# 2000 New Orleans Saints season

The 2000 season was the New Orleans Saints' 34th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 25th playing home games at the Louisiana Superdome. The Saints were looking to improve on their 3–13 finish from a year earlier under new head coach Jim Haslett. Not only did the Saints do so, but they finished with a 10–6 record to win the NFC West and advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 1992. They also won their first ever playoff game in franchise history by defeating the defending Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams in the wild-card round. The Saints went no further, though, as they lost to the Minnesota Vikings in the next round.
This was the only time the Saints made the playoffs under Haslett. For the next four seasons, the Saints fell out of contention. They would not return to the playoffs until 2006.

## Offseason

| Additions | Subtractions |
| WR Joe Horn (Chiefs) | LB Kevin Mitchell (Redskins) |
| WR Jake Reed (Vikings) | WR Eddie Kennison (Bears) |
| CB Kevin Mathis (Cowboys) | DE Brady Smith (Falcons) |
| S Darren Perry (Ravens) | QB Billy Joe Hobert (Colts) |
| RB Terry Allen (Patriots) | QB Danny Wuerffel (Packers) |
| P Toby Gowin (Cowboys) | WR Andre Hastings (Buccaneers) |
| QB Jeff Blake (Bengals) | CB Ashley Ambrose (Falcons) |
| CB Fred Thomas (Seahawks) | RB Lamar Smith (Dolphins) |
| LB Darrin Smith (Seahawks) | LB Chris Bordano (Cowboys) |
| CB Steve Israel (Patriots) | P Tommy Barnhardt (Redskins) |
| DT Norman Hand (Chargers) | CB Tyronne Drakeford (Redskins) |
| S Chris Oldham (Steelers) | |

### NFL Draft

2000 New Orleans Saints draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
| 2 | 33 | Darren Howard | Defensive end | Kansas State |
| 4 | 96 | Terrelle Smith | Fullback | Arizona State |
| 5 | 131 | Tutan Reyes | Guard | Mississippi |
| 5 | 158 | Austin Wheatley | Tight end | Iowa |
| 5 | 166 | Chad Morton | Running back | USC |
| 6 | 168 | Marc Bulger * | Quarterback | West Virginia |
| 6 | 195 | Michael Hawthorne | Defensive back | Purdue |
| 6 | 200 | Sherrod Gideon | Wide receiver | Southern Miss |
| 7 | 228 | Kevin Houser | Center | Ohio State |
| Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career ||||||

### Undrafted free agents

2000 undrafted free agents of note :
| Player | Position | College |
| Jamal Brooks | Linebacker | Hampton |

## Preseason

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue |
| 1 | July 29 | at New York Jets | L 20–24 | 0–1 | Giants Stadium |
| 2 | August 5 | at Minnesota Vikings | W 25–24 | 1–1 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
| 3 | August 12 | at Indianapolis Colts | L 0–17 | 1–2 | Ross–Ade Stadium (West Lafayette) |
| 4 | August 25 | Miami Dolphins | L 17–22 | 1–3 | Louisiana Superdome |

## Regular season
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
| 1 | September 3 | Detroit Lions | L 10–14 | 0–1 | Louisiana Superdome | 64,900 |
| 2 | September 10 | at San Diego Chargers | W 28–27 | 1–1 | Qualcomm Stadium | 51,300 |
| 3 | September 17 | at Seattle Seahawks | L 10–20 | 1–2 | Husky Stadium | 59,513 |
| 4 | September 24 | Philadelphia Eagles | L 7–21 | 1–3 | Louisiana Superdome | 64,900 |
| 5 | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| 6 | October 8 | at Chicago Bears | W 31–10 | 2–3 | Soldier Field | 66,944 |
| 7 | October 15 | Carolina Panthers | W 24–6 | 3–3 | Louisiana Superdome | 50,015 |
| 8 | October 22 | at Atlanta Falcons | W 21–19 | 4–3 | Georgia Dome | 56,508 |
| 9 | October 29 | at Arizona Cardinals | W 21–10 | 5–3 | Sun Devil Stadium | 35,016 |
| 10 | November 5 | San Francisco 49ers | W 31–15 | 6–3 | Louisiana Superdome | 64,900 |
| 11 | November 12 | at Carolina Panthers | W 20–10 | 7–3 | Ericsson Stadium | 72,981 |
| 12 | November 19 | Oakland Raiders | L 22–31 | 7–4 | Louisiana Superdome | 64,900 |
| 13 | November 26 | at St. Louis Rams | W 31–24 | 8–4 | Trans World Dome | 66,064 |
| 14 | December 3 | Denver Broncos | L 23–38 | 8–5 | Louisiana Superdome | 64,900 |
| 15 | December 10 | at San Francisco 49ers | W 31–27 | 9–5 | 3Com Park | 67,892 |
| 16 | December 17 | Atlanta Falcons | W 23–7 | 10–5 | Louisiana Superdome | 64,900 |
| 17 | December 24 | St. Louis Rams | L 21–26 | 10–6 | Louisiana Superdome | 64,900 |
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. |||||||

