NEW ORLEANS SAINTS WEEKLY MEDIA INFORMATION GUIDE TENNESSEE TITANS VS. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS DECEMBER 22, 2019 @ NISSAN STADIUM GAME INFORMATION • ROSTERS • DEPTH CHART • TEAM AND PLAYER STATISTICS NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (11-3) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (8-6) SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2019 – 12:00 P.M. (CST) NISSAN STADIUM – NASHVILLE, TN. TV: FOX (WVUE FOX 8 locally) – Kenny Albert (play-by-play), Ronde Bar- ber (color analyst) and Sara Walsh (sideline) NATIONAL RADIO: Sports USA Radio – Larry Kahn (play-by-play), Hank Bauer (color analyst) and Troy West (sideline) LOCAL RADIO: WWL (870 AM and 105.3 FM) – Zach Strief (play-by-play), Deuce McAllister (color analyst) and Steve Geller (sideline) SPANISH LANGUAGE RADIO: KGLA (830 AM and 105.7 FM) – Mario Je- rez (play-by-play), Juan Carlos Ramos (color analyst) and Victor Quinonez (sideline) throw to QB Taysom Hill, Brees ended the evening with THE MATCHUP 541 career touchdown passes. Brees’ 96.7 completion The New Orleans Saints (11-3) return to the road this percentage set an NFL single-game record (minimum 20 weekend for the first of two consecutive contests away attempts). RB Alvin Kamara kept the chains moving on the from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome when they play the ground with 14 carries for 66 yards. Tennessee Titans (8-6) at Nissan Stadium on Sunday at In addition to the scoring throws to Josh Hill and Taysom 12:00 p.m. CT. Hill, Brees also had touchdown tosses to WRs Tre’Quan New Orleans is coming off of a dominating 34-7 victory Smith and Michael Thomas in the first half. For Thom- on Monday Night Football against the Indianapolis Colts at as, the scoring grab highlighted an evening when he the Superdome, which featured outstanding performances caught 12 of Brees’ throws for 138 yards. Thomas is in the on offense, defense and special teams. homestretch of a record-setting 2019 regular season, where he leads the NFL in both receptions and receiving The Saints offense ran up 424 total net yards against yardage with a club-record 133 grabs for 1,552 yards and Indianapolis, scoring on every red zone attempt and con- eight touchdowns. The 133 catches are the fourth-highest verting five-of-nine (56%) third down attempts, while the single-season total in league record books. With 11 grabs New Orleans defense only allowed the Colts to convert 3- in New Orleans’ final two contests, Thomas would become of-12 (25%) third down attempts. RB Dwayne Washington the league’s single-season receptions leader. set the tone early on special teams with a deflected punt On defense, New Orleans held Indianapolis, which went on Indianapolis’ first possession. into the contest ranked sixth in the NFL in rushing to 46 Saints QB Drew Brees enjoyed a historic night in one rushing yards on 17 carries (2.7 avg.). DB C.J. Gardner- of the most impressive performances of his 19-year NFL Johnson, receiving his first start at strong safety, led the effort with a team-high eight tackles and a pass de- career, completing 29-of-30 passes for 307 yards with four fense. LB Demario Davis finished with three solo tackles touchdown passes, zero interceptions and a 148.9 passer and two passes defensed. LB A.J. Klein, returning from rating. In the third quarter, Brees his TE Josh Hill for a five- being sidelined for a week, posted six tackles and split a yard touchdown, setting the NFL all-time record with 540 sack with DE Trey Hendrickson, who has been thrust into scoring throws. Following a third quarter 28-yard scoring a starting role after injuries to teammates. Saints at Titans: Week 16 2 SERIES HISTORY SERIES FAST FACTS The New Orleans Saints and the Tennessee Titans, TEAM who were the Houston Oilers from 1960-96 have met 14 Saints’ Largest Margin of Victory: 17 points, Saints times. New Orleans has posted a 5-8-1 record all-time won 27-10 on 9/30/84 at the Astrodome. against the Titans. Seven of the outcomes in the series have been decided by a touchdown or less. The Titans Titans’ Largest Margin of Victory: 17 points (twice), won the last meeting a 34-28 win at the Mercedes-Benz Titans 31, Saints 14 on 9/24/07 at the Louisiana Super- Superdome on November 8, 2015, when Tennessee quar- dome (Most Recent) and Oilers 31, Saints 14 on 11/10/96 terback Marcus Mariota connected with tight end Anthony at the Louisiana Superdome (first). Fasano on a touchdown in overtime. Current Series