2011 New Orleans Saints season
Encyclopedia
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
.
) 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.
2011 NFL season
The 2011 NFL season, the 92nd regular season of the National Football League, began on Thursday, September 8, 2011 with the Super Bowl XLV champion Green Bay Packers defeating the New Orleans Saints 42–34 at Lambeau Field and will end with Super Bowl XLVI, the league's championship game, on...
New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
season is the franchise's 45th season in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, the 36th to host home games at the Louisiana Superdome
Louisiana Superdome
The Mercedes-Benz Superdome, previously known as the Louisiana Superdome and colloquially known as the Superdome, is a sports and exhibition arena located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA...
and the sixth under head coach Sean Payton
Sean Payton
Patrick Sean Payton is the current head coach of the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. Payton was a quarterback at Naperville Central High School and Eastern Illinois University and played professionally in 1987 and 1988...
.
2011 draft board
| Round | Selection | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 | Cameron Jordan Cameron Jordan -New Orleans Saints:Jordan was selected as the 24th overall pick in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints.On August 2, 2011, Jordan signed a four year, $7.7 million deal with the Saints.-Personal:... |
DE | California |
| Mark Ingram Mark Ingram, Jr. Mark Ingram, Jr. is a running back for the New Orleans Saints. Ingram is the son of former NFL wide receiver Mark Ingram, Sr.... |
RB | Alabam | ||
| 3 | 72 | Martez Wilson Martez Wilson Martez Jerome Wilson is an American football linebacker for the New Orleans Saints. Wilson is considered to be one of the best outside linebackers of his class.... |
LB | Illinois |
| 88 | Johnny Patrick Johnny Patrick Johnny Patrick is an American football cornerback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Saints in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisville.... |
CB | Louisville | |
| 7 | 226 | Greg Romeus Greg Romeus Greg Romeus is an American football defensive end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He played as a defensive end for the Pittsburgh Panthers at the University of Pittsburgh. Romeus played football for just one year before entering college... |
DE | Pittsburgh |
| Nate Bussey Nate Bussey Nathan Lee Bussey is an American football linebacker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Saints in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Illinois.-Professional career:Bussey was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the... |
LB | Illinois |
- The Saints acquired this first-round selection in exchange for its second-round selection (#56 overall) and a 20122012 NFL DraftThe 2012 NFL Draft will be the 77th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players.-Trades:...
first-round selection. - The Saints acquired this third-round selection and a conditional 2012 sixth-round selection in a trade that sent OT Jammal BrownJammal Brown-New Orleans Saints:He was selected to attend the 2006 Pro Bowl alongside the player he protects, quarterback Drew Brees, after anchoring the line that got the Saints to the NFC Championship Game. Brown's prototypical size at left tackle makes him good at both run and pass blocking. He led the...
and a 2011 fifth-round selection (#155 overall) to the Washington RedskinsWashington RedskinsThe Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
. - The Saints traded its fourth-round selection (#121 overall) to the Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville JaguarsThe Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in exchange for a 20102010 NFL DraftThe 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
fifth-round selection. - The Saints traded its sixth-round selection (#189 overall) to the New England PatriotsNew England PatriotsThe New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
in exchange for TETight endThe tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
David ThomasDavid Thomas (American football)John David Thomas is an American football tight end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
. - Compensatory selection.
