The Saints franchise started slowly after its inception in 1967, with New Orleans fans waiting until 1987 to see their Saints post a winning record. That streak of 20 straight seasons without a winning record is the longest such streak in NFL history. New Orleans' first playoff victory didn't come until 2000, when they beat the Rams 31-28 in the Wild Card round ­after going 33 years without a postseason win.

The Saints set history in back-to-back seasons on both sides of the ball. In 2011, Drew Brees led the offense to an NFL record 7,474 total yards to break the record formerly held by the 2000 Rams team known as "The Greatest Show on Turf." The Saints followed up that record-setting offensive year with the worst defensive year in NFL history, at least by yards allowed. The 2012 Saints are the only team to ever surrender more than 7,000 yards, giving up 440.1 yards per game (7,042 yards total).

Drew Brees is the only player in NFL history to throw for 4,500 yards in five consecutive seasons, including three straight 5,000-yard campaigns from 2011-2013. However, he's no one-trick-pony. Brees also holds the Top 2 single-season completion percentages in NFL history (71.2 pct in 2011, 70.6 pct in 2009).

In 2012, Drew Brees broke Johnny Unitas' record for most consecutive games with a TD pass , doing so in 54 straight games from 2009 to 2012. Tom Brady came dangerously close to breaking Brees' record in 2013, but fell just short at 52 straight games with a TD.

Since 2000, every passer under Sean Payton's guidance has thrown for over 3,000 yards. In addition to Brees, who's done so every season since 2006, the three starting quarterbacks he worked with in Dallas - Drew Bledsoe in 2005, Vinny Testaverde in 2004 and Quincy Carter in 2003 - all surpassed the milestone. While in New York, Giants QB Kerry Collins accomplished the feat every season from 2000-2002.

Saints head coach Sean Payton has had the opportunity to work with two of the only three players in NFL history to gain at least 2,000 all-purpose yards in four straight seasons. On the San Diego State coaching staff in 1992-93, Payton was the running backs coach when Marshall Faulk attended the school ­well before he gained 2,000+ all-purpose yards in four straight seasons from 1998-2001 in the NFL. Then, in New Orleans, Payton coached Darren Sproles to his fourth consecutive season with 2,000+ all-purpose yards (2008-2011). The only other player in NFL history to record 2,000+ all-purpose yards in four straight years is famed Kansas City kick returned Dante Hall (2002-2005).