The 2013 New Orleans Saints season was the franchise's 47th season in the National Football League and the 38th to host games at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome . It also marked the seventh season under head coach Sean Payton , who returned to the team after serving a one-year suspension for his involvement in the team's 2012 bounty scandal .
The Saints improved their 7–9 record from last season, going 11–5 and making the playoffs as the six-seed. They earned the franchise's first-ever road postseason victory, with a 26–24 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round, ending the drought at 0–5. However, the Saints were eliminated by the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional round, by a score of 23–15. The 2013 season was also the second time in three years the Saints went 8-0 at home.
This was the last season in which the New Orleans Saints qualified for the playoffs until 2017.
Offseason
Signings
Pos.
Player
2012 Team
Contract
CB
Keenan Lewis
Pittsburgh Steelers
5 years, $25.5 million
TE
Benjamin Watson
Cleveland Browns
3 years, $4.9 million
LB
Victor Butler
Dallas Cowboys
2 years, $3 million
DE
Kenyon Coleman
Dallas Cowboys
1 year, $1 million
CB
Chris Carr
San Diego Chargers
1 year, $840,000
QB
Luke McCown
Atlanta Falcons
1 year, $840,000
OT
Jason Smith
New York Jets
1 year, $780,000
WR
Robert Meachem
San Diego Chargers
1 year, $715,000
Re-Signings
Departures
2013 draft class
Notes
The Saints did not have selections in the second, fourth, or seventh rounds. They forfeited their second-round selection as part of the punishment for the team's 2012 bounty scandal . They acquired the No. 82 selection in a trade that sent two fourth-round selections, Nos. 106 and 109 overall, to the Miami Dolphins . The No. 106 selection had been acquired in a trade that sent running back Chris Ivory to the New York Jets . The Saints traded their seventh-round selection to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for linebacker Barrett Ruud .
Staff
2013 New Orleans Saints staff
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason
Regular season
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Postseason
Game summaries
Regular season
Week 1: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week 2: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 3: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week Three: Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Cardinals
7
0
0 0 7
Saints
7
7
3 14 31
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 4: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week Four: Miami Dolphins at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Dolphins
3
7
0 7 17
Saints
7
14
14 3 38
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 5: at Chicago Bears
Week Five: New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Saints
6
14
3 3 26
Bears
0
7
3 8 18
at Soldier Field , Chicago , Illinois
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 6: at New England Patriots
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 8: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week Eight: Buffalo Bills at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Bills
0
10
0 7 17
Saints
7
14
7 7 35
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 9: at New York Jets
Week Nine: New Orleans Saints at New York Jets – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Saints
7
7
3 3 20
Jets
3
17
3 3 26
at MetLife Stadium , East Rutherford, New Jersey
Date : November 3Game time : 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : 48 °F (9 °C)Game attendance : 76,957Referee : Clete Blakeman TV announcers (Fox) : Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch and Molly McGrathRecap , Game book
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 10: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week Ten: Dallas Cowboys at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Cowboys
3
7
7 0 17
Saints
7
21
7 14 49
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 11: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week Eleven: San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
49ers
0
10
7 3 20
Saints
7
7
0 9 23
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Date : November 17Game time : 3:25 p.m. CSTGame weather : Played indoors (dome stadium)Game attendance : 73,025Referee : Tony Corrente TV announcers (Fox) : Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam OliverRecap , Game book
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 12: at Atlanta Falcons
Week Twelve: New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Saints
7
7
3 0 17
Falcons
7
6
0 0 13
at Georgia Dome , Atlanta , Georgia
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 13: at Seattle Seahawks
Week Thirteen: New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Saints
0
7
0 0 7
Seahawks
17
10
7 0 34
at CenturyLink Field , Seattle , Washington
Date : December 2Game time : 7:40 p.m. CST/5:40 p.m. PST Game weather : 41 °F (5 °C), cloudyGame attendance : 68,387Referee : Ed Hochuli TV announcers (ESPN) : Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Lisa SaltersRecap , Game book
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 14: vs. Carolina Panthers
Week Fourteen: Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Panthers
6
0
0 7 13
Saints
0
21
3 7 31
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Date : December 8Game time : 7:30 p.m. CSTGame weather : Played indoors (dome stadium)Game attendance : 73,089Referee : Walt Anderson TV announcers (NBC) : Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele TafoyaRecap , Game book
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 15: at St. Louis Rams
Week Fifteen: New Orleans Saints at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Saints
0
3
0 13 16
Rams
14
10
3 0 27
at Edward Jones Dome , St. Louis , Missouri
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 16: at Carolina Panthers
Week Sixteen: New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Saints
0
6
0 7 13
Panthers
0
7
3 7 17
at Bank of America Stadium , Charlotte, North Carolina
Date : December 22Game time : 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : 72 °F (22 °C), rainyGame attendance : 73,825Referee : Gene SteratoreTV announcers (Fox) : Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam OliverRecap , Game book
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 17: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week Seventeen: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Buccaneers
7
7
3 0 17
Saints
14
14
7 7 42
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Postseason
NFC Wild Card Playoff Game: at #3 Philadelphia Eagles
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
NFC Divisional Playoff Game: at #1 Seattle Seahawks
NFC Divisional Playoff Game: #6 New Orleans Saints at #1 Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Saints
0
0
0 15 15
Seahawks
6
10
0 7 23
at CenturyLink Field , Seattle, Washington
Game information
First quarter
SEA – Steven Hauschka 38-yard field goal, 10:19. Seahawks 3–0. Drive: 6 plays, 20 yards, 3:20.
