In their 2009 schedule, the New Orleans Saints will be featured in three nationally-televised, primetime games – including two on Monday Night Football and one on Saturday night – all of which will take place at home at the Louisiana Superdome, it was announced today by the NFL. The Saints will also open the season at the Superdome for the second consecutive season, facing the Detroit Lions at noon on Sunday, Sept. 13.
"As a team, we like that we are kicking off our season in the Superdome for the second year in a row, and the schedule gives our fans the chance to see prime time games at home against Atlanta, New England and Dallas," said Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis. "In the NFL, you never take for granted the strength of any opponent based on the previous year. It is a challenging schedule and one that offers our fans a lot to get excited about."
"We look forward to opening the season in front of our fans," said Head Coach Sean Payton. "It's a fair but challenging schedule. There is a lot for the people who follow our team to be excited about with the Monday Night games where we host Atlanta and New England and the Saturday night game against Dallas. Those games are always fun for the fans and a great environment for our players in the Superdome. The last five weeks – at Washington, at Atlanta, against Dallas and Tampa Bay and at Carolina – should be an exciting part of our season."
The Saints will play twice on ESPN's Monday Night Football, hosting the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 2 and wrapping up Thanksgiving weekend against the New England Patriots on Nov. 30. Both games have a 7:30pm kickoff. New Orleans will also host the Dallas Cowboys in a late-season, nationally-televised Saturday night game on NFL Network on Dec. 19.
Following the opener, the Saints have consecutive road games at Philadelphia and Buffalo. New Orleans then returns for home dates against the two teams from New York, sandwiching games against the Jets and Giants around a Week Five bye. The Week Eight clash against Atlanta will be the first NFC South game of the season and the regular season slate ends in familiar fashion, closing against the Carolina Panthers for the third time in four years, this time in Charlotte.
Click here for a pdf of the Saints' 2009 schedule!2009 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE(All times CENTRAL)Date Opponent Kickoff TV
Sept. 13 DETROIT LIONS Noon FOXSept. 20 at Philadelphia Eagles Noon FOXSept. 27 at Buffalo Bills 3:05 pm FOXOct. 4 NEW YORK JETS 3:05 pm CBSOct. 11 BYEOct. 18 NEW YORK GIANTS Noon FOXOct. 25 at Miami Dolphins 3:15 pm FOXNov. 2 ATLANTA FALCONS (Monday) 7:30 pm ESPNNov. 8 CAROLINA PANTHERS 3:05 pm FOXNov. 15 at St. Louis Rams Noon FOXNov. 22 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Noon FOXNov. 30 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (Monday) 7:30 pm ESPNDec. 6 at Washington Redskins Noon FOXDec. 13 at Atlanta Falcons Noon FOXDec. 19 DALLAS COWBOYS (Saturday) 7:20 pm NFLNDec. 27 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS Noon FOXJan. 3 at Carolina Panthers Noon FOX
**A look at the Saints' 2009 opponents, and dates:
Detroit Lions (Sept. 13): **The Saints have back-to-back season-openers at home for the first time since 1999 and 2000, when coincidentally the Lions were the visitors in the second of each. Detroit will be playing in their first game under new head coach Jim Schwartz, who took over following the Lions' 0-16 2008 season. The Saints were one of the teams to beat the Lions in '08, winning 42-7 in December in Detroit. The all-time series between the clubs is tied at 9-9-1.
