2002 New Orleans Saints season

NFL team season

The 2002 season was the New Orleans Saints' 36th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 27th playing home games at the Louisiana Superdome. They improved upon their previous season's performance of 7–9, winning nine games.[1] Despite the winning season, and ranking third in total offense in 2002, the team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the ninth time in the last 10 seasons. As of 2022, this remains the only season in which the Saints have worn their gold jerseys.

A bright moment during the season for the Saints was sweeping the eventual Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Those two wins were almost guaranteed to make New Orleans a playoff team; however, three consecutive losses, all to losing teams, including one to the 1–13 Cincinnati Bengals, knocked New Orleans out of playoff contention.

Offseason

Additions Subtractions
WR Jerome Pathon (Colts) RB Ricky Williams (Dolphins)
TE David Sloan (Lions) T Willie Roaf (Chiefs)
CB Ken Irvin (Bills) DT La'Roi Glover (Cowboys)
WR Jake Reed (Vikings) CB Fred Weary (Falcons)
T Victor Riley (Chiefs) DE Joe Johnson (Packers)
CB Dale Carter (Vikings) T Daryl Terrell (Jaguars)

NFL Draft

2002 New Orleans Saints draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 13 Donté Stallworth  Wide receiver Tennessee
1 25 Charles Grant  Defensive end Georgia
2 44 LeCharles Bentley *  Guard Ohio State
3 82 James Allen  Linebacker Oregon State
4 125 Keyuo Craver  Defensive back Nebraska
5 150 Mel Mitchell  Defensive back Western Kentucky
6 186 J. T. O'Sullivan  Quarterback UC Davis
6 196 John Gilmore  Tight end Penn State
7 224 Derrius Monroe  Defensive end Virginia Tech
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[2]

Undrafted free agents

2002 Undrafted Free Agents of note
Player Position College
Jeff Reed Placekicker North Carolina

Personnel

Staff

2002 New Orleans Saints staff

Front office

  • Owner – Tom Benson
  • Executive vice president/general manager – Mickey Loomis
  • Senior football administrator – Russ Ball
  • Director of player personnel – Rick Mueller
  • College scouting coordinator – Rick Thompson

Head coaches

  • Head coach – Jim Haslett
  • Assistant head coach/secondary – Mike Riley

Offensive coaches

  • Offensive coordinator – Mike McCarthy
  • Quarterbacks – Mike Sheppard
  • Running backs – Dave Atkins
  • Wide receivers – Hubbard Alexander
  • Assistant wide receivers – Jim Hostler
  • Tight ends – Bob Palcic
  • Offensive line – Jack Henry
  • Offensive assistant/quality control – Danny Langsdorf
 Defensive coaches
  • Defensive coordinator – Rick Venturi
  • Defensive line – Sam Clancy
  • Linebackers – Winston Moss
  • Assistant secondary – Joe Baker
  • Defensive assistant/quality control – Greg Brown

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams – Al Everest

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – Rock Gullickson
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Evan Marcus

Roster

2002 New Orleans Saints final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists
  • 36 Michael Hawthorne CB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 57 Curtis Holden LB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)


Practice squad

  • 78 P. J. Alexander G
  • 30 Corey Hall S
  • 77 Abdul-Salaam Noah DT
  • 34 Demetrius Smith FB


Rookies in italics
 53 active, 2 inactive, 4 practice squad

Regular season

Schedule

Under the NFL's new scheduling formula, the Saints' non-divisional conference opponents in 2002 were primarily from the NFC North, although they also played former divisional rival the San Francisco 49ers from the NFC West, and the Washington Redskins from the NFC East. Their non-conference opponents were from the AFC North.

