New Orleans Saints Football

Saints Alive in NFL Super Bowl Chase

The New Orleans Saints head into November fired up and ready to take on the best the NFL can throw at them. With a 8-0 record going into November, a league-leading 238 points on offense (an astounding nearly-40 point per game average), and the league’s #1 passer safely protected behind a rock-solid line of scrimmage, Head Coach Sean Payton continues to have high hopes for a well-balanced team that many experts feel will go all the way and finally bring that elusive championship trophy home to the Crescent City.

Led by All-Pro quarterback Drew Brees, who topped the league in key passing statistics in 2008, the Saints have won all of their regular season games in convincing fashion with 45-27, 48-22, 27-7 and 24-10, 48-27, 46-34 and 35-27 victories over Detroit, Philadelphia, Buffalo, both New York teams, Miami and Atlanta respectively. November’s home schedule at the Louisiana Superdome pits the boys in black and gold against their divisional rival Carolina Panthers on Sunday the 8th. Then, on November 30 the Saints face what may be the toughest test of their season when they go up against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. (A complete schedule of the season’s remaining home games is below.)

Last season Brees became only the second quarterback in NFL history and the first in the National Football Conference to pass for over 5,000 yards in a season, falling only fifteen yards short of Dan Marino’s 1984 record. He also led the league in passing attempts and completions and tied for the league lead with 34 touchdown passes, en route to being named Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year and selected for his second Pro Bowl appearance. In ten of the sixteen games played in 2008 he passed for over 300 yards.

Backing up Brees, should it become necessary, is veteran quarterback Mark Brunell, a fifteen-year veteran who has started in ten postseason games, including two AFC championship contests. Lining up as Brees’ primary targets are wide receivers Marquis Colston, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem and tight end Jeremy Shockey. In the backfield is a versatile trio of running backs, each capable of breaking through and scoringat will: Mike Bell, Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas.

On defense, linebackers Scott Fujita and Jonathan Vilma give an extra boost to a defensive line anchored by Charles Grant and Will Smith. Handling the kicking chores – again! – is 21-year veteran John Carney who returned to the team in ‘09 following an All-Pro season filling in for an injured Lawrence Tynes of the New York Giants.

For tickets and information log on to www.ticketmaster.com or call (504) 731-1700 or (1-800) 666-1700.

The home schedule for the Saints in 2009 is as follows:

2009 REGULAR SEASON HOME GAMES
Sunday, September 13	Detroit Lions	12 p.m.
Sunday, October 4	New York Jets	3:05 p.m.
Sunday, October 18	New York Giants	12 p.m.
Monday, November 2	Atlanta Falcons	7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 8	Carolina Panters	8:30 p.m.
Monday, November 30	New England Patriots	7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 19	Dallas Cowboys	7:20 p.m.
Sunday, December 27	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	12 p.m.