2010 New Orleans Saints season The 2010 New Orleans Saints season was the 44th season for the franchise in the National Football League ( NFL ) and city of New Orleans , Louisiana , and was the 35th to host home game s in the Louisiana Superdome . The Saints entered their season for the first time as defending Super Bowl and National Football Conference ( NFC ) champions , and played in the NFC South Division . The franchise attempted to better their most successful season in franchise history from 2009 , which they began undefeated for 13 consecutive games only to lose their last three games at the end of the season to finish 13 – 3 . In addition , they also attempted to win the NFC South Division title for the third time in history , earn their first second consecutive playoff berth since 1991 , and successfully defend their conference and league championships . The Saints qualified for the playoffs as a wild card team , but were eliminated in the first round by the Seattle Seahawks , who were the first team with a losing record ( 7 - 9 ) to qualify for the playoffs and win a division title . Sean Payton served his fifth year as head coach . Offseason . 2010 NFL Draft . As the winners of Super Bowl XLIV , the Saints acquired the 32nd pick in the first round and drafted in this order . Schedule . Preseason . The Saints preseason schedule was announced on March 31 , 2010 . Regular season . Listed below are the Saints ' opponents for 2010 . As the defending Super Bowl champions , the Saints hosted the annual NFL Kickoff Game on Thursday , September 9 , against the Minnesota Vikings , which was a rematch of the 2009 NFC Championship Game . The pregame concert ( Taylor Swift & Dave Matthews Band ) and game was televised on NBC . Regular season results . Week 1 : vs . Minnesota Vikings . With their Super Bowl title to defend , the Saints began their season at home in the annual Kickoff Game against the Minnesota Vikings , in a rematch of last season ' s NFC Championship Game . New Orleans would strike first in the opening quarter with quarterback Drew Brees hooking up with wide receiver Devery Henderson on a 29 - yard touchdown pass . The Vikings would take the lead in the second quarter as kicker Ryan Longwell made a 41 - yard field goal , followed by quarterback Brett Favre ' s 20 - yard touchdown pass to tight end Visanthe Shiancoe ( with a blocked PAT ) . In the third quarter , the Saints would regain the lead with a 1 - yard touchdown run from running back Pierre Thomas . From there , New Orleans ' defense would prevent any further progress from Minnesota . With the win , New Orleans began their season at 1 – 0 . Week 2 : at San Francisco 49ers . Coming off their home win over the Vikings , the Saints flew to Candlestick Park for a Week 2 Monday Night duel with the San Francisco 49ers . New Orleans would deliver the opening punch in the first quarter as 49ers center David Baas ' high snap deep within San Francisco territory went out of the back of the endzone for a safety . The Saints would add onto their lead as quarterback Drew Brees hooked up with running back Reggie Bush on a 6 - yard touchdown pass . The 49ers would answer in the second quarter as quarterback Alex Smith found running back Frank Gore on a 12 - yard touchdown pass . San Francisco would take the lead with running back Anthony Dixon ' s 2 - yard touchdown run , yet New Orleans would respond with Brees ' 3 - yard touchdown pass to tight end David Thomas . The Saints would add onto their lead in the fourth quarter as kicker Garrett Hartley made a 46 - yard and a 19 - yard field goal . The 49ers would strike back as Gore got a 7 - yard touchdown run , followed by Smith ' s 2 - point conversion pass to tight end Vernon Davis . In the end , New Orleans got the last laugh as Hartley booted the game - ending 37 - yard field goal . With the win , the Saints improved to 2 – 0 . Week 3 : vs . Atlanta Falcons . Hoping to increase their winning streak the Saints played inside their dome for an NFC South rivalry match against the Falcons . The Saints took the early lead when QB Drew Brees made a 2 - yard TD pass to TE Jeremy Shockey . The Falcons replied with QB Matt Ryan making a 13 - yard TD pass to TE Tony Gonzalez . The Saints re - took the lead with Brees finding WR Lance Moore on an 80 - yard TD pass . But the Falcons replied in the second quarter with RB Michael Turner making a 1 - yard TD run . The Saints trailed for the first time in the game when kicker Matt Bryant made a 23 - yard field goal . But they took the lead with Brees finding Moore again on a 16 - yard TD pass . The Falcons would score when Ryan made a 22 - yard TD pass to WR Roddy White . The Saints would tie the game with kicker Garrett Hartley making a 32 - yard field goal . At overtime , the decision was made when Matt Bryant hit a 46 - yard field goal to give the Saints their first loss of the season , bringing their record down to 2 – 1 . Week 4 : vs . Carolina Panthers . The Saints fourth game was inside their dome for an NFC south rivalry match against the Panthers . In the 1st quarter New Orleans took the lead as QB Drew Brees completed a 4 - yard TD pass to WR Lance Moore . Carolina replied with QB Jimmy Clausen making a 55 - yard TD pass to RB Jonathan Stewart . The Saints took the lead when kicker John Carney nailed a 32 - yard field goal , but fell behind when RB DeAngelo Williams made a 39 - yard TD run . Then John Carney made two field goals to give the Saints the win . He made a 32 - yard field goal in the 3rd quarter and a 25 - yard field goal in the 4th . With the win , the Saints improved to 3 – 1 . Week 5 : at Arizona Cardinals . Coming off their close win over the Panthers the Saints flew to University of Phoenix Stadium for an NFC duel with the Cardinals . In the first quarter the Saints took the early lead as kicker John Carney nailed a 31 - yard field goal , followed by QB Drew Brees completing a 1 - yard TD pass to TE Jeremy Shockey . The Cardinals replied with kicker Jay Feely making a 37 - yard field goal , followed by OT Levi Brown recovering a fumble and returning it 2 yards for a touchdown . In the third quarter the Saints fell behind when Feely got a 44 - yard field goal , followed the 4th quarter by Feely ' s 29 - yard field goal . Then FS Kerry Rhodes recovered a fumble and ran 27 yards to the end zone for a touchdown . Then the Saints replied with Brees making a 35 - yard TD pass to WR Robert Meachem , but had more problems when Brees ' pass was intercepted by CB Dominique Rodgers - Cromartie and returned 28 yards to the end zone for a touchdown . With the loss , the Saints fell to 3 – 2 . Week 6 : at Tampa Bay Buccaneers . Hoping to rebound from their loss to the Cardinals the Saints flew to Raymond James Stadium for an NFC South rivalry match against the Buccaneers . In the first quarter New Orleans took the lead when QB Drew Brees completed a 41 - yard TD pass to WR Lance Moore . Followed in the second quarter by Brees making a 42 - yard TD pass to WR Robert Meachem . This was followed by kicker Garrett Hartley nailing a 27 - yard field goal . The Saints increased their lead when QB Drew Brees made a 4 - yard TD pass to FB Heath Evans . Tampa Bay scored in the fourth quarter with QB Josh Freeman making a 2 - yard TD pass to WR Micheal Spurlock ( With a failed 2 - point conversion ) , but the Saints pulled away as RB Ladell Betts got a 1 - yard TD run . With the win , the Saints improve to 4 - 2 . Week 8 : vs . Pittsburgh Steelers . Hoping to rebound from their home loss to the Browns , the Saints stayed home for a Week 8 interconference duel with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night . After a scoreless first quarter , New Orleans trailed in the second quarter as Steelers kicker Jeff Reed got a 19 - yard field goal . The Saints would answer with a 31 - yard field goal from kicker Garrett Hartley . New Orleans took the lead in the third quarter as Hartley booted a 23 - yard field goal . In the fourth quarter , the Saints increased their lead as quarterback Drew Brees found wide receiver Marques Colston on a 16 - yard touchdown pass . Pittsburgh responded with running back Rashard Mendenhall getting a 38 - yard touchdown run , yet New Orleans came right back as Brees connected with wide receiver Lance Moore on an 8 - yard touchdown pass . With the win , the Saints improved to 5 – 3 . Week 9 : at Carolina Panthers . Coming off their win over the Steelers the Saints flew to Bank of America Stadium for an NFC South rivalry match against the Panthers . In the first quarter the Saints trailed early after kicker John Kasay made a 20 - yard field goal . Then they made a large scoring run to dominate the game after QB Drew Brees completed a 7 - yard TD pass to TE Jeremy Shockey . Followed by Brees finding TE Jimmy Graham on a 19 - yard TD pass . The lead was extended by kicker Garrett Hartley as he nailed a 31 and a 36 - yard field goal . The Saints increased their lead with CB Jabari Greer returning an interception 24 yards for a touchdown . This was followed by RB Ladell Betts getting a 1 - yard TD run . With the win , the Saints headed into their bye week at 6 – 3 and swept the Panthers for the first time since 2001 . Week 11 : vs . Seattle Seahawks . Coming off their bye week the Saints played inside their dome for an NFC duel with the Seahawks . In the first quarter the Saints trailed early as kicker Olindo Mare hit a 20 - yard field goal ; but they pulled ahead after RB Chris Ivory got a 1 - yard TD run . The lead narrowed in the 2nd quarter by Mare getting a 43 - yard field goal . The Saints increased it when QB Drew Brees made a 23 and a 3 - yard TD pass to WR Marques Colston and WR Robert Meachem . The lead was narrowed again after QB Matt Hasselback got a 2 - yard TD pass to WR Ben Obomanu ; but the Saints replied with Brees throwing a 22 - yard TD pass to Colston . The lead narrowed again with Mare hitting a 43 - yard field goal . The lead extended in the third quarter with Brees finding Meachem again on a 32 - yard TD pass . The Seahawks made the only score of the fourth quarter with Mare making a 20 - yard field goal . With the win , the Saints improved to 7 – 3 . Week 12 : at Dallas Cowboys ( Thanksgiving Classic ) . The Saints played their Thanksgiving Classic at Cowboys Stadium for an NFC duel against the Cowboys . The Saints commanded the first quarter with RB Chris Ivory getting a 3 - yard TD run , followed by kicker Garrett Hartley getting a 50 - yard field goal , and then by Ivory making a 6 - yard TD run . The lead was narrowed as kicker David Buehler got a 21 - yard field goal , but the Saints replied as Hartley nailed a 45 - yard field goal . The lead was