Week Date Opponent Result Record Attendance
1 September 8 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 26–20 (OT) 1–0 65,554
2 September 15 Green Bay Packers W 35–20 2–0 67,958
3 September 22 at Chicago Bears W 29–23 3–0 63,216
4 September 29 at Detroit Lions L 21–26 3–1 60,023
5 October 6 Pittsburgh Steelers W 32–29 4–1 67,734
6 October 13 at Washington Redskins W 43–27 5–1 80,768
7 October 20 San Francisco 49ers W 35–27 6–1 67,903
8 October 27 Atlanta Falcons L 35–37 6–2 67,883
9 Bye
10 November 10 at Carolina Panthers W 34–24 7–2 72,566
11 November 17 at Atlanta Falcons L 17–24 7–3 70,382
12 November 24 Cleveland Browns L 15–24 7–4 68,295
13 December 1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 23–20 8–4 68,226
14 December 8 at Baltimore Ravens W 37–25 9–4 69,334
15 December 15 Minnesota Vikings L 31–32 9–5 67,851
16 December 22 at Cincinnati Bengals L 13–20 9–6 43,544
17 December 29 Carolina Panthers L 6–10 9–7 66,946

Game summaries

Week 2: vs. Green Bay Packers

Week 2: Green Bay Packers at New Orleans Saints
Period 1 2 34Total
Packers 0 10 7320
Saints 7 14 7735

at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

  • Date: September 15, 2002
  • Game time: 1:00 pm
  • Game weather: Partly Cloudy, 88 °F (31 °C)
  • Game attendance: 67,958
  • Referee: Johnny Grier (23)
  • TV: FOX
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

First quarter

  • NO – Deuce McAllister 4-yard run (John Carney kick), 9:19. Saints 7–0. Drive: 11 plays, 68 yards, 5:41.

Second quarter

  • GB – Ryan Longwell 27-yard field goal, 10:23. Saints 7–3. Drive: 15 plays, 71 yards, 7:31.
  • NO – Jerome Pathon 5-yard pass from Aaron Brooks (John Carney kick), 5:12. Saints 14–3. Drive: 5 plays, 21 yards, 2:53.
  • NO – Donte Stallworth 34-yard pass from Aaron Brooks (John Carney kick), 2:03. Saints 21–3. Drive: 4 plays, 52 yards, 1:16.
  • GB – Terry Glenn 14-yard pass from Brett Favre (Ryan Longwell kick), 0:40. Saints 21–10. Drive: 1 play, 14 yards, 0:08.

Third quarter

  • NO – Keyuo Craver 28-yard fumble return (John Carney kick), 13:53. Saints 28–10.
  • GB – Donald Driver 26-yard pass from Brett Favre (Ryan Longwell kick), 0:31. Saints 28–17. Drive: 6 plays, 71 yards, 2:31.

Fourth quarter

  • GB – Ryan Longwell 36-yard field goal, 4:31. Saints 28–20. Drive: 12 plays, 61 yards, 6:03.
  • NO – Deuce McAllister 2-yard run (John Carney kick), 2:00. Saints 35–20. Drive: 4 plays, 73 yards, 2:31.

Top passers

  • GB – Brett Favre – 29/44, 270 yards, 2 TD, INT
  • NO – Aaron Brooks – 16/28, 217 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT

Top rushers

  • GB – Ahman Green – 17 rushes, 81 yards
  • NO – Deuce McAllister – 21 rushes, 123 yards, 2 TD

Top receivers

  • GB – Terry Glenn – 9 receptions, 81 yards, TD
  • NO – Joe Horn – 6 receptions, 120 yards

Week 3: at Chicago Bears

Week 3: New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 0 14 7829
Bears 10 10 0323

at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois

  • Date: September 22, 2002
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Partly Cloudy, 68 °F (20 °C)
  • Game attendance: 63,216
  • Referee: Ron Blum (7)
  • TV: FOX
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

First quarter

  • CHI – Paul Edinger 31-yard field goal, 7:36. Bears 3–0. Drive: 10 plays, 38 yards, 4:01.
  • CHI – Dez White 10-yard pass from Jim Miller (Paul Edinger kick), 2:47. Bears 10–0. Drive: 6 plays, 52 yards, 3:10.

Second quarter

  • CHI – Marty Booker 22-yard pass from Jim Miller (Paul Edinger kick), 13:35. Bears 17–0. Drive: 6 plays, 56 yards, 3:05.
  • CHI – Paul Edinger 25-yard field goal, 11:47. Bears 20–0. Drive: 4 plays, 6 yards, 1:30.
  • NO – Jerome Pathon 16-yard pass from Aaron Brooks (John Carney kick), 7:21. Bears 20–7. Drive: 8 plays, 84 yards, 4:26.
  • NO – Aaron Brooks 7-yard run (John Carney kick), 6:23. Bears 20–14. Drive: 2 plays, 8 yards, 0:58.

