2006 New Orleans Saints season

*Game time: 8:30 PM EDT/7:30 PM CDT
*Game weather: Indoors (Domed stadium)
*Stadium: Louisiana Superdome
*Television announcers (ESPN): Mike Tirico, Joe Theismann and Tony Kornheiser
*Game attendance: 70,003

Riding high from their two-straight road wins, the Saints returned home to the Louisiana Superdome for the first time since December 26, 2004 for a special Monday Night game against their fellow NFC South division rival, the Atlanta Falcons, in front of a sell-out crowd of 70,003 and ESPN's largest-ever audience, with about 10.8 million households viewing, the second-largest cable audience in history. [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/football/nfl/09/26/bc.fbn.falcons.saintsra.ap/index.html Sports Illustrated article on Saints' return to NO] ] On just the fourth overall play of the game, Safety Steve Gleason blocked a punt and DB Curtis Deloatch managed to land on the ball in the end zone for the Saints first score of the game. Former Saints kicker Morten Andersen helped Atlanta get its only score of the game, from a 26-yard field goal. From there, the Saints dominated the rest of the game. For the final score of the first quarter, WR Devery Henderson ran 11 yards for a touchdown on a double reverse. Kicker John Carney would provide the scoring for the rest of the game, as he kicked two second quarter field goals (a 37-yarder and a 51-yarder), and one third quarter field goal (a 20-yarder) to essentially wrap up the game. From there, the Saints defense continued to put pressure on Falcons QB Michael Vick, as they sacked him five times, while limiting the running duo of Vick and Dunn to just a combined total of 101 rushing yards. With their dominating performance, the Saints would take the lead in the NFC South with a surprising 3-0 record.

Green Day and U2 performed jointly on the field before the game, while the Goo Goo Dolls held a concert outside the Dome earlier in the evening.

The broadcast on ESPN would later go on to be the second most-watched cable television broadcast ever, averaging nearly 15 million viewers. [ [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1541856/20060927/u2.jhtml?headlines=true U2 Keeping Up Charitable Efforts Post-Superdome - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News ] ] The broadcast was also the highest rating ever for ESPN and was the second largest cable audience ever behind the 1993 NAFTA debate between Al Gore and Ross Perot on CNN. [http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9687334]

Week 4: at Carolina Panthers

*Game time: 1:00 PM EDT/12:00 PM CDT
*Game weather: Indoors (Domed stadium)
*Stadium: Louisiana Superdome
*Television announcers (FOX): Dick Stockton and Troy Aikman
*Game attendance: 68,269

Hoping to build on their win over Tampa Bay, the Saints stayed at home for a Week 6 fight with the Philadelphia Eagles. In the first quarter, New Orleans jumped out to an early lead with kicker John Carney kicking a 39-yard field goal and QB Drew Brees completing a 14-yard TD pass to WR Joe Horn. In the second quarter, Philadelphia would get on the board with kicker David Akers kicking a 47-yard field goal. Fortunately, the Saints managed to further themselves, as Brees completed a 7-yard TD pass to WR Marques Colston. However, in the third quarter, the Eagles started to get back into the game, as QB Donovan McNabb completed two touchdown passes (a 60-yarder to WR Reggie Brown and a 4-yard to TE L.J. Smith). In the fourth quarter, Philadelphia took the lead on a 15-yard TD run by Brown. Fortunately, after Brees completed a 48-yard TD pass to Horn, Carney helped give New Orleans the win as he kicked a 31-yard field goal as time ran out on the game. With the win, the Saints maintained their lead in the NFC South with a 5-1 record going into their bye week.

Week 8: vs. Baltimore Ravens

*Game time: 4:15 PM EST/3:15 PM CST
*Game weather:
*Stadium: Heinz Field
*Television announcers (FOX): Joe Buck and Troy Aikman
*Game attendance: 61,911

Coming off their sweeping win over the Bucs, the Saints flew to Heinz Field for a match-up with the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. In the first quarter, the Saints trailed early as QB Ben Roethlisberger completed a 37-yard TD pass to WR Hines Ward and a 2-yard TD pass to TE Heath Miller. Afterwards, New Orleans got on the board with QB Drew Brees completing a 3-yard TD pass to WR Terrance Copper. In the second quarter, the Saints started to take command as kicker John Carney completed a 20-yard field goal, while rookie RB Reggie Bush got a 15-yard TD run on a reverse. Pittsburgh would get kicker Jeff Reed to get a 32-yard field goal, yet New Orleans responded with RB Deuce McAllister getting a 4-yard TD run. In the third quarter, the Steelers started to fight back as Roethlisberger completed a 38-yard TD pass to WR Cedrick Wilson for the only score of the period. In the fourth quarter, RB Willie Parker followed up two 70+ yard runs with a 3-yard and a 4-yard TD run to give Pittsburgh the lead. The Saints tried to fight back with McAllister getting a 4-yard TD run, but Pittsburgh held on to win. With the loss, the Saints fell to 6-3.

