2020 SAINTS FINISH 12-4 AND CAPTURE FOURTH STRAIGHT NFC SOUTH DIVISION TITLE; TEAM HOLDS 28TH PICK IN 2021 NFL DRAFT 2020 SEASON 2020 RESULTS The New Orleans Saints finished as the second REGULAR SEASON seed in the NFC Playoff Field following a 12-4 rec- ord in the 2020 regular season. New Orleans quali- Date Opponent Result fied for the postseason for the 14th in franchise his- Sept. 13 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS W, 34-23 tory (nine under Head Coach Sean Payton) and fourth consecutive season overall. Sept. 21 @Las Vegas Raiders L, 24-34 The Saints claimed the NFC South Division title Sept. 27 GREEN BAY PACKERS L, 30-37 for the fourth consecutive season, becoming the Oct. 4 @Detroit Lions W, 35-29 only team since the start of the division to do that Oct. 12 LOS ANGELES CHARGERS W, 30-27 OT and only the third NFC team since 2002 division realignment to capture four straight division titles. In --—-——-———————-BYE——————————- 2020, they will look to become only the 14th NFL Oct. 25 CAROLINA PANTHERS W, 27-24 team to win five consecutive division titles. Nov. 1 @Chicago Bears W, 26-23 OT 2020 STATISTICAL SNAPSHOT Nov. 8 @Tampa Bay Buccaneers W, 38-3 NFL Regular Season Rankings In Parenthesis Nov. 15 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS W, 27-13 Saints NFL Avg. Nov. 22 ATLANTA FALCONS W, 24-9 Record 12-4 8-8 Nov. 29 @Denver Broncos W, 31-3 Scoring 482 (5) 396.6 Opponent Scoring 337 (5) 396.6 Dec. 6 @Atlanta Falcons W, 21-16 First Downs 367 (12) 347.1 Dec. 13 @Philadelphia Eagles L, 21-24 Total Off. 376.4 (9) 359.0 Rushing Off. 141.6 (6) 118.9 Dec. 20 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS L, 29-32 Passing Off. 234.9 (19) 240.2 Dec. 25 MINNESOTA VIKINGS W, 52-33 Total Giveaways 17 (6t) 20.7 Sacks Allowed/Yards Lost 29/187 (11t) 35.5/235.7 Jan. 3 @Carolina Panthers W, 33-7 Possession Average 31:43 (3) 30:00 Total Def. 310.9 (4) 359.0 Rushing Def. 93.9 (6) 118.9 POSTSEASON Passing Def. 217.0 (5) 240.2 Date Opponent Time/Network/Result Kickoff Return Avg. 25.4 (6) 22.5 Punt Return Avg. 10.2 (9) 8.8 Jan. 10 CHICAGO BEARS W, 21-9 Turnover Margin +9 (3t) Even Jan. 17 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS L, 20-30 Penalties/Yards 98/1,005 89.9/778.6 Def. Interceptions/yards ret. 18/196 (1t) 12.3/145.7 Total Takeaways 26 (3t) 20.7 Defensive Sacks/Yards 45/287(8) 35.5/235.7 Saints 2020 Season In Review 2 That turned the normally deafening Mercedes-Benz Super- GAME SUMMARIES dome into more of an echo chamber. When kicker Wil Lutz’s field goal put New Orleans up 17-7, the squeaking of WEEK 1: Saints 34, Buccaneers 23; September 13, pulleys could be heard as the net behind the goalpost was 2020 @ Mercedes-Benz Superdome – Drew Brees and lowered. Tom Brady, the two leading passers in National Football Brady compared the environment to “a scrimmage.” League history, couldn't muster vintage performances in the first National Football League game featuring two start- “But obviously, it counts,” he added. “We’ve got to look ing quarterbacks in their 40s. each other in the eye and all work harder, put more urgen- cy on the things we have to do.” But while Brees avoided game-turning mishaps with an offense he's led since 2006, Brady suffered some costly Tight end Jared Cook caught five passes for 80 yards for cross-ups with his new team. Brady threw two interceptions New Orleans, highlighted by a 46-yard reception down the in his Tampa Bay debut, Alvin Kamara scored touchdowns left side that set up Sanders' touchdown. Brady was 15 of running and receiving, and the New Orleans Saints beat 28 passing for 157 yards and one touchdown through the the Buccaneers 34-23. first 54 minutes. He padded his numbers in garbage time, finishing with 239 yards and two touchdowns, the second “I made some just bad, terrible turnovers,” Brady said. "I scoring strike going to wide receiver Mike Evans with 2:41 obviously have got to do a lot better job.” left. The first of Brady’s interceptions led to Kamara’s six-yard Tampa Bay's opening drive was promising for Brady, who touchdown run. The second pick thrown by the new, 43- the Bucs hope can lead them to their first playoff appear- year-old Bucs QB — who left the Patriots in free agency ance since the 2007 season. after 20 years and six Super Bowl triumphs — was re- turned 36 yards for a touchdown by Janoris Jenkins. He lofted a 