Third quarter

  • NO – Joe Horn 5-yard pass from Aaron Brooks (John Carney kick), 8:15. Saints 21–20. Drive: 12 plays, 65 yards, 6:45.

Fourth quarter

  • CHI – Paul Edinger 25-yard field goal, 8:43. Bears 23–21. Drive: 11 plays, 70 yards, 5:59.
  • NO – Donte Stallworth 29-yard pass from Aaron Brooks (Aaron Brooks run), 1:11. Saints 29–23. Drive: 7 plays, 73 yards, 2:01.

Top passers

  • NO – Aaron Brooks – 22/34, 233 yards, 3 TD, INT
  • CHI – Jim Miller – 26/40, 236 yards, 2 TD, INT

Top rushers

  • NO – Deuce McAllister – 17 rushes, 45 yards
  • CHI – Anthony Thomas – 27 rushes, 111 yards

Top receivers

  • NO – Jerome Pathon – 5 receptions, 71 yards, TD
  • CHI – Marty Booker – 8 receptions, 97 yards, TD

Week 4: at Detroit Lions

Week 4: New Orleans Saints at Detroit Lions
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 0 7 8621
Lions 13 7 3326

at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

  • Date: September 29, 2002
  • Game time: 1:03 pm
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 60,023
  • Referee: Ron Winter (14)
  • TV: Fox
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

First quarter

  • DET – Jason Hanson 23-yard field goal, 12:03. Lions 3–0. Drive: 6 plays, 17 yards, 2:57.
  • DET – James Hall 22-yard fumble return (Jason Hanson kick), 10:31. Lions 10–0.
  • DET – Jason Hanson 34-yard field goal, 5:41. Lions 13–0. Drive: 7 plays, 36 yards, 3:42.

Second quarter

  • DET – Bill Schroeder 38-yard pass from Joey Harrington (Jason Hanson kick), 4:53. Lions 20–0. Drive: 3 plays, 80 yards, 1:30.
  • NO – Donte Stallworth 4-yard pass from Ahmad Brooks (John Carney kick), 1:25. Lions 20–7. Drive: 12 plays, 91 yards, 3:28.

Third quarter

  • DET – Jason Hanson 23-yard field goal, 7:24. Lions 23–7. Drive: 7 plays, 36 yards, 2:27.
  • NO – Deuce McAllister 12-yard run (Ahmad Brooks run), 3:41. Lions 23–15. Drive: 7 plays, 72 yards, 3:43.

Fourth quarter

  • DET – Jason Hanson 38-yard field goal, 11:47. Lions 26–15. Drive: 7 plays, 17 yards, 2:58.
  • NO – Jerome Pathon 6-yard pass from Ahmad Brooks (Run Failed), 3:41. Lions 26–21. Drive: 9 plays, 82 yards, 2:22.

Top passers

  • NO – Ahmad Brooks – 27/48, 269 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
  • DET – Joey Harrington – 20/35, 267 yards, TD

Top rushers

  • NO – Deuce McAllister – 12 rushes, 61 yards, TD
  • DET – James Stewart – 18 rushes, 65 yards

Top receivers

  • NO – Joe Horn – 6 receptions, 87 yards
  • DET – Az-Zahir Hakim – 3 receptions, 98 yards

Week 15: vs. Minnesota Vikings

Week 15: Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 14 10 0832
Saints 10 10 3831

at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

  • Date: December 15, 2002
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 67,851
  • Referee: Bob McElwee (95)
  • TV: FOX
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

First quarter

  • NO – John Carney 40-yard field goal, 11:50. Saints 3–0. Drive: 5 plays, 17 yards, 3:10.
  • MIN – Daunte Culpepper 4-yard run (Gary Anderson kick), 8:21. Vikings 7–3. Drive: 6 plays, 69 yards, 3:29.
  • MIN – Daunte Culpepper 6-yard run (Gary Anderson kick), 1:01. Vikings 14–3. Drive: 11 plays, 71 yards, 5:42.
  • NO – Michael Lewis 97-yard kickoff return (John Carney kick), 0:48. Vikings 14–10. Drive: 0 plays, 0 yards, 0:13.

