The 2008 season was the New Orleans Saints' 42nd in the National Football League (NFL), their 33rd playing home games at the Louisiana Superdome and their third under head coach Sean Payton. The Saints improved on their 7–9 record from the 2007 season with an 8–8 record, however, they would miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season. This was the only season under Drew Brees that they finished last in the division, and the Saints would not finish last in the division again until 2024. Despite this, Brees became just the second quarterback to throw for over 5,000 passing yards and won the NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award.
The Saints played the AFC West this season, beating three out of the four teams in that division. They lost to the Denver Broncos, but won against the San Diego Chargers, Oakland Raiders, and Kansas City Chiefs.
Offseason NFL draft
Personnel Staff
Roster
Preseason Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Arizona Cardinals W 24–101–0 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 2 Houston Texans L 27–31 1–1 Louisiana Superdome Recap 3 Cincinnati Bengals W 13–0 2–1 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 4 Miami Dolphins L 10–14 2–2 Louisiana Superdome Recap
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 24–20 1–0 Louisiana Superdome Recap 2 September 14 at Washington Redskins L 24–29 1–1 Fedex FieldRecap 3 September 21 at Denver Broncos L 32–34 1–2 Invesco Field Recap 4 September 28 San Francisco 49ers W 31–17 2–2 Louisiana Superdome Recap 5 Minnesota Vikings L 27–30 2–3 Louisiana Superdome Recap 6 October 12 Oakland Raiders W 34–3 3–3 Louisiana Superdome Recap 7 October 19 at Carolina Panthers L 7–30 3–4 Bank of America Stadium Recap 8 October 26 San Diego Chargers W 37–32 4–4 Wembley Stadium Recap 9Bye 10 November 9 at Atlanta Falcons L 20–34 4–5 Georgia Dome Recap 11 November 16 at Kansas City ChiefsW 30–20 5–5 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 12 November 24 Green Bay Packers W 51–29 6–5 Louisiana Superdome Recap 13 November 30 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 20–23 6–6 Raymond James Stadium Recap 14 December 7 Atlanta Falcons W 29–25 7–6 Louisiana Superdome Recap 15 at Chicago Bears L 24–27 7–7 Soldier Field Recap 16 December 21 at Detroit Lions W 42–7 8–7 Ford Field Recap 17 December 28 Carolina Panthers L 31–33 8–8 Louisiana Superdome Recap
Summary Week 1: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Saints began their 2008 campaign at home against their NFC South foe, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In the first quarter, New Orleans drew first blood as QB Drew Brees completed a 39-yard TD pass to WR David Patten. The Buccaneers replied with CB Phillip Buchanon returning an interception 26 yards for a touchdown. In the second quarter, Tampa Bay took the lead with kicker Matt Bryant getting a 37-yard field goal. In the third quarter, the Saints responded with kicker Martín Gramática getting a 34-yard field goal. The Buccaneers answered with Bryant nailing a 33-yard field goal, but New Orleans regained the lead with Brees completing an 84-yard TD pass to WR Devery Henderson. In the fourth quarter, Tampa Bay jumped ahead again as QB Jeff Garcia completed a 2-yard TD pass to WR Ike Hilliard. The Bayou faithful got the last laugh as Brees completed the game-winning 42-yard TD pass to RB Reggie Bush.
With the win, the Saints began their season at 1–0.
Week 2: at Washington Redskins
Coming off their divisional home win over the Buccaneers, the Saints flew to FedExField for a Week 2 duel with the Washington Redskins.
In the first quarter, New Orleans trailed early as Redskins kicker Shaun Suisham got a 22-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Washington increased its lead with Suisham's 36-yard field goal. Afterward, the Saints took the lead with RB Pierre Thomas getting a 1-yard TD run and kicker Martín Gramática nailing a 49-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, New Orleans increased its lead with QB Drew Brees completing a 19-yard TD pass to WR Robert Meachem. The Redskins started to fight back as RB Clinton Portis got a 9-yard TD run (with a failed 2-point conversion). New Orleans responded with RB Reggie Bush returning a punt 55 yards for a touchdown. However, Washington rallied with Portis' 8-yard TD run and QB Jason Campbell's 67-yard TD pass to WR Santana Moss.
With the loss, the Saints fell to 1–1.
Week 3: at Denver Broncos
Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Redskins, the Saints flew to Invesco Field at Mile High for a Week 3 interconference duel with the Denver Broncos. In the first quarter, New Orleans trailed early as Broncos QB Jay Cutler completed a 1-yard TD pass to TE Nate Jackson. The Saints answered with kicker Martín Gramática getting a 43-yard field goal. Denver replied with Cutler completing a 35-yard TD pass to WR Brandon Marshall. In the second quarter, New Orleans continued to struggle as Broncos LB Nate Webster returned a fumble 34 yards for a touchdown. The Saints started to rally as RB Pierre Thomas got a 5-yard TD run, while RB Reggie Bush got a 23-yard TD run. Denver answered with kicker Matt Prater getting a 27-yard field goal. New Orleans closed out the half with DE Charles Grant tackling RB Andre Hall in his endzone for a safety.
In the third quarter, the Broncos replied with RB Michael Pittman getting a 2-yard TD run. The Saints answered with QB Drew Brees completing a 6-yard TD pass to Bush, but Denver responded with Prater nailing a 34-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, New Orleans tried to rally as Thomas got a 10-yard TD run (with a failed 2-point conversion). They even recovered a fumble and got into field goal position. However, Gramática's 43-yard attempt went wide right, ending any hope of a comeback.
