2015 New Orleans Saints season

2015 New Orleans Saints season
Head coach Sean Payton
General manager Mickey Loomis
Owner Tom Benson
Home field Mercedes-Benz Superdome
Results
Record 7–9
Division place 3rd NFC South
Playoff finish Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers Cameron Jordan (DE)
Uniform

The 2015 New Orleans Saints season was the franchise's 49th season in the National Football League, the 40th to host games at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and the ninth under head coach Sean Payton. On November 16, 2015, the Saints hired Dennis Allen to replace the fired Rob Ryan. However, the Saints still missed the playoffs for the 2nd consecutive season. The Saints set a new league record for the most passing touchdowns allowed with 45 and were considered by some to be the worst defensive team in recent NFL history.

2015 draft class

Main article: 2015 NFL draft
2015 New Orleans Saints Draft
Round Selection Player Position College
1 13 Andrus Peat OT Stanford
31 Stephone Anthony ILB Clemson
2 44 Hau'oli Kikaha OLB Washington
3 75 Garrett Grayson QB Colorado State
78 P.J. Williams CB Florida State
5 148 Davis Tull OLB Chattanooga
154 Tyeler Davison DT Fresno State
167 Damian Swann CB Georgia
7 230 Marcus Murphy RB Missouri
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
  • Defensive Coordinator – Dennis Allen
  • Defensive Line – Bill Johnson
  • Inside Linebackers – Joe Vitt
  • Outside Linebackers – Brian Young
  • Secondary – Wesley McGriff
  • Defensive Assistant – Marcus Ungaro
  • Defensive Assistant – James Willis

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 Game site NFL.com
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 Game site NFL.com
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 FedEx Field 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

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: at Arizona Cardinals

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

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
  • ARI – Andre Ellington 1-yard run (Chandler Catanzaro kick), 11:03. Cardinals 14–3. Drive: 5 plays, 88 yards, 3:04.
  • NO – Brandon Coleman 12-yard pass from Drew Brees (Zach Hocker kick), 5:14. Cardinals 14–10. Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards, 5:49.
Third quarter
  • NO – Zach Hocker 23-yard field goal, 12:01. Cardinals 14–13. Drive: 5 plays, 71 yards, 2:59.
  • ARI – Chandler Catanzaro 43-yard field goal, 0:04. Cardinals 17–13. Drive: 5 plays, 35 yards, 2:11.
Fourth quarter
  • NO – Zach Hocker 45-yard field goal, 12:24. Cardinals 17–16. Drive: 9 plays, 53 yards, 2:40.
  • ARI – Darren Fells 17-yard pass from Carson Palmer (Chandler Catanzaro kick), 9:48. Cardinals 24–16. Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards, 2:36.
  • NO – Zach Hocker 33-yard field goal, 6:45. Cardinals 24–19. Drive: 7 plays, 65 yards, 3:03.
  • ARI – David Johnson 55-yard pass from Carson Palmer (Chandler Catanzaro kick), 1:33. Cardinals 31–19. Drive: 2 plays, 57 yards, 0:16.

Top passers
  • NO – Drew Brees – 30/48, 355 yards, TD, INT
  • ARI – Carson Palmer – 19/32, 132 yards, 3 TD
Top rushers
  • NO – Mark Ingram – 9 rushes, 24 yards
  • ARI – Andre Ellington – 12 rushes, 69 yards, TD
Top receivers
  • NO – Mark Ingram – 8 rec, 98 yards
  • ARI – Larry Fitzgerald – 6 rec, 87 yards
Turnovers
  • NO – 1
  • ARI – 1

Week 2: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

First quarter
  • TB – Kyle Brindza 55 yard field goal, 0:45. Buccaneers 3–0. Drive: 5 plays, 4 yards, 3:13.
Second quarter
  • NO – Mark Ingram 11 yard run (Zach Hocker kick), 1:23. Saints 7–3. Drive: 7 plays, 58 yards, 3:02.
  • TB – Vincent Jackson 15 yard pass from Jameis Winston (Kyle Brindza kick), 0:12. Buccaneers 10–7. Drive: 6 plays, 63 yards, 1:11.
Third quarter
  • TB – Jameis Winston 1 yard run (Kyle Brindza kick), 13:02. Buccaneers 17–7. Drive: 4 plays, 80 yards, 1:58.
  • TB – Kyle Brindza 35 yard field goal, 6:04. Buccaneers 20–7. Drive: 10 plays, 31 yards, 5:10.
  • TB – Kyle Brindza 22 yard field goal, 2:20. Buccaneers 23–7. Drive: 5 plays, 57 yards, 1:44.
Fourth quarter
  • NO – Austin Johnson 1 yard run (two-point pass conversion failed), 10:17. Buccaneers 23–13. Drive: 14 plays, 80 yards, 7:03.
  • NO – Willie Snead 16 yard pass from Drew Brees, 7:15. Buccaneers 23–19. Drive: 2 plays, 30 yards, 0:43.
  • TB – Kyle Brindza 30 yard field goal, 1:51. Buccaneers 26–19. Drive: 5 plays, 21 yards, 1:07.