Second quarter

  • MIN – Gary Anderson 41-yard field goal, 11:59. Vikings 17–10. Drive: 9 plays, 57 yards, 3:49.
  • NO – John Carney 34-yard field goal, 5:25. Vikings 17–13. Drive: 12 plays, 44 yards, 6:34.
  • NO – Jake Reed 35-yard pass from Aaron Brooks (John Carney kick), 0:53. Saints 20–17. Drive: 8 plays, 65 yards, 1:28.
  • MIN – Randy Moss 33-yard pass from Daunte Culpepper (Gary Anderson kick), 0:12. Vikings 24–20. Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards, 0:41.

Third quarter

  • NO – John Carney 27-yard field goal, 0:55. Vikings 24–23. Drive: 14 plays, 75 yards, 8:06.

Fourth quarter

  • NO – Deuce McAllister 17-yard pass from Aaron Brooks (Aaron Brooks–Joe Horn pass), 5:21. Saints 31–24. Drive: 9 plays, 74 yards, 4:35.
  • MIN – Randy Moss 13-yard pass from Daunte Culpepper (Daunte Culpepper run), 0:05. Vikings 32–31. Drive: 13 plays, 73 yards, 5:16.

Top passers

  • MIN – Daunte Culpepper – 26/36, 312 yards, 2 TD
  • NO – Aaron Brooks – 21/33, 255 yards, 2 TD

Top rushers

  • MIN – Daunte Culpepper – 7 rushes, 73 yards, 2 TD
  • NO – Deuce McAllister – 18 rushes, 69 yards

Top receivers

  • MIN – Randy Moss – 11 receptions, 113 yards, 2 TD
  • NO – Joe Horn – 5 receptions, 60 yards

Standings

Division

NFC South
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 W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 12 4 0 .750 4–2 9–3 346 196 W1
(6) Atlanta Falcons 9 6 1 .594 4–2 7–5 402 314 L1
New Orleans Saints 9 7 0 .563 3–3 7–5 432 388 L3
Carolina Panthers 7 9 0 .438 1–5 4–8 258 302 W2

Conference

NFC
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# Team Division W L T PCT DIV CONF SOS SOV
Division leaders
1[a] Philadelphia Eagles East 12 4 0 .750 5–1 11–1 .469 .432
2[a][b] Tampa Bay Buccaneers South 12 4 0 .750 4–2 9–3 .482 .432
3[a][b] Green Bay Packers North 12 4 0 .750 5–1 9–3 .451 .414
4 San Francisco 49ers West 10 6 0 .625 5–1 8–4 .504 .450
Wild Cards
5 New York Giants East 10 6 0 .625 5–1 8–4 .482 .450
6 Atlanta Falcons South 9 6 1 .594 4–2 7–5 .494 .429
Did not qualify for the postseason
7 New Orleans Saints South 9 7 0 .563 3–3 7–5 .498 .566
8[c] St. Louis Rams West 7 9 0 .438 4–2 5–7 .508 .446
9[c] Seattle Seahawks West 7 9 0 .438 2–4 5–7 .506 .433
10[d] Washington Redskins East 7 9 0 .438 1–5 4–8 .527 .438
11[d] Carolina Panthers South 7 9 0 .438 1–5 4–8 .486 .357
12 Minnesota Vikings North 6 10 0 .375 4–2 5–7 .498 .417
13[e] Arizona Cardinals West 5 11 0 .313 1–5 5–7 .500 .400
14[e] Dallas Cowboys East 5 11 0 .313 1–5 3–9 .500 .475
15 Chicago Bears North 4 12 0 .250 2–4 3–9 .521 .430
16 Detroit Lions North 3 13 0 .188 1–5 3–9 .494 .375
Tiebreakers[f]
  1. ^ a b c Philadelphia finished ahead of Tampa Bay and Green Bay based on conference record (11–1 vs 9–3/9–3).
  2. ^ a b Tampa Bay finished ahead of Green Bay based on head-to-head victory.
  3. ^ a b St. Louis finished ahead of Seattle based on division record (4–2 to 2–4).
  4. ^ a b Washington finished ahead of Carolina based on common games (2–3 to 1–4)
  5. ^ a b Arizona finished ahead of Dallas based on head-to-head victory.
  6. ^ When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.

References

  1. ^ 2002 New Orleans Saints
  2. ^ "2002 New Orleans Saints Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 5, 2014.

External links

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