With the loss, the Saints fell to 1–2.
Week 4: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Trying to snap a two-game losing streak, the Saints went home for a Week 4 duel with the San Francisco 49ers. In the first quarter, New Orleans trailed early as 49ers kicker Joe Nedney got a 47-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Saints responded with QB Drew Brees completing a 5-yard and a 33-yard TD pass to WR Lance Moore. San Francisco tried to catch up as Nedney kicked a 49-yard field goal, but New Orleans continued its dominance as Brees completed a 47-yard TD pass to WR Robert Meachem.
In the third quarter, the 49ers tried to rally as Nedney got a 38-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Saints continued its victory march as RB Deuce McAllister got a 1-yard TD run. San Francisco tried to come back as QB J.T. O'Sullivan completed a 5-yard TD pass to WR Isaac Bruce, but New Orleans sealed the win with kicker Martín Gramática nailing a 31-yard field goal.
With the win, the Saints improved to 2–2.
Week 5: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Coming off their home win over the 49ers, the Saints stayed at home for a Week 5 Monday Night duel with the Minnesota Vikings. In the first quarter, New Orleans was first out of the gate as QB Drew Brees completed a 17-yard TD pass to WR Devery Henderson. The Vikings responded with CB Antoine Winfield returning a blocked field goal 59 yards for a touchdown. The Saints answered with kicker Martín Gramática getting a 35-yard field goal. Minnesota replied with kicker Ryan Longwell getting a 53-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Vikings took the lead as RB Chester Taylor completed a 4-yard TD pass to TE Visanthe Shiancoe, along with Longwell kicking a 33-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, New Orleans began to rally as RB Reggie Bush returned a punt 71 yards for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, the Saints took the lead with Gramática making a 53-yard field goal and Bush returning a punt 64 yards for a touchdown. However, Minnesota rallied with QB Gus Frerotte completing a 33-yard TD pass to WR Bernard Berrian, along with Longwell nailing the game-winning 30-yard field goal.
With the loss, the Saints fell to 2–3.
This game was the first time in NFL history that a game had a combination of a blocked field goal, a TD pass by a non-quarterback, two field goals of 50+ yards, and two punts returned for touchdowns.
Week 6: vs. Oakland Raiders
Hoping to rebound from their MNF home loss to the Vikings, the Saints stayed at home for a Week 6 interconference duel with the Oakland Raiders. In the first quarter, New Orleans trailed early as Raiders Sebastian Janikowski got a 24-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Saints took the lead as RB Reggie Bush got a 3-yard TD run, along with kicker Taylor Mehlhaff (recently signed due to Martín Gramática out for the year) getting a 44-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, New Orleans added on to their lead as QB Drew Brees completed an 8-yard TD pass to RB Aaron Stecker and a 15-yard TD pass to Bush. In the fourth quarter, the Saints closed out the game with Mehlhaff nailing a 33-yard field goal and Brees completing a 2-yard TD pass to TE Mark Campbell.
With the win, New Orleans improved to 3–3.
With a 21-yard reception in the first quarter, Reggie Bush (14 att/27 yds, 3 rec/40 yards and 2 TDs), collected his 200th reception in his NFL career over the span of just 34 games, tying Anquan Boldin for the NFL record fewest games needed to do so.
Week 7: at Carolina Panthers
Coming off their home win over the Raiders, the Saints began their road trip at the Bank of America Stadium for a Week 7 NFC South duel with the Carolina Panthers. In the first quarter, New Orleans trailed early as Panthers kicker John Kasay got a 39-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Saints responded with FB Mike Karney getting a 1-yard TD run. However, Carolina answered with RB Jonathan Stewart getting an 18-yard TD run.
In the third quarter, the Panthers added on to their lead as QB Jake Delhomme completed a 39-yard TD pass to WR Steve Smith and a 4-yard TD pass to WR DeAngelo Williams. In the fourth quarter, Carolina closed out the game with Kasay nailing a 28-yard field goal.
With the loss, New Orleans fell to 3–4.
Week 8: vs. San Diego Chargers
Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Panthers, the Saints flew to Wembley Stadium for the 2008 International Series game with quarterback Drew Brees' former team, the San Diego Chargers. For the game, New Orleans was registered as the home team.
In the first quarter, the Saints drew first blood as rookie kicker Taylor Mehlhaff got a 23-yard field goal. The Chargers responded with kicker Nate Kaeding getting a 33-yard field goal. In the second quarter, New Orleans got a huge lead as Brees completed a 12-yard TD pass to WR Devery Henderson (with a failed PAT), along with RB Deuce McAllister getting a 1-yard TD run. San Diego answered with QB Philip Rivers completing a 12-yard TD pass to RB LaDainian Tomlinson, but the Saints increased their lead as Brees completed a 30-yard TD pass to WR Lance Moore. The Chargers closed out the half as Rivers completed a 12-yard TD pass to TE Antonio Gates.
In the third quarter, New Orleans added on to their lead as Brees completed a 1-yard TD pass to TE Mark Campbell, but San Diego continued to hang around as Kaeding got a 24-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Saints continued its scoring with FB Mike Karney getting a 1-yard TD run. The Chargers tried to rally as Kaeding nailed a 31-yard field goal, Rivers completed a 14-yard TD run to WR Vincent Jackson, and Brees giving San Diego a safety by throwing an incomplete pass into the back of his own end zone. New Orleans' defense held on for the victory.
With the win, the Saints went into their bye week at 4–4.
Week 9: BYE
Week 10: at Atlanta Falcons