**at Philadelphia Eagles (Sept. 20): **This will be just the Saints' second trip to Lincoln Financial Field, and first since November 2003. Since that game in Philadelphia, the Eagles have visited New Orleans three times, including a pair of Saints wins in 2006, one in the regular season and once in the postseason. Philadelphia holds a 15-9 edge in the all-time series.
at Buffalo Bills (Sept. 27):The Saints travel to western New York for the first time since taking the 2001 season-opener from the Bills 24-6, and make just their fourth regular-season appearance in Buffalo. New Orleans has won the last two meetings between these two clubs and the all-time series is even at four wins apiece.
vs. New York Jets (Oct. 4):The Saints' second home game of the season will be the second time they welcome to town a team led by a first-year head coach, as Rex Ryan begins his first season at the helm of the Jets. This inter-conference meeting is yet another matchup that has been split down the middle with each team taking five of the 10 games previously played in the series. The Saints won the last time the two teams got together, a 21-19 win in New Jersey in November 2005.
vs. New York Giants (Oct. 18):The Giants will head to New Orleans for the first time since 2003, as six of the last seven meetings in this series have taken place at Giants Stadium, including the last one, a 30-7 Saints win in December 2006. This game kicks off a four-game stretch against 2008 playoff teams following the bye week. New York owns a 14-10 advantage in the all-time series.
at Miami Dolphins (Oct. 25):Although the Sept. 3 preseason finale at the Superdome will mark the fifth time in seven seasons the Saints and Dolphins have gotten together in the preseason, New Orleans will travel to Dolphins Stadium (site of Super Bowl XLIV at the conclusion of the 2009 season) for a regular season game for the first time since November 1998. This game will pit Head Coach Sean Payton against Dolphins' Head Coach Tony Sparano for the first time. The two were assistants together in Dallas from 2003-05 under current Miami EVP of Football Operations Bill Parcells with Payton serving as offensive coordinator and Sparano as tight ends coach ('03-04) and later offensive line coach/run game coordinator.
Atlanta Falcons (vs. Nov. 2, at Dec. 13):Atlanta holds a 43-35 regular-season advantage in the all-time series against the Saints, though New Orleans has won the last five of the six meetings between the two clubs under Payton. The Saints have won the last five at the Superdome and the Monday Night Football matchup on Nov. 2 will mark the fourth time these two teams have gotten together in primetime in the last five years.
Carolina Panthers (vs. Nov. 8, at Jan. 3):The Jan. 3rd contest between the clubs will mark the sixth time the two clubs have ended a season against each other since Carolina entered the league in 1995 and the third in four years. The Panthers swept the season series in 2008 and now hold a 16-12 all-time edge.
at St. Louis Rams (Nov. 15):The Rams are the third team the Saints will face in 2009 guided by a first-year head coach as Steve Spagnuolo takes the reins in St. Louis. The Saints have played these former NFC West rivals 67 times over the years since opening their existence with a game against the Rams back in 1967. The Rams hold a 38-29 all-time advantage in the regular season series.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Nov. 22, vs. Dec. 27):New Orleans holds a 20-16 edge in the all-time series against the Buccaneers and split the two head-to-head games in 2008. First-year head coach Raheem Morris enters the fray in charge of the Bucs, having been promoted from defensive backs coach in the offseason. All signs point to a pair of competitive games once again, as 15 of the past 20 games in the series have been decided by a touchdown or less dating back to 1992.
vs. New England Patriots (Nov. 30):The Saints will make their second appearance of the season on ESPN's Monday Night Football, hosting the Patriots in New England's first return trip to the Superdome since winning Super Bowl XXXV here following the 2001 season. The AFC East outfit holds an 8-3 advantage in the all-time series and have taken all four meetings with the Saints in New Orleans.
at Washington Redskins (Dec. 6):The Saints travel to the nation's capital for the second time in as many seasons and will look to make amends for a 29-24 loss in 2008. The Redskins hold a 15-7 lead in the all-time series, although New Orleans has won two of the three games played at FedEx Field, winning in '02 and '03.
vs. Dallas Cowboys (Dec. 19):The Saturday night game against Dallas will mark the sixth time in the 23-game series that these two clubs will have played in primetime, with the Saints taking the last meeting under the lights 42-17 at Texas Stadium in 2006. The Cowboys lead the all-time series 14-8, but the Saints have won the last five contests, including the most recent three played at the Superdome.
