2020 New Orleans Saints season
The 2020 season was the New Orleans Saints’ 54th in the NFL and their 14th under head coach Sean Payton. They finished with a 12–4 record, won the NFC South for the fourth straight year, and earned a fourth consecutive playoff berth.
Key moments:
- The Saints clinched a playoff spot in Week 13 with a win over the Falcons and then swept the division with a Week 17 win over the Panthers.
- They started the year strong, including a six-game winning streak after Week 10.
- The regular-season schedule included a COVID-19–related disruption to the preseason.
Drew Brees and injuries:
- Brees suffered a rib injury that led to a collapsed lung and missed several games, returning in Week 15 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
- The season marked the end of the Brees era, with his retirement announced on March 14, 2021.
Kamara highlight:
- On Christmas Day, Alvin Kamara rushed for six touchdowns, tying a 91-year NFL record and helping the Saints clinch the division.
Postseason:
- In the Wild Card round, the Saints defeated the Chicago Bears 21–9 in a game that became the first NFL playoff game broadcast on Nickelodeon.
- In the Divisional Round, they lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30–20, the eventual Super Bowl champions. Kamara even lined up at quarterback for a trick play in that game.
- This game also ended Drew Brees’s playing career.
Other notes:
- The Saints swept the Buccaneers in the regular season.
- The 2020 preseason was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Coaching and leadership:
- Head coach: Sean Payton; General manager: Mickey Loomis; Owner: Gayle Benson.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 17:12 (CET).