Despite loss, Saints records fall

• Advocate staff report
• Published: Dec 29, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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NEW ORLEANS — Though the Saints ended their season with a 33-31 loss to Carolina on Sunday in the Superdome, they established team records for points and net yards in a season.

They entered the game tied with the 2002 team with 432 points and broke the tie on Garrett Hartley’s 21-yard field goal in the second quarter. They finished with 463 points.

New Orleans gained 417 yards to increase its season total to 6,571, surpassing the record of 6,264 set in 2006.

The Saints had broken the record for net passing yards a week earlier and increased that number to 4,977.

They broke the franchise record for fewest sacks allowed, finishing with 13 after yielding two to the Panthers. The previous record was 15 by the 1992 team.

The Saints missed an opportunity to tie the franchise record for home victories in a season, dropping to 6-2. That record included a victory in a “home” game against San Diego that was played in London.

New Orleans finished with a winning record in the Superdome for just the second time in the last 15 seasons. The 2003 team, which had a 5-3 home record, was the only other team to finish with a winning record at home since the 1992 team finished 6-2.

Panthers coach John Fox improved to 7-0 against the Saints in Louisiana, 6-0 in the Superdome and 1-0 in Tiger Stadium. Quarterback Jake Delhomme, a former Saint who’s from Breaux Bridge and played at Louisiana-Lafayette, is 5-0 against the Saints in the Dome and 2-0 against Tulane in the Dome.

Saints coach Sean Payton very nearly duplicated the first three season records of Jim Haslett, his predecessor. Haslett’s first Saints team finished 10-6, won the NFC South, and won a playoff game. His second team finished 7-9 and his third 9-7.

Payton’s first team in 2006 finished 10-6 and won the NFC South and a playoff game. His second team went 7-9, but his third finished 8-8 after failing to hold a late lead against the Panthers.