Hartley connecting for his third field goal, this time from 47 yards out. The third quarter ended with the Colts in front by a point.

Indianapolis again drove into New Orleans territory to begin the fourth quarter, but after reaching the 33 yard line, Stover missed a 51-yard field goal attempt. The Saints moved methodically down the field, with Brees hitting on seven consecutive short passes that included a two-yard touchdown to TE Jeremy Shockey. An attempted two-point conversion failed, but New Orleans was once more in front at 24-17 with just under six minutes left to play.

Starting at their own 30, the Colts again went into a no-huddle offense and Manning was successful on four of six passes to get to the New Orleans 31. But in a third-and-five situation, Manning threw a pass intended for Wayne that was instead intercepted by CB Tracy Porter, who returned it 74 yards for a touchdown (pictured below). The game was effectively over.


The Colts drove to the New Orleans five, but a fourth-and-goal pass was incomplete with 34 seconds left. The Saints, for so long a NFL doormat, were champions by a score of 31-17.

Indianapolis held the edge in total yards (432 to 332) and first downs (23 to 20). However, they suffered the only turnover of the game on the interception, and it was a huge one.

The game’s MVP, Drew Brees, completed 32 of 39 passes for 288 yards and two TDs. Marques Colston caught 7 passes for 83 yards and Devery Henderson also had 7 receptions, for 63 yards. Pierre Thomas, who led a rushing attack that accumulated just 51 yards, gained 30 yards in nine carries and also pulled in 6 passes for 51 yards and a TD.

For the Colts, Peyton Manning went to the air 45 times with 31 completions for 333 yards that included a TD and the interception. Dallas Clark caught 7 passes for 86 yards and Joseph Addai added 7 receptions for 58 yards in addition to pacing the running attack with 77 yards and a touchdown on 13 attempts.

“Four years ago, who ever thought this would be happening when 85 percent of the city was under water?” said Drew Brees afterward. “Most people left not knowing if New Orleans would ever come back, or if the organization would ever come back. We just all looked at one another and said, ‘We are going to rebuild together. We are going to lean on each other.’ This is the culmination in all that belief.”

It was a great moment for the franchise and its fans, and for the quarterback who had signed with New Orleans as a free agent in the wake of the dreadful ’05 season.

While both clubs struggled at times in 2010, they returned to the postseason. However, they both were eliminated early, losing in the Wild Card playoff round.

2006: Saints Defeat Falcons in Return to Superdome

When the New Orleans Saints hosted the Atlanta Falcons at the Louisiana Superdome on September 25, 2006, it marked not just the first home game of the season for the Saints but a return to a city and stadium that the franchise had been forced to abandon for a year due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina.

The aftermath of the powerful storm in September of 2005 had, of course, been devastating for the city as a whole. The Superdome had sustained significant damage, and there were questions as to whether the Saints would return. For the team, it had meant a season on the road in which home games were split between San Antonio and Baton Rouge. They went 3-13 in ‘05, losing 11 of their last 12 games, and finished at the bottom of the NFC South.

The club that took the field in 2006 had been transformed in the offseason. There was a new head coach, Sean Payton, replacing Jim Haslett. There was also a new quarterback, Drew Brees, who had been signed away from the San Diego Chargers as a free agent. Star RB Deuce McAllister, who had been lost five games into the 2005 season with an ACL injury, was back healthy and joined by the Heisman-winning first round draft pick out of USC, Reggie Bush.

The Saints were already 2-0, having beaten Cleveland and Green Bay on the road, as they took the field for the Monday Night Football contest before a wildly enthusiastic crowd of 70,003 at the refurbished Superdome. They were hosting their arch-rivals, the Atlanta Falcons, who had also won their first two games in impressive fashion under third-year Head Coach Jim Mora Jr.

It didn’t take long for the Saints to take command. Atlanta had the first possession of the game and went three-and-out. The ensuing punt by Michael Koenen was blocked by safety and special teams standout Steve Gleason (pictured above) and recovered in the end zone for a touchdown by CB Curtis Deloach. It was the first touchdown given up in the ’06 season by the Falcons.

Atlanta followed up with a nine-play drive that yielded a 26-yard field goal by Morten Andersen. But after the two clubs traded punts, the Falcons gave up another TD when the Saints went 80 yards in eight plays capped by a double-reverse in which WR Devery Henderson ran for an 11-yard touchdown. New Orleans was up 14-3 at the end of the first quarter and in command the rest of the way.

John Carney kicked field goals of 37 and 51 yards in the second quarter, while the closest Atlanta came to scoring was a 25-yard field goal attempt by Andersen that was blocked. Carney booted a 20-yard field goal to cap the Saints’ first time-consuming possession of the second half, and that provided the final margin of 23-3.

The New Orleans defense didn’t let the Falcons offense get closer than the 31 yard line during the second half. They sacked Atlanta QB Michael Vick five times and held the Falcons to 229 yards (the Saints rolled up 326).

Drew Brees had a solid if unspectacular outing, completing 20 of 28 passes for 191 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. Deuce McAllister led the running game with 81 yards on 19 carries while Reggie Bush ran the ball 13 times for 53 yards. Marques Colston was the leading receiver with 7 catches for 97 yards.

For the Falcons, Michael Vick was held to just 12 completions in 31 attempts for 137 yards, although none were picked off; Vick was also Atlanta’s leading rusher with 57 yards on six carries. Alge Crumpler led the receivers with 5 catches for 49 yards.

Afterward Brees said “From the moment I signed with the Saints, I was looking forward to this. It was a great night. It was something we’ll never forget.” Owner Tom Benson, who had taken heat for suggesting that the Saints might relocate, danced off the field with parasol in hand to the strains of “When the Saints Go Marching In”. A game ball was dedicated to the people of New Orleans.

The Saints went on to win the NFC South with a 10-6 record and advance farther into the postseason than any preceding team in franchise history, finally succumbing to the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship game. Atlanta dropped to 7-9 to finish third in the division, costing Mora his job.

New Orleans led the NFL in team rushing with 6264 yards as McAllister ground out 1057 yards on 244 carries (4.3 average) with 10 TDs and Bush added 565 yards on 155 attempts with six scores. Bush also caught 88 passes for 742 yards and two TDs and averaged 7.7 yards on 28 punt returns with another touchdown.

Drew Brees (pictured below) led the league in passing yards with 4418 and had the best passer rating in the NFC (96.2). His 26 touchdown passes ranked third in the NFL, as did his 8.0 yards-per-attempt.

Michael Vick became the first quarterback to rush for a thousand yards (1039) with a league-leading 8.4 yards-per-carry.