The 2016 season was the New Orleans Saints' 50th in the National Football League, their 41st playing home games at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, and their 10th under head coachSean Payton. The Saints matched their 7–9 record from 2014 and 2015, and missed the playoffs for the third year in a row. One highlight from the season includes quarterback Drew Brees' first return to San Diegofor the first time since the Chargers released him at the end of the 2005 season, also where Brees played his first five seasons in. This came 10 years after the Chargers released Brees after the Saints' previous regular season meetings with the Chargers were home games for the Saints, and including a 2008 meeting at Wembley Stadium in London, a game which New Orleans was registered as the home team.
Draft
Round
Selection
Player
Position
College
1
12
Sheldon Rankins
DT
Louisville
2
47
Michael Thomas
WR
Ohio St.
2
61
Vonn Bell
S
Ohio St.
4
120
David Onyemata
DT
Manitoba
7
237
Daniel Lasco
RB
California
Notes
The Saints traded their 2016 sixth-round selection, along with their 2015 sixth-round selection to the Washington Redskins in exchange for the Washington Redskins 2015 fifth-round selection.
The Saints traded their 2016 third and fourth-round selection to the New England Patriots in exchange for the New England Patriots second-round selection.
The Saints traded their 2016 fifth-round selection, along with their 2017 fifth-round selection to the Washington Redskins in exchange for the Washington Redskins fourth-round selection.
The Saints opened the season at home against the Oakland Raiders in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Despite 423 passing yards—including a franchise-record 98-yard touchdown pass to receiver Brandin Cooks—and four touchdowns from Drew Brees, the Raiders came from behind to win 35–34. The Raiders scored a touchdown with 47 seconds remaining in the game to bring them within one point. Instead of kicking an extra point, Raiders coach Jack Del Rio ordered a two-point conversion, which quarterback Derek Carr successfully converted with a pass to receiver Michael Crabtree. The Saints received the kickoff and Brees led the team down the field in two plays to give kicker Wil Lutz a chance at a game-winning 61-yard field goal, but the kick went wide left. The Saints defense was criticized for its performance, as it gave up 210 yards and 22 points in the fourth quarter.
For the first time in 11 years, Drew Brees returned to San Diego to face his former team, the Chargers, where he began his NFL career. In the game, the Saints got their first win of the season, rallying in the 4th quarter after trailing 34–21 to win 35–34, mostly due to two key fumbles by the Chargers.
As part of Color Rush, the Saints wore all-white uniforms for this game, inspired by the ones they wore in 1975. Due to this, it was the first time the Saints have worn white pants since 1985 and the second season they wore all-white uniforms in franchise history, the first being the 1975 season. The Saints went into the fourth quarter with a 20-point deficit to the Panthers. The Saints rallied and got within three with 5:11 left to go in the game, but the Panthers were able to hold them off.
