New Orleans Saints

The NFL team, the New Orleans Saints, play in the NFC South division of the NFC. The team is coached by Sean Payton and led by quarterback Drew Brees. The New Orlean Saints were the 16th team to be awarded an NFL franchise. They chose the name "Saints" because they were awarded their franchise on November 1, 1966 which is All Saints Day in the Roman Catholic Church.http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nfl/norleans/saints.html Following the 1970 merger of the NFL with the AFL, the Saints were placed in the western division with the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers & the Atlanta Falcons.http://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/history/key-moments.html Their current division rivals are the Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Carolina Panthers.http://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/history/key-moments.html

The New Orleans Saints suffered more losses than wins during their first two decades of play, and did not have a .500 season until 1979, finishing the season with eight wins and eight losses. The Saints did not have a winning season until 1987 and did not win a post-season game until 2000. They celebrated their first Super Bowl victory February 7, 2010 by defeating the Indianapolis Colts 31-17.http://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/history/key-moments.html On December 27, 2010, they secured a 2010 NFL play-off birth with a 17-14 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2010122700/2010/REG16/saints@falcons/watch?module=HP_cp2#tab:recap/recap-channels:cat-post-recap-full-story

New Orleans faced the Arizona Cardinals in an NFC divisional playoff game on Saturday, January 16, 2010, at the Superdome. The Saints dominated, winning 45-14 to advance to the NFC Championship game.http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=9582016

The Saints faced off against the number two seed Minnesota Vikings in the Superdome on Sunday, January 24, 2010. Minnesota struck first, with Adrian Peterson scoring on a 19-yard run. The Saints responded quickly, as Pierre Thomas scored on a 38-yard pass from QB Drew Brees. The game was close and wound up going into overtime with the Saints and Vikings tied at 28-28. The Saints won on kicker Garrett Hartley's 40-yard field goal. New Orleans advances to Super Bowl XLIV, where the Saints faced Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. This was the first Super Bowl appearance in the history of the New Orleans Saints franchise.http://www.neworleanssaints.com/Articles/2010/1/NFC%20Championship%20Game.aspx The Saints received their Super Bowl rings in a private ceremony in New Orleans on June 16, 2010.http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2010/06/new_orleans_saints_quarterback_55.html

The Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV on February 7, 2010, in Miami, Florida by the final score of 31-17.http://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/history/key-moments.html

On Friday, August 14, 2009, the Saints beat the Cincinnati Bengals 17-7 in week one of preseason NFL action in a game at the Louisiana Superdome. In week two of preseason action, the Saints beat the Oakland Raiders 45-7. The Saints beat the Detroit Lions 45-27 in week one of the regular season on Sunday, September 13, 2009. Week two saw the Saints beating the Philadelphia Eagles 48-22.http://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/history/key-moments.html

In week four of regular season NFL action, the Saints hosted the New York Jets in a battle of undefeated teams in the Superdome. The Saints beat the Jets 24-10, advancing to 4-0 on the season.http://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/history/key-moments.html

Week six saw a battle of unbeatens as the Saints hosted the New York Giants. The Saints beat the Giants 48-27 in the Superdome. The Saints were on the road at Miami for week 7 NFL action. After trailing by three touchdowns through halftime, the Saints rallied, putting 43 points up in the second half of the game to win 46-34 and remain undefeated.http://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/history/key-moments.html

The undefeated Saints took on division rival the Atlanta Falcons at the Superdome on November 2, 2009. The Saints beat the Falcons 35-27 to go 7-0 on the season. On November 8, 2009, the Saints beat the Carolina Panthers 30-20 to go 8-0 on the season for the first time in franchise history.http://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/history/key-moments.html On November 16, 2009, the Saints beat the St. Louis Rams 28-23 to remain unbeaten at 9-0. Injuries to the secondary mounted when starting cornerback Tracy Porter went down with a knee injury. Porter was rumored to have a season-ending torn ACL. On November 22, 2009, the Saints beat division rival the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 38-7 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. New Orleans advanced to 10-0 on the season.http://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/history/key-moments.html

The Saints faced the 7-3 New England Patriots in the Superdome on November 30, 2009. Quarterback Drew Brees threw five touchdowns to five different receivers, racking up a season-high 371 yards. The Monday Night Football game saw the Saints winning 38-17, advancing to 11-0.http://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/history/key-moments.html

The Saints were on the road on Sunday, December 6, 2009, taking on the Washington Redskins. New Orleans trailed or was tied with the Redskins for much of the game - which eventually went into overtime at 30-30. Garrett Hartley kicked a game-winning field goal and the Saints won 33-30, advancing to 12-0 on the season.http://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/history/key-moments.html

On December 13, 2009, the Saints traveled to the Georgia Dome to face their divisional rivals the Atlanta Falcons. The Saints beat the Falcons 26-23, advancing to 13-0 on the season and clinching the NFC South and securing a bye during week one of the NFL playoffs.http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BC1TV20091213?type=sportsNews

After going 13-0, the Saints wound up losing their final three games of the 2009 regular season to the Dallas Cowboys and division rivals Tampa Bay and Carolina, finishing 13-3 on the season. Minnesota's 36-30 overtime loss to the Chicago Bears gave the Saints the number one seed in the NFC and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2009/12/new_orleans_saints_secure_home.html