General manager Vic Schwenk Record 2–11–1 Playoff finish did not qualify Home field Tulane Stadium | Owner John W. Mecom, Jr. Division place 4th NFC West Start date 1970 Head coaches Tom Fears, J. D. Roberts | |
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Similar 1969 New Orleans Saints se, 1975 New Orleans Saints se, 1968 New Orleans Saints se, 1973 New Orleans Saints se, 1979 New Orleans Saints se | ||
The 1970 New Orleans Saints season was the team's fourth as a member of the National Football League. After spending their first three seasons in the NFL's Eastern Conference, the Saints moved in 1970 to the West Division of the new National Football Conference. They failed to improve on their previous season's output of 5–9, winning only two games. The team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
Following a 1–5–1 start, coach Tom Fears was fired by owner John W. Mecom Jr. Fears was replaced by J.D. Roberts, whose first game was a 19–17 victory over the Detroit Lions in which Tom Dempsey set an NFL record with a 63-yard field goal on the final play, breaking the old record held by Bert Rechichar of the Baltimore Colts by seven yards. Dempsey's record stood alone until it was tied by Jason Elam of the Denver Broncos in 1998 and equaled by Sebastian Janikowski of the Oakland Raiders in 2011 and David Akers of the San Francisco 49ers in 2012. The record was broken by Matt Prater of the Denver Broncos in 2013.
The victory over the Lions was the last of the season of the Saints, but both of New Orleans' victories came over teams in the thick of the NFC playoff race. The other win, a 14–10 triumph over the New York Giants in week three cost the Giants the NFC East division championship. The Lions qualified for the playoffs as the wild card from the NFC, but were nearly forced into a coin toss with the Dallas Cowboys, a situation which was only averted when the Giants lost their season finale to the Rams.
Standings
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.