The 2011 New Orleans Saints season is the franchise's 45th season in the National Football League , the 36th to host home games at the Louisiana Superdome and the sixth under head coach Sean Payton . During Week 16, Drew Brees broke the single season passing yardage record set by Dan Marino .
Offseason Edit
2011 draft board Edit
^[a] The Saints acquired this first-round selection in exchange for its second-round selection (#56 overall) and a 2012 first-round selection.
^[b] The Saints acquired this third-round selection and a conditional 2012 sixth-round selection in a trade that sent OT Jammal Brown and a 2011 fifth-round selection (#155 overall) to the Washington Redskins .
^[c] The Saints traded its fourth-round selection (#121 overall) to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a 2010 fifth-round selection.
^[d] The Saints traded its sixth-round selection (#189 overall) to the New England Patriots in exchange for TE David Thomas .
^[e] Compensatory selection .
Preseason Edit
The Saints' preseason schedule was announced on April 12, 2011.
Regular season Edit
Game summaries Edit
Week 1: at Green Bay Packers Edit
Week One: New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Saints
7
10
10
7
34
Packers
21
7
7
7
42
at Lambeau Field , Green Bay, Wisconsin
Game information
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First quarter
GB – Greg Jennings 20-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers (Mason Crosby kick), 10:12. Packers 7–0. Drive: 9 plays, 76 yards, 4:52.
GB – Jordy Nelson 20-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers (Mason Crosby kick), 6:29. Packers 14–0. Drive: 6 plays, 36 yards, 3:05.
NO – Robert Meachem 31-yard pass from Drew Brees (John Kasay kick), 3:37. Packers 14–7. Drive: 6 plays, 80 yards, 2:53.
GB – Randall Cobb 32-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers (Mason Crosby kick), 0:19. Packers 21–7. Drive: 6 plays, 80 yards, 3:20.
Second quarter
NO – John Kasay 30-yard field goal, 9:44. Packers 21–10. Drive: 14 plays, 71 yards, 5:27.
NO - Darren Sproles 72 yard punt return (John Kasay kick), 8:55 Packers 21-17.
GB – James Starks 1-yard run (John Kasay kick), 2:05. Packers 28–17. Drive: 14 plays, 80 yards, 6:38.
Third quarter
NO – John Kasay 38-yard field goal, 9:44. Packers 28–20, 8:45. Drive: 14 plays, 60 yards, 6:20.
GB - Randall Cobb 108 yard kickoff return (Mason Crosby kick) Packers 35-20.
NO – Devery Henderson 29-yard pass from Drew Brees (John Kasay kick), 7:00. Packers 35–27. Drive: 3 plays, 46 yards, 1:32.
Fourth quarter
GB - John Kuhn 1 yard run (Mason Crosby kick), 11:52 Packers 42-27 , Drive: 12 plays, 93 yards, 6:12.
NO – Jimmy Graham 5-yard pass from Drew Brees (John Kasay kick), 2:20. Packers 35–27. Drive: 12 plays, 76 yards, 3:20.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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The Saints (champions of Super Bowl XLIV ) began their 2011 campaign at Lambeau Field , taking on the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers in the annual NFL Kickoff Game . New Orleans trailed early in the first quarter as Packers QB Aaron Rodgers completed a 7-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Greg Jennings . The Saints answered with quarterback Drew Brees finding wide receiver Robert Meachem on a 31-yard touchdown pass, but Green Bay struck back with Rodgers completing a 32-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Randall Cobb . New Orleans clawed their way back into the game in the second quarter with a 30-yard field goal from kicker John Kasay , followed by running back Darren Sproles returning a punt 72 yards for a touchdown. However, the Packers came right back with running back James Starks getting a 17-yard touchdown run.
The Saints led off the third quarter with Kasay's 38-yard field goal, but Green Bay replied with Cobb returning a kickoff 108 yards for a touchdown. Afterwards, New Orleans kept fighting as Brees connected with wide receiver Devery Henderson on a 29-yard touchdown pass. In the fourth quarter, the Packers replied with fullback John Kuhn getting a 1-yard touchdown run. New Orleans tried to rally as Brees found tight end Jimmy Graham on a 5-yard touchdown pass, but Green Bay's defense held stuffing a potentially game tying Ingram run on the 1 yard line on the last play of the game to preserve the win.
With the loss, the Saints began their season at 0-1.