Week 11: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

*Game time: 1:00 PM EDT/12:00 PM CDT
*Game weather: Indoors (Domed stadium)
*Stadium: Louisiana Superdome
*Television announcers (FOX): Kenny Albert and Bill Maas
*Game attendance: 68,241

Attempting to capitalize on their decisive victory at Atlanta, a revitalized Saints team entered the game with high hopes. In the first quarter, 49ers kicker Joe Nedney kicked a 29-yarder for the 49ers only score of the half. Reggie Bush exploded in the second quarter with a 1-yard run TD and, after an interception returned to the 7-yard line by Mike McKenzie, a sneak-around TD late in the quarter. Coming into the third quarter, Alex Smith completed a 48-yard TD pass to Antonio Bryant, but that was the final score for the 49ers. After a John Carney field goal, Reggie Bush took hold of a five-yard shovel pass from Drew Brees and scored his third TD of the night. In the fourth quarter, Bush ran down the sidelines and appeared to be heading for a fourth touchdown after a quick pass that he turned into a 74-yarder, but he fumbled the ball out of bounds. However, he scored on a ten-yard run a few plays later, and kicker John Carney sent the game away with a 33-yard field goal. With the win, the Saints improve to 8-4.

Week 14: at Dallas Cowboys

*Game time: 1:00 PM EST/12:00 PM CST
*Game weather: Windy, cloudy.
*Stadium: Giants Stadium
*Television announcers (FOX): Dick Stockton and Troy Aikman
*Game attendance: 78,539 Despite the loss the previous week, the Saints could clinch a first-round bye with a win and help. They entered the Meadowlands against a New York Giants team trying to gain momentum that could lead them to a playoff spot. Hoping they could capitalize off the Saints loss, the Giants' first drive saw a 55-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning to Plaxico Burress. The Saints' offense opened with a three-and-out, but they successfully recovered their punt. A field goal narrowed the score to 7-3. A subsequent Saints drive ended with another field goal. With 10:30 left in the second quarter, the Saints directed a huge, time-eating drive that ended with a touchdown on fourth-down with just 1:56 left in the half. Seven minutes into the third quarter, Reggie Bush sped past the Giants' linebacker corps and scored on a one-yard TD, to lengthen the score to 20-7. In the middle of the third quarter, Reggie Bush returned a punt, fell onto his knees (but because nobody touched him he was not down by contact), and he then ran the ball in for a touchdown. However, a challenge revealed that the Giants' punter just barely nicked the leg of Bush, and he was ruled down by contact. Early in the fourth quarter, Deuce McAllister ran it in for the final TD of the day, and John Carney sealed it with a 38-yard field goal. The Saints defense was stout throughout the game, shutting out the Giants after their opening touchdown, and never allowing the Giants to run a play in their territory. With the win, the Saints improved to 10-5. The following day, the Dallas Cowboys fell to the revitalized, Jeff Garcia-led Philadelphia Eagles, and the Saints secured the #2 spot in the NFC, and a first-round bye.

Week 17: vs. Carolina Panthers

*Game time: 3:00 PM EST/2:00 PM CST
*Game weather: 28°F (Cloudy)
*Stadium: Soldier Field
*TV announcers (FOX): Joe Buck (play-by-play), Troy Aikman (color commentator), Pam Oliver (field reporter), and Chris Myers (field reporter)
*Game attendance: 61,047
*Referee: Terry McAulay

Game summary

Following their divisional win over the Eagles, the Saints flew to Soldier Field for their very first NFC Championship Game, where they would take on the top-seeded Chicago Bears. In the first quarter, New Orleans trailed early with Bears kicker Robbie Gould getting a 19-yard field goal for the only score of the period. In the second quarter, the Saints continued to trail as Gould gave Chicago a 43-yard and a 23-yard field goal, while RB Thomas Jones got a 2-yard TD run. New Orleans would manage to get some momentum for the second half as QB Drew Brees completed a 13-yard TD pass to rookie WR Marques Colston. In the third quarter, the Saints started to get more momentum as Brees completed an 88-yard TD pass to rookie RB Reggie Bush. However, the Bears began to creep back, getting a safety when Brees was called for intentional grounding while in his own endzone. In the fourth quarter, New Orleans' struggles continued with Chicago QB Rex Grossman completing a 33-yard TD pass to WR Bernard Berrian. Also, Bears RB Cedric Benson got a 12-yard TD run, while Jones wrapped up the game with a 15-yard TD run.

A key factor to New Orleans' loss was the fact that they were a "dome" team and were forced to play in snowy conditions while committing five turnovers (three lost fumbles, an interception, and one on downs).

With the loss, the Saints season ended with an overall record of 11-7.

coring summary

Q1 - CHI - 0:41 - Robbie Gould 19 yd FG (CHI 3-0)

Q2 - CHI - 13:40 - Robbie Gould 43 yd FG (CHI 6-0)

Q2 - CHI - 8:52 - Robbie Gould 24 yd FG (CHI 9-0)

Q2 - CHI - 1:56 - Thomas Jones 2 yd TD run (Gould kick) (CHI 16-0)

Q2 - NO - 0:46 - 13 yd TD pass from Drew Brees to Marques Colston (John Carney kick) (CHI 16-7)

Q3 - NO - 12:20 - 88 yd TD pass from Drew Brees to Reggie Bush (Carney kick) (CHI 16-14)

Q3 - CHI - 5:27 - Safety, Intentional Grounding on New Orleans (Drew Brees) (CHI 18-14)

Q4 - CHI - 14:23 - 33 yd TD pass from Rex Grossman to Bernard Berrian (Gould kick) (CHI 25-14)

Q4 - CHI - 11:37 - Cedric Benson 12 yd TD run (Gould kick) (CHI 32-14)

Q4 - CHI - 4:19 - Thomas Jones 15 yd TD run (Gould Kick) (CHI 39-14)

Division standings

Notes