NFL team season
The 1988 New Orleans Saints season was the team's 22nd as a member of the National Football League (NFL). They were unable to match their previous season 's output of 12–3, winning only ten games and missing the playoffs (and losing the division) by a tiebreaker, going 6–6 vs. NFC opponents compared to 8–4 for the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams . Road losses to the Washington Redskins and Minnesota Vikings , as well as a sweep by San Francisco, ended up being the difference in New Orleans staying home and the California teams advancing.[ 1]
With the Louisiana Superdome hosting the 1988 Republican National Convention ; all but the last pre-season game (against the Pittsburgh Steelers ) for the Saints were played on the road.[ 2]
[ 3]
Prior to the start of the 1988 season, the Saints held training camp for the first time at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The team would hold training camp in La Crosse through the 1999 season.[ 4]
1988 New Orleans Saints staff Front office
Owner/general partner – Tom Benson President/general manager – Jim Finks Vice-president of administration – Jim Miller Director of player personnel – Bill Kuharich Head coaches
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
Strength and conditioning – Russell Paternostro
[ 5]
Week Date Opponent Time TV Result Record Game Site Attendance Recap 1 September 4 San Francisco 49ers 12 Noon CDT CBS L 33–34 0–1 Louisiana Superdome 66,357 2 September 11 at Atlanta Falcons 12 Noon CDT CBS W 29–21 1–1 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 48,901 3 September 18 at Detroit Lions 12 Noon CDT CBS W 22–14 2–1 Pontiac Silverdome 32,943 4 September 25 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 12 Noon CDT CBS W 13–9 3–1 Louisiana Superdome 66,671 5 Dallas Cowboys 8:00 p.m. CDT ABC W 20–17 4–1 Louisiana Superdome 68,474 6 October 9 at San Diego Chargers 3:00 p.m. CDT CBS W 23–17 5–1 Jack Murphy Stadium 42,693 7 October 16 at Seattle Seahawks 3:00 p.m. CDT CBS W 20–19 6–1 Kingdome 63,569 8 October 23 Los Angeles Raiders 12 Noon CDT NBC W 20–6 7–1 Louisiana Superdome 66,249 9 October 30 Los Angeles Rams 12 Noon CST CBS L 10–12 7–2 Louisiana Superdome 68,238 10 November 6 at Washington Redskins 3:00 p.m. CST CBS L 24–27 7–3 RFK Stadium 54,183 11 November 13 at Los Angeles Rams 3:00 p.m. CST CBS W 14–10 8–3 Anaheim Stadium 63,305 12 November 20 Denver Broncos 3:00 p.m. CST NBC W 42–0 9–3 Louisiana Superdome 68,075 13 November 27 New York Giants 7:00 p.m. CST ESPN L 12–13 9–4 Louisiana Superdome 66,526 14 December 4 at Minnesota Vikings 3:00 p.m. CST CBS L 3–45 9–5 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 61,215 15 December 11 at San Francisco 49ers 3:00 p.m. CST CBS L 17–30 9–6 Candlestick Park 62,977 16 December 18 Atlanta Falcons 12 Noon CST CBS W 10–9 10–6 Louisiana Superdome 60,566 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
[ 6]
Team Category Player Statistics SF Passing Joe Montana 13/23, 161 YDS, 3 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Roger Craig 18 CAR, 67 YDS, 1 TD Receiving Roger Craig 5 REC, 43 YDS NO Passing Bobby Hebert 22/31, 245 YDS, 4 TDs, 2 INTs Rushing Dalton Hilliard 19 CAR, 95 YDS Receiving Lonzell Hill 7 REC, 74 YDS, 1 TD
Point spread : Saints Pick'em Over/Under: 43.0 (over) Time of Game: 3 hours, 7 minutes 49ers Game Statistics Saints 21 First downs 23 32–124 Rushes–yards 31–147 165 Passing yards 245 14–26–1 Passes 22–31–2 0–0 Sacked–yards 5–48 165 Net passing yards 197 289 Total yards 344 128 Return yards 310 1–24.0 Punts 3–40.0 1–1 Fumbles–lost 2–1 2–12 Penalties–yards 10–77 23:50 Time of possession 36:10
Starting Lineups
Individual stats
Saints Passing C/ATT1 Yds TD INT Sk Yds LG3 Rate Hebert 22/31 245 4 2 5 48 33 106.9
Saints Kick Returns Ret Yds Y/Rt TD Lng Gray 6 144 24.0 0 0 Mayes 2 45 22.5 0 0
Saints Punting Pnt Yds Y/P Lng Blck Hansen 3 120 40.0 0 0
Saints Kicking XPM–XPA FGM–FGA Anderson 4–4 1–1
Saints Interceptions Int Yds TD LG PD Waymer 1 44 0 44
1 2 3 4 Total • Saints 3 9 10 7 29 Falcons 7 7 7 0 21
Scoring summary Q1 NO Andersen 41 yard field goalNO 3–0 Q1 ATL Whisenhunt 12 yard pass from Miller (Davis kick)ATL 7–3 Q2 ATL Higdon 34 yard pass from Miller (Davis kick)ATL 14–3 Q2 NO Andersen 29 yard field goal ATL 14–6 Q2 NO Martin 14 yard pass from Hebert (kick failed)ATL 14–12 Q3 NO Andersen 28 yard field goal NO 15–14 Q3 ATL Settle 1 yard run (Davis kick)ATL 21–15 Q3 NO Mayes 17 yard run (Andersen kick)NO 22–21 Q4 NO Hilliard 4 yard run (Andersen kick)NO 29–21
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The Saints won for the first time in Detroit going 0-4-1 in their previous five trips to Michigan (three to Tiger Stadium and two to the Pontiac Silverdome ).
