2019 New Orleans Saints season


The 2019 season was the New Orleans Saints' 53rd in the National Football League, their 44th hosting games at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and their 13th under head coach Sean Payton.
The Saints matched their 13–3 record, after losing in the NFC Championship to the Los Angeles Rams, which included a controversial pass interference no-call on the Rams defense, and attempted to make it to the Super Bowl for the first time since Super Bowl XLIV. Despite losing Drew Brees to a thumb injury for Weeks 3 to 7, the Saints went 5–0 in his absence under backup Teddy Bridgewater and won the NFC South for the third consecutive season after beating their division rival Atlanta Falcons on Thanksgiving night. The Saints matched their record from last year after defeating their divisional rivals Carolina Panthers in week 17, sweeping them for the second time in three seasons, but were not able to secure a first round bye due to a three way tiebreaker with the San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers. This was the first time in franchise history the Saints posted back-to-back seasons with 12 or more wins. They hosted the Minnesota Vikings in the wild card round, the fifth meeting between the two teams in the playoffs. It was the most they've ever played one team in NFL postseason history. However, for the third straight time in three years, the Saints were eliminated in the playoffs, losing 20–26 to the Vikings in overtime.

Off-season

Resigned

New signings

Departures

NFL Draft

Notes

Final roster

Preseason

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordGame siteNFL.com
recap
1Minnesota VikingsL 25–340–1Mercedes-Benz Superdome
2at Los Angeles ChargersW 19–171–1Dignity Health Sports Park
3at New York JetsW 28–132–1MetLife Stadium
4Miami DolphinsL 13–162–2Mercedes-Benz Superdome

Regular season

Schedule

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Houston Texans

The game was an offensive shootout. The Saints started slow and fell behind 14–3 at halftime. The Saints offense took off in the third quarter and they outscored the Texans 24-7 in the next 29 minutes of the game. With less than one minute to play, Texans QB Deshaun Watson threw a go-ahead touchdown to WR Kenny Stills; however, the Saints and Brees were able to move the ball down the field and K Wil Lutz drilled a 58–yard field goal to lead the team to victory. This was the first time the Saints won their season opener since the 2013 season.

Week 2: at Los Angeles Rams

In a rematch of last year's controversial NFC Championship game, Drew Brees collided with Aaron Donald while attempting to pass; the hit broke Brees' thumb, forcing him out of action for the next five weeks following surgery. In place of the injured Brees, Teddy Bridgewater was held to just 165 yards passing. On defense, Cam Jordan strip sacked Jared Goff and returned a fumble for 87 yards for a touchdown, which was controversially overturned.
The loss dropped the Saints to 1-1. After the game, head coach Sean Payton agreed to a 5-year contract extension.

Week 3: at Seattle Seahawks

In a surprising upset on the road against Seattle without starting QB Drew Brees, the Saints led 27–7 going into the fourth quarter thanks to two touchdown passes from quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, in addition to touchdowns off a punt return and a fumble recovery. The Seahawks scored 20 points in the final period, but a short touchdown run from Alvin Kamara proved the difference between the two teams, to move the Saints to 2–1 on the season.

Week 4: vs. Dallas Cowboys

The Saints found yet another way to win a game without star QB Drew Brees and with Teddy Bridgewater at the helm, as kicker Wil Lutz scored four field goals. It was the first Saints win since week 8 of the 1998 season to feature no touchdowns.

Week 5: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bridgewater improved to 3–0 as a starter with a strong performance throwing for 314 yards and 4 touchdowns. The Saints defense sacked Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston 6 times in the win.

Week 6: at Jacksonville Jaguars

In a defensive game, both offenses struggled to score as the game was tied 3–3 at halftime and 6–6 at the end of the third quarter. A touchdown pass from Bridgewater to Jared Cook proved to be the difference.
With the win, the Saints improved to 5–1 and Bridgewater improved to 4–0 as a starter. RB Alvin Kamara and Cook would suffer injuries within the game.

