# 2005 New Orleans Saints season

The 2005 season was the New Orleans Saints' 39th in the National Football League (NFL) and the sixth and final under head coach Jim Haslett.
The season began with the team trying to improve from their 8–8 record from 2004. The Saints played two preseason games in the Louisiana Superdome before being forced to evacuate New Orleans due to Hurricane Katrina. They were forced to play the rest of the season on the road, splitting their games between their temporary headquarters at San Antonio’s Alamodome, and LSU’s Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, and even playing their first home game at Giants Stadium.
The season ended with a 3–13 record, their equal-worst record alongside 1996 and 1999 since their 1–15 1980 season, and the firing of Jim Haslett. He was replaced by Sean Payton the following season.
This was also Aaron Brooks' last quarterback season as he was released during the offseason, thus being replaced by Drew Brees in the same season Sean Payton was hired.

## Offseason
### NFL Draft

2005 New Orleans Saints draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
| 1 | 13 | Jammal Brown * | Offensive tackle | Oklahoma |
| 2 | 40 | Josh Bullocks | Free Safety | Nebraska |
| 3 | 82 | Alfred Fincher | Linebacker | Connecticut |
| 4 | 118 | Chase Lyman | Wide receiver | California |
| 5 | 152 | Adrian McPherson | Quarterback | Florida State |
| 6 | 193 | Jason Jefferson | Defensive tackle | Wisconsin |
| 7 | 232 | Jimmy Verdon | Defensive end | Arizona State |
| Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career ||||||

## Preseason

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game site | Recap |
| 1 | August 12 | Seattle Seahawks | L 15–34 | 0–1 | Louisiana Superdome | Recap |
| 2 | August 18 | at New England Patriots | W 37–27 | 1–1 | Gillette Stadium | Recap |
| 3 | August 26 | Baltimore Ravens | L 6–21 | 1–2 | Louisiana Superdome | Recap |
| 4 | September 1 | at Oakland Raiders | L 6–13 | 1–3 | McAfee Coliseum | Recap |

## Regular season
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game site | Recap |
| 1 | September 11 | at Carolina Panthers | W 23–20 | 1–0 | Bank of America Stadium | Recap |
| 2 | September 19 | New York Giants | L 10–27 | 1–1 | Giants Stadium | Recap |
| 3 | September 25 | at Minnesota Vikings | L 16–33 | 1–2 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | Recap |
| 4 | October 2 | Buffalo Bills | W 19–7 | 2–2 | Alamodome | Recap |
| 5 | October 9 | at Green Bay Packers | L 3–52 | 2–3 | Lambeau Field | Recap |
| 6 | October 16 | Atlanta Falcons | L 31–34 | 2–4 | Alamodome | Recap |
| 7 | October 23 | at St. Louis Rams | L 17–28 | 2–5 | Edward Jones Dome | Recap |
| 8 | October 30 | Miami Dolphins | L 6–21 | 2–6 | Tiger Stadium | Recap |
| 9 | November 6 | Chicago Bears | L 17–20 | 2–7 | Tiger Stadium | Recap |
| 10 | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| 11 | November 20 | at New England Patriots | L 17–24 | 2–8 | Gillette Stadium | Recap |
| 12 | November 27 | at New York Jets | W 21–19 | 3–8 | Giants Stadium | Recap |
| 13 | December 4 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 3–10 | 3–9 | Tiger Stadium | Recap |
| 14 | December 12 | at Atlanta Falcons | L 17–36 | 3–10 | Georgia Dome | Recap |
| 15 | December 18 | Carolina Panthers | L 10–27 | 3–11 | Tiger Stadium | Recap |
| 16 | December 24 | Detroit Lions | L 12–13 | 3–12 | Alamodome | Recap |
| 17 | January 1 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 13–27 | 3–13 | Raymond James Stadium | Recap |