Streak: Titans won the last contest, The Saints first met Sunday’s opponent in 1971 and 11/8/15. played to a 13-13 tie with the Oilers in Houston’s Astro- Saints’ Longest Win Streak: Three games, 11/22/81- dome. The Oilers captured the next two games in the se- 12/13/87. ries, before the Saints won their first game in the series in 1981 as Head Coach Bum Phillips exacted revenge on his Titans’ Longest Win Streak: Four games, 11/10/96- former team. This was the start of a three-game winning 09/24/07. streak, including a 24-10 win in 1987 that would ensure the Most Points by Saints in a Game: 33 points, Saints won Saints a home playoff game in their seventh straight victory 33-21 on 9/5/93 at the Louisiana Superdome. in the season where the club would both finish with a win- ning record and qualify for the postseason for the first time. Most Points by Titans in a Game: 34 points,Titans 34, The two clubs split their next two meetings. The Titans then Saints 28 on 11/8/15 at the Louisiana Superdome. went on to capture four straight before the Saints win in Most Combined Points (Both Teams): 63 points, Titans 2011. The Saints have posted a 3-2-1 record against the won 34-28 on 11/8/15 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Titans in road contests, including two played at Nissan Sta- dium in Nashville. New Orleans will be looking for their sec- Fewest Points by Saints in a Game: 10 points, Oilers ond consecutive road win at the Titans. won 21-10 on 10/21/90 at the Astrodome. Fewest Points by Titans in a Game: 10 points (Tie), Saints won 24-10 on 12/10/87 at the Louisiana Superdome In the 14 games of the New Orleans-Tennessee series (Most Recent). Saints won 27-10 on 9/30/84 at Astrodome there has been: (First). •283 points scored by New Orleans, 313 allowed. Fewest Combined Points (Both Teams): 26 points, • A three-game New Orleans winning streak from 1981-87. Saints 13, Oilers 13 on 10/3/71 at the Astrodome. • A four-game winning streak for the Titans/Oilers from 1996-2007. • A 3-2-1 record for the Saints in road contests in the se- ries, 1-1 since the Titans moved to Tennessee from Hou- ston. Individual • Seven games decided by double-digits. Most Rushing Yards: George Rogers, 142 yards on 28 carries on 11/22/81 at Astrodome. • Seven games decided by seven points or less. Most Passing Yards: Drew Brees, 387 yards on 28 of 39 • One tie and three games decided by three points. passing (71.8%) with three touchdowns (118.2 rating) on • A 17-point win by New Orleans (9/30/84) - Biggest Saints 11/8/15 at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. win. Most Receiving Yards (Saints): Eric Martin, 130 yards • Two 17-point losses by New Orleans (11/10/96 and on six receptions (21.7 avg.) with one touchdown on 9/24/03) - Biggest Saints losses. 12/13/87 at the Louisiana Superdome. Saints at Titans: Week 16 3 THE COACHES (82). The defense finished eighth overall (333.4), second in the red zone (44.7) and third in scoring defense (18.9). Saints Head Coach Sean Payton has posted a 137-83 Spent four seasons coaching Houston Texans, as line- overall record (.623), including an 8-6 postseason mark backers coach (2014-16) and defensive coordinator (2017). after the franchise had won only one playoff game prior to Texans won two division titles (2015, 2016) during his ten- his arrival in 2006. Payton holds both the club’s top victory ure. In 2017, Vrabel led the defense to the fifth-best third- total and winning percentage. Payton ranked 26th all-time down percentage in the National Football League, allowing in NFL record books in victories, fifth among active head a franchise-record 3.97 yards per carry, and had 18 differ- coaches. He continues to represent the Saints as the mod- ent players record at least half a sack. Between 2014-16, el of stability not only within the NFC South, as he is the the Texans defense ranked first in the NFL in third down longest tenured head coach within the division, but also defense (33.6), third in yards allowed (319.9) and third in among the most accomplished within the NFL. Only the net passing yards (218.4). The 2016 defense ranked num- Patriots’ Bill Belichick (2000) has been with the his team ber one in the NFL, for the first time in franchise history, in longer than Payton’s 14 seasons in New Orleans. Payton is yards allowed (301.3). Vrabel was a defensive lineman for also one of just seven active NFL head coaches to lead a the Ohio State Buckeyes (1993-96). Earned back-to-back team to a Super Bowl victory.