The
2016 season was the
New Orleans Saints' 50th in the
National Football League (NFL), their 41st playing home games at the
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, and their 10th under
head coachSean Payton. The Saints matched their 7–9 record from
2014 and
2015, and missed the playoffs for the third year in a row. One highlight from the season includes quarterback
Drew Brees' first return to San Diego for the first time since the Chargers released him at the end of the
2005 season, also where Brees played his first five seasons in. This came 10 years after the Chargers released Brees after the Saints' previous regular season meetings with the Chargers were home games for the Saints, and including a
2008 meeting at
Wembley Stadium in
London, a game which New Orleans was designated as the home team.
The Saints traded their 2016 sixth-round selection, along with their
2015 sixth-round selection to the
Washington Redskins in exchange for the
Washington Redskins2015 fifth-round selection.
The Saints traded their 2016 third and fourth-round selection to the
New England Patriots in exchange for the
New England Patriots second-round selection (61st overall).
The Saints traded their 2016 fifth-round selection, along with their
2017 fifth-round selection to the
Washington Redskins in exchange for the
Washington Redskins fourth-round selection (120th overall).
The Saints opened the season at home against the
Oakland Raiders in the
Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Despite 423 passing yards—including a franchise-record 98-yard touchdown pass to receiver
Brandin Cooks[1]—and four touchdowns from
Drew Brees, the Raiders came from behind to win 35–34.[2] The Raiders scored a touchdown with 47 seconds remaining in the game to bring them within one point. Instead of kicking an extra point, Raiders coach
Jack Del Rio ordered a
two-point conversion, which quarterback
Derek Carr successfully converted with a pass to receiver
Michael Crabtree. The Saints received the kickoff and Brees led the team down the field in two plays to give kicker
Wil Lutz a chance at a game-winning 61-yard field goal, but the kick went wide left.[3] The Saints defense was criticized for its performance, as it gave up 210 yards and 22 points in the fourth quarter.[4][5]
Week 2: at New York Giants
Week Two: New Orleans Saints at New York Giants – Game summary
For the first time in 11 years, Drew Brees returned to San Diego to face his former team, the Chargers, where he began his NFL career. In the game, the Saints got their first win of the season, rallying in the 4th quarter after trailing 34–21 to win 35–34, mostly due to two key fumbles by the Chargers.
Week 6: vs. Carolina Panthers
Week Six: Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period
1
2
3
4
Total
Panthers
0
10
7
21
38
Saints
14
10
7
10
41
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
As part of
Color Rush, the Saints wore all-white uniforms for this game, inspired by the ones they wore in 1975. Due to this, it was the first time the Saints have worn white pants since
1985 and the second season they wore all-white uniforms in franchise history, the first being the
1975 season.[citation needed] The Saints went into the fourth quarter with a 20-point deficit to the Panthers. The Saints rallied and got within three with 5:11 left to go in the game, but the Panthers were able to hold them off.
Week 12: vs. Los Angeles Rams
Week Twelve: Los Angeles Rams at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period
1
2
3
4
Total
Rams
7
14
0
0
21
Saints
7
21
14
7
49
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Because the Saints lost to the Falcons, they finish the season with a 7-9 record for the third straight season. The Saints were also swept by the Falcons for the first time since the 2014 season.
^
abDetroit finished ahead of Tampa Bay for the No. 6 seed and qualified for the last playoff spot based on record vs. common opponents—Detroit's cumulative record against Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and New Orleans was 3–2, while Tampa Bay's cumulative record against the same four teams was 2–3.
^
abNew Orleans finished ahead of Philadelphia based on better record vs. conference opponents.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.
The
2016 season was the
New Orleans Saints' 50th in the
National Football League (NFL), their 41st playing home games at the
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, and their 10th under
head coachSean Payton. The Saints matched their 7–9 record from
2014 and
2015, and missed the playoffs for the third year in a row. One highlight from the season includes quarterback
Drew Brees' first return to San Diego for the first time since the Chargers released him at the end of the
2005 season, also where Brees played his first five seasons in. This came 10 years after the Chargers released Brees after the Saints' previous regular season meetings with the Chargers were home games for the Saints, and including a
2008 meeting at
Wembley Stadium in
London, a game which New Orleans was designated as the home team.
The Saints traded their 2016 sixth-round selection, along with their
2015 sixth-round selection to the
Washington Redskins in exchange for the
Washington Redskins2015 fifth-round selection.
The Saints traded their 2016 third and fourth-round selection to the
New England Patriots in exchange for the
New England Patriots second-round selection (61st overall).
The Saints traded their 2016 fifth-round selection, along with their
2017 fifth-round selection to the
Washington Redskins in exchange for the
Washington Redskins fourth-round selection (120th overall).
The Saints opened the season at home against the
Oakland Raiders in the
Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Despite 423 passing yards—including a franchise-record 98-yard touchdown pass to receiver
Brandin Cooks[1]—and four touchdowns from
Drew Brees, the Raiders came from behind to win 35–34.[2] The Raiders scored a touchdown with 47 seconds remaining in the game to bring them within one point. Instead of kicking an extra point, Raiders coach
Jack Del Rio ordered a
two-point conversion, which quarterback
Derek Carr successfully converted with a pass to receiver
Michael Crabtree. The Saints received the kickoff and Brees led the team down the field in two plays to give kicker
Wil Lutz a chance at a game-winning 61-yard field goal, but the kick went wide left.[3] The Saints defense was criticized for its performance, as it gave up 210 yards and 22 points in the fourth quarter.[4][5]
Week 2: at New York Giants
Week Two: New Orleans Saints at New York Giants – Game summary
For the first time in 11 years, Drew Brees returned to San Diego to face his former team, the Chargers, where he began his NFL career. In the game, the Saints got their first win of the season, rallying in the 4th quarter after trailing 34–21 to win 35–34, mostly due to two key fumbles by the Chargers.
Week 6: vs. Carolina Panthers
Week Six: Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period
1
2
3
4
Total
Panthers
0
10
7
21
38
Saints
14
10
7
10
41
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
As part of
Color Rush, the Saints wore all-white uniforms for this game, inspired by the ones they wore in 1975. Due to this, it was the first time the Saints have worn white pants since
1985 and the second season they wore all-white uniforms in franchise history, the first being the
1975 season.[citation needed] The Saints went into the fourth quarter with a 20-point deficit to the Panthers. The Saints rallied and got within three with 5:11 left to go in the game, but the Panthers were able to hold them off.
Week 12: vs. Los Angeles Rams
Week Twelve: Los Angeles Rams at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period
1
2
3
4
Total
Rams
7
14
0
0
21
Saints
7
21
14
7
49
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Because the Saints lost to the Falcons, they finish the season with a 7-9 record for the third straight season. The Saints were also swept by the Falcons for the first time since the 2014 season.
^
abDetroit finished ahead of Tampa Bay for the No. 6 seed and qualified for the last playoff spot based on record vs. common opponents—Detroit's cumulative record against Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and New Orleans was 3–2, while Tampa Bay's cumulative record against the same four teams was 2–3.
^
abNew Orleans finished ahead of Philadelphia based on better record vs. conference opponents.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.