| |
Feb. 12, 2008
Overview: The Saints were unable to recapture the magic of 2006, when they came one step short of a Super Bowl appearance, and instead missed the playoffs with a disappointing 7-9 campaign. An 0-4 start and three losses in their final five games quelled a midseason surge, though New Orleans appeared to be in good postseason position at 7-7 with two weeks remaining. Drew Brees set a league record for most completions in a season while leading an explosive offense, but the team’s deficiencies on defense were too much to overcome.
|
|
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Spread
|
Result
|
|
09/06/07
|
at Indianapolis
|
+5½
|
10-41
|
|
09/16/07
|
at Tampa Bay
|
-5
|
14-31
|
|
09/24/07
|
Tennessee
|
-4½
|
14-31
|
|
|
BYE WEEK
|
|
|
|
10/07/07
|
Carolina
|
-3½
|
13-16
|
|
10/14/07
|
at Seattle
|
+6
|
28-17
|
|
10/21/07
|
Atlanta
|
-9
|
22-16
|
|
10/28/07
|
at San Francisco
|
-2
|
31-10
|
|
11/04/07
|
Jacksonville
|
-3½
|
41-24
|
|
11/11/07
|
St. Louis
|
-10½
|
29-37
|
|
11/18/07
|
at Houston
|
+1½
|
10-23
|
|
11/25/07
|
at Carolina
|
-3
|
31-6
|
|
12/02/07
|
Tampa Bay
|
-6
|
23-27
|
|
12/10/07
|
at Atlanta
|
-4
|
34-14
|
|
12/16/07
|
Arizona
|
-4
|
31-24
|
|
12/23/07
|
Philadelphia
|
-3
|
23-38
|
|
12/30/07
|
at Chicago
|
+1
|
25-33
|
|
Team MVP: Without question, it’s Brees. He was helped by his offensive line, which allowed the fewest sacks in the league, but Brees’ accuracy and smart play drove the Saints to the brink of a return trip to the playoffs. Of quarterbacks who had more than 260 attempts, only Patriots QB Tom Brady had a higher completion percentage, and Brees led the league in attempts, throwing 74 more times than the second-place finisher, Brady. Brees accomplished this feat despite a receiving corps that was prone to drops.
Biggest surprise: New Orleans was stunningly bad at the start of the season, losing its first four games because of the uncharacteristic sloppiness of Brees and a defensive line that was unable to pressure opposing quarterbacks and relieve its struggling secondary. Brees threw nine interceptions and only one touchdown in his first four outings, and the defensive line had only one sack in the same span.
Biggest disappointment: Second-year RB Reggie Bush led the Saints in rushing yards and was second in receptions, but he lacked explosiveness — his longest run was 22 yards and his longest catch went for 25 — and he struggled to find the endzone, scoring just six touchdowns. One reason for his problems may have been a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament, which kept him out of New Orleans’ final four games. Several reports said he had been playing through the ailment for weeks before he was shut down.
Offseason outlook: General manager Mickey Loomis and head coach Sean Payton need to address the Saints’ defense, whether it be by adding players at defensive tackle, middle linebacker or cornerback. New Orleans selected just one cornerback in the drafts from 2003-06, and it came in the sixth round. The squad may have to spend heavily on a free-agent cornerback, as well as use an early draft choice on one to rebuild the broken secondary.
|
|
