The2007 season was theNew Orleans Saints' 41st season in theNational Football League (NFL), their 32nd playing home games at theLouisiana Superdome and their second underhead coachSean Payton. The team tried to improve upon its 10–6 record in2006 and its third division title—the Saints' first in theNFC South. Their other two division titles were in the NFC West, prior to the league's 2002 realignment. After opening up the pre-season in thePro Football Hall of Fame Game against thePittsburgh Steelers on August 5, 2007, the Saints ended with a 3–2 pre-season record. The Saints opened the regular season with a nationally televised game against the defendingSuper Bowl XLI championIndianapolis Colts, but ultimately had a disappointing season, finishing 2007 with a 7–9 record and were officially eliminated from postseason contention for the first time since2005. The Saints also had no player make the Pro Bowl for the first time sincetheir 1–15 1980 season.^[1]

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The 2007 New Orleans Saints began their regular season in theannual Thursday night Kickoff game against the defending Super Bowl championIndianapolis Colts. In the first quarter, New Orleans trailed early asSuper Bowl XLI MVPPeyton Manning completed a 27-yard TD pass to WRMarvin Harrison for the score of the period. In the second quarter, the Saints managed to get their only touchdown of the game as DBJason David (a former Colt) returned a fumble 55 yards to the endzone. Afterwards, New Orleans took the lead with kickerOlindo Mare getting a 34-yard field goal. Indianapolis tied the game prior to halftime with kickerAdam Vinatieri nailing a 33-yard field goal. In the second half, the Colts dominated the rest of the game. During the third quarter, RBJoseph Addai got a 2-yard TD run, while Manning hooked up with WRReggie Wayne on a 29-yard TD pass. For the fourth quarter, Indianapolis wrapped up the game with Vinatieri getting a 33-yard field goal, Manning & Wayne hooking up with each other again on a 45-yard TD pass, and DBMatt Giordano returning an interception 83 yards for a touchdown.

With the loss, the Saints began the year at 0–1.

Q1 – IND – 1:36 – 27-yard TD pass fromPeyton Manning toMarvin Harrison (Adam Vinatieri kick) (IND 7–0)

Q2 – NO – 11:32 –Jason David 55-yard fumble return TD (Olindo Mare kick) (7–7)

Q2 – NO – 6:30 – Olindo Mare 34-yard FG (NO 10-7)

Q2 – IND – 0:45 – Adam Vinatieri 33-yard FG (10–10)

Q3 – IND – 9:45 –Joseph Addai 2-yard TD run (Vinatieri kick) (IND 17–10)

Q3 – IND – 6:11 – 29-yard TD pass from Peyton Manning toReggie Wayne (Vinatieri kick) (IND 24–10)

Q4 – IND – 14:12 – Adam Vinatieri 33-yard FG (IND 27–10)

Q4 – IND – 10:05 – 45-yard TD pass from Peyton Manning to Reggie Wayne (Vinatieri kick) (IND 34–10)

Q4 – IND – 0:55 –Matt Giordano 83-yard interception return TD (Vinatieri kick) (IND 41–10)

Following their season-opening loss to the Colts, the Saints flew toRaymond James Stadium for an NFC South duel with theTampa Bay Buccaneers. In the first quarter, New Orleans trailed early as Bucs RBCarnell "Cadillac" Williams got a 1-yard TD run for the only score of the period. In the second quarter, the Saints continued to struggle as Tampa Bay QBJeff Garcia hooked up with WRJoey Galloway on a 69-yard TD pass and a 24-yard pass.

In the third quarter, the Buccaneers extended their lead with Williams getting another 1-yard TD run. Afterwards, New Orleans finally got on the board with FBMike Karney getting a 1-yard TD run. However, in the fourth quarter, Tampa Bay closed out the game with kickerMatt Bryant's 27-yard field goal. The Saints got the final score of the game as QBDrew Brees completed a 4-yard TD pass to WRMarques Colston.

With the loss, the Saints fell to 0–2.

Trying to snap a two-game skid, the Saints played their Week 3 Monday night homeopener, as they played an interconference duel with theTennessee Titans. In the first quarter, New Orleans' struggles continued as Titans kickerRob Bironas nailed a 33-yard field goal, while QBVince Young completed a 35-yard TD pass to WRBrandon Jones. In the second quarter, the Saints managed to get the only score of the period as RBReggie Bush got a 1-yard TD run. In the third quarter, New Orleans took the lead with Bush getting another 1-yard TD run. However, Tennessee regained the lead with RBLenDale White's 1-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, the Titans took over as Young completed a 3-yard TD pass to TEBo Scaife, while DBVincent Fuller ended the game with an interception return of 61 yards for a touchdown. In the game, QBDrew Brees was 29 of 45 for 225 yards with 4 interceptions (3 of them coming from LBKeith Bulluck).

