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(Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneA week off appeared to be just what the doctor ordered for the New Orleans Saints.Every player on the Saints roster was present during the portion of Wednesday’s (Jan. 9) practice that...

(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com / The Times-Picayune)By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneThe New Orleans Saints are two wins away from reaching the Super Bowl for the second time in franchise history after finishing the 2018 regular season 13-3 to secure the NFC’s No. 1...

(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneThe stakes are high in the NFL. Players and coaches are paid significant sums to put in long hours of physically and mentally taxing preparation for three hours of violent confrontation...

(Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneThere is still more to come, but the 2018 season was one to remember for the New Orleans Saints from a statistical standpoint.NFL and franchise records were broken while New Orleans...

(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneThe fog had not yet lifted over New Orleans when Teddy Bridgewater made the walk from his home to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. About to start his first NFL game in almost three years, he...

NOLA.com PhotoBy Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneThe New Orleans Saints' primary Week 17 mission was to ensure as many key players as possible make it to the divisional round of the NFC playoffs healthy, and in that regard, they were successful.As far as the actual game went...

(Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneYou can call it a season of highs and lows if you want, and you would be justified if basing that though on pure statistical production, but that is not the way New Orleans Saints receiver...

(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneBy Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneLet’s take a short trip down memory lane to that time a week and a half ago when the Saints won in ugly fashion in Carolina.Not much time has passed, but a lot has changed since then...

Nola.com PhotoBy Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneFor the first time since Nov. 11, the New Orleans Saints started a game with all five of their regular starting offensive linemen.What is that saying about the best laid plans of Saints and men?The second quarter was not even...

NOLA.com PhotoBy Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneThe NFC road to the Super Bowl will go through New Orleans.The Mercedes-Benz Superdome exploded into a roar when referee Craig Wrolstead signaled, after a review, that New Orleans Saints receiver Michael Thomas crossed the goal...

(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneThere is plenty on the line for both the New Orleans Saints and the Pittsburgh Steelers when they meet in the Superdome this week.The Steelers are trying to hold on to a half-game...

(Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneThe New Orleans Saints' final injury report ahead of their matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers contained some bad news, and some news that was potentially very good for the team.Veteran...

(Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneThere are a couple different ways to look at the last three games played by the New Orleans Saints.A cynic might look at the performances and see cracks in the 12-2 Saints. They might see an...

(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneVeteran offensive lineman Jermon Bushrod missed his second straight practice with a hamstring injury, and four other offensive linemen were listed as limited on the New Orleans Saints...

(Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneCHARLOTTE — Will Clapp could not wait to arrive to Bank of America Stadium Monday night.Finally, 14 games into his rookie season, Clapp was on the active roster for the first time as an NFL...

NOLA.com PhotoBy Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneCHARLOTTE — It took the New Orleans Saints nearly 48 minutes of game time against the Carolina Panthers to find the end zone, when Alvin Kamara took one cut and outraced the Panthers defense to the end zone, and even that didn’t...

(Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneThe New Orleans Saints inactive list for their 'Monday Night Football’ game against the Panthers includes a wide receiver that has played in every game this season and two of the newest...

By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneWith three games to go, the New Orleans Saints have already locked up an NFC South championship and have their sights set on home field advantage throughout the playoffs.The Panthers' playoff hopes are on life support, meanwhile, thanks to a...

(Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneMarshon Lattimore had a succinct answer when he was asked if this week of preparation has been any different for him.“No,” Lattimore said.No extra motivation for the New Orleans Saints...

(David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneThe Christmas season is one of Mark Ingram’s favorites.Some time in the next week or two, he will do what he always does around this time of year and host a Christmas shopping spree for...

(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneA day after missing practice with an ankle injury, New Orleans Saints star wideout Michael Thomas returned to practiceThursday (Dec. 6).Thomas' right ankle was taped as he went through...

\ (Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneThere was some good news and some concerning news to come out of the New Orleans Saints practice participation report Wednesday (Dec. 5).An ankle injury prevented wide receiver Michael...

By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneThe biggest kid on the playground enjoyed his return to recess.As he frequently does on Tuesdays — an off day for the New Orleans Saints on a typical week — Cam Jordan spent time visiting with children at a local school. On this day, he tossed...

(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers were momentarily the darlings of the NFL in Week 1, when they dropped 48 points on the New Orleans Saints. The two teams have taken different paths since then...

(David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneTo say David Onyemata turned in a career day against the Dallas Cowboys would be to make a massive understatement.It was Onyemata’s 44th game as a member of the New Orleans Saints. In the...