New Orleans Saints to face Arizona Cardinals in Hall of Fame game

The New Orleans Saints will face off against the Arizona Cardinals in the Hall of Fame Game, to open the 2012 NFL Preseason.

The game takes place on August 5th, 2012 at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio right next to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame game will be shown nationally on the NFL Network, with kickoff set at 8 EST.

The New Orleans Saints offered to play in this year’s annual preseason opener because it will coincide with offensive tackle Willie Roaf’s induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame which is that weekend.

Teams that play in the Hall of Fame game end up playing a total of five preseason games instead of the four games by non-competitors.

Due to the NFL Lockout there was no Hall of Fame game for the 2011 NFL season. Had there have been a game, it would have featured the Chicago Bears vs the St. Louis Rams.

It would have marked only the second time since 1971 that two teams from the same conference faced off against one another.

The Saints last played in the Hall of Fame game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2007, a game in which they lost 20-7.

In the Hall of Fame game the New Orleans Saints have a record of 1-3 (.250 win percentage). Their only win came on August 8, 1970 when the Saints defeated the Minnesota Vikings 14-13.

The Cardinals last played in the Hall of Fame game against the New England Patriots in 1986, a game in which they lost 21-16.

In the Hall of Fame game the Arizona (St. Louis) Cardinals have a record of 1-1 (.500 win percentage). Their only win came on July 27, 1974 when they defeated the Buffalo Bills 21-13.