1 2 3 4 Total • Saints 0 7 12 3 22 Lions 7 7 0 0 14
Date: September 18Location: Pontiac Silverdome Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 32,943Game weather: Indoors (dome)Referee: Johnny GrierTV announcers (CBS): James Brown and Gary Fencik Scoring summary Q1 DET Bland 9 yard pass from Long (Murray kick)DET 7–0 Q2 NO Hill 29 yard pass from Hebert (Andersen kick)Tie 7–7 Q2 DET Bland 10 yard pass from Long (Murray kick) DET 14–7 Q3 NO Andersen 37 yard field goal DET 14–10 Q3 NO Safety, Long tackled by Jackson in end zone DET 14–12 Q3 NO Hilliard 4 yard run (Anderson kick)NO 19–14 Q4 NO Andersen 29 yard field goal NO 22–14
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1 2 3 4 Total Buccaneers 0 6 0 3 9 • Saints 10 3 0 0 13
Date: September 25Location: Louisiana Superdome Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 66,671Game weather: Indoors (dome) Scoring summary Q1 NO Hill 5 yard pass from Hebert (Andersen kick)NO 7–0 Q1 NO Andersen 28 yard field goal NO 10–0 Q2 TB Igwebuike 25 yard field goalNO 10–3 Q2 NO Andersen 41 yard field goal NO 13–3 Q2 TB Igwebuike 35 yard field goal NO 13–6 Q4 TB Igwebuike 35 yard field goal NO 13–9
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1 2 3 4 Total Cowboys 0 7 7 3 17 • Saints 7 7 3 3 20
Date: October 3Location: Louisiana Superdome Game start: 9:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 68,474Game weather: Indoors (dome)Referee: Gene BarthTV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford and Dan Dierdorf Scoring summary Q1 NO Hill 7 yard pass from Hebert (Andersen kick)NO 7–0 Q2 NO Perriman 17 yard pass from Hebert (Anderson kick)NO 14–0 Q2 DAL Martin 13 yard pass from Pelluer (Ruzek kick)NO 14–7 Q3 DAL Martin 14 yard pass from Pelluer (Ruzek kick) Tie 14–14 Q3 NO Andersen 27 yard field goal NO 17–14 Q4 DAL Ruzek 39 yard field goal Tie 17–17 Q4 NO Andersen 49 yard field goal NO 20–17
[ 12]
1 2 3 4 Total • Saints 0 13 7 3 23 Chargers 14 0 3 0 17
Date: October 9Location: Jack Murphy Stadium Game start: 4:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 42,693Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C); wind 8 mph (13 km/h)Referee: Ben DreithTV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan and Dan Jiggetts Scoring summary Q1 SD Miller 47 yard pass from Laufenberg (Abbott kick)SD 7–0 Q1 SD Roy Bennett recovered fumble in end zone (Abbott kick)SD 14–0 Q2 NO Andersen 27 yard field goalSD 14–3 Q2 NO Andersen 35 yard field goal SD 14–6 Q2 NO Hill 19 yard pass from Hebert (Andersen kick)SD 14–13 Q3 NO Martin 10 yard pass from Hebert (Andersen kick)NO 20–14 Q3 SD Abbott 35 yard field goal NO 20–17 Q4 NO Andersen 34 yard field goal NO 23–17
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1 2 3 4 Total • Saints 0 10 7 3 20 Seahawks 3 3 6 7 19
Date: October 16Location: Kingdome Game start: 4:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 63,569Game weather: Indoors (dome)Referee: Pat HaggertyTV announcers (CBS): Dick Stockton and Dan Fouts Scoring summary Q1 SEA Johnson 22 yard field goalSEA 3–0 Q2 NO Martin 19 yard pass from Hebert (Andersen kick)NO 7–3 Q2 SEA Johnson 47 yard field goal NO 7–6 Q2 NO Andersen 23 yard field goal NO 10–6 Q3 SEA Johnson 46 yard field goal NO 10–9 Q3 NO Waymer 58 yard blocked field goal return (Andersen kick)NO 17–9 Q3 SEA Johnson 42 yard field goal NO 17–12 Q4 NO Andersen 31 yard field goal NO 20–12 Q4 SEA Blades 3 yard pass from Stouffer (Johnson kick)NO 20–19
[ 14]
The Saints defeated the Raiders for the first time in six meetings (the 1971 matchup, the first between the teams, ended in a 21-21 tie).
