2012 New Orleans Saints season


The 2012 season was the New Orleans Saints' 46th in the National Football League and their 37th playing home games at the Superdome. It would have been their seventh season under head coach Sean Payton, but he was suspended by the NFL for the entire season as part of the punishment for the team's bounty scandal. On April 12, 2012, linebackers coach Joe Vitt was named interim head coach to replace Payton while he was suspended. On August 22, 2012, it was announced that Aaron Kromer would take over while Vitt himself served a six-game suspension to start the regular season. The Saints attempted to make history as the first host team to play the Super Bowl on their own home field, but they were eliminated from post-season contention for the first time since 2008 in Week 16. The Saints set an NFL record for most yards given up by a defense, 7,042 yards, surpassing the 1981 Baltimore Colts record of 6,793 yards.

Personnel changes

After his contract expired, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was hired by the St. Louis Rams to the same position on January 16, 2012. Former Rams' head coach Steve Spagnuolo replaced Williams. Williams was later handed an indefinite suspension from the NFL for his role in the bounty scandal.

Roster changes

Signings

Pos.PlayerDate

Notes
WRAndy TannerJanuary 18, 2012
CBKamaal McIlwainJanuary 18, 2012Released August 27, 2012.
OTPhil TrautweinJanuary 18, 2012Released May 15, 2012
OGNick HowellJanuary 18, 2012Released May 15, 2012.
QBSean CanfieldJanuary 18, 2012
CBJosh VictorianJanuary 18, 2012Released May 15, 2012
CBCord ParksJanuary 18, 2012Released July 31, 2012. Re-Signed August 2, 2012. Released August 27, 2012.
OTFenuki TupouJanuary 18, 2012Placed on Injured Reserve August 20, 2012.
RBChris TaylorJanuary 18, 2012Released June 8, 2012
DTMitch KingJanuary 18, 2012
DTSwanson MillerJanuary 19, 2012Released August 27, 2012.
OGBen GrubbsMarch 15, 2012From the Baltimore Ravens
DTBrodrick BunkleyMarch 21, 2012From the Denver Broncos
LBChris ChamberlainMarch 23, 2012From the St. Louis Rams. Placed on Injured Reserve August 20, 2012.
LBCurtis LoftonMarch 24, 2012From the Atlanta Falcons
LBDavid HawthorneApril 3, 2012From the Seattle Seahawks
WRCourtney RobyApril 16, 2012Re-Signed
CBJabari GreerApril 20, 2012Re-Signed
LBJonathan CasillasApril 24, 2012Re-Signed
KJohn KasayApril 26, 2012Re-Signed
DTRemi AyodeleMay 7, 2012Released August 27, 2012.
CBMarquis JohnsonMay 11, 2012From the St. Louis Rams
OTHutch EckersonMay 14, 2012Released August 27, 2012.
LBLawrence WilsonMay 15, 2012
CBElbert MackJune 5, 2012From the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
QBLuke McCownJune 7, 2012From the Jacksonville Jaguars. Released August 27, 2012.
QBDrew BreesJuly 13, 2012Re-Signed
TEDerek SchoumanJuly 24, 2012
DEAlex DanielsJuly 31, 2012
LBRamon HumberAugust 6, 2012Re-Signed
OGPaul FenaroliAugust 11, 2012Released August 27, 2012.
TEDaniel GrahamAugust 11, 2012
WRGreg CamarilloAugust 20, 2012
LBBarrett RuudAugust 20, 2012From the Seattle Seahawks

