In 1965 the NFL had 14 teams and the AFL had their original 8. That changed in 1966 when both leagues began to realize a need to grow. The NFL added the Falcons. The AFL added the Dolphins. In 1967 the NFL added yet another team to bring their total to 16 teams. That team was the New Orleans Saints.
In 1966 the NFL was split into 2 Divisions. They were the NFL East and the NFL West. The Champions of these 2 divisions faced each other for the NFL Championship as the NFL had since 1933. Prior to 1933 the NFL Champion was awarded to the team with the best record. From 1933 to 1965 the NFL Division winners played each other for the Championship. In 1966 this Champion earned the right to go on to face the AFL Champion in the Super Bowl.
In 1967 the NFL split into four 4 team divisions. They were the NFL Capital, NFL Coastal, NFL Century, and NFL Central Divisions. I have no idea why the letter C was chosen for all four Divisions. I have searched for an answer and never found one.
The Dallas Cowboys were placed in the NFL Capital Division along with the Eagles, Commanders, and the expansion Saints. We swept the Saints who were 3-11. Dallas won the NFL Capital Division crown.
In 1968 the NFL moved the Saints out of the NFL Capital division and moved the Giants into the NFL Capital. The Saints went to the NFL Century Division. The AFL expanded to 10 teams by adding the Bengals. Dallas again won the NFL Capital Division crown.
In 1969 the Saints and Giants again swapped Divisions and the Saints were once again a division rival. Dallas again swept the Saints. Dallas again won the NFL Capital Division crown and will forever be the only Champion form that Division.
The next year the 26 teams of the AFL and NFL became one league, the National Football League, and the NFC East was Officially born. Why am I taking you all the way to the AFL-NFL merger? Because a not well known fact is that that merger needed Congressional approval to happen and one caveat demanded by Congressman Hale Boggs to Commissioner Pete Rozelle was that New Orleans be granted a team.
On November 1, 1966 the NFL awarded it's 16th and final original franchise prior to the merger to the New Orleans Saints. The announcement happened on the catholic "All Saints Day" and with New Orleans being noted for jazz music the mascot Saints was quickly chosen and "When the Saints Come Marching In" by Al Hirt became their fight song.
Incidentally, Al Hirt was part of the halftime performances for both of our Super Bowl wins in the 1970's. Both were played in New Orleans. VI was at Tulane Stadium and XII at the Super Dome, the first ever indoor Super Bowl.
A Houston, Texas oil man named John Mecom was the Saints first majority owner. Their colors, black and gold, a tribute to his ties to oil, often called "black gold."
In 1985 Tom Benson purchased the Saints from John Mecom. From their inception in 1967 and up until 1979 the Saints were losers every single season. In 1979 they finished 8-8 for their first ever non losing season. Imagine that Cowboys fans, 12 straight years of sub .500 football before one season of .500 football could even be achieved.
In 1980 the Saints went right back to their losing ways and finished the season 1-15. That year a New Orleans DJ started calling them the Aints and fans began the tradition of being anonymous by putting bags over their heads. In 1983 the Saints again finished 8-8 for their second non losing season.
They didn't have a winning season until 1987 when they finished 12-3. If you are wondering why 15 games, that was the year of the replacement games during the players strike.
The Saints are one of 5 teams who have never played in a Super Bowl. The others are the Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, and Detroit Lions. The Saints all time won loss record is 275-375-5. They are 2-6 all time in the Post Season. For Saints fans, winning is sweet.
The Cowboys and Saints have played each other 22 times. The Cowboys hold the all time edge 14-8. Tom Landry dominated the Saints. He was 11-2 against them. No other Cowboys coach has. Jimmy and Barry are the only other coaches to even defeat them. Jimmy twice, and Barry the only time his team faced them. Gailey and Parcells were both 0-2, Campo was 0-1. This is Wade's first time to coach against them as Cowboys Head Coach.
The Saints hold the longest current winning streak against the Cowboys of any team. They have won 5 straight.
A win this week could salvage our season. A loss might sink it.
