2016 New Orleans Saints season

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 coach Sean 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.

2016 New Orleans Saints season
OwnerTom Benson
General managerMickey Loomis
Head coachSean Payton
Offensive coordinatorPete Carmichael Jr.
Defensive coordinatorDennis Allen
Home fieldMercedes-Benz Superdome
Results
Record7–9
Division place3rd NFC South
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersDrew Brees (QB)
Uniform

Draft

2016 New Orleans Saints Draft
RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollege
112 Sheldon RankinsDTLouisville
247 Michael ThomasWROhio St.
261 Vonn BellSOhio St.
4120 David OnyemataDTManitoba
7237 Daniel LascoRBCalifornia

Notes

Staff

2016 New Orleans Saints staff
Front office
  • Owner – Gayle Benson
  • President – Dennis Lauscha
  • Executive vice president/general manager – Mickey Loomis
  • Asst general manager/college scouting director – Jeff Ireland
  • Vice president 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

Strength and conditioning

  • Head strength and conditioning – Dan Dalrymple
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Charles Byrd
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Rob Wenning

Final roster

2016 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, 19 inactive, 9 practice squad

Schedule

Preseason

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 August 11 at New England Patriots L 22–34 0–1 Gillette Stadium Recap
2 August 20 at Houston Texans L 9–16 0–2 NRG Stadium Recap
3 August 26 Pittsburgh Steelers L 14–27 0–3 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap
4 September 1 Baltimore Ravens L 14–23 0–4 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap

Regular season

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 11 Oakland Raiders L 34–35 0–1 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap
2 September 18 at New York Giants L 13–16 0–2 MetLife Stadium Recap
3 September 26 Atlanta Falcons L 32–45 0–3 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap
4 October 2 at San Diego Chargers W 35–34 1–3 Qualcomm Stadium Recap
5 Bye
6 October 16 Carolina Panthers W 41–38 2–3 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap
7 October 23 at Kansas City Chiefs L 21–27 2–4 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
8 October 30 Seattle Seahawks W 25–20 3–4 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap
9 November 6 at San Francisco 49ers W 41–23 4–4 Levi's Stadium Recap
10 November 13 Denver Broncos L 23–25 4–5 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap
11 November 17 at Carolina Panthers L 20–23 4–6 Bank of America Stadium Recap
12 November 27 Los Angeles Rams W 49–21 5–6 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap
13 December 4 Detroit Lions L 13–28 5–7 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap
14 December 11 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 11–16 5–8 Raymond James Stadium Recap
15 December 18 at Arizona Cardinals W 48–41 6–8 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
16 December 24 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 31–24 7–8 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap
17 January 1 at Atlanta Falcons L 32–38 7–9 Georgia Dome Recap

Week 1: vs. Oakland Raiders

Week One: Oakland Raiders at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Raiders 10 0 32235
Saints 3 14 71034

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

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
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 0 3 01013
Giants 0 7 3616

at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Game information

Week 3: vs. Atlanta Falcons

Week Three: Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Falcons 7 21 10745
Saints 7 10 8732

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

Week 4: at San Diego Chargers

Week Four: New Orleans Saints at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 7 7 71435
Chargers 7 17 01034

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: October 2
  • Game time: 3:25 p.m. CDT/1:25 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 74 °F (23 °C), fair
  • Game attendance: 60,641
  • Referee: Walt Coleman
  • TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Ronde Barber and Jennifer Hale
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

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 34Total
Panthers 0 10 72138
Saints 14 10 71041

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

  • Date: October 16
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
  • Game attendance: 73,138
  • Referee: Walt Anderson
  • TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen, Daryl Johnston and Laura Okmin
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

Week 7: at Kansas City Chiefs

Week Seven: New Orleans Saints at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 7 0 7721
Chiefs 14 7 3327

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 8: vs. Seattle Seahawks

Week Eight: Seattle Seahawks at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Seahawks 7 7 3320
Saints 0 13 3925

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

The Saints meet the Seahawks for the first time in 3 years. It was also the Saints' first victory against Seattle since the 2010 season.

Week 9: at San Francisco 49ers

Week Nine: New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 14 17 01041
49ers 3 17 3023

at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California

  • Date: November 6
  • Game time: 3:05 p.m. CST/1:05 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C), mostly sunny
  • Game attendance: 70,178
  • Referee: Jerome Boger
  • TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Ronde Barber and Jennifer Hale
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

The Saints travel to Levi's Stadium to match up with the 49ers. For the first time since the 2013 season, the Saints defeated the 49ers.

Week 10: vs. Denver Broncos

Week Ten: Denver Broncos at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Broncos 7 3 01525
Saints 0 3 14623

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

Week 11: at Carolina Panthers

Week Eleven: New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 3 0 01720
Panthers 3 17 3023

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

Game information

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. 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 34Total
Rams 7 14 0021
Saints 7 21 14749

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

  • Date: November 27
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
  • Game attendance: 73,067
  • Referee: John Hussey
  • TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Ronde Barber and Jennifer Hale
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

The Saints were able to defeat the Rams for the first time since the 2010 season.