### Game summaries
#### Week 1: at Carolina Panthers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Saints | 7 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 23 |
| Panthers | 7 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 20 |
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
* Date: September 11
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT/1:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 79 °F (26 °C)
* Game attendance: 72,920
* Referee: Tom White
* TV announcers (FOX): Ron Pitts, Tim Ryan, Pam Oliver
* Recap
Game information :
First quarter
NO – Deuce McAllister 4-yard run (John Carney kick), 5:23. Saints 7–0. Drive: 17 plays, 80 yards, 9:37.
CAR – Steve Smith Sr. 33-yard pass from Jake Delhomme (John Kasay kick), 0:37. Tied 7–7. Drive: 11 plays, 93 yards, 4:46.
Second quarter
NO – Deuce McAllister 2-yard run (John Carney kick), 4:37. Saints 14–7. Drive: 11 plays, 40 yards, 5:46.
Third quarter
NO – John Carney 29-yard field goal, 4:31. Saints 17–7. Drive: 7 plays, 17 yards, 3:26.
CAR – Stephen Davis 1-yard run (John Kasay kick), 0:21. Saints 17–14. Drive: 12 plays, 63 yards, 4:10.
Fourth quarter
NO – John Carney 48-yard field goal, 11:56. Saints 20–14. Drive: 9 plays, 38 yards, 3:25.
CAR – John Kasay 39-yard field goal, 6:17. Saints 20–17. Drive: 14 plays, 73 yards, 5:39.
CAR – John Kasay 46-yard field goal, 1:04. Tied 20–20. Drive: 9 plays, 41 yards, 1:55.
NO – John Carney 47-yard field goal, 0:03. Saints 23–20. Drive: 8 plays, 44 yards, 1:01.
Top passers
NO – Aaron Brooks – 18/24, 192 yards
CAR – Jake Delhomme – 19/31, 212 yards, TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
NO – Deuce McAllister – 26 rushes, 64 yards, 2 TD
CAR – Stephen Davis – 13 rushes, 81 yards, TD
Top receivers
NO – Ernie Conwell – 6 receptions, 71 yards
CAR – Steve Smith Sr. – 8 receptions, 138 yards, TD :

#### Week 2: vs. New York Giants

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Giants | 14 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 27 |
| Saints | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
* Date: September 19
* Game time: 7:30 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Partly cloudy, 77 °F (25 °C)
* Game attendance: 68,031
* Referee: Ed Hochuli
* TV announcers (ABC): Mike Patrick, Paul Maguire, Joe Theismann, Suzy Kolber
* Recap
Game information :
First quarter
NYG – Brandon Jacobs 1-yard run (Jay Feely kick), 13:25. Giants 7–0. Drive: 4 plays, 10 yards, 1:28.
NYG – Tiki Barber 6-yard pass from Eli Manning (Jay Feely kick), 4:13. Giants 14–0. Drive: 13 plays, 86 yards, 5:55.
Second quarter
NO – Joe Horn 21-yard pass from Aaron Brooks (John Carney kick), 14:11. Giants 14–7. Drive: 11 plays, 76 yards, 5:02.
NYG – Tiki Barber 12-yard run (Jay Feely kick), 1:54. Giants 21–7. Drive: 6 plays, 36 yards, 1:33.
NO – John Carney 21-yard field goal, 0:05. Giants 21–10. Drive: 9 plays, 24 yards, 1:10.
Third quarter
NYG – Jay Feely 39-yard field goal, 7:48. Giants 24–10. Drive: 6 plays, 15 yards, 2:36.
Fourth quarter
NYG – Jay Feely 30-yard field goal, 6:37. Giants 27–10. Drive: 16 plays, 74 yards, 6:47.
Top passers
NYG – Eli Manning – 13/24, 165 yards, TD
NO – Aaron Brooks – 27/45, 375 yards, TD, 3 INT
Top rushers
NYG – Tiki Barber – 22 rushes, 83 yards, TD
NO – Deuce McAllister – 15 rushes, 47 yards
Top receivers
NYG – Plaxico Burress – 5 receptions, 64 yards
NO – Joe Horn – 9 receptions, 143 yards, TD :
Despite being played at Giants Stadium, this was officially a home game for the Saints as the Louisiana Superdome was being used as an emergency shelter in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The Saints out gained the Giants, finishing the game with 422 yards of total offense compared to New York's 257. However, the Saints' offense also committed six turnovers that resulted in 17 points for the Giants.

