2008 New Orleans Saints season

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2008 New Orleans Saints season
Owner
Louisiana Superdome
Results
Record8–8
Division place4th NFC South
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersDrew Brees (QB)
Jammal Brown (OT)
AP All-ProsDrew Brees (2nd team)
The Saints line up on defense at the Kansas City Chiefs on November 16 in week 11

The

Louisiana Superdome and their third under head coach Sean Payton. The Saints improved on their 7–9 record from the 2007 season with an 8-8 record, however, they would miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season. This was the only season under Drew Brees that they finished last in the division. Despite this, Brees became just the second quarterback to throw for over 5,000 passing yards and won the NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award
.

The Saints played the AFC West this season, beating three out of the four teams in that division. They lost to the Denver Broncos, but won against the San Diego Chargers, Oakland Raiders, and Kansas City Chiefs.

Offseason

NFL Draft

2008 New Orleans Saints draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 7 Sedrick Ellis  Defensive tackle USC
2 40 Tracy Porter  Cornerback Indiana
5 144 DeMario Pressley  Defensive tackle North Carolina State
5 164 Carl Nicks * 
Offensive tackle
Nebraska
6 178 Taylor Mehlhaff  Placekicker Wisconsin
7 237 Adrian Arrington  Wide receiver Michigan
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[1]

Personnel

Staff

2008 New Orleans Saints staff

Front office

  • Owner/president – Tom Benson
  • Owner/executive vice president – Rita Benson LeBlanc
  • Executive vice president/general manager – Mickey Loomis
  • Director of football administration – Khai Harley
  • Director of pro scouting – Ryan Pace
  • Director of college scouting – Rick Reiprish

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Head strength and conditioning – Dan Dalrymple
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Adam Bailey

Roster

2008 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, 19 inactive, 7 practice squad

Preseason

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 August 7 Arizona Cardinals W 24–10 1–0
University of Phoenix Stadium
Recap
2 August 16 Houston Texans L 27–31 1–1
Louisiana Superdome
Recap
3 August 23 Cincinnati Bengals W 13–0 2–1
Paul Brown Stadium
Recap
4 August 28 Miami Dolphins L 10–14 2–2 Louisiana Superdome Recap

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 24–20 1–0
Louisiana Superdome
Recap
2 September 14 at Washington Redskins L 24–29 1–1
Fedex Field
Recap
3 September 21 at Denver Broncos L 32–34 1–2
Invesco Field
Recap
4 September 28 San Francisco 49ers W 31–17 2–2 Louisiana Superdome Recap
5 October 6 Minnesota Vikings L 27–30 2–3 Louisiana Superdome Recap
6 October 12 Oakland Raiders W 34–3 3–3 Louisiana Superdome Recap
7 October 19 at Carolina Panthers L 7–30 3–4 Bank of America Stadium Recap
8 October 26 San Diego Chargers W 37–32 4–4 United Kingdom Wembley Stadium (London) Recap
9 Bye
10 November 9 at Atlanta Falcons L 20–34 4–5 Georgia Dome Recap
11 November 16 at Kansas City Chiefs W 30–20 5–5 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
12 November 24 Green Bay Packers W 51–29 6–5 Louisiana Superdome Recap
13 November 30 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 20–23 6–6 Raymond James Stadium Recap
14 December 7 Atlanta Falcons W 29–25 7–6 Louisiana Superdome Recap
15 December 11 at Chicago Bears L 24–27 7–7 Soldier Field Recap
16 December 21 at Detroit Lions W 42–7 8–7 Ford Field Recap
17 December 28 Carolina Panthers L 31–33 8–8 Louisiana Superdome Recap

Summary

Week 1: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Period 1 2 34Total
Buccaneers 7 3 3720
Saints 7 0 10724

at

New Orleans, Louisiana

The Saints began their 2008 campaign at home against their NFC South foe, the

Martín Gramática getting a 34-yard field goal. The Buccaneers answered with Bryant nailing a 33-yard field goal, but New Orleans regained the lead with Brees completing an 84-yard TD pass to WR Devery Henderson. In the fourth quarter, Tampa Bay jumped ahead again as QB Jeff Garcia completed a 2-yard TD pass to WR Ike Hilliard. The Bayou faithful got the last laugh as Brees completed the game-winning 42-yard TD pass to RB Reggie Bush.[2]

With the win, the Saints began their season at 1–0.