With the loss, the Saints entered their Bye Week at 0–3.

Coming off their bye week and still in search of their first win of the year, the Saints stayed at home at played a Week 5 divisional duel with theCarolina Panthers. In the first quarter, New Orleans trailed early as Panthers kickerJohn Kasay got a 23-yard field goal. The Saints responded with kickerOlindo Mare getting a 25-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Panthers retook the lead with Kasay's 35-yard field goal. New Orleans responded with Mare kicking a 28-yard field goal.

In the third quarter, the Saints took the lead with FBMike Karney getting a 2-yard TD run for the only score of the period. However, in the fourth quarter, Carolina came back to win with QBDavid Carr completing a 17-yard TD pass to WRSteve Smith, along with Kasay's 52-yard field goal as time ran out.

With the loss, the Saints fell to their first 0–4 start since 1996.

Scoring summary:

Q1 – NO – 12:38 –Pierre Thomas 5-yard fumble return (Olindo Mare kick) [NO 7-0 SEA]

Q2 – NO – 14:28 –Eric Johnson 3-yard pass fromDrew Brees (Olindo Mare kick) (13–86, 7:04) [NO 14-0 SEA]

Q2 – NO – 5:18 –Lance Moore 7-yard run (Olindo Mare kick) (6–66, 2:48) [NO 21-0 SEA]

Q2 – SEA – 2:16 –Ben Obomanu 17-yard pass fromMatt Hasselbeck (Josh Brown kick) (7–63 3:02) [NO 21-7 SEA]

Q2 – NO – 0:30 –Marques Colston 2-yard pass from Drew Brees (Olindo Mare kick) (9–80 1:46) [NO 28-7 SEA]

Q2 – SEA – 0:02 – Josh Brown 52-yard FG (4–38 0:28) [NO 28-10 SEA]

Q4 – SEA – 6:39 –Nate Burleson 22-yard pass from Matt Hasselbeck (Josh Brown kick) (6–80 1:31) [NO 28-17 SEA]

Coming off of their road win over the Seahawks, the Saints went home for a Week 7 divisional duel with theAtlanta Falcons. In the first quarter, New Orleans drew first blood as QBDrew Brees completed a 37-yard TD pass to WRDevery Henderson. The Falcons replied with former Saints kickerMorten Andersen getting a 38-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Atlanta took lead with Andersen kicking a 33-yard field goal, along with QBByron Leftwich completing a 9-yard TD pass to WRRoddy White.

In the third quarter, New Orleans regained the lead with rookie RBPierre Thomas getting a 24-yard TD run for the only score of the period. In the fourth quarter, the Falcons tried to rally as Andersen kicked a 21-yard field goal. The Saints sealed the win with Brees completing a 4-yard TD pass to RBReggie Bush, with Bush getting the 2-point conversion on the ground.

With the win, New Orleans improved to 2–4.

Coming off their divisional home win over the Falcons, the Saints flew toMonster Park for a Week 8 intraconference duel with theSan Francisco 49ers. In the first quarter, New Orleans drew first blood with QBDrew Brees completing a 17-yard TD pass to WRMarques Colston, along with kickerOlindo Mare getting a 26-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Saints continued their offensive revival with Brees completing a 2-yard TD pass to WRTerrance Copper, along with a 3-yard TD pass to Colston.

In the third quarter, the 49ers tried to come back as kickerJoe Nedney nailed a 29-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, New Orleans managed to put the game out of reach with Brees and Colston hooking up with each other one last time on a 15-yard TD pass. Afterwards, San Francisco's only response was by QBAlex Smith completing a 7-yard TD pass to TEVernon Davis.

With the win, the Saints improved to 3–4.

Coming off their road win over the 49ers, the Saints went home for a Week 9 interconference duel with theJacksonville Jaguars. In the first quarter, New Orleans drew first blood as kickerOlindo Mare managed to get a 46-yard field goal, while RBReggie Bush got a 1-yard TD run. The Jaguars responded with QBQuinn Gray completing an 80-yard TD pass to WRReggie Williams, along with former Saints kickerJohn Carney getting a 30-yard field goal. New Orleans responded with QBDrew Brees completing a 2-yard TD pass to Bush. However, Jacksonville immediately answered as RBMaurice Jones-Drew returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown to end the period. In the second quarter, the Saints regained the lead as Brees completed an 8-yard TD pass to WRLance Moore for the only score of the period.

In the third quarter, New Orleans increased its lead with CBMike McKenzie returning an interception 75 yards for a touchdown, while Brees completed a 4-yard TD pass to WRDavid Patten. In the fourth quarter, the Jaguars tried to come back as Gray completed a 15-yard TD pass to WRDennis Northcutt. The Saints closed out the game with Mare nailing a 34-yard field goal.

