The 1986 New Orleans Saints season was the team's 20th as a member of the National Football League. They improved upon their previous season's output of 5–11, winning seven games.1986 New Orleans Saints

Offseason

Organizational changes On January 14, owner Tom Benson hired Jim Finks as the franchise's general manager, and turned over the entire football operation to the veteran operative who previously built championship clubs with the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears. Finks was hired two days after the Bears won the NFC championship to clinch a berth in Super Bowl XX at the Louisiana Superdome.

Two days after the Bears team largely constructed by Finks defeated the New England Patriots 46-10, Finks hired Jim Mora as the new head coach. Mora was the most successful coach in the history of the United States Football League, leading the Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars to two USFL championships and a runner-up finish.

NFL draft

Personnel

Staff

Roster

Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 7 Atlanta Falcons L 10–31 0–1 Louisiana Superdome 67,950 Recap 2 September 14 Green Bay Packers W 24–10 1–1 Louisiana Superdome 46,383 Recap 3 September 21 at San Francisco 49ers L 17–26 1–2 Candlestick Park 58,297 Recap 4 September 28 at New York Giants L 17–20 1–3 Giants Stadium 72,769 Recap 5 October 5 Washington Redskins L 6–14 1–4 Louisiana Superdome 57,378 Recap 6 October 12 at Indianapolis Colts W 17–14 2–4 Hoosier Dome 53,512 Recap 7 October 19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 38–7 3–4 Louisiana Superdome 43,355 Recap 8 October 26 at New York Jets L 23–28 3–5 Giants Stadium 44,246 Recap 9 November 2 San Francisco 49ers W 23–10 4–5 Louisiana Superdome 53,234 Recap 10 November 9 Los Angeles Rams W 6–0 5–5 Louisiana Superdome 62,532 Recap 11 November 16 at St. Louis Cardinals W 16–7 6–5 Busch Memorial Stadium 32,069 Recap 12 November 23 at Los Angeles Rams L 13–26 6–6 Anaheim Stadium 58,600 Recap 13 November 30 New England Patriots L 20–21 6–7 Louisiana Supedome 58,259 Recap 14 December 7 Miami Dolphins L 27–31 6–8 Louisiana Superdome 64,761 Recap 15 December 14 at Atlanta Falcons W 14–9 7–8 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 39,994 Recap 16 December 21 at Minnesota Vikings L 17–33 7–9 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 51,209 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Week 1

Week 2

Standings

References