With today's matchup against the New England Patriots officially a thing of the past, the Redskins turn their attention to a surging NFC opponent to the south.
The Redskins next Sunday play host to the New Orleans Saints. Kickoff at FedExField is set for 1 p.m. ET.
The Saints entered today's action against the Tennessee Titans with a 4-4 record and winners of four of their last five contests.
New Orleans opened its season with three straight losses (Arizona Cardinals, 31-19; Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 26-19; and Carolina Panthers, 27-22), before earning their first victory Week 4 against the Dallas Cowboys, 26-20.
Since that win, the Saints were blown out by the Philadelphia Eagles, 39-17, before reeling off three straight victories over the Atlanta falcons, 31-21, and Indianapolis Colts, 27-21, and New York Giants, 52-49.
The Saints are led by 10th-year head coach Sean Payton. Hired in 2006, Payton, 51, has compiled a 90-56 overall record (.616), including a 6-4 record in postseason games. He stands four wins shy of passing Jim Mora's all-time franchise record of 93 wins set from 1986 to 1996.
Payton, who led the Saints to their first-ever Super Bowl title in 2009, a 31-17 victory over the Colts, has overseen one of the league's most consistent offensive attacks, as New Orleans has led the league in net yards per game five times since 2006, and was tops in scoring in 2008 and 2009.
New Orleans enters today's game against the Titans off the heels of a dramatic, high-scoring victory over the Giants at the Mercedes Superdome.
Quarterback Drew Brees had a career day in the 52-49 win – which is saying something – as he passed for a career-best 511 yards and seven touchdowns. Recently-signed kicker Kai Forbath, formerly with the Redskins, converted a 50-yard field goal as time expired to earn the victory for the Saints.
The Saints had big days offensively from several receivers, including tight end Benjamin Watson (nine receptions, 147 yards, touchdown) and wide receivers Marques Colston (eight receptions, 114 yards, touchdown), Brandin Cooks (six receptions, 88 yards, two touchdowns) and Willie Snead (six receptions, 70 yards, two touchdowns).
The best of the Redskins-Saints Week 1 game on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012 at the Superdome in New Orleans.
Redskins' WR's Aldrick Robinson and Brandon Banks celebrate after Robinson's second quarter TD.
Redskins' CB Josh Wilson breaks up a pass to Saints' WR Marques Coltson.
Redskins' OLB Brian Orakpo looks into the backfield before the snap.
Redskins' T Trent Williams runs out to block during the season-opener against the Saints.
Redskins' CB Cedric Griffin tackles and strips Saints' WR Marques Colston. The Redskins would recover the ball.
Redskins' rookie RB Alfred Morris stiff arms a reaching Saints' defender.
Redskins' rookie QB Robert Griffin III makes a call at the line of scrimmage.
Redskins' TE Niles Paul celebrates with QB Robert Griffin III after one of Griffin III's two TD passes.
WR Aldrick Robinson celebrates after scoring a five-yard TD from QB Robert Griffin III.
Redskins' fans showing their support for rookie QB Robert Griffin III in his NFL debut.
Redskins' WR and returner Brandon Banks returns a kick during the Week 1 matchup against the Saints.
QB Robert Griffin III rushes for positive yards against the Saints' defense.
QB Robert Griffin III "Griffining" after throwing his first career TD pass to WR Pierre Garcon.
Redskins' CB DeAngelo Hall sacks Saints' QB Drew Brees in the first half.
QB Robert Griffin III scrambling to the outside during a play in the first half.
CB DeAngelo Hall celebrating his sack of QB Drew Brees.
RB Alfred Morris scoring one of his two TD's on the day.
The offense huddles up for the play call against the Saints.
QB Robert Griffin III celebrates after throwing a TD pass against New Orleans.
WR Aldrick Robinson runs more additional yardage after making a reception.
QB Robert Griffin III meshes with Redskins' RB Roy Helu Jr..
Redskins' C Will Montgomery making a call at the line scrimmage.
RB Roy Helu Jr. jukes past a Saints' defender.
Mark Ingram ran the ball 16 times for 80 yards.
Linebacker Stephone Anthony led the New Orleans defense with 11 tackles on the day, while cornerback Brandon Browner added eight stops.
The Saints entered today's game ranked second in the league in total offense at 422.4 yards per game. Their defense is a different story, however, as their 406.2 yards allowed per game average ranks 31st in the NFL.
Through eight games, Brees has completed 210-of-303 (69.3 percent) of his passes for 2,376 yards with 15 touchdowns to six interceptions. Ingram has 118 rushes for 530 yards (4.5 yards per run) with five touchdowns. Cooks (41 receptions, 532 yards), Watson (38 receptions, 472 yards) and Snead (35 receptions, 531 yards) each have three receiving touchdowns for the Saints.
Anthony leads the Saints' defense with 56 total tackles, while defensive end Cameron Jordan is turning in a career year thus far with six sacks to go along with 20 tackles and a forced fumble. Linebacker Hau'oli Kikaha, meanwhile, has four sacks and three forced fumbles entering today's action.
Game notesHere's some more facts and figures from next Sunday's Redskins-Saints matchup in Landover, Md., courtesy of Redskins Public Relations:
- The Redskins are 16-8 all-time against Saints and have won three of the teams' last four meetings.
- The Redskins won their most recent game against the Saints, a 40-32 road victory to open the Redskins' 2012 NFC East championship season.
- From 1980-90, the Redskins went 6-0 against the Saints, marking the longest winning streak by either team in the series.
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