1 2 3 4 Total Raiders 0 6 0 0 6 • Saints 3 0 14 3 20
Date: October 23Location: Louisiana Superdome Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 66,249Game weather: Indoors (dome)Referee: Jerry SeemanTelevision network: NBC Scoring summary Q1 NO Andersen 51 yard field goalNO 3–0 Q2 LA Fernandez 85 yard pass from Schroeder (kick failed)LA 6–3 Q3 NO Heyward 73 yard run (Andersen kick)NO 10–7 Q3 NO Hilliard 7 yard run (Andersen kick)NO 17–7 Q4 NO Andersen 25 yard field goal NO 20–7
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1 2 3 4 Total • Saints 0 7 7 0 14 Rams 0 3 0 7 10
Date: November 13Location: Anaheim Stadium Game start: 4:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 63,305Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C); wind 6 mph (9.7 km/h)Referee: Tom DooleyTV announcers (CBS): Dick Stockton and Dan Fouts Scoring summary Q2 NO Hilliard 4 yard run (Andersen kick)NO 7–0 Q2 LA Lansford 23 yard field goalNO 7–3 Q3 NO Mayes 3 yard run (Andersen kick)NO 14–3 Q4 LA Bell 1 yard run (Lansford kick)NO 14–10
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In the Broncos' first appearance in the Louisiana Superdome since Super Bowl XII 11 years earlier, the Saints defeated Denver for the first time in five tries, and posted their largest margin of victory at the time.
1 2 3 4 Total Broncos 0 0 0 0 0 • Saints 14 7 14 7 42
Scoring summary Q1 NO Mayes 2 yard run (Andersen kick)NO 7–0 Q1 NO Hilliard 2 yard run (Andersen kick)NO 14–0 Q2 NO Martin 40 yard pass from Hebert (Andersen kick)NO 21–0 Q3 NO Gray 66 yard punt return (Andersen kick)NO 28–0 Q3 NO Tice 8 yard pass from Hebert (Andersen kick)NO 35–0 Q4 NO Martin 6 yard pass from Hebert (Andersen kick) NO 42–0
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Team Category Player Statistics NO Passing Bobby Hebert 19/30, 170 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Dalton Hilliard 9 CAR, 35 YDS Receiving Eric Martin 7 REC, 61 YDS SF Passing Joe Montana 18/29, 233 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Roger Craig 22 CAR, 115 YDS, 1 TD Receiving Jerry Rice 6 REC, 78 YDS
Point spread : Saints +6 Over/Under: 41.0 (over) Time of Game: 3 hours, 1 minute Saints Game Statistics 49ers 15 First downs 20 24–70 Rushes–yards 35–152 197 Passing yards 233 20–35–1 Passes 18–29–1 2–15 Sacked–yards 2–12 182 Net passing yards 221 252 Total yards 373 127 Return yards 79 5–38.2 Punts 3–36.7 2–1 Fumbles–lost 1–1 2–11 Penalties–yards 1–0 26:35 Time of possession 33:25
Starting Lineups
Individual stats
Saints Passing C/ATT1 Yds TD INT Sk Yds LG3 Rate Hebert 19/34 170 1 1 2 12 28 67.0 Hilliard 1/1 27 1 0 0 0 27 158.3
Saints Kick Returns Ret Yds Y/Rt TD Lng Atkins 4 58 14.5 0 0 Gray 2 44 22.0 0 0
Saints Punt Returns Ret Yds Y/Rt TD Lng Gray 1 4 4.0 0 4 Hill 1 4 4.0 0 4
Saints Punting Pnt Yds Y/P Lng Blck Hansen 5 191 38.2 0 0
Saints Kicking XPM–XPA FGM–FGA MFG Anderson 2–2 1–3 40, 32
Saints Interceptions Int Yds TD LG PD Waymer 1 17 0 17
1 2 3 4 Total Falcons 0 3 3 3 9 • Saints 7 0 0 3 10
Date: December 18Location: Louisiana Superdome Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 60,566Game weather: Indoors (dome)Referee: Pat HaggertyTV announcers (CBS): Dick Stockton and Dan Fouts Scoring summary Q1 NO Hilliard 13 yard pass from Hebert (Andersen kick)NO 7–0 Q2 ATL Davis 27 yard field goalNO 7–3 Q3 ATL Davis 43 yard field goal NO 7–6 Q4 ATL Davis 39 yard field goal ATL 9–7 Q4 NO Andersen 30 yard field goal NO 10–9
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Franchise Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Wild card berths (5) Division championships (9) Conference championships (1) League championships (1) Retired numbers Ring of Honor Current league affiliations