With the win, New Orleans improved to 4–4.

Coming off a 41–24 victory over the Jaguars, the Saints stayed home to face the winless St. Louis Rams. The Saints started the game with an impressive opening drive that culminated in a 7-yard burst byReggie Bush to give the Saints an early 7–0 lead. However, Rams running back Stephen Jackson answered with a 1-yard run of his own to tie the game toward the end of the 1st quarter.

Midway through the 2nd quarter, tight endRandy McMichael gave the Rams a 14–7 lead on a 2-yard pass from Jackson. Jeff Wilkins made it a two-score game with a 49-yard field goal three minutes later. The Saints went to the locker room trailing 17–7.

In the 2nd half, Wilkins kicked his 2nd field goal of the game, a 21-yard attempt, to increase the lead to 13. Toward the end of the 3rd, Isaac Bruce caught a 9-yard pass by Marc Bulger to make it a 27–7 lead, putting the Saints in danger of losing their first game since early October.

Drew Bennett added to the St. Louis lead by catching a three-yard pass by Bulger to give Bulger his second touchdown of the game, and to give St. Louis a surprising 34–7 lead.Drew Brees andBilly Miller hooked up for a 1-yard pass with 11:36 left to cut the lead to 34–13. The Saints then converted a two-point conversion on a Bush run, to make it 34–15. Aaron Stecker then scored on a two-yard run with 4:42 remaining to cut it to 34–21. This time, however, they failed on the two-point conversion. With 1:55 left, a Wilkins field goal made it 37–21. The Saints scored another touchdown with 37 seconds left, but their attempt to recover the ball from an onside kick failed, and the Rams held on to defeat the Saints 37–29, giving the Rams their first victory in 2007 and dropping the Saints to 4–5.

Hoping to rebound from their loss to the Rams, the Saints flew toReliant Stadium for a Week 11 interconference showdown with theHouston Texans.

In the first quarter, New Orleans got the early lead as kickerOlindo Mare managed to get a 52-yard field goal. However, the Texans took the lead with QBMatt Schaub completing a 73-yard TD pass to WRAndre Johnson. In the second quarter, the Saints regained the lead with QBDrew Brees completing a 6-yard TD pass to WRDevery Henderson. However, Houston retook the lead with Schaub completing a 10-yard TD pass to TEJoel Dreessen.

After a scoreless third quarter, the Texans sealed the win as kickerKris Brown nailed a 36-yarder, a 53-yarder, and a 23-yard field goal.

With the loss, New Orleans fell to 4–6. So far, all 6 of their losses came when they committed at least 2 turnovers in a game.

Trying to snap a two-game losing skid, the Saints flew toBank of America Stadium for a Week 12 NFC South rematch against theCarolina Panthers with second place on the line.

In the first quarter, New Orleans trailed early as Panthers kickerJohn Kasay managed to get a 45-yard field goal for the only score of the period. In the second quarter, the Saints took the lead with QBDrew Brees completing a 1-yard TD pass to TELance Moore, along with kickerOlindo Mare kicking a 46-yard field goal. Carolina ended the half as Kasay nailing a 29-yard field goal.

In the third quarter, New Orleans ran away with the game as Brees completed a 1-yard TD pass to WRBilly Miller, got an 8-yard TD run, and completed a 4-yard TD pass to WRMarques Colston.

With the win, the Saints improved to 5–6.

For Marques Colston, this marked his fifth-straight game of having at least 65 reception yards in one game.

Coming off their divisional road win over the Panthers, the Saints went home for a Week 13 NFC South rematch with theTampa Bay Buccaneers. In the first quarter, New Orleans trailed early with Buccaneers kickerMatt Bryant getting a 27-yard field goal. Afterwards, the Saints took the lead with QBDrew Brees completing a 4-yard TD pass to WRTerrance Copper. In the second quarter, Tampa Bay regained the lead with QBLuke McCown completing a 1-yard TD pass to TEAnthony Becht, along with Bryant nailing a 31-yard field goal. Afterwards, New Orleans retook the lead with Brees completing a 45-yard TD pass to WRDevery Henderson.

In the third quarter, the Buccaneers regained the lead with RBEarnest Graham getting a 25-yard TD run. Later, the Saints retook the lead with CBMike McKenzie returning an interception 53 yards for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, New Orleans increased its lead with DEWill Smith taking McCown down in his endzone for a safety. However, an attempted double reverse resulted in a lost fumble. It allowed Tampa Bay to get into position for the win, as McCown completed a 4-yard TD pass to TEJerramy Stevens.

With the loss, the Saints fell to 5–7.