Week 13: vs. Detroit Lions

Week Thirteen: Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Lions 3 10 6928
Saints 0 6 0713

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

  • Date: December 4
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
  • Game attendance: 73,137
  • Referee: Clete Blakeman
  • TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Ronde Barber and Jennifer Hale
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

To celebrate 50 seasons in the NFL, the Saints wore special 1967–75 throwback uniforms. It was only worn for this game.

Week 14: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week Fourteen: New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 0 8 3011
Buccaneers 3 10 0316

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

  • Date: December 11
  • Game time: 4:25 p.m. EST/3:25 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 79 °F (26 °C), cloudy
  • Game attendance: 62,140
  • Referee: Walt Anderson
  • TV announcers (Fox): Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis, Chris Spielman and Peter Schrager
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

Week 15: at Arizona Cardinals

Week Fifteen: New Orleans Saints at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 10 14 32148
Cardinals 7 13 71441

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

  • Date: December 18
  • Game time: 3:05 p.m. CST/2:05 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 65,072
  • Referee: Carl Cheffers
  • TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Ronde Barber and Jennifer Hale
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

With the win against Arizona, the Saints improved to 6-8. This also marked the only season in which the Saints swept the NFC West division.

Week 16: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week Sixteen: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Buccaneers 0 7 14324
Saints 7 6 15331

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

  • Date: December 24
  • Game time: 3:25 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
  • Game attendance: 73,177
  • Referee: Jerome Boger
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston and Laura Okmin
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

Week 17: at Atlanta Falcons

Week Seventeen: New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 10 3 01932
Falcons 14 21 3038

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: January 1, 2017
  • Game time: 4:25 p.m. EST/3:25 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
  • Game attendance: 70,835
  • Referee: Ronald Torbert
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston and Laura Okmin
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

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.

Standings

Division

NFC South
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(2) Atlanta Falcons 11 5 0 .688 5–1 9–3 540 406 W4
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9 7 0 .563 4–2 7–5 354 369 W1
New Orleans Saints 7 9 0 .438 2–4 6–6 469 454 L1
Carolina Panthers 6 10 0 .375 1–5 5–7 369 402 L2

Conference

# Team Division W L T PCT DIV CONF SOS SOV STK
Division leaders
1 Dallas Cowboys East 13 3 0 .813 3–3 9–3 .471 .440 L1
2 Atlanta Falcons South 11 5 0 .688 5–1 9–3 .480 .452 W4
3 Seattle Seahawks West 10 5 1 .656 3–2–1 6–5–1 .441 .425 W1
4 Green Bay Packers North 10 6 0 .625 5–1 8–4 .508 .453 W6
Wild Cards
5 New York Giants East 11 5 0 .688 4–2 8–4 .486 .455 W1
6[lower-alpha 1] Detroit Lions North 9 7 0 .563 3–3 7–5 .475 .392 L3
Did not qualify for the postseason
7[lower-alpha 1] Tampa Bay Buccaneers South 9 7 0 .563 4–2 7–5 .492 .434 W1
8 Washington Redskins East 8 7 1 .531 3–3 6–6 .516 .430 L1
9 Minnesota Vikings North 8 8 0 .500 2–4 5–7 .492 .457 W1
10 Arizona Cardinals West 7 8 1 .469 4–1–1 6–5–1 .463 .366 W2
11[lower-alpha 2] New Orleans Saints South 7 9 0 .438 2–4 6–6 .523 .393 L1
12[lower-alpha 2] Philadelphia Eagles East 7 9 0 .438 2–4 5–7 .559 .518 W2
13 Carolina Panthers South 6 10 0 .375 1–5 5–7 .518 .354 L2
14 Los Angeles Rams West 4 12 0 .250 2–4 3–9 .504 .500 L7
15 Chicago Bears North 3 13 0 .188 2–4 3–9 .521 .396 L4
16 San Francisco 49ers West 2 14 0 .125 2–4 2–10 .504 .250 L1
Tiebreakers[lower-alpha 3]
  1. Detroit 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.
  2. New Orleans finished ahead of Philadelphia based on better record vs. conference opponents.
  3. 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

  1. Triplett, Mike (September 11, 2016). "Saints QB Drew Brees' 98-yard TD sets team mark in tough loss". ESPN. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  2. "Bold call lifts Raiders past Saints, 35-34". NFL.com. Associated Press. September 11, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  3. Wesseling, Chris (September 11, 2016). "Raiders upend Saints with gutsy two-point call". NFL.com. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  4. Triplett, Mike (September 12, 2016). "Saints' defense has to get better, because it reached new low Sunday". ESPN. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  5. The Sports Xchange (September 12, 2016). "New Orleans Saints defensive shortcomings prove costly in loss". United Press International. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
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