After playing road contests at Houston and Oakland and spending five days in between the games training in Oxnard, Calif., the Saints will host the Tennessee Titans in the preseason finale. New Orleans will use this game as a final tune-up before kicking off the 2011 NFL regular season in Green Bay September 8.
The Titans and Saints will face-off for the second consecutive year in the final week of the preseason. They played in Nashville on Sept. 2, 2010 as the Titans narrowly defeated New Orleans, 27-24.
All-time, New Orleans is 14-12-1 against the Oilers/Titans franchise, their most common exhibition opponent. The two clubs will meet in the regular season on December 11, when the Saints travel to LP Field.
The game gives New Orleans one more chance to build momentum heading in to the regular season. Most importantly, however, is that this is the last chance for players to show their value on offense, defense and special teams prior to the mandatory NFL roster cutdown to 53 on September 3.
New Orleans is coming off a 40-20 victory at the Oakland Raiders on Sunday evening. New Orleans gained 514 net yards in a performance that marked only their third 40-point output in preseason history.
QB Drew Brees was efficient in slightly less than a half of play, completing 15-of-23 passes for 189 yards and leading the Saints to two touchdowns and a field goal. Chase Daniel later relieved Brees and completed 9-of-18 for 191 yards with two TDs.
RBs Thomas and Mark Ingram each scored rushing while Joique Bell stated his case for a roster spot with 142 total yards from scrimmage and one rushing An opportunistic Saints defense recorded an interception in the end zone and recovered a fumble.
Gameday at a Glance
DATE: Thursday, Sept. 1
TIME: 7:00 (CT)
SITE: Louisiana Superdome
WORTH NOTING:
*Thursday evening's contest will be the 28th preseason matchup between the Saints and Titans, dating back to their days as the Houston Oilers, making the franchise New Orleans' most common exhibition opponent.
*The Titans lead the regular season series 7-4-1. On Dec. 11, the Saints will make their second regular season trip to Nashville.
*Following Thursday's game, the Saints will need to reduce their roster to 53 players by Saturday, September 3 as they start preparations for the NFL kickoff contest at Green Bay next Thursday.
*Thursday's contest will be regionally televised on CST (Also on Fox-8 in the New Orleans area) with Tim Brando handling play-by-play, Solomon Wilcots serving as color analyst and Mike Nabors on the sidelines.
*The game can be heard throughout the Gulf Coast on the New Orleans Saints Radio Network (870 AM or 105.3 FM serve as the flagship stations in the New Orleans area) with Jim Henderson handling play-by-play, FB Hokie Gajan serving as color analyst and Kristian Garic reporting from the sidelines.
A Spanish broadcast is available on WFNO 830 AM with Emilio Peralta handling play-by-play and Marco Garcia serving as color analyst.