Week 2: vs. Chicago Bears Edit
Week Two: Chicago Bears at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Bears
7
3
3
0
13
Saints
3
13
7
7
30
at Louisiana Superdome , New Orleans, Louisiana
Date : September 18Game time : 12:00 p.m. CDTGame weather : Played indoors (dome stadium)Game attendance : 73,019Referee : Walt Coleman TV announcers (Fox ) : Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver
Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
NO - Devery Henderson 79 yard pass from Drew Brees (John Kasey kick), Saints 10-7
NO - John Kasay 29-yard field goal, Saints 13-7
NO - John Kasay 53-yard field goal, Saints 16-7
CHI - Robbie Gould 42-yard field goal, Saints 16-10
Third quarter
CHI - Robbie Gould 38-yard field goal, Saints 16-13
NO - Robert Meachem 4-yard pass from Drew Brees (John Kasay kick), Saints 23-13
Fourth quarter
NO - Darren Sproles 12-yard pass from Drew Brees (John Kasay kick), Saints 30-13
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Leading Passers
CHI - Jay Cutler 19/45, 244 yards, 1 touchdown
NO - Drew Brees 26/37, 270 yards, 3 touchdowns
Leading Rushers
Leading Receivers
CHI - Matt Forte 10 receptions, 117 yards
NO - Darren Sproles 8 receptions, 43 yards
Leading Tacklers
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Week 3: vs. Houston Texans Edit
Week Three: Houston Texans at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Texans
10
6
3
14
33
Saints
0
10
7
23
40
at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Game information
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First quarter
HOU - Owen Daniels 14-yard pass from Matt Schaub (Neil Rackers kick) Texans 7-0
HOU - Neil Rackers 22-yard field goal is good Texans 10-0
Second quarter
NO - Darren Sproles 30-yard run (John Kasey kick) Saints 7-10
HOU - Neil Rackers 27-yard field goal is good Texans 13-7
HOU - Neil Rackers 27-yard field goal is good Texans 16-7
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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Week 4: at Jacksonville Jaguars Edit
Week Four: New Orleans Saints at Jacksonville Jaguars – Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Saints
7
7
6
3
23
Jaguars
0
10
0
0
10
at EverBank Field , Jacksonville, Florida
Date : October 2Game time : 1:00 p.m. EDT/12:00 p.m. CDTGame weather : 71° F, SunnyGame attendance : 62,471Referee : Ed Hochuli TV announcers (Fox) : Sam Rosen and Chad Pennington
Week 5: at Carolina Panthers Edit
Week Five: New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Saints
10
10
3
7
30
Panthers
6
7
7
7
27
at Bank of America Stadium , Charlotte, North Carolina
Date : October 9Game time : 1:00 p.m. EDT/12:00 p.m. CDTGame weather : 68° F, CloudyGame attendance : 72,679Referee : John Parry TV announcers (Fox) : Dick Stockton and John Lynch
Week 6: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Edit
Week Six: New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Saints
7
3
3
7
20
Buccaneers
3
17
3
3
26
at Raymond James Stadium , Tampa, Florida
Date : October 16Game time : 4:15 p.m. EDT/3:15 p.m. CDTGame weather : 84° F, CloudyGame attendance : 56,590Referee : Jerome Boger TV announcers (Fox) : Ron Pitts and Jim Mora
Week 7: vs. Indianapolis Colts Edit
Week Seven: Indianapolis Colts at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Colts
0
7
0
0
7
Saints
21
13
14
14
62
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome , New Orleans, Louisiana
Date : October 23Game time : 7:20 p.m. CDTGame weather : Played indoors (dome stadium)Game attendance : 73,012Referee : Scott Green TV announcers (NBC) : Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya
Game information
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First quarter 21
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
IND – Curtis Painter 9/17, 67 yards, 0 touchdowns, 1 interception
NO – Drew Brees 31/35, 325 yards, 5 touchdowns
Top rushers
IND – Delone Carter 10 rushes, 89 yards, 1 touchdown
NO – Mark Ingram 14 rushes, 91 yards, 0 touchdowns
Top receivers
IND – Reggie Wayne 3 receptions, 36 yds, 0 touchdowns
NO – Marques Colston 7 receptions, 98 yds, 2 touchdowns
Top tacklers
IND – Antoine Bethea 7 tackles, 4 assists
NO – Jonathan Casillas 2 tackles, 3 assists, 1 sack
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Week 8: at St. Louis Rams Edit
Week Eight: New Orleans Saints at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Saints
0
0
7
14
21
Rams
0
17
7
7
31
at Edward Jones Dome , St. Louis, Missouri
Date : October 30Game time : 12:00 p.m. CDTGame weather : Played indoors (dome stadium)Game attendance : 57,179Referee : Walt Anderson TV announcers (Fox) : Chris Myers and Tim Ryan
Week 9: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Edit
Week Nine: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Buccaneers
0
3
3
10
16
Saints
7
10
7
3
27
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Date : November 6Game time : 12:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : Played indoors (dome stadium)Game attendance : 73,043Referee : Carl Cheffers TV announcers (Fox) : Dick Stockton and John Lynch
Week 10: at Atlanta Falcons Edit
Week Ten: New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Saints
3
7
7
6
26
Falcons
3
3
7
10
23
at Georgia Dome , Atlanta, Georgia
Week 12: vs. New York Giants Edit
Week Twelve: New York Giants at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Giants
0
3
7
14
24
Saints
0
21
14
14
49
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Week 13: vs. Detroit Lions Edit
Week Thirteen: Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Lions
0
7
10
0
17
Saints
3
21
0
7
31
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Game information
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First quarter
NO - John Kasay 39 yard field goal, Saints 3–0, Drive: 13 plays, 37 yards, 5:08.
