2015 New Orleans Saints season

The 2015 season was the New Orleans Saints' 49th in the National Football League (NFL), their 40th playing home games at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and their ninth under head coach Sean Payton. On November 16, 2015, the Saints hired Dennis Allen to replace fired defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. However, the Saints still missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season. The Saints set a new league record for the most passing touchdowns allowed with 45.

2015 New Orleans Saints season
OwnerTom Benson
General managerMickey Loomis
Head coachSean Payton
Offensive coordinatorPete Carmichael Jr.
Defensive coordinatorRob Ryan (Weeks 1–10, fired)
Dennis Allen (Weeks 11–17)
Home fieldMercedes-Benz Superdome
Results
Record7–9
Division place3rd NFC South
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersCameron Jordan (DE)
Uniform

Draft
Main article: 2015 NFL Draft
2015 New Orleans Saints Draft
RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollege
113 Andrus PeatOTStanford
31 Stephone AnthonyILBClemson
244 Hau'oli KikahaOLBWashington
375 Garrett GraysonQBColorado State
78 P. J. WilliamsCBFlorida State
5148 Davis TullOLBChattanooga
154 Tyeler DavisonDTFresno State
167 Damian SwannCBGeorgia
7230 Marcus MurphyRBMissouri

Notes

Staff
2015 New Orleans Saints staff
Front office
  • Owner – Tom Benson
  • President – Dennis Lauscha
  • General manager – Mickey Loomis
  • Director of football administration – Khai Harley
  • Director of operations – James Nagaoka
  • Director of pro scouting – Terry Fontenot

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams coordinator – Greg McMahon
  • Assistant special teams – Stan Kwan


Final roster
2015 New Orleans Saints final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
 53 active, 13 inactive, 7 practice squad

Schedule

Preseason
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 August 13 at Baltimore Ravens L 27–30 0–1 M&T Bank Stadium Recap
2 August 22 New England Patriots L 24–26 0–2 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap
3 August 30 Houston Texans L 13–27 0–3 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap
4 September 3 at Green Bay Packers L 10–38 0–4 Lambeau Field Recap

Regular season
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 13 at Arizona Cardinals L 19–31 0–1 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
2 September 20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 19–26 0–2 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap
3 September 27 at Carolina Panthers L 22–27 0–3 Bank of America Stadium Recap
4 October 4 Dallas Cowboys W 26–20 (OT) 1–3 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap
5 October 11 at Philadelphia Eagles L 17–39 1–4 Lincoln Financial Field Recap
6 October 15 Atlanta Falcons W 31–21 2–4 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap
7 October 25 at Indianapolis Colts W 27–21 3–4 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
8 November 1 New York Giants W 52–49 4–4 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap
9 November 8 Tennessee Titans L 28–34 (OT) 4–5 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap
10 November 15 at Washington Redskins L 14–47 4–6 FedExField Recap
11 Bye
12 November 29 at Houston Texans L 6–24 4–7 NRG Stadium Recap
13 December 6 Carolina Panthers L 38–41 4–8 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap
14 December 13 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 24–17 5–8 Raymond James Stadium Recap
15 December 21 Detroit Lions L 27–35 5–9 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap
16 December 27 Jacksonville Jaguars W 38–27 6–9 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap
17 January 3 at Atlanta Falcons W 20–17 7–9 Georgia Dome Recap

Week 1: at Arizona Cardinals
Week One: New Orleans Saints at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 3 7 3619
Cardinals 7 7 31431

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

Game information

With the loss, the Saints began 0-1.

Week 2: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week Two: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Buccaneers 3 7 13326
Saints 0 7 01219

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

Hoping to avoid an 0-2 start the Saints met Tampa Bay, led by new quarterback Jameis Winston.

The defense struggled to stop Winston as his heroics stunned New Orleans' home crowd.

Drew Brees left the game with an injured shoulder. The Saints wound up losing the game, 26-19.