#### Week 3: at Minnesota Vikings

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Saints | 0 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 16 |
| Vikings | 17 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 33 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
* Date: September 25
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: None (played indoors)
* Game attendance: 63,952
* Referee: Pete Morelli
* TV announcers (Fox): Ron Pitts and Tim Ryan

#### Week 4: vs. Buffalo Bills

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bills | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Saints | 0 | 13 | 0 | 6 | 19 |
at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
* Date: October 2
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: None (played indoors)
* Game attendance: 58,688
* Referee: Bill Vinovich
* TV announcers (CBS): Don Criqui, Rich Gannon

#### Week 5: at Green Bay Packers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Saints | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Packers | 14 | 21 | 10 | 7 | 52 |
at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
* Date: October 9
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Partly cloudy, 52 °F (11 °C)
* Game attendance: 70,580
* Referee: Tony Corrente
* TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Brian Baldinger, and Drew Smith

#### Week 6: vs. Atlanta Falcons

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Falcons | 3 | 14 | 0 | 17 | 34 |
| Saints | 7 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
* Date: October 16
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: None (played indoors)
* Game attendance: 65,562
* Referee: Bill Carollo

#### Week 7: at St. Louis Rams

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Saints | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
| Rams | 0 | 7 | 0 | 21 | 28 |
at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
* Date: October 23
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: None (played indoors)
* Game attendance: 64,586
* Referee: Mike Carey

#### Week 8: vs. Miami Dolphins

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Dolphins | 3 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 21 |
| Saints | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
at Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
* Date: October 30
* Game time: 3:05 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Mostly sunny, 76 °F (24 °C)
* Game attendance: 61,643
* Referee: Tom White
* TV announcers (CBS): Gus Johnson, Steve Tasker

#### Week 9: vs. Chicago Bears

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bears | 7 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
| Saints | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
* Date: November 6
* Game time: 3:05 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Cloudy, 85 °F (29 °C)
* Game attendance: 32,637
* Referee: Bill Leavy
* TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert and Brian Baldinger

#### Week 11: at New England Patriots

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Saints | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 17 |
| Patriots | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 24 |
at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
* Date: November 20
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST/1:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Sunny, 51 °F (11 °C)
* Game attendance: 68,756
* Referee: Gerry Austin
* TV announcers (Fox): Ron Pitts, Tim Ryan, and Butch Stearns

#### Week 12: at New York Jets

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Saints | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| Jets | 3 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 19 |
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
* Date: November 27
* Game time: 7:30 p.m. CST/8:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Partly cloudy, 49 °F (9 °C)
* Game attendance: 77,152
* Referee: Terry McAulay
* TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann, and Suzy Kolber

#### Week 13: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buccaneers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| Saints | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
at Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
* Date: December 4
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Partly cloudy, 74 °F (23 °C)
* Game attendance: 34,411
* Referee: Pete Morelli

#### Week 14: at Atlanta Falcons

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Saints | 3 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Falcons | 7 | 14 | 9 | 6 | 36 |
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
* Date: December 12
* Game time: 8:00 p.m. CST/9:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: None (played indoors)
* Game attendance: 70,083
* Referee: Ron Winter
* TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels, John Madden, Michele Tafoya, and Sam Ryan

#### Week 15: vs. Carolina Panthers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Panthers | 7 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 27 |
| Saints | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
at Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
* Date: December 18
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Partly cloudy, 55 °F (13 °C)
* Game attendance: 32,551
* Referee: Tony Corrente

#### Week 16: vs. Detroit Lions

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lions | 0 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 13 |
| Saints | 0 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 12 |
at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
* Date: December 24
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: None (played indoors)
* Game attendance: 63,747
* Referee: Larry Nemmers

#### Week 17: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Saints | 0 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
| Buccaneers | 7 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 27 |
at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, Florida
* Date: January 1, 2006
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST/1:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Cloudy, 74 °F (23 °C)
* Game attendance: 65,379
* Referee: Jeff Triplette

### Standings

NFC South :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| $^{(3)}$ Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 5–1 | 9–3 | 300 | 274 | W2 |
| $^{(5)}$ Carolina Panthers | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 4–2 | 8–4 | 391 | 259 | W1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 2–4 | 5–7 | 351 | 341 | L3 |
| New Orleans Saints | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 1–5 | 1–11 | 235 | 398 | L5 |