Hoping to rebound from their divisional home loss to the Buccaneers, the Saints flew to theGeorgia Dome for a Week 14 Monday Night NFC South rematch with theAtlanta Falcons. In the first quarter, New Orleans drew first blood as QBDrew Brees completed a 25-yard TD pass to WRDavid Patten. The Falcons responded with QBChris Redman completing a 33-yard TD pass to WRRoddy White. In the second quarter, the Saints started to pull away as kickerOlindo Mare managed to get a 23-yard field goal, while Brees completed a 15-yard TD pass to WRMarques Colston.

In the third quarter, New Orleans pulled away as Brees hooked up with Colston again on a 2-yard TD pass, while SafetyRoman Harper returned an interception 31 yards for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, Atlanta got their last strike of the game as Redman completed a 13-yard TD pass to WRMichael Jenkins. The Saints wrapped up their victory with Mare nailing a 36-yard field goal.

With their second-straight season-sweeping win over the Falcons, New Orleans improved to 6–7.

Coming off their Monday night divisional road win over the Falcons, the Saints went home for a Week 15 intraconference duel with theArizona Cardinals. In the first quarter, New Orleans trialed early as Cardinals QBKurt Warner completed a 1-yard TD pass to TETroy Bienemann. The Saints responded with QBDrew Brees completing a 19-yard TD pass to WRMarques Colston. In the second quarter, New Orleans took the lead with RBAaron Stecker getting a 1-yard TD run. Arizona tied the game with Warner completing an 18-yard TD pass to WRLarry Fitzgerald, yet the Saints regained the lead prior to halftime with Brees completing a 32-yard TD pass to WRDavid Patten.

In the third quarter, New Orleans increased its lead with Stecker getting a 6-yard TD run. The Cardinals responded with Warner completing a 3-yard TD pass to TEBen Patrick. The Saints replied with kickerMartín Gramática getting a 31-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Arizona tried to rally as kickerNeil Rackers nailed a 26-yard field goal. New Orleans' defense held on for the victory.

With the win, the Saints improved to 7–7. At this point, Drew Brees had thrown 10 touchdowns and only 1 interception over the past four games.

Coming off the win against the Cardinals. The Saints stayed home for a Week 16 matchup against the Eagles, who they beat at home twice in the previous season, including in the playoffs. In the first quarter, the Eagles scored first as Kevin Curtis recovered a McNabb (38-yard run) fumble in the end zone putting Philly up 7–0, while the Saints responded with RB Aaron Stecker scoring 2 TD's (3-yard run & 1-yard run) to put the Saints up 14–7. The lead did not last long, as Eagles RB Correll Buckhalter scored a 20 yard TD run, following the Eagles' next possession as McNabb completed a 30-yard TD pass to Reggie Brown as the Eagles went up 21–14 after both Gramatica and Akers traded field goals apiece in the 2nd quarter.

In the third quarter, the Eagles took advantage of the goal line stand and capped a 99-yard touchdown drive with McNabb completing a 9-yard touchdown pass to Greg Lewis. In the 4th quarter, the Saints tried to rally back with M. Gramatica kicking 35- and 26-yard field goals. The Eagles sealed the game with Kevin Curtis hauling in a 9-yard touchdown catch, allowing them to get the Saints back for the previous season.

With the loss, the Saints fell to 7–8 but barely kept their playoff hopes alive when theWashington Redskins defeated theMinnesota Vikings 32–21 Sunday night.

Coming off that home loss against the Eagles, the Saints in Week 17 travel to Soldier Field for a NFC Championship rematch from 2006 Conference against the Bears. New Orleans coming in this game needing a win and both losses by the Redskins & Vikings to clinch the final playoff spot in the NFC Playoff race. New Orleans trails right away in the 1st quarter as Bears K Robbie Gould connecting a 39-yard field goal, along withKyle Orton completing a 19-yard pass to Mark Bradley for a 10–0 lead. As the Saints managed to get on the board in the second quarter with Drew Brees completing a 3-yard Touchdown pass to Marques Colston. The Bears continue to roll with Orton hooking a 9-yard TD to Bernard Berrian. New Orleans responds with Drew Brees connecting to M. Colston for a 21-yard touchdown reception. Both the Bears & Saints then closed out the first half with Orton completing a 55-yard TD pass to D. Hester, Along with Saints K Martin Gramatica kicks a 48-yard Field Goal.

In the third quarter the Saints continue to fall behind with Devin Hester returning a 64-yard punt for a touchdown. Then the Bears in the 4th quarter add on more points recording a Safety due to Jahri Evans being penalized in the end zone. While Drew Brees managed to hooked up to Pierre Thomas for an 11-yard touchdown strike (along with the 2 pt conversion). Afterwards the Saints failed to recover the onside kick allowing Chicago to preserve the win.

With the loss, the Saints fell to 7–9 and were eliminated from postseason contention.

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