New Orleans Saints 2024-25 NFL Season Recap

New Orleans Saints 2024-25 NFL Season Recap

The first two weeks of the NFL betting season surely took sports bettors by surprise after the New Orleans Saints went on to paste the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys by the aggregate score of 91-29. The 44-19 beat down of “America’s Team” in Arlington put Dennis Allen’s troops on the map and had all the talking heads already crowning OC Klint Kubiak the assistant coach hire of the year. Fast forward seven weeks, and the Saints 2-0 straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS) records moved to 2-7 SU and 3-6 ATS. Injuries paired with a nasty gauntlet that included the Eagles, @Falcons, @Chiefs, Buccaneers, Broncos, @Chargers, and @Panthers ultimately proved to be the team’s demise. Allen was fired soon after and replaced with special teams coach Darren Rizzi, but the overall results remained one in the same. When the dust cleared on yet another disappointing campaign, the Saints wrapped 5-12 SU and 7-10 against the closing NFL spread amounting to the franchise earning the ninth pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

With a healthy Derek Carr under center, Alvin Kamara in the backfield, and both Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed available to be utilized as offensive weapons, the unit proved to be electric. However, the injury bug took huge bites out of the quadrant all season long. AK proved to be the only longstanding contributor and finished his eighth season with 1,493 scrimmage yards and 8 TD. Juwan Johnson also proved to be a standout at the tight end position accruing the best showing of his career in turning a career-high 66 targets into 50 receptions for 548 yards and 3 TD averaging 11.0 yards per snag. Even so, N’awlens closed the year ranked No. 21 in total offense and No. 24 in points scored. That paired with a stop unit that gave up its fair share of yardage but only served up an average of 23+ points per game amounted to the under cashing in nine of their 17 played games.

The loss to the Bucs in the season finale paired with Chicago going into Lambeau and scoring a last second win ultimately saw the Saints jump a spot in the draft pecking order up to No. 9. What GM Mickey Loomis ultimately decides to do with the pick remains to be seen. Mock drafts have relayed the offense getting a huge addition like Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka or a major boost to the defense in the form of Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams. Either way, New Orleans figures to get a difference maker with its current draft stock. Also needing to be decided is the new head coach. Detroit DC Aaron Glenn is the current favorite to land the gig, but I’m not entirely sold on upper management going the defensive route once again considering how poorly the Dennis Allen experiment just went. Buffalo OC Joe Brady initially hit the board as the odds-on favorite at the crypto sportsbook, and I think a signing like that would have the “Who Dat Nation” a bit more revved up.

New Orleans Saints Week 18 Recap

The New Orleans Saints capped a disappointing NFL betting season with a 27-19 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, despite holding a 16-6 halftime lead. Spencer Rattler showcased promise, completing 21 of 28 passes for 151 yards in the first half and finishing with 240 yards and a touchdown. His 5-yard scoring pass to Dante Pettis helped the Saints score on their first four possessions, but red-zone inefficiency and missed opportunities cost them crucial points. Facing a depleted Buccaneers secondary, New Orleans took advantage early but could not maintain momentum. The Saints failed to score in the second half, turning the ball over on downs and missing key conversions. A fourth-quarter gamble backfired when Rattler’s drive ended without points, highlighting the offensive struggles that plagued the season. Defensively, New Orleans allowed Baker Mayfield to rally Tampa Bay from a double-digit deficit. Despite forcing early punts, the Saints surrendered big plays, including Mayfield’s go-ahead 32-yard touchdown pass and a momentum-shifting 28-yard scramble. The loss punctuated a season of unmet expectations. After starting 2-0 and outscoring opponents 91-29, the Saints collapsed, leading to Dennis Allen’s firing. Interim coach Darren Rizzi praised the team’s effort, but inconsistency defined their year.

2024 New Orleans Saints Schedule, Results & Record

Founded in 1967 as an expansion team, the New Orleans Saints have experienced both ineptitude and glory throughout their history. In the early years, the Saints struggled, failing to post a winning record until the 1987 season. Gayle Benson, the widow of the legendary owner Tom Benson, currently owns the team. The original owner, John Mecom Jr., is remembered for fielding colorful but often losing teams. Despite a rocky start, the Saints' history is marked by significant achievements and unforgettable moments.

Despite these tough times, one player stood out: quarterback Archie Manning. Manning became a legend, admired by Saints fans for his efforts on some of the worst teams in the league. The franchise began to turn around under head coach Jim Mora, who led the Saints to their first four playoff berths from 1986 to 1995. This era marked the team's first period of serious contention in the NFL.

The most successful period in Saints history came under head coach Sean Payton, who took over in 2006. From 2006 to 2020, the Saints made nine playoff appearances and won the Super Bowl in the 2009-10 season, the only title in franchise history. Despite being suspended for a season due to the infamous Bountygate scandal, Payton's legacy remains strong, largely due to his partnership with quarterback Drew Brees. Together, they formed one of the NFL's most prolific offenses. Payton might be selected for the Hall of Fame someday, but Brees will enter the Hall as part of the 2024 class.

Since Payton parted ways with the team following the 2021-22 season, the Saints are yet to win the NFC South or punch a ticket to the playoffs as a wild card entrant.

New Orleans Saints Past Seasons (2000)

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