Week 7: at Chicago Bears

The Saints dominated the Bears with a strong performance on both sides of the football. Bridgewater threw for 281 yards and 3 touchdowns. RB Latavius Murray, filling in for an injured Alvin Kamara, rushed for over 100 yards on the ground. The Saints stifled the Bears offense for the majority of the game before giving up two touchdowns in garbage time. The win improved the Saints to 6–1 and Bridgewater to 5–0, setting the stage for Drew Brees comeback.

Week 8: vs. Arizona Cardinals

With Alvin Kamara still sidelined, Drew Brees returned after missing five weeks following thumb surgery. He threw for 373 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Saints dominated the Cardinals to improve to 7–1.

Week 10: vs. Atlanta Falcons

In a shocking home defeat, the Saints were defeated by the 1–7 Falcons. Drew Brees had a miserable day, being sacked 6 times by an inspired Falcons pass-rush; they had recorded just 7 prior to this game.
The loss dropped them to 7–2. The Saints were flagged 10 times for 120 yards in the loss.

Week 11: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Brees and the Saints bounced back from the previous week. He threw 3 touchdowns in the game. The Saints defense intercepted Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston 4 times, including a pick-6 by safety Marcus Williams to ice the game in the 4th quarter. The win improved the Saints to 8–2, and they swept the Buccaneers for the first time since 2015 New Orleans Saints season||2015.

Week 12: vs. Carolina Panthers

The game was close al the way. Both Brees and Panthers QB Kyle Allen played well with 3 touchdown passes. After benefiting from a pass interference penalty, the Panthers were set up with a 1st-and-goal at the Saints’ 5, but the Saints defense held strong, and kicker Joey Slye missed a chip-shot field goal. Brees quickly moved the Saints down the field and Wil Lutz made the game winner from 36 yards out.
With the win, the Saints improved to 9-2, ensuring a winning record for the third straight season.

Week 13: at Atlanta Falcons

Thanksgiving Day Games
The Saints played an excellent game and got revenge on their division rivals. The Saints defense played one of its best games of the season with 9 sacks of Matt Ryan and forced 3 takeaways. Taysom Hill blocked a punt early, caught a touchdown pass and ran one in from 30 yards out.
With the win, the Saints clinched the NFC South title for the third straight season in franchise history.

Week 14: vs. San Francisco 49ers

In one of the NFL’s best games of 2019, Brees and 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo threw for a combined 698 yards and 9 touchdowns as the two teams traded blows all game long. Brees played his best game of the season with his 5 touchdowns against one of the league’s best pass defenses. Although Brees found Tre’Quan Smith late in the game to take a 46-45 lead, Garoppolo connected with TE George Kittle who ran past several Saints defenders on one of the iconic plays of the season. This set up Robbie Gould game winning field goal as time expired.
With the loss, the Saints fell to 10-3.

Week 15: vs. Indianapolis Colts

threw four touchdown passes, passing Peyton Manning for most career touchdown passes. His completion percentage of 96.67% set a new record for single-game completion percentage as the Saints demolished the Colts 34-7, improving to 11-3.

Week 16: at Tennessee Titans

The Saints started the game poorly, falling into an early 14-0 deficit. However, from there they scored 24 unanswered points to take the lead. With the Titans driving and only down 3, Kalif Raymond suffered a brutal hit by CJ Gardner-Johnson and lost a fumble; the hit was controversially not flagged.
The Saints improved to 12-3. Michael Thomas broke Marvin Harrison’s 18-year-old record for most receptions in a single season with 145. Alvin Kamara rushed for two touchdowns, his first since Week 3 and bringing his season total to four.

Week 17: at Carolina Panthers

The Saints dominated the Panthers to end their regular season. Kamara rushes for 2 more touchdowns and Brees threw three against a bad Panthers defense. Linebacker AJ Klein intercepted an errant pass by Panthers QB Will Grier and returned it for a 14-yard pick six.
The win improved the Saints to 13-3. However, they were unable to clinch a first-round bye thanks to victories by the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers.

Standings

Division

Conference

Postseason

Schedule

Game summaries

NFC Wild Card Playoffs: vs. (#6) Minnesota Vikings

With this loss, the Saints suffered their first one-and-done postseason campaign since 2010, their sixth straight playoff loss by one possession, their second straight overtime playoff loss and became the first-ever 13-3 team to lose in the Wild Card round.