26-yard completion to wide receiver Chris God- win along the right sideline, drew a pass interference pen- “Win the turnover battle like we did, have a turnover for a alty with a 22-yard attempt to Evans and capped the drive touchdown, you’re a 90-something percent winner in those with a 2-yard keeper, after which he emphatically spiked games,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. ”Just a lot of the ball. things happened in that game that despite how you play, those things can help you win games. The energy and ef- It was a fleeting, triumphant moment for the Bucs in a fort I was pleased with.” game defined more, in the end, by their new star's mis- takes. The 41-year-old Brees passed for 160 yards and two TDs. He did not turn the ball over and took only one sack. His FORTUITOUS MOVES first TD pass was a dump-off to Kamara from 12 yards out. The Saints saw two players activated from the practice In the fourth quarter he hit free-agent signing Emmanuel squad come up with big special teams plays. DL Margus Sanders for a 5-yard score. Hunt blocked a 54-yard field goal attempt. WR Bennie “I’d probably say I played awful,” Brees said. “Certainly, we Fowler recovered a muffed kickoff at the Tampa Bay 18 in are used to playing at a much higher level offensively and the fourth quarter, setting up a 21-yard field goal that made especially in the passing game. So, we’ll get that back on it 34-17 with 8:01 left. track.” Still, Brees found satisfaction in beating Brady's Bucs. WEEK 2: Las Vegas Raiders 34, New Orleans Saints “Of course, it’s significant and it’s unique and I’d be lying to 24; September 21, 2020 @ Allegiant Stadium – After you if I said to you it didn’t mean a little bit more," Brees being in control of the contest with a 17-7 lead, the Saints said. "I've got so much love and respect for (Brady) and got caught in a hailstorm of a comeback in the desert debut what he’s able to accomplish. of the NFL in Las Vegas, where the Raiders scored 24 con- secutive points in the final three quarters in a loss that “We played against each other in college, for goodness dropped New Orleans to 1-1. Despite struggles on offense, sake, in 1999,” Brees continued. “At the end of the day, I New Orleans seemed to be inching back early in the fourth think we’d both pinch ourselves if you told us back then we’d have the opportunity to play this long and be a part of quarter when CB P.J. Williams recovered a fumble by so many great teams and moments, historic moments.” Raiders QB Derek Carr at the Saints 40. But New Orleans couldn’t get past the Las Vegas 47 and Carr engineered a Few witnessed this latest bit of history in person, with gov- ten-play, 89-yard drive that ended with a 20-yard rushing ernment leaders and the Saints organization having agreed TD by RB Jalen Richard. that no fans should attend the opener amid the coronavirus pandemic. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE Saints 2020 Season In Review 3 Taysom Hill fumbled on an option play as it was forced GAME SUMMARIES and it was recovered by Green Bay LB Z’Darius Smith, setting up a 49-yard field goal by K Mason Crosby. On CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE-WEEK 2 AT LAS Green Bay’s final drive, with the Packers up 30-27 and VEGAS third-and-three, LB Demario Davis jumped offsides, giving QB Aaron Rodgers a free play. On it, CB Janoris Jenkins Carr completed 28-of-38 passes for 282 yards, three touch- was assessed a defensive pass interference penalty at the downs, zero interceptions and a 120.7 passer rating, de- New Orleans one-yard line, exhausting New Orleans’ spite being sacked three times. hopes for a comeback. New Orleans held Las Vegas scoreless on their first two Kamara had a huge performance, setting career-highs in offensive possessions, including one late in the first quarter both receiving yardage and touchdown receptions with 13 where DT David Onyemata sacked Carr on third down to grabs for 139 yards and two scores, adding 58 rushing get the defense off the field. But the momentum quickly yards on 12 carries for 187 total yards from scrimmage. changed when the Raiders forced a three-and-out. Carr led Brees completed 29-of-36 passes for 288 yards with three Las Vegas on a 11-play, 63-yard drive that ended with a touchdown throws, zero interceptions and a 127.8 passer three-yard touchdown pass to FB Alec Ingold.