Schedule
The Saints' preseason schedule was announced on April 12, 2011.| Week | | Date | | Kickoff | | Opponent | | Results | | Game site | | TV | | NFL.com recap |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final score | Team record | |||||||
| 1 | August 12 | 7:00 p.m. CDT | San Francisco 49ers 2011 San Francisco 49ers season The 2011 San Francisco 49ers season is the franchise's 66th season overall, and 62nd in the National Football League . It is the first season under head coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Trent Baalke... |
W 24–3 | 1–0 | Louisiana Superdome | Recap | |
| 2 | August 20 | 7:00 p.m. CDT | at Houston Texans 2011 Houston Texans season The 2011 Houston Texans season will be the team's 10th season in the National Football League . The Texans have improved on their record from the 2010 season, and attempt to earn the franchise's first playoff berth... |
L 14–27 | 1–1 | Reliant Stadium Reliant Stadium Reliant Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Houston, Texas, USA. Reliant Stadium has a seating capacity of 71,500, a total square footage of with of natural grass playing surface.... |
Recap | |
| 3 | August 28 | 7:00 p.m. CDT | at Oakland Raiders 2011 Oakland Raiders season The 2011 Oakland Raiders season is the franchise's 42nd season in the National Football League and the 52nd overall. 2011 also marks the final season under the ownership of Al Davis, who died on October 8, 2011... |
W 40–20 | 2–1 | O.co Coliseum | NBC NBC Sunday Night Football NBC Sunday Night Football is a weekly television broadcast of Sunday evening National Football League games on NBC that began airing on Sunday, August 6, 2006 with the pre-season opening Hall of Fame Game. Al Michaels serves as the play-by-play announcer, with Cris Collinsworth as the color... |
Recap |
| 4 | September 1 | 7:00 p.m. CDT | Tennessee Titans 2011 Tennessee Titans season The 2011 Tennessee Titans season will be the franchise's 42nd season in the National Football League , the 52nd overall and the 15th in the state of Tennessee. It will also mark the first season under new head coach Mike Munchak, replacing longtime head coach Jeff Fisher, who resigned on January 27... |
L 9–32 | 2–2 | Louisiana Superdome | Recap | |
Schedule
| Week | | Date | | Kickoff | | Opponent | | Results | | Game site | | TV | | NFL.com recap |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final score | Team record | |||||||
| 1 | September 8 National Football League Kickoff game The NFL Kickoff game, and related festivities, mark the start of the National Football League season. The first game of the season is currently scheduled for the Thursday following Labor Day. A single game is held, preceded by a concert and other ceremonies. Since the 2004 season, the defending... |
7:30 p.m. CDT | at Green Bay Packers 2011 Green Bay Packers season The 2011 Green Bay Packers season is the franchise's 91st season in the National Football League, the 93rd season overall and the sixth under head coach Mike McCarthy... |
L 34–42 | 0–1 | Lambeau Field Lambeau Field Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field... |
NBC NBC Sunday Night Football NBC Sunday Night Football is a weekly television broadcast of Sunday evening National Football League games on NBC that began airing on Sunday, August 6, 2006 with the pre-season opening Hall of Fame Game. Al Michaels serves as the play-by-play announcer, with Cris Collinsworth as the color... |
Recap |
| 2 | September 18 | 12:00 p.m. CDT | Chicago Bears 2011 Chicago Bears season The 2011 Chicago Bears season is the franchise's 92nd overall season in the National Football League, and the 8th under head coach Lovie Smith. The Bears, defending NFC North Division champions, will seek a return to the playoffs after falling in the NFC Championship Game to their arch-rivals the... |
W 30–13 | 1–1 | Louisiana Superdome | Fox NFL on FOX NFL on Fox is the brand name of the Fox Broadcasting Company's coverage of the National Football League's National Football Conference games, produced by Fox Sports... |
Recap |
| 3 | September 25 | 12:00 p.m. CDT | Houston Texans 2011 Houston Texans season The 2011 Houston Texans season will be the team's 10th season in the National Football League . The Texans have improved on their record from the 2010 season, and attempt to earn the franchise's first playoff berth... |
W 40–33 | 2–1 | Louisiana Superdome | CBS NFL on CBS The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:... |
Recap |
| 4 | October 2 | 12:00 p.m. CDT | at Jacksonville Jaguars 2011 Jacksonville Jaguars season The 2011 Jacksonville Jaguars season is the franchise's 17th season in the National Football League and the 9th under head coach Jack Del Rio, who was fired on November 29 and replaced on an interim basis by defensive coordinator Mel Tucker. The team had hoped to improve on their 8–8 record from... |
W 23–10 | 3–1 | EverBank Field | Fox | Recap |