narrowed again as Buehler hit a 53 - yard field goal , followed by Miles Austin getting a 60 - yard TD run . The Saints scored with Hartley making a 28 - yard field goal , but fell behind with Marion Barber and Tashard Choice getting a 1 - yard TD run . The Saints scored to pull out the win with QB Drew Brees completing a 12 - yard TD pass to WR Lance Moore . With the win , the Saints improved to 8 – 3 . Week 13 : at Cincinnati Bengals . Coming off their win over the Cowboys the Saints played an interconference duel with the Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium . In the first quarter , the Saints took the early lead as kicker Garrett Hartley nailed a 48 - yard field goal . The Bengals replied with kicker Clint Stitser hitting a 29 - yard field goal , but the Saints scored again with RB Chris Ivory getting a 55 - yard TD run , with the Bengals responding as Stitser made a 23 - yard field goal . The Saints increased their lead as Hartley made a 24 - yard field goal , followed by Ivory getting a 1 - yard TD run . The lead was broken down as QB Carson Palmer made a 5 - yard TD pass to WR Terrell Owens ( With a failed PAT as the kick went wide right ) , followed by RB Cedric Benson getting a 1 - yard TD run . The Saints responded as QB Drew Brees completed a 52 - yard TD pass to WR Robert Meachem , but fell behind with Benson getting a 4 - yard TD run ( With a successful 2 - point conversion as Palmer passed to TE Jermaine Gresham ) , followed by Stitser making a 47 - yard field goal . Still , they managed to score to take the win as Brees threw a 3 - yard TD pass to WR Marques Colston . With the win , the Saints improved to 9 – 3 . Week 16 : at Atlanta Falcons . Looking to clinch a playoff berth and avenge their Week 3 loss against the Falcons , the Saints traveled to Atlanta for a Monday Night rematch . New Orleans would score first with Garrett Hartley kicking a FG from 52 yards late in the first quarter . RB Pierre Thomas would add to the Saints ' lead with a 2 - yard TD run ; however , Atlanta would respond with a Matt Ryan 7 - yard TD pass to Roddy White to cut the lead to three . After a scoreless third quarter , the Falcons took the lead with Chauncey Davis returning an interception 26 yards for a touchdown . New Orleans reclaimed the lead late in the 4th with a Drew Brees 6 - yard TD pass to Jimmy Graham . Atlanta attempted to come back ; however , New Orleans held on for the win . With the win , the Saints improved to 11 – 4 and clinched a playoff berth , becoming the first team in the NFC South to earn consecutive playoff appearances . Week 17 : vs . Tampa Bay Buccaneers . The Saints ' sixteenth game was an NFC South rivalry rematch against the Buccaneers inside their dome . In the first quarter the Saints trailed early as kicker Connor Barth hit a 43 - yard field goal , but took the lead with QB Drew Brees throwing a 4 - yard TD pass to TE Jimmy Graham . The Buccaneers replied with QB Josh Freeman completing a 2 - yard TD pass to WR Dezmon Briscoe , but the Saints tied the game with kicker Garrett Hartley nailing a 45 - yard field goal . However , they fell behind again with Barth hitting a 32 - yard field goal , followed by Freeman making an 18 - yard TD pass to WR Mike Williams . The Saints tried to narrow the gap with Hartley making a 38 - yard field goal , but the Buccaneers pulled away with Barth nailing a 48 - yard field goal . With the loss , the Saints finish their regular season on an 11 - 5 record . Postseason results . NFC Wild Card playoffs : at Seattle Seahawks . Entering the postseason as the NFC ' s # 5 seed , the Saints began their playoff run at Qwest Field for the NFC Wild Card Round against the # 4 Seattle Seahawks in a rematch of their Week 11 duel . New Orleans delivered the game ' s opening strike in the first quarter with a 26 - yard field goal from kicker Garrett Hartley , followed by quarterback Drew Brees finding fullback Heath Evans on a 1 - yard touchdown pass . The Seahawks would answer with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck completing an 11 - yard touchdown pass to tight end John Carlson . The Saints struck back in the second quarter with a 5 - yard touchdown run from running back Julius Jones , but Seattle took the lead with Hasselbeck ' s 7 - yard touchdown pass to Carlson , kicker Olindo Mare making a 29 - yard field goal , and Hasselbeck completing a 45 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brandon Stokley . New Orleans would close out the half with Hartley ' s 22 - yard field goal . The Seahawks continued to hack away in the third quarter as Hasselbeck threw a 38 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mike Williams , followed by Mare ' s 39 - yard field goal . The Saints tried to rally in the fourth quarter as Jones got a 4 - yard touchdown run , followed by Hartley ' s 21 - yard field goal , but Seattle deilvered a punishing blow as running back Marshawn Lynch got a 67 - yard touchdown run . New Orleans tried to catch up with Brees connecting with wide receiver Devery Henderson ( with a failed two - point conversion ) , but a failed onside kick sealed any hope of a comeback . With the loss , the Saints , with an overall record of 11 - 6 , were dethroned as Super Bowl champions . This was the sixth consecutive year the defending world champions failed to repeat their title .