Top passers
  • TB – Jameis Winston – 14/21, 207 yards, TD
  • NO – Drew Brees – 24/38, 255 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers
  • TB – Doug Martin – 21 rushes, 78 yards
  • NO – Mark Ingram – 16 rushes, 53 yards, TD
Top receivers
Turnovers
  • TB – 2
  • NO – 3

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
1 2 34Total
Saints 3 7 6622
Panthers 0 10 10727

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter

Top passers
  • NO –
  • CAR –
Top rushers
  • NO –
  • CAR –
Top receivers
  • NO –
  • CAR –
Top tacklers
  • NO –
  • CAR –

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
1 2 34OTTotal
Cowboys 3 7 37020
Saints 7 0 67626

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter

Top passers
  • DAL –
  • NO –
Top rushers
  • DAL –
  • NO –
Top receivers
  • DAL –
  • NO –
Top tacklers
  • DAL –
  • NO –

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
1 2 34Total
Saints 7 0 3717
Eagles 0 10 161339

at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter

Top passers
  • NO –
  • PHI –
Top rushers
  • NO –
  • PHI –
Top receivers
  • NO –
  • PHI –
Top tacklers
  • NO –
  • PHI –

Week 6: vs. Atlanta Falcons

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

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter

Top passers
  • ATL –
  • NO –
Top rushers
  • ATL –
  • NO –
Top receivers
  • ATL –
  • NO –
Top tacklers
  • ATL –
  • NO –

Week 7: at Indianapolis Colts

Week Seven: New Orleans Saints at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
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

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter

Top passers
  • NO –
  • IND –
Top rushers
  • NO –
  • IND –
Top receivers
  • NO –
  • IND –
Top tacklers
  • NO –
  • IND –

Week 8: vs. New York Giants

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

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter

Top passers
  • NYG –
  • NO –
Top rushers
  • NYG –
  • NO –
Top receivers
  • NYG –
  • NO –
Top tacklers
  • NYG –
  • NO –

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
1 2 34OTTotal
Titans 10 7 38634
Saints 14 7 07028

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter

Top passers
  • TEN –
  • NO –
Top rushers
  • TEN –
  • NO –
Top receivers
  • TEN –
  • NO –
Top tacklers
  • TEN –
  • NO –

Week 10: at Washington Redskins

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

at FedEx Field, 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

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter

Top passers
  • NO –
  • WAS –
Top rushers
  • NO –
  • WAS –
Top receivers
  • NO –
  • WAS –
Top tacklers
  • NO –
  • WAS –

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
1 2 34Total
Saints 0 6 006
Texans 14 0 10024

at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter

Top passers
  • NO –
  • HOU –
Top rushers
  • NO –
  • HOU –
Top receivers
  • NO –
  • HOU –
Top tacklers
  • NO –
  • HOU –

Week 13: vs. Carolina Panthers

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

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter

Top passers
  • CAR –
  • NO –
Top rushers
  • CAR –
  • NO –
Top receivers
  • CAR –
  • NO –
Top tacklers
  • CAR –
  • NO –

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
1 2 34Total
Saints 7 10 7024
Buccaneers 0 10 0717

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter

Top passers
  • NO –
  • TB –
Top rushers
  • NO –
  • TB –
Top receivers
  • NO –
  • TB –
Top tacklers
  • NO –
  • TB –

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
1 2 34Total
Lions 7 14 7735
Saints 3 0 71727

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter

Top passers
  • DET –
  • NO –
Top rushers
  • DET –
  • NO –
Top receivers
  • DET –
  • NO –
Top tacklers
  • DET –
  • NO –

Week 16: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

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

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter

Top passers
  • JAX –
  • NO –
Top rushers
  • JAX –
  • NO –
Top receivers
  • JAX –
  • NO –
Top tacklers
  • JAX –
  • NO –

Week 17: at Atlanta Falcons

Week Seventeen: New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
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

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter

Top passers
  • NO –
  • ATL –
Top rushers
  • NO –
  • ATL –
Top receivers
  • NO –
  • ATL –
Top tacklers
  • NO –
  • ATL –

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

# 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 playoffs
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. 1 2 Green Bay finished ahead of Seattle based on head-to-head victory.
  2. 1 2 3 4 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. 1 2 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

    External links

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