### Standings

NFC West :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK |
| $^{(3)}$ New Orleans Saints | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 354 | 305 | L1 |
| $^{(6)}$ St. Louis Rams | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 540 | 471 | W1 |
| Carolina Panthers | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 310 | 310 | L1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 388 | 422 | L1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 252 | 413 | W1 |

## Playoffs
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent (seed) | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
| Wild Card | December 30 | St. Louis Rams (6) | W 31–28 | 1–0 | Louisiana Superdome | 64,900 |
| Divisional | January 6, 2001 | at Minnesota Vikings (2) | L 16–34 | 1–1 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 63,881 |

### Game summaries
#### NFC Wild Card Playoffs: vs. (6) St. Louis Rams

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 28 |
| Saints | 0 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
* Date: December 30
* Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: None (played indoors)
* Game attendance: 64,900
* Referee: Gerald Austin
* TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels, Dan Fouts, Dennis Miller, Melissa Stark, and Eric Dickerson
* Box score
Game information :
First quarter
STL – Isaac Bruce 17-yard pass from Kurt Warner (Jeff Wilkins kick), 5:58. Rams 7–0. Drive: 11 plays, 68 yards, 6:55.
Second quarter
NO – Robert Wilson 12-yard pass from Aaron Brooks (Doug Brien kick), 14:56. Tied 7–7. Drive: 11 plays, 70 yards, 6:02.
NO – Doug Brien 33-yard field goal, 1:30. Saints 10–7. Drive: 4 plays, 5 yards, 0:51.
Third quarter
NO – Willie Jackson 10-yard pass from Aaron Brooks (Doug Brien kick), 8:40. Saints 17–7. Drive: 7 plays, 45 yards, 3:23.
Fourth quarter
NO – Willie Jackson 49-yard pass from Aaron Brooks (Doug Brien kick), 13:22. Saints 24–7. Drive: 5 plays, 74 yards, 2:55.
NO – Willie Jackson 16-yard pass from Aaron Brooks (Doug Brien kick), 11:57. Saints 31–7. Drive: 1 play, 16 yards, 0:05.
STL – Ricky Proehl 17-yard pass from Kurt Warner (Jeff Wilkins kick), 9:36. Saints 31–14. Drive: 4 plays, 80 yards, 2:21.
STL – Marshall Faulk 25-yard pass from Kurt Warner (Jeff Wilkins kick), 3:52. Saints 31–21. Drive: 3 plays, 62 yards, 0:48.
STL – Kurt Warner 5-yard run (Jeff Wilkins kick), 2:36. Saints 31–28. Drive: 5 plays, 47 yards, 1:07.
Top passers
STL – Kurt Warner – 24/40, 365 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT
NO – Aaron Brooks – 16/29, 266 yards, 4 TD, INT
Top rushers
STL – Marshall Faulk – 14 rushes, 24 yards
NO – Terry Allen – 16 rushes, 21 yards
Top receivers
STL – Isaac Bruce – 7 receptions, 127 yards, TD
NO – Willie Jackson – 6 receptions, 142 yards, 3 TD :
Saints go to the Divisional Round but lost to the Vikings 34-16.

