The 2015 New Orleans Saints season was the franchise's 49th season in the National Football League, the 40th to host games at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and the ninth under head coach Sean Payton. On November 16, 2015, the Saints hired Dennis Allen to replace the fired Rob Ryan. However, the Saints still missed the playoffs for the 2nd consecutive season. The Saints set a new league record for the most passing touchdowns allowed with 45 and were considered by some to be the worst defensive team in NFL history.
2016 draft class
Main article:
2015 NFL draft
- Notes
Staff
2015 New Orleans Saints staff |
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Front office
- Owner – Tom Benson
- President – Dennis Lauscha
- General Manager – Mickey Loomis
- Director of Football Administration – Khai Harley
- Director of Operations – James Nagaoka
- Director of Pro Scouting – Terry Fontenot
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
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Defensive coaches
- Defensive Coordinator – Dennis Allen
- Defensive Line – Bill Johnson
- Inside Linebackers – Joe Vitt
- Outside Linebackers – Brian Young
- Secondary – Wesley McGriff
- Defensive Assistant – Marcus Ungaro
- Defensive Assistant – James Willis
Special teams coaches
- Special Teams Coordinator – Greg McMahon
- Assistant Special Teams – Stan Kwan
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Final roster
2015 New Orleans Saints final roster |
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Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
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Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
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Reserve lists
Practice squad
Rookies in italics
53 Active, 13 Inactive, 7 Practice squad
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Schedule
Preseason
Regular season
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at Arizona Cardinals
Game information |
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- ARI – Andre Ellington 1-yard run (Chandler Catanzaro kick), 11:03. Cardinals 14–3. Drive: 5 plays, 88 yards, 3:04.
- NO – Brandon Coleman 12-yard pass from Drew Brees (Zach Hocker kick), 5:14. Cardinals 14–10. Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards, 5:49.
- Third quarter
- NO – Zach Hocker 23-yard field goal, 12:01. Cardinals 14–13. Drive: 5 plays, 71 yards, 2:59.
- ARI – Chandler Catanzaro 43-yard field goal, 0:04. Cardinals 17–13. Drive: 5 plays, 35 yards, 2:11.
- Fourth quarter
- NO – Zach Hocker 45-yard field goal, 12:24. Cardinals 17–16. Drive: 9 plays, 53 yards, 2:40.
- ARI – Darren Fells 17-yard pass from Carson Palmer (Chandler Catanzaro kick), 9:48. Cardinals 24–16. Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards, 2:36.
- NO – Zach Hocker 33-yard field goal, 6:45. Cardinals 24–19. Drive: 7 plays, 65 yards, 3:03.
- ARI – David Johnson 55-yard pass from Carson Palmer (Chandler Catanzaro kick), 1:33. Cardinals 31–19. Drive: 2 plays, 57 yards, 0:16.
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- Top passers
- NO – Drew Brees – 30/48, 355 yards, TD, INT
- ARI – Carson Palmer – 19/32, 132 yards, 3 TD
- Top rushers
- NO – Mark Ingram – 9 rushes, 24 yards
- ARI – Andre Ellington – 12 rushes, 69 yards, TD
- Top receivers
- Turnovers
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Week 2: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Game information |
- First quarter
- TB – Kyle Brindza 55 yard field goal, 0:45. Buccaneers 3–0. Drive: 5 plays, 4 yards, 3:13.
- Second quarter
- NO – Mark Ingram 11 yard run (Zach Hocker kick), 1:23. Saints 7–3. Drive: 7 plays, 58 yards, 3:02.
- TB – Vincent Jackson 15 yard pass from Jameis Winston (Kyle Brindza kick), 0:12. Buccaneers 10–7. Drive: 6 plays, 63 yards, 1:11.
- Third quarter
- TB – Jameis Winston 1 yard run (Kyle Brindza kick), 13:02. Buccaneers 17–7. Drive: 4 plays, 80 yards, 1:58.
- TB – Kyle Brindza 35 yard field goal, 6:04. Buccaneers 20–7. Drive: 10 plays, 31 yards, 5:10.
- TB – Kyle Brindza 22 yard field goal, 2:20. Buccaneers 23–7. Drive: 5 plays, 57 yards, 1:44.
- Fourth quarter
- NO – Austin Johnson 1 yard run (two-point pass conversion failed), 10:17. Buccaneers 23–13. Drive: 14 plays, 80 yards, 7:03.
- NO – Willie Snead 16 yard pass from Drew Brees, 7:15. Buccaneers 23–19. Drive: 2 plays, 30 yards, 0:43.
- TB – Kyle Brindza 30 yard field goal, 1:51. Buccaneers 26–19. Drive: 5 plays, 21 yards, 1:07.
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- Top passers
- TB – Jameis Winston – 14/21, 207 yards, TD
- NO – Drew Brees – 24/38, 255 yards, TD, INT
- Top rushers
- TB – Doug Martin – 21 rushes, 78 yards
- NO – Mark Ingram – 16 rushes, 53 yards, TD
- Top receivers
- Turnovers
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Hoping to avoid an 0-2 start the Saints met Tampa Bay, led by new quarterback Jameis Winston.