Second quarter
NO - Mark Ingram, Jr. 14 yard run (John Kasay kick), Saints 10–0, Drive: 9 plays, 93 yards, 4:08.
NO - Robert Meachem 67 yard pass from Drew Brees (John Kasay kick), Saints 17–0, Drive: 2 plays, 75 yards, 0:17.
DET - Kevin Smith 2 yard run (Jason Hanson kick), Saints 17–7, Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 5:35.
NO - Lance Moore 20 yard pass from Drew Brees (John Kasay kick), Saints 24–7, Drive: 8 plays, 51 yards, 1:53.
Third quarter
DET - Jason Hanson 31 yard field goal, Saints 24–10, Drive: 11 plays, 86 yards, 5:27.
DET - Maurice Morris 9 yard pass from Matthew Stafford (Jason Hanson kick), Saints 24–17, Drive: 9 plays, 92 yards, 5:30.
Fourth quarter
NO - Darren Sproles 6 yard pass from Drew Brees (John Kasay kick), Saints 31–17, Drive: 7 plays, 55 yards, 2:49.
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Top passers
DET - Matthew Stafford - 31/44, 408 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception
NO - Drew Brees -26/36, 342 yards, 3 touchdowns
Top rushers
DET - Kevin Smith - 6 carries, 34 yards, 1 touchdown
NO - Mark Ingram, Jr. - 16 carries, 34 yards, 1 touchdown
Top receivers
DET - Nate Burleson - 5 receptions, 93 yards
NO - Robert Meachem - 3 receptions, 119 yards, 1 touchdown
Top tacklers
DET - Amari Speivey - 9 tackles, 1 assist
NO - Jonathan Vilma - 6 tackles, 1 assist
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Week 14: at Tennessee Titans Edit
Week Fourteen: New Orleans Saints at Tennessee Titans – Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Saints
3
3
3
13
22
Titans
0
3
7
7
17
at LP Field , Nashville, Tennessee
Date : December 11Game time : 12:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : 41° F, Sunny and coolGame attendance : 69,143Referee : Mike Carey TV announcers (Fox) : Joe Buck, Troy Aikman , & Pam Oliver
Week 15: at Minnesota Vikings Edit
Week Fifteen: New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Saints
7
14
14
7
42
Vikings
3
10
0
7
20
at Mall of America Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome , Minneapolis, Minnesota
Date : December 18Game time : 12:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : Played indoors (dome stadium)Game attendance : 62,623Referee : Walt Anderson TV announcers (Fox) : Dick Stockton, John Lynch and Jennifer Hale
Week 16: vs. Atlanta Falcons Edit
Week Sixteen: Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Falcons
10
0
3
3
16
Saints
7
14
10
14
45
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Week 17: vs. Carolina Panthers Edit
Week Seventeen: Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
1
2
3
4
Total
Panthers
0
Saints
0
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Date : January 1Game time : 12:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : Played indoors (dome stadium)TV announcers (Fox) : Joe Buck , Troy Aikman , & Pam Oliver
Standings Edit
Template:2011 NFC South standings
Postseason Edit
By virtue of winning the NFC South division title, the Saints will host a playoff game in either the Wild Card round or the Divisional round.
Playoff round Date Opponent (seed) Results Game site NFL.com recap
Final score Team record
TBD
TBD
TBD
Mercedes-Benz Superdome
Current staff Edit
Template:New Orleans Saints staff
Current roster Edit
Template:New Orleans Saints roster
Notes and references Edit
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