Week 2: at Washington Redskins

At Washington in week 2

Coming off their divisional home win over the Buccaneers, the Saints flew to

Washington Redskins
.

In the first quarter, New Orleans trailed early as Redskins kicker

Martín Gramática
nailing a 49-yard field goal.

In the third quarter, New Orleans increased its lead with QB Drew Brees completing a 19-yard TD pass to WR Robert Meachem. The Redskins started to fight back as RB Clinton Portis got a 9-yard TD run (with a failed 2-point conversion). New Orleans responded with RB Reggie Bush returning a punt 55 yards for a touchdown. However, Washington rallied with Portis' 8-yard TD run and QB Jason Campbell's 67-yard TD pass to WR Santana Moss.

With the loss, the Saints fell to 1–1.

Week 3: at Denver Broncos

Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 3 16 7632
Broncos 14 10 10034

at

Denver, Colorado

Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Redskins, the Saints flew to

Martín Gramática getting a 43-yard field goal. Denver replied with Cutler completing a 35-yard TD pass to WR Brandon Marshall. In the second quarter, New Orleans continued to struggle as Broncos LB Nate Webster returned a fumble 34 yards for a touchdown. The Saints started to rally as RB Pierre Thomas got a 5-yard TD run, while RB Reggie Bush got a 23-yard TD run. Denver answered with kicker Matt Prater getting a 27-yard field goal. New Orleans closed out the half with DE Charles Grant tackling RB Andre Hall
in his endzone for a safety.

In the third quarter, the Broncos replied with RB Michael Pittman getting a 2-yard TD run. The Saints answered with QB Drew Brees completing a 6-yard TD pass to Bush, but Denver responded with Prater nailing a 34-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, New Orleans tried to rally as Thomas got a 10-yard TD run (with a failed 2-point conversion). They even recovered a fumble and got into field goal position. However, Gramática's 43-yard attempt went wide right, ending any hope of a comeback.

With the loss, the Saints fell to 1–2.

Week 4: vs. San Francisco 49ers

Period 1 2 34Total
49ers 3 3 3817
Saints 0 21 01031

at

New Orleans, Louisiana

Trying to snap a two-game losing streak, the Saints went home for a Week 4 duel with the San Francisco 49ers. In the first quarter, New Orleans trailed early as 49ers kicker Joe Nedney got a 47-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Saints responded with QB Drew Brees completing a 5-yard and a 33-yard TD pass to WR Lance Moore. San Francisco tried to catch up as Nedney kicked a 49-yard field goal, but New Orleans continued its dominance as Brees completed a 47-yard TD pass to WR Robert Meachem.

In the third quarter, the 49ers tried to rally as Nedney got a 38-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Saints continued its victory march as RB

Martín Gramática
nailing a 31-yard field goal.

With the win, the Saints improved to 2–2.

Week 5: vs. Minnesota Vikings

Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 10 10 01030
Saints 10 0 71027

at

New Orleans, Louisiana

Coming off their home win over the 49ers, the Saints stayed at home for a Week 5 Monday Night duel with the

Martín Gramática getting a 35-yard field goal. Minnesota replied with kicker Ryan Longwell getting a 53-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Vikings took the lead as RB Chester Taylor completed a 4-yard TD pass to TE Visanthe Shiancoe
, along with Longwell kicking a 33-yard field goal.

In the third quarter, New Orleans began to rally as RB Reggie Bush returned a punt 71 yards for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, the Saints took the lead with Gramática making a 53-yard field goal and Bush returning a punt 64 yards for a touchdown. However, Minnesota rallied with QB Gus Frerotte completing a 33-yard TD pass to WR Bernard Berrian, along with Longwell nailing the game-winning 30-yard field goal.

With the loss, the Saints fell to 2–3.

This game was the first time in NFL history that a game had a combination of a blocked field goal, a TD pass by a non-quarterback, two field goals of 50+ yards, and two punts returned for touchdowns.

Week 6: vs. Oakland Raiders

Period 1 2 34Total
Raiders 3 0 003
Saints 0 10 141034

at

New Orleans, Louisiana