1992 New Orleans Saints season The 1992 New Orleans Saints season saw the Saints qualify for the postseason . Offseason . The team entered 1992 with great expectations after its NFC West division title season of 1991 . It was the franchise ' s first division championship since entering the NFL in 1967 . Most preseason forecasts had the Saints making the playoffs again and another division title possible . NFL Draft . A rusher was one of several needs on offense coming into 1992 . Vaughn Dunbar , from Indiana University , was selected in the first round to address the need . Other picks included Tyrone Legette , Nebraska , DB , Gene McGuire , Notre Dame , C , Sean Lumpkin , Minnesota , DB , Torrance Small , Alcorn State , WR , Kary Vincent , Texas A & M , DB , Robert Stewart , Alabama , DT , Donald Jones , Washington , LB , Marcus Dowdell , Tennessee State , WR , Mike Gisler , Houston , G , Scott Adell , North Carolina State , T . Of this batch of draftees , only Small and Lumpkin became regular starters at any point in their Saint careers . Regular season . The team opened 1992 against Philadelphia , their first road opener in 11 years . The usually steely defense showed some chinks as the Eagles ' Herschel Walker rushed for more than 100 yards . Turnovers caused by the two great defenses kept the game close , but the Eagles won 15 - 13 . Offensive struggles continued the next week vs . Chicago , as the Bears led 6 - 0 at halftime . Big plays on both sides of the ball broke it open for the Saints , as Bobby Hebert connected with Eric Martin and Wesley Carroll on touchdown passes of 52 and 72 yards , respectively . Two second half scores by the defense capped the 28 - 6 win - a fumble return by Robert " Pig " Goff and an interception return by Reggie Jones . Those plays set the tone for the defensive unit throughout 1992 . A 10 - 7 win over Atlanta followed and set up the annual battle with the San Francisco 49ers . The 49ers had worn the title of " Team of the Decade " for the 1980s and were the primary stumbling block for an otherwise resurgent Saints franchise in Jim Mora ' s tenure as head coach . The Sunday night , prime - time audience saw a tight contest throughout . With the Niners leading 16 - 10 , the Saints faced first - and - goal at the Niner 2 - yard line . But , guard Derek Kennard was flagged for holding and , on the next play , a pass into tight coverage was picked off by 49ers CB Eric Davis . It was the sixth consecutive home game against the Niners decided by seven points or less . The team rebounded with five straight wins and stood at 7 - 2 in the road game vs . the Niners . For three quarters , the Saints dominated the clock and scoreboard , leading 20 - 7 on two touchdown passes by Hebert . But the offense couldn ' t hold the lead as the Steve Young led San Francisco on two touchdown drives in the 4th quarter to win 21 - 20 . Most impressive of the Saints ' 12 wins in 1992 came during the next three weeks , when the squad won three home games in a 10 - day span . The first was a Monday night win over the Washington Redskins , 20 - 3 , keyed by a Hebert - to - Early touchdown pass and stifling defense . Another eventual playoff team came to the Superdome the following Sunday , as the Miami Dolphins took a 13 - 10 lead into the second half . A blindsiding takeaway from Dan Marino by speed - rushing linebacker Pat Swilling led to Goff ' s second fumble return touchdown of the season . Later , cornerback Vince Buck returned an interception for a score as the Dolphins were defeated , 24 - 13 . The third game in this trifecta was a Thursday night tilt against Atlanta . Despite several marches up and down the field - and a memorable rumble by fullback Craig " Ironhead " Heyward that left Falcons safety Scott Case staring up at the ring of lights high above the field - the Saints offense managed just five field goals by late in the 4th quarter to lead 15 - 14 . It was another defensive touchdown that saved the game for the Saints , this time an interception by Toi Cook . The Saints won two of their last three to finish 12 - 4 , which was the 2nd best finish in team history . Postseason . NFC Wild Card Game . Despite the . 750 winning percentage , the Saints couldn ' t catch the 14 - 2 Niners for the division crown . In the Wild Card Game , the Saints faced the Philadelphia Eagles in a rematch of their tough opening game loss and an equally bruising game in 1991 won by the Saints . The Saints dictated the pace during the first half , leading 20 - 7 on a Heyward touchdown run and a Hebert - to - Early touchdown pass . Big plays on both sides of the ball turned game in the Eagles favor , the first being a Randall Cunningham - to - Fred Barnett touchdown pass and the last an interception return for a score by Eric Allen . The Eagles scored 26 points in the 4th quarter to win , 36 - 20 . Awards and records . Statistically , the team finished with the top defense in the league in points allowed ( 202 ) and second - best in total yards allowed ( 254 . 6 per game ) They were 5th in the NFL in the giveaway - takeaway ratio ( + 9 ) as the defense feasted on 20 fumbles and 18 interceptions . Of those 38 takeaways , six were returned for touchdowns . Sam Mills led the team in tackles with 130 . Wayne Martin led the team in sacks , with 15 . 5 . On offense , the team ' s passing game enjoyed its best season of the Jim Mora era to date . Hebert completed 59 percent of his passes for 3 , 287 yards and 19 touchdowns . Wide receiver Eric Martin had the third and final 1 , 000 - yard season of his career .