The New Orleans Saints are back in the playoffs. After sitting out the postseason the past three seasons, New Orleans’ 23-13 victory over division rival Atlanta earned the Saints (11-4) a playoff spot.

As expected, Sunday’s game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome was a wild contest between two bitter rivals but the Saints came up with the bigger plays and the win.

The Saints defense, perhaps the story of the team’s turnaround this season, came through again with a fourth-and-goal stop at 1 in the fourth quarter and by forcing two turnovers. Defensive end Cam Jordan, putting together an NFL Defensive Player of the Year season, sacked Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan twice (Jordan has 12 on the season), all-everything cornerback Marshon Lattimore made an amazing “butt-interception” and linebacker Manti Te’o and tackle Tyeler Davison combined on a key forced fumble and recovery that ended a likely scoring drive for the Falcons (9-6). Te’o played a very strong game in placed of injured starter A.J. Klein and the Saints defense registered three other sacks.

Read more here.

We have the Atlanta Falcons in New Orleans for the two teams’ second meeting in the past three weeks. Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Saints can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Falcons, and they’ll seal the NFC South if the Buccaneers also beat the Panthers. Carolina would clinch a playoff spot with a win. So would the Falcons, if they defeat the Saints. In that scenario, the Saints would be eliminated from the division race, and the NFC South would be determined by the winner of a Week 17 game between the Panthers and Falcons.

Read more here

Congrats to the SIX #Saints Pro Bowlers: @DrewBrees, @camjordan94, @Cantguardmike, @MarkIngram22, @A_kamara6 and @shonrp2!

METAIRIE, La. — The New Orleans Saints placed tight end Coby Fleener on injured reserve Saturday after he suffered a concussion last week against the Los Angeles Rams and missed practice all week.

Read more here

METAIRIE, La. — Ted Ginn Jr.’s debut with the New Orleans Saints wasn’t exactly awe-inspiring. Two targets, zero catches and one dropped pass in the end zone before the starters called it an early night in a 20-14 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday.

Click here now for more of the story

METAIRIE, La. — The New Orleans Saints‘ defense has played remarkably well so far this preseason — and throughout all of training camp, really.

But Friday night’s preseason date with the Pittsburgh Steelers will provide the best test by far to show just how much New Orleans’ embattled defense has improved since last season.

For one thing, it’s the third preseason game, when teams typically play their starters the most — and actually do a little bit of game-planning. For another thing, the Steelers’ offense is really, really good.

Read more here

The New Orleans Saints announced Saturday, Aug. 20 the launch of 50/50 Raffles at all Saints home games at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome this season. The Saints will use the 50/50 Central platform to allow fans an opportunity to donate to local charitable organizations or causes by participating in an electronic 50/50 raffle. At each game, half of the net proceeds collected from the raffle will benefit a designated charitable organization or cause, while one lucky fan will win the remaining half of those proceeds.

“We are pleased to be able to offer all of the fans attending our game a tremendous opportunity to greatly assist numerous worthwhile charities through our 50/50 raffles,” said Owner Tom Benson. “Our fans have always been passionate and kind and responsive to those in need, and certainly with the massive efforts facing our state in lieu of the flooding, there is a great need at this time for financial assistance.”

Click here now !

Based on Sean Payton’s comments Saturday night, it was apparent that he and the New Orleans Saints had grown weary of waiting for cornerback Keenan Lewis to get back on the practice field with a lingering hip/sports-hernia injury.

Payton said the decision to release Lewis ultimately came down to “availability.”

“You know, he’s 52 weeks post-surgery,” Payton said — a reference to Lewis’ original surgery around this time last year. “We wish him well. I think ultimately it was just trying to get him on the field. It’s just been … it seems like a long time.”

Read more here.

HOUSTON — In a shocking turn of events, the New Orleans Saints offense has looked like the more problematic unit through two preseason games.

The Saints lost their second straight exhibition game, falling to the Texans 16-9 Saturday night at NRG Stadium, as the offensive line struggled from start to finish.

Despite playing without star defensive end J.J. Watt, Houston was able to consistently disrupt the offense, as outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney dominated Saints tackles Andrus Peat and Zach Strief.

Read more here.

New Orleans will travel to face the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium for their second preseason contest. The Saints and Texans have played each other every preseason since 2008 except for one, with the two clubs split at 4-4 in the preseason and at 2-2 in the regular season. New Orleans fell to the defending NFC South champions in both a preseason contest at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in 2015 and in a regular season matchup in Houston.