The New Orleans Saints (2-2) will travel to LP Field in Nashville, Tenn. to face the Tennessee Titans (2-1) in the preseason finale for both clubs on Thursday.
The Saints are coming off an impressive 34-27 win over the Houston Texans in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Saturday night, while the Titans defeated the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday, 32-27.
Thursday's game will mark the final opportunity for players to make an impression on the coaching staff as the final mandatory roster cutdown date to 53 players looms on Friday, August 31.
The Saints and the Titans franchise have played each other 28 times in the preseason, making them New Orleans' most common opponent for exhibitions. In this series, the Saints have a 14-13-1 edge.
In 2011, the clubs played each other in both the preseason and regular season. In the 2011 preseason finale in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, the Titans defeated the Saints 32-9.
However, New Orleans edged Tennessee, 22-17 on December 11 in Nashville, as they clinched the franchise's third consecutive playoff berth. The comeback was fueled by a pair of touchdown passes from QB Drew Brees to WR Marques Colston in the final period of the contest.
In Saturday's win, New Orleans put together their most impressive effort of the 2012 preseason. The Saints outgained the Texans 412 to 309, with a bruising running attack putting up 151 yards on the ground.
Brees completed 17-of-25 passes for 179 yards, two touchdowns and a 115.2 passer rating, with scoring throws going to TE Jimmy Graham and WR Lance Moore, both of whom appeared to be in midseason form. RB Chris Ivory led the New Orleans rushing attack with eight carries for 57 yards (7.1 avg.), helped by a push from an offensive line that also kept Brees from getting sacked.
Defensively, the Saints rebounded from surrendering touchdowns on the Texans' first two drives. CB Corey White forced a fumble on Houston's next drive at the Saints 26-yard line that was recovered by DT Sedrick Ellis, setting up a Garrett Hartley field goal that gave the Saints a 17-14 lead. S Malcolm Jenkins also forced a fumble that was recovered by DE Will Smith.
Special teams also played an important role. With the Saints trailing 14-7 in the first quarter, S Isa AbdulQuddus forced Texans WR Trindon Holliday to fumble the ball on a kickoff return and it was picked up by DE Junior Galette and returned 16 yards for the score to tie the game.