| 5 | October 9 | 12:00 p.m. CDT | at Carolina Panthers 2011 Carolina Panthers season The 2011 Carolina Panthers season will be the franchise's 17th season in the National Football League and the first season for Ron Rivera as the head coach. In Week 16 of the 2010 season, the team clinched the NFL's worst record of the year and was given the #1 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, with... |
W 30–27 | 4–1 | Bank of America Stadium Bank of America Stadium Bank of America Stadium is a 73,778-seat football stadium located on of land in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. It is the home facility of the Carolina Panthers NFL franchise. It also hosts the annual Belk Bowl which features teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big East... |
Fox | Recap |
| 6 | October 16 | 3:15 p.m. CDT | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2011 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season The 2011 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season will be the club's 36th season as a franchise in the NFL. The team will compete in the NFC South. Both of their preseason home games, and seven of their regular season home games will be played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida... |
L 20–26 | 4–2 | Raymond James Stadium Raymond James Stadium Raymond James Stadium, also known as the "Ray Jay", is a multi-purpose football stadium located in Tampa, Florida. It is home to the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers as well as the NCAA's South Florida Bulls football team. The stadium seats 65,857 , and it is expandable to 75,000 for special events... |
Fox | Recap |
| 7 | October 23 | 7:20 p.m. CDT | Indianapolis Colts 2011 Indianapolis Colts season The 2011 Indianapolis Colts season is the franchise's 59th season in the National Football League, the 28th in Indianapolis and the third under head coach Jim Caldwell. The Colts are coming off a 10–6 record in 2010 and a second consecutive AFC South championship, as well as a ninth consecutive... |
W 62–7 | 5–2 | Mercedes-Benz Superdome | NBC | Recap |
| 8 | October 30 | 12:00 p.m. CDT | at St. Louis Rams 2011 St. Louis Rams season The 2011 St. Louis Rams season will be the team's 74th season in the National Football League, the 17th overall in St. Louis and the third under head coach Steve Spagnuolo. The Rams are coming off a 2010 season, in which they compiled more victories than in the previous 3 years combined... |
L 21–31 | 5–3 | Edward Jones Dome Edward Jones Dome The Edward Jones Dome The Edward Jones Dome The Edward Jones Dome (more formally known as the Edward Jones Dome at America's Center, and previously known as The Trans World Dome (from 1995–2001) is a multi-purpose stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, and home of the St. Louis Rams of the NFL. It was... |
Fox | Recap |
| 9 | November 6 | 12:00 p.m. CST | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 27–16 | 6–3 | Mercedes-Benz Superdome | Fox | Recap |
| 10 | November 13 | 12:00 p.m. CST | at Atlanta Falcons 2011 Atlanta Falcons season The 2011 Atlanta Falcons season will be the franchise's 46th season in the National Football League and the fourth under head coach Mike Smith. After a disappointing loss to the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round of the playoffs, the Falcons will attempt to defend its NFC South division... |
W 26–23 (OT) | 7–3 | Georgia Dome Georgia Dome The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the... |
Fox | Recap |
| 11 | Bye Bye (sports) A bye, in sports and other competitive activities, most commonly refers to the practice of allowing a player or team to advance to the next round of a playoff tournament without playing... |
|||||||
| 12 | November 28 | 7:30 p.m. CST | New York Giants 2011 New York Giants season The 2011 New York Giants season is the 87th season for the team in the National Football League. The Giants finished with a 10–6 record in 2010 however they missed the playoffs... |
W 49–24 | 8–3 | Mercedes-Benz Superdome | ESPN Monday Night Football Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series... |
Recap |
| 13 | December 4 | 7:20 p.m. CST | Detroit Lions 2011 Detroit Lions season The 2011 Detroit Lions season is the franchise's 82nd season in the National Football League, the 10th playing its home games at Ford Field and the third year under head coach Jim Schwartz. Currently 7–4, the team has improved on its 6–10 record from 2010, which is its third consecutive improved... |
Mercedes-Benz Superdome | NBC | |||
| 14 | December 11 | 12:00 p.m. CST | at Tennessee Titans 2011 Tennessee Titans season The 2011 Tennessee Titans season will be the franchise's 42nd season in the National Football League , the 52nd overall and the 15th in the state of Tennessee. It will also mark the first season under new head coach Mike Munchak, replacing longtime head coach Jeff Fisher, who resigned on January 27... |
LP Field LP Field LP Field is a football stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, owned by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.... |