Week 3: at Carolina Panthers
Week Three: New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 3 7 6622
Panthers 0 10 10727

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

Game information

This game marked the first game Drew Brees missed as a Saint due to injury. Luke McCown, playing in relief of Brees, played well, throwing for 310 yards, before trying to hit Brandin Cooks in the end zone with roughly a minute left in the game. Josh Norman made a diving interception to seal the Panthers win and the Saints 0-3 start.

Week 4: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week Four: Dallas Cowboys at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Cowboys 3 7 37020
Saints 7 0 67626

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

In overtime, Drew Brees, who returned from an injured shoulder, nailed an 80-yard pass to C. J. Spiller for the game-winning touchdown. Brees now has 400 career touchdown passes. It was also the fastest regular season overtime in NFL history, with only 13 seconds being played before the touchdown.

This win would make the Lions the only winless team.

Week 5: at Philadelphia Eagles
Week Five: New Orleans Saints at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 7 0 3717
Eagles 0 10 161339

at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Game information

The Saints returned to Philadelphia for their first meeting with the Eagles since their last second victory in the 2013 playoffs, but the Eagles would get their revenge in a blowout. With the loss, the Saints fell to 1-4. This also marked the Saints' first loss to the Eagles since the 2007 season.

Week 6: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week Six: Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Falcons 0 7 01421
Saints 14 0 10731

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

The Saints would upset the undefeated Falcons on Thursday Night Football. With the win, the Saints improved to 2-4.

Week 7: at Indianapolis Colts
Week Seven: New Orleans Saints at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 7 13 7027
Colts 0 0 14721

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

  • Date: October 25
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C), mostly cloudy — retractable roof open
  • Game attendance: 66,420
  • Referee: Carl Cheffers
  • TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen, John Lynch and Pam Oliver
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

In a Super Bowl rematch between the teams, the Saints would lead 27-0 at one point. Indianapolis would make it 27-21, but New Orleans would hold on for the win. With the win, the Saints improved to 3-4.

Week 8: vs. New York Giants
Week Eight: New York Giants at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Giants 7 14 72149
Saints 14 14 141052

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

In a battle of passing offenses, Drew Brees threw a career-high 7 touchdown passes. The game was tied 49-49 late in the fourth quarter and the Saints returned a punt for 50 yards, good for the game-winning field goal to seal the Saints 52-49 victory.

Week 9: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week Nine: Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Titans 10 7 38634
Saints 14 7 07028

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

New Orleans would lead 28-20 with 7 minutes left, but the Titans would go down the field to tie it at 28. The Titans would then win the game after Marcus Mariota won it with a touchdown to Anthony Fasano.

With the loss, the Saints fell to 4-5.

Week 10: at Washington Redskins
Week Ten: New Orleans Saints at Washington Redskins – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 7 7 0014
Redskins 14 13 101047

at FedExField, Landover, Maryland

  • Date: November 15
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C), sunny
  • Game attendance: 75,086
  • Referee: John Parry
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston and Laura Okmin
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

Traveling to Washington to take on the Redskins, Drew Brees and the Saints suffered a moment of embarrassment as they would go on to be blown out 47-14. Kirk Cousins threw a career-high four touchdowns in the blowout.

A day after, the Saints fired defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, replacing him with Dennis Allen, who would take over for Ryan for the remainder of the season.

Week 12: at Houston Texans
Week Twelve: New Orleans Saints at Houston Texans – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 0 6 006
Texans 14 0 10024

at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

Game information

The Week 12 clash against the Houston Texans would be no better than how the previous game unfolded, with the Saints offense being held to only two field goals (failing to score a touchdown for the first time since Christmas Eve 2005) and Brees failing to throw a touchdown pass the entire game, snapping his 45 game streak of doing so.

With the loss, the Saints fell to 4-6.

Week 13: vs. Carolina Panthers
Week Thirteen: Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 13 141441
Saints 14 2 81438

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

The Saints made history in this game, becoming the first team in NFL history to block an extra point and return it for two points under new NFL rules that took effect that season (prior to this season, NFL rules did not allow players to return a blocked extra point). Saints rookie Stephone Anthony was the one who returned it, with Kevin Williams blocking it. The Saints, unfortunately, would eventually lose in a shootout and dropped their record to 4-8.