SEA – Steven Hauschka 49-yard field goal, 0:37. Seahawks 6–0. Drive: 9 plays, 34 yards, 4:26.
Second quarter
SEA – Marshawn Lynch 15-yard Run (Steven Hauschka Kick), 14:17. Seahawks 13–0. Drive: 2 plays, 24 yds, 0:34
SEA – Steven Hauschka 26-yard field goal, 1:22. Seahawks 16–0. Drive: 12 plays, 63 yards, 4:44.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
NO - Khiry Robinson 1-yard Run(2-pt conv. – Mark Ingram run), 13:14 Seahawks 16–8. Drive: 9 plays, 74 yds, 4:27
SEA – Marshawn Lynch 31-yard Run (Steven Hauschka Kick), 2:48. Seahawks 23–8. Drive: 4 plays, 62 yds, 1:11.
NO - Marques Colston 9-yard from Drew Brees (Shayne Graham Kick), 0:32 Seahawks 16–15. Drive: 9 plays, 80 yds, 2:14
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Standings
Division
Conference
#
Team
Division
W
L
T
PCT
DIV
CONF
SOS
SOV
STK
Division winners
1
Seattle Seahawks
West
13
3
0
.813
4–2
10–2
.490
.445
W1
2
Carolina Panthers
South
12
4
0
.750
5–1
9–3
.494
.451
W3
3
Philadelphia Eagles
East
10
6
0
.625
4–2
9–3
.453
.391
W2
4
Green Bay Packers
North
8
7
1
.531
3–2–1
6–5–1
.453
.371
W1
Wild cards
5
San Francisco 49ers
West
12
4
0
.750
5–1
9–3
.494
.414
W6
6
New Orleans Saints
South
11
5
0
.688
5–1
9–3
.516
.455
W1
Did not qualify for the postseason
7
Arizona Cardinals
West
10
6
0
.625
2–4
6–6
.531
.444
L1
8[ a]
Chicago Bears
North
8
8
0
.500
2–4
4–8
.465
.469
L2
9
Dallas Cowboys
East
8
8
0
.500
5–1
7–5
.484
.363
L1
10[ b] [ c]
New York Giants
East
7
9
0
.438
3–3
6–6
.520
.366
W2
11[ d]
Detroit Lions
North
7
9
0
.438
4–2
6–6
.457
.402
L4
12
St. Louis Rams
West
7
9
0
.438
1–5
4–8
.551
.446
L1
13
Minnesota Vikings
North
5
10
1
.344
2–3–1
4–7–1
.512
.450
W1
14[ e]
Atlanta Falcons
South
4
12
0
.250
1–5
3–9
.553
.313
L2
15
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
South
4
12
0
.250
1–5
2–10
.574
.391
L3
16
Washington Redskins
East
3
13
0
.188
0–6
1–11
.516
.438
L8
Tiebreakers [ f]
^ Chicago defeated Dallas head-to-head (Week 14, 45–28 ).
^ The NY Giants and Detroit finished with a better conference record than St. Louis.
^ The NY Giants defeated Detroit head-to-head (Week 16, 23–20 (OT) ).
^ Detroit finished with a better conference record than St. Louis.
^ Atlanta finished with a better conference record than Tampa Bay.
^ When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.
References
External links
Franchise Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Wild card berths (5) Division championships (9) Conference championships (1) League championships (1) Retired numbers Ring of Honor Current league affiliations