2010-Present
The Saints did not quite live up to their 2009 level of play the following season. Hosting the Vikings in Week 1, a much-vaunted rematch of the NFC Championship resulted in a meandering 14-9 win, the lowest-scoring victory of Sean Payton's tenure as HC. After a close win in San Francisco, they went 3-3 down the stretch as Drew Brees threw several interceptions and Garrett Hartley (the hero of the 2009 postseason) suffered multiple missed field goals that resulted in his being temporarily benched in favor of John Carney, a former kicker who had first played in the NFL back in 1988. The last remaining active NFL player from the 1980s booted two field goals to help New Orleans beat the 0-3 Panthers in Week 3. After a loss to the Cardinals the following week, he quit and the kicking position returned to Garrett Hartley.
Overall, the Saints looked sloppy and out of form during the early season, and they suffered their worst loss when the Cleveland Browns beat them at home in Week 7. But after the bye week, the team got back on course and won four games in a row before losing to Baltimore in Week 15. A MNF match with the Falcons saw New Orleans win 17-14. The final game was lost to Tampa Bay 23-13 to end the regular season 11-5. New Orleans reached the playoffs, but had to settle for a wild card as their division rival Atlanta had already locked up the NFC South title and the #1 seed. The #5 seeded Saints headed to Seattle where their season came to a spectacular end as the 7-9 Seahawks overpowered the defending champions 41-36 on a 67-yard TD run by Marshawn Lynch.
For the second year in a row, New Orleans would play in the opening game of the season, but this time in Green Bay as guests of the defending champion Packers. The Saints struggled as their opponent quickly marched out to two touchdowns, but regained their composure in a wild shootout match. Green Bay never lost their lead however, and went on to win the game 41-34 after blocking a New Orleans scoring drive on the 1-yard line. Opening at home in Week 2, the Saints easily beat Chicago 30-13, then won another shootout match with Houston. Although New Orleans' defense had performed poorly up to Week 3, they got back in sync by limiting Jacksonville to 10 points in a 23-point win the following game. After beating the winless Carolina, Drew Brees threw three interceptions as the Saints lost to Tampa Bay 26-20. In Week 7.The team hosted Indianapolis in what had been expected to be a rematch of Super Bowl XLIV (44), but without Peyton Manning, the Colts strugged. New Orleans proceeded to go for the franchise record as Drew Brees threw 5 TD passes in a 62-7 demolition of their opponent.The saints held most points in a game and Drew Brees held most passing touchdowns in a game. After this game however, they reverted to their Week 6 form as Brees threw four picks and the Saints suffered an astonishing defeat against the winless Rams. However, that would prove to be the last loss of the regular season as the Saints would go on an eight game winning streak to close the season. They defeated divisional rivals Tampa Bay and Atlanta, than came out of the bye to blow out the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants 49-24 at home. The Saints went on to defeat the Lions 31-17, the Titans 21-17, and the Vikings 42-20. On Monday night football, the Saints hosted the Atlanta Falcons and went on to blow them out 45 to 16 and secure the division title. Drew Brees broke the single season passing record set by Dan Marino in 1984 27 years earlier. The Saints would finish the regular season with a 13-3 record by defeating the Panthers 45 to 17. However, the Saints finished behind the defending super bowl champions Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers for 3rd seed in the NFC. In the Wild Card round of the playoffs, the Saints hosted the Detroit Lions for th lions first playoff appearance since 1999. The Lions got off to a good start, ending the first half on top with a score of 14 to 10, but couldn't keep up with a Saints. at the end of the game the saints won 45 to 28. In the divisional round, the Saints traveled to San Francisco to face the second seeded 49ers. The Saints had trouble against the 49ers defense, and committed 5 turnovers. Despite the mishaps, the Saints remained one score behind the 49ers for most of the game. In a spectacular finish, the Saints and 49ers traded the lead 4 times in the last 4 minutes, but fell 32 to 36 with a 49er touchtown strike to Vernon Davis with 7 seconds left to end the Saints' 2011 season.
On March 2, 2012, the NFL announced the findings of an investigation of a bounty program that former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and over two dozen defensive players maintained. The program rewarded cash to players for violent hits on opposing players and took place during the 2009-2011 seasons. Bounties were placed on four specific players: Brett Favre, Cam Newton, Aaron Rodgers, and Kurt Warner. The NFL hit the Saints hard with punishments. Williams, who became defensive coordinator with the Saint Louis Rams, was suspended indefinitely. Head coach Sean Payton was suspended for the entire 2012 season. Although he did not participate in the bounty program, he never told anyone to stop it. General Manager Mickey Loomis has been suspended for the first eight regular season games. He ignored an order from owner Tom Benson to ensure that the program was stopped. Assistant head coach Joe Vitt (who was named interim head coach during Payton's suspension), was banned for the first six regular season games. The Saints were also fined $500,000 and stripped of their second round draft picks in the 2012 and 2013 NFL Drafts. Payton began his suspension April 15 after his appeal was rejected. Loomis and Vitt also appealed their suspensions, but they were upheld. The NFL later announced punishments to four current and former Saints players. Linebacker Jonathan Vilma was suspended for the entire 2012 season. He twice offered $10,000 to anyone who knocked out Warner and Favre in the 2009 playoffs. Defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove, who has since joined the Green Bay Packers has been suspended for the first eight games of the 2012 season. Will Smith was suspended for four games and Scott Fujita (now with the Cleveland Browns) received a three game ban. All of the suspensions are without pay. A grievance was filed on behalf of the suspended players, but it was rejected. All of the players have appealed to Commissioner Roger Goodell.
The Saints have applied the franchise tag to quarterback Drew Brees. Brees, upset about not receiving a long term deal, has yet to sign the tender and so far has not attended any of the team's off-season activities.
Read more about this topic: History Of The New Orleans Saints