Draft

The Saints did not have a first- or second-round selection.
;NOTES

Undrafted free agents

All undrafted free agents were signed just after the 2012 NFL Draft concluded on April 28.
PositionPlayerCollegeNotes
LBKadarron AndersonFurmanAdded to the team roster on April 30, will participate in rookie mini-camp
WRMalcolm BeyahMiddle Tennessee StateAdded to the team roster on April 30, will participate in rookie mini-camp. Released June 13, 2012.
DEBraylon BroughtonTCUAdded to the team roster on April 30, will participate in rookie mini-camp
TEJake ByrneWisconsinAdded to the team roster on April 30, will participate in rookie mini-camp. Released August 27, 2012.
RBTravaris CadetAppalachian StateAdded to the team roster on April 30, will participate in rookie mini-camp
DBA.J. DavisJacksonville StateAdded to the team roster on April 30, will participate in rookie mini-camp. Placed on Injured Reserve August 11, 2012. Released August 18, 2012.
CBrian FolkertsWashburnAdded to the team roster on April 30, will participate in rookie mini-camp. Released August 27, 2012.
WRChris GivensMiami Added to the team roster on April 30, will participate in rookie mini-camp. Placed on Injured Reserve August 2, 2012.
SJose GumbsMonmouthAdded to the team roster on April 30, will participate in rookie mini-camp
WRKevin HardyThe CitadelAdded to the team roster on April 30, will participate in rookie mini-camp. Released July 24, 2012. Re-signed August 6, 2012. Released August 27, 2012.
OTDan HochMissouriAdded to the team roster on April 30, will participate in rookie mini-camp. Released May 15, 2012.
LBStephen JohnsonTempleAdded to the team roster on April 30, will participate in rookie mini-camp. Released May 15, 2012.
SJerico NelsonArkansasAdded to the team roster on April 30, will participate in rookie mini-camp
RSLaron ScottGeorgia SouthernAdded to the team roster on April 30, will participate in rookie mini-camp. Releases August 6, 2012.
OTAderious SimmonsArizona StateAdded to the team roster on April 30, will participate in rookie mini-camp
LBAaron TevisBoise StateAdded to the team roster on April 30, will participate in rookie mini-camp. Released August 27, 2012.
SJohnny ThomasOklahoma StateAdded to the team roster on April 30, will participate in rookie mini-camp. Released August 27, 2012.
DE/DTTyrunn WalkerTulsaAdded to the team roster on April 30, will participate in rookie mini-camp
OGDeOn'tae PannellPenn StateAdded to the team roster on May 15 after participating in rookie mini-camp
DBNick HixsonHillsdaleAdded to the team roster on May 15 after participating in rookie mini-camp. Released June 8, 2012. Re-Signed August 11, 2012.
OGScott WinnewisserCalifornia Signed May 29, 2012. Placed on Injured Reserve August 6, 2012.
RBJoe BanyardUTEPSigned June 7, 2012.
WRDerek MoyePenn StateClaimed off waivers from the Miami Dolphins on June 13, 2012. Released August 27, 2012.
LBDonavan RobinsonJackson StateSigned June 22, 2012. Released August 27, 2012.
WRMarques ClarkHenderson StateSigned July 24, 2012. Released August 27, 2012.

Staff

Final roster

Schedule

Preseason

Regular season

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Washington Redskins

With the loss, the Saints started their season 0–1.

Week 2: at Carolina Panthers

With the loss, the Saints fell to 0–2.

Week 3: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

With the close loss, the Saints fell to 0–3.

Week 4: at Green Bay Packers

With the loss, the Saints face their first 0–4 start since 2007.

Week 5: vs. San Diego Chargers

broke Johnny Unitas' record of consecutive games with a touchdown in the first quarter. The record touchdown was witnessed by Unitas' son Joe. With the surprising win, the Saints go into their bye week at 1–4.

Week 7: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

With the win, the Saints improved to 2–4. Also, QB Drew Brees increased his number of consecutive games with a touchdown pass to 49.

Week 8: at Denver Broncos

With the loss, the Saints fell to 2–5. However, despite the loss, QB Drew Brees increased his record of consecutive games with a touchdown pass to 50.

Week 9: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

With the win, the Saints improved to 3–5. Also, QB Drew Brees increased his streak of games with at least one passing touchdown to 51.

Week 10: vs. Atlanta Falcons

After their huge win over the Eagles, the Saints stayed home for a game against their heated rival Falcons. Sitting at 3–5, the Falcons came into this game at 8–0. The Saints surprisingly won their 4th-straight game against the Falcons and improved their record to 4–5 while the Falcons dropped to 8–1. Drew Brees brought his total of games with a passing touchdown to 52.

Week 11: at Oakland Raiders

After 2 straight dominant home wins, the Saints traveled to Oakland to take on the Raiders. The Saints again dominated this game after the Raiders took the first points of the game. The Saints would win and improve to 5–5 on the season keeping their playoff hopes alive. Also Drew Brees brought his streak of at least 1 passing touchdown in a single game to 53.

Week 12: vs. San Francisco 49ers

The loss dropped the team to 5–6, but Brees' record of games with at least 1 passing touchdown stood at 54.

Week 13: at Atlanta Falcons

After the tough road loss to the Niners, the Saints traveled to take on the Falcons in a TNF matchup. The Saints' 4-game winning streak against the Falcons would be snapped as the team dropped to 5–7. Also, QB Drew Brees' streak of consecutive games with at least 1 passing touchdown would come to an end as he threw a career-high 5 interceptions in one game on the night. Regardless, his total passing touchdowns at this point was 31 bringing him his 5th straight season with 30+ passing touchdowns.

Week 14: at New York Giants

Week 15: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

With the win, The Saints improved to 6–8 and swept the Buccaneers for the first time since 2006 and posted their first shutout win since 1995 to the New York Jets 12–0

Week 16: at Dallas Cowboys

With the win, the Saints improved to 7–8. However, the Saints were eliminated from postseason contention, thus rendering them unable to play Super Bowl XLVII on their own home turf.

Week 17: vs. Carolina Panthers

With the loss, the Saints finished with their first losing season since 2007 at 7–9. Also, the team was swept by the Panthers for the first time since 2008.

Standings