Week 14: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week Fourteen: New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 7 10 7024
Buccaneers 0 10 0717

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

Game information

The highlight of the game was Drew Brees passing Dan Marino for 4th on the league's all-time passing touchdowns list.

Week 15: vs. Detroit Lions
Week Fifteen: Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Lions 7 14 7735
Saints 3 0 71727

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

With the loss, the Saints fell to 5-9.

Week 16: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week Sixteen: Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Jaguars 0 6 13827
Saints 14 10 7738

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

With the win, the Saints improved to 6-9.

Week 17: at Atlanta Falcons
Week Seventeen: New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 7 7 3320
Falcons 3 14 0017

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: January 3, 2016
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
  • Game attendance: 69,699
  • Referee: Craig Wrolstad
  • TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen, Matt Millen and Peter Schrager
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

With the win, the Saints ended their season 7-9 for the second straight season. This also marked the first sweep against the Falcons since 2013.

Standings

Division
NFC South
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(1) Carolina Panthers 15 1 0 .938 5–1 11–1 500 308 W1
Atlanta Falcons 8 8 0 .500 1–5 5–7 339 345 L1
New Orleans Saints 7 9 0 .438 3–3 5–7 408 476 W2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6 10 0 .375 3–3 5–7 342 417 L4

Conference
NFC
# Team Division W L T PCT DIV CONF SOS SOV STK
Division Leaders
1 Carolina Panthers South 15 1 0 .938 5–1 11–1 .441 .438 W1
2 Arizona Cardinals West 13 3 0 .813 4–2 10–2 .477 .457 L1
3 Minnesota Vikings North 11 5 0 .688 5–1 8–4 .504 .449 W3
4 Washington Redskins East 9 7 0 .563 4–2 8–4 .465 .403 W4
Wild Cards
5[lower-alpha 1] Green Bay Packers North 10 6 0 .625 3–3 7–5 .531 .450 L2
6[lower-alpha 1] Seattle Seahawks West 10 6 0 .625 3–3 7–5 .520 .431 W1
Did not qualify for the postseason
7 Atlanta Falcons South 8 8 0 .500 1–5 5–7 .480 .453 L1
8[lower-alpha 2] St. Louis Rams West 7 9 0 .438 4–2 6–6 .527 .482 L1
9[lower-alpha 2] Detroit Lions North 7 9 0 .438 3–3 6–6 .535 .429 W3
10[lower-alpha 2] Philadelphia Eagles East 7 9 0 .438 3–3 4–8 .508 .473 W1
11[lower-alpha 2] New Orleans Saints South 7 9 0 .438 3–3 5–7 .504 .402 W2
12[lower-alpha 3] New York Giants East 6 10 0 .375 2–4 4–8 .500 .396 L3
13[lower-alpha 3] Chicago Bears North 6 10 0 .375 1–5 3–9 .547 .469 L1
14[lower-alpha 3] Tampa Bay Buccaneers South 6 10 0 .375 3–3 5–7 .484 .406 L4
15 San Francisco 49ers West 5 11 0 .313 1–5 4–8 .539 .463 W1
16 Dallas Cowboys East 4 12 0 .250 3–3 3–9 .531 .438 L4
Tiebreakers[lower-alpha 4]
  1. Green Bay finished ahead of Seattle based on head-to-head victory.
  2. St. Louis and Detroit finished ahead of Philadelphia and New Orleans based on conference record. St. Louis finished ahead of Detroit based on head-to-head victory.
    Detroit finished ahead of Philadelphia and New Orleans based on head-to-head sweep, while Philadelphia finished ahead of New Orleans based on head-to-head victory.
  3. The New York Giants and Chicago each finished ahead of Tampa Bay based on head-to-head victory, while the Giants finished ahead of Chicago based on conference record.
  4. 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.

References
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