Fox | |||
| 15 | December 18 | 12:00 p.m. CST * | at Minnesota Vikings 2011 Minnesota Vikings season -Week 2: at Seattle Seahawks:-Week 3: vs. Dallas Cowboys:-Week 4: vs. Houston Texans:-Schedule:COLOR KEY & NOTES:-Week 1: at San Diego Chargers:-Week 2: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers:-Week 3: vs. Detroit Lions:-Week 4: at Kansas City Chiefs:... |
Mall of America Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | Fox | |||
| 16 | December 26 | 7:30 p.m. CST | Atlanta Falcons | Mercedes-Benz Superdome | ESPN | |||
| 17 | January 1 | 12:00 p.m. CST * | Carolina Panthers | Mercedes-Benz Superdome | Fox | |||
- Indicates that the game time is subject to change as a result of flexible scheduling.
Week 1: at Green Bay Packers
The Saints (champions of Super Bowl XLIVSuper Bowl XLIV
Super Bowl XLIV was an American football game between the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion New Orleans Saints to decide the National Football League champion for the 2009 season. The Saints defeated the Colts by a score of...
) began their 2011 campaign at Lambeau Field
Lambeau Field
Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field...
, taking on the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
in the annual NFL Kickoff Game
National Football League Kickoff game
The NFL Kickoff game, and related festivities, mark the start of the National Football League season. The first game of the season is currently scheduled for the Thursday following Labor Day. A single game is held, preceded by a concert and other ceremonies. Since the 2004 season, the defending...
. New Orleans trailed early in the first quarter as Packers QB Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Charles Rodgers is an American football quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . Rodgers was selected in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Packers...
completed a 7-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Greg Jennings
Greg Jennings
Gregory Jennings, Jr. is a professional American football wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League...
. The Saints answered with quarterback Drew Brees
Drew Brees
Drew Christopher Brees is a quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue....
finding wide receiver Robert Meachem
Robert Meachem
Robert Meachem is an American football wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Saints 27th overall in the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tennessee....
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
John Kasay
John David Kasay is an American football kicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round of the 1991 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia...
, followed by running back Darren Sproles
Darren Sproles
Darren Lee Sproles is an American football running back of the NFL who plays for the New Orleans Saints. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
returning a punt 72 yards for a touchdown. However, the Packers came right back with running back James Starks
James Starks
James Darell Starks is an American football running back for the Green Bay Packers. He was selected in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, .-High school:James attended high school in Niagara Falls, New York...
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
Devery Henderson
-New Orleans Saints:On November 5, 2006, Devery had his best day as a professional in a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he caught 3 passes for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns. Henderson had 158 receiving yards on 5 catches, including a 76 yard touchdown, against the Atlanta Falcons on November...
on a 29-yard touchdown pass. In the fourth quarter, the Packers replied with fullback John Kuhn
John Kuhn
John Allen Kuhn is an American football fullback, currently playing for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2005. John attended Dover Area High School in Dover, Pennsylvania...
getting a 1-yard touchdown run. New Orleans tried to rally as Brees found tight end Jimmy Graham
Jimmy Graham
Jimmy Graham is an American football tight end for the New Orleans Saints of the NFL. He played college football at the University of Miami...
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
Week 3: vs. Houston Texans
Week 4: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 5: at Carolina Panthers
Week 6: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 7: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week 8: at St. Louis Rams
Week 9: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 10: at Atlanta Falcons
Week 12: vs. New York Giants
Week 13: vs. Detroit Lions
Week 14: at Tennessee Titans
Week 15: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 16: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week 17: vs. Carolina Panthers
- Gametime subject to change due to flexible scheduling.