#### NFC Divisional Playoffs: at (2) Minnesota Vikings

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Saints | 3 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 16 |
| Vikings | 10 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 34 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
* Date: January 6, 2001
* Game time: 11:30 a.m. CST
* Game weather: None (played indoors)
* Game attendance: 63,881
* Referee: Walt Coleman
* TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, Matt Millen, and Pam Oliver
* Box score
Game information :
First quarter
MIN – Randy Moss 57-yard pass from Daunte Culpepper (Gary Anderson kick), 11:57. Vikings 7–0. Drive: 3 plays, 64 yards, 1:20.
NO – Doug Brien 33-yard field goal, 7:46. Vikings 7–3. Drive: 10 plays, 65 yards, 4:11.
MIN – Gary Anderson 24-yard field goal, 1:36. Vikings 10–3. Drive: 12 plays, 67 yards, 6:10.
Second quarter
MIN – Cris Carter 17-yard pass from Daunte Culpepper (Gary Anderson kick), 1:29. Vikings 17–3. Drive: 7 plays, 73 yards, 3:40.
Third quarter
MIN – Randy Moss 68-yard pass from Daunte Culpepper (Gary Anderson kick), 13:33. Vikings 24–3. Drive: 3 plays, 77 yards, 1:27.
NO – Dave Stachelski 2-yard pass from Aaron Brooks (Doug Brien kick), 9:33. Vikings 24–10. Drive: 8 plays, 83 yards, 4:00.
MIN – Gary Anderson 44-yard field goal, 4:31. Vikings 27–10. Drive: 10 plays, 50 yards, 5:02.
Fourth quarter
MIN – Robert Smith 2-yard run (Gary Anderson kick), 10:46. Vikings 34–10. Drive: 8 plays, 29 yards, 4:32.
NO – Willie Jackson 48-yard pass from Aaron Brooks (pass failed), 2:19. Vikings 34–16. Drive: 3 plays, 66 yards, 0:58.
Top passers
NO – Aaron Brooks – 30/48, 295 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
MIN – Daunte Culpepper – 17/31, 302 yards, 3 TD
Top rushers
NO – Chad Morton – 5 rushes, 25 yards
MIN – Robert Smith – 25 rushes, 74 yards, TD
Top receivers
NO – Willie Jackson – 9 receptions, 125 yards, TD
MIN – Randy Moss – 2 receptions, 121 yards, 2 TD :
Vikings go to the NFC Championship game and there were demolished by the New York Giants 41-0. The Saints missed the playoffs 7-9 in 2001.

## Player stats
### Passing

| Player | Completions | Attempts | Percentage | Yards | TD | Int | Rating |
| Jeff Blake | 184 | 302 | 60.9 | 2,025 | 13 | 9 | 82.7 |
| Aaron Brooks | 113 | 194 | 58.2 | 1,514 | 9 | 6 | 85.7 |

#### Rushing

| Player | Attempts | Yards | Avg Yards | Long | Touchdowns |
| Ricky Williams | 248 | 1000 | 4.0 | 26 | 8 |
| Jeff Blake | 57 | 243 | 4.3 | 20 | 1 |
| Terry Allen | 46 | 179 | 3.9 | 18 | 2 |
| Aaron Brooks | 41 | 170 | 4.1 | 29 | 2 |

#### Receiving

| Player | Attempts | Yards | Avg Yards | Long | Touchdowns |
| Joe Horn | 94 | 1340 | 14.3 | 52 | 8 |
| Ricky Williams | 44 | 409 | 9.3 | 24 | 1 |
| Willie Jackson | 37 | 523 | 14.1 | 53 | 6 |
| Chad Morton | 30 | 213 | 7.1 | 35 | 0 |
| Keith Poole | 21 | 293 | 14.0 | 49 | 1 |
| Andrew Glover | 21 | 281 | 13.4 | 39 | 4 |

### Defense
#### Sacks

| Player | Number |
| La'Roi Glover | 17 |
| Joe Johnson | 12 |
| Darren Howard | 11 |
| Keith Mitchell | 6.5 |
| Willie Whitehead | 5.5 |

#### Interceptions

| Player | Number | Yards | Avg Yards | Long | Touchdowns |
| Sammy Knight | 5 | 68 | 13.6 | 37 | 2 |
| Alex Molden | 3 | 24 | 8.0 | 24 | 0 |
| Darren Perry | 3 | 3 | 1.0 | 3 | 0 |

## Awards and records

* Jim Haslett, AP Coach of the Year,
* Jim Haslett, College and Pro Football Newsweekly Coach of the Year,
* Jim Haslett, Football Digest Coach of the Year,
* Jim Haslett, Football News Coach of the Year,
* Jim Haslett, Pro Football Writers Association Coach of the Year,
* Jim Haslett, Sports Illustrated Coach of the Year
* Jim Haslett, USA Today NFC Coach of the Year,

### Milestones

* Ricky Williams, 1st 1000 rushing yards season