2005: As the Saints were getting read to begin the season, they like the rest of New Orleans were forced to scramble as a major hurricane was coming down the gulf, as many of New Orleans residents gathered in the Louisiana Superdome to ride out the storm. For many years people have worried that a storm could hit New Orleans, a city that sits below sea level so hard that it would destroy the levies and leave in its wake a flood of biblical proportion. On August 29, 2005 those worse fears were realized, as Hurricane Katrina slammed the city and led to the breaking of the levies, flooding throughout the city, and a complete loss of power. The deviation made rescuing those left behind including those in the Superdome difficult, and over several days the Superdome became cesspool as the storm damaged the roof, while panicked people tore apart the stadium from the inside, with disease and filth making conditions unbearable. The damage to the Superdome and the city's infrastructure made playing in New Orleans an impossibility for the Saints in 2005 as they forced to scramble to find a place to play. Despite the devastation an inspired Saints team started the season well as Deuce McAllister scored 2 Touchdowns in a dramatic 23-20 over the Carolina Panthers as John Carney hit a 47-yard Field Goal with 3 seconds left. However, the following week the NFL dealt the Saints an unfair blow, despite working out deals to play games in San Antonio's Alamodome, and Tiger Stadium on the campus of LSU in Baton Rouge, the league decided to have the Saints play their home opener in a Monday Night Charity Game, with the league raising money through out the telecast for victims of the storm. However, they would have to play a "home game" against the New York Giants in the New Jersey Meadowlands. Saints players were not happy and blew off a meeting with Commissioner Paul Tagliabue as they lost 27-10. The following week the Saints dropped another game on the road to the Minnesota Vikings 33-16. Finally getting a real home game in the Alamodome the Saints improved to 2-2 with a 19-7 win over the Buffalo Bills, as McAllister rushed for 130 yards. The following week the Saints would lose McAllister to a season ending knee injury, as they were humiliated by the Green Bay Packers 51-3. The loss to the Packers would signal troubled times ahead for the Saints, as things began to snowball the rest of the way, as they would win just one more game finishing with an awful 3-13 record, along the way QB Aaron Brooks was benched, while Todd Bauman did not manage to do much better. October 30th would see the Saints return to Louisiana as they faced the Miami Dolphins in Baton Rouge, as 61, 643 fans turned out mostly to see former LSU Coach Nick Saban lead the Dolphins to a 21-6 win. Sadly for the Saints in their remaining games in Baton Rouge brought disappointing crowds, as Owner Tom Benson's talk about moving the team seemed to alienate their loyal fan base, who had bigger concerns with their own homes. Following the season the Saints would clean house firing Coach Jim Haslett, while releasing QB Aaron Brooks. Haslett would be replaced by Sean Payton, while they broke open the bank to sign free agent QB Drew Brees away from the San Diego Chargers. Then the Saints got a little luck in the NFL Draft as the Houston Texans passed up on Heisman Winner Reggie Bush, allowing the Saints to select the RB who has talent that has been labeled can't miss.