The defense struggled to stop Winston as his heroics stunned New Orleans' home crowd.
Drew Brees left the game with an injured shoulder. The Saints wound up losing the game, 26-19.
Week 3: at Carolina Panthers
Game information |
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top tacklers
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Week 4: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week Four: Dallas Cowboys at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
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1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | OT | Total |
Cowboys |
3 |
7 |
3 | 7 | 0 | 20 |
Saints |
7 |
0 |
6 | 7 | 6 | 26 |
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Game information |
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top tacklers
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In overtime, Drew Brees, who returned from an injured shoulder, nailed an 80-yard pass to C.J. Spiller for the game-winning touchdown. Brees now has 400 career touchdown passes. It was also the fastest regular season overtime in NFL history, with only 13 seconds being played before the touchdown.
This win would make the Lions the only winless team.
Week 5: at Philadelphia Eagles
Game information |
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top tacklers
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Week 6: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week Six: Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
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1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Falcons |
0 |
7 |
0 | 14 | 21 |
Saints |
14 |
0 |
10 | 7 | 31 |
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Game information |
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top tacklers
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Week 7: at Indianapolis Colts
Week Seven: New Orleans Saints at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
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1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Saints |
7 |
13 |
7 | 0 | 27 |
Colts |
0 |
0 |
14 | 7 | 21 |
at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Date: October 25
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C), mostly cloudy — retractable roof open
- Game attendance: 66,420
- Referee: Carl Cheffers
- TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen, John Lynch and Pam Oliver
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information |
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top tacklers
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Week 8: vs. New York Giants
Week Eight: New York Giants at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
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1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Giants |
7 |
14 |
7 | 21 | 49 |
Saints |
14 |
14 |
14 | 10 | 52 |
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Game information |
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top tacklers
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In a battle of passing offenses, Drew Brees threw a career-high 7 touchdown passes. The game was tied 49-49 late in the fourth quarter and the Saints returned a punt for 50 yards, good for the game-winning field goal to seal the Saints 52-49 victory.
Week 9: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week Nine: Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
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1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | OT | Total |
Titans |
10 |
7 |
3 | 8 | 6 | 34 |
Saints |
14 |
7 |
0 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Game information |
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top tacklers
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Week 10: at Washington Redskins
Week Ten: New Orleans Saints at Washington Redskins – Game summary
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1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Saints |
7 |
7 |
0 | 0 | 14 |
Redskins |
14 |
13 |
10 | 10 | 47 |
at FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland
- Date: November 15
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 75,086
- Referee: John Parry
- TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston and Laura Okmin
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information |
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top tacklers
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Traveling to Washington to take on the Redskins, Drew Brees and the Saints suffered a moment of embarrassment as they would go on to be blown out 47-14. Kirk Cousins threw a career-high four touchdowns in the blowout.
A day after, the Saints fired defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, replacing him with Dennis Allen, who would take over for Ryan for the remainder of the season.
Week 12: at Houston Texans
Week Twelve: New Orleans Saints at Houston Texans – Game summary
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1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Saints |
0 |
6 |
0 | 0 | 6 |
Texans |
14 |
0 |
10 | 0 | 24 |
at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
Game information |
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top tacklers
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Week 13: vs. Carolina Panthers
Week Thirteen: Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
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1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Panthers |
0 |
13 |
14 | 14 | 41 |
Saints |
14 |
2 |
8 | 14 | 38 |
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Game information |
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top tacklers
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The Saints made history in this game, becoming the first team in NFL history to block an extra point and return it for two points under new NFL rules that took effect that season (prior to this season, NFL rules did not allow players to return a blocked extra point). Saints rookie Stephone Anthony was the one who returned it, with Kevin Williams blocking it. The Saints, unfortunately, would eventually lose in a shootout and dropped their record to 4-8.
Week 14: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Game information |
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top tacklers
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The highlight of the game was Drew Brees passing Dan Marino for 4th on the league's all-time passing touchdowns list.
Week 15: vs. Detroit Lions
Week Fifteen: Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
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1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Lions |
7 |
14 |
7 | 7 | 35 |
Saints |
3 |
0 |
7 | 17 | 27 |
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Game information |
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top tacklers
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Week 16: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week Sixteen: Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
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1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Jaguars |
0 |
6 |
13 | 8 | 27 |
Saints |
14 |
10 |
7 | 7 | 38 |
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Game information |
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top tacklers
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Week 17: at Atlanta Falcons
Week Seventeen: New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
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1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Saints |
7 |
7 |
3 | 3 | 20 |
Falcons |
3 |
14 |
0 | 0 | 17 |
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: January 3, 2016
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
- Game attendance: 69,699
- Referee: Craig Wrolstad
- TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen, Matt Millen and Peter Schrager
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information |
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top tacklers
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Standings
Division
Conference
References
External links
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| | | Franchise | |
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| Stadiums | |
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| Culture | |
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| Lore | |
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| Owners | |
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| Playoff appearances (10) | |
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| Division Championships (5) | |
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| Super Bowl Appearances (1) | |
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| League Championships (1) | |
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| Ring of Honor | |
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| Current League Affiliations | |
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| Rivalries | |
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| Seasons (49) | |
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