Record: 11-5 (2nd place in NFC South
Playoffs: Lost Divisional Round at Seattle
Head Coach: Sean Payton
Notable Assistants: Joe Vitt (Assistant Head Coach), Pete Carmichael (Offensive Coordinator), Rob Ryan (Defensive Coordinator), Bill Johnson (Defensive Line)
Regular Season Overview
Welcome back to the NFL, New Orleans Saints. After a very disappointing season just a year ago and suspensions brought down on head coach Sean Payton and others for the “Bountygate” scandal, the Saints bounced back from a 2012, 7-9 record to a 2013, 11-5 record for second place in the NFC South.
What was most improved was the defense with coordinator Rob Ryan calling the shots. The Saints went from having one of the worst defenses in 2012 to having one of the best in 2013. In just five games of the season, the Saints defense gave up 20 points or more. The Saints were also ranked 4th in the NFL in sacks with 49.
Eleven wins is quite an accomplishment in the NFL but the Saints were bested by their division rivals, the Carolina Panthers down the final stretch of the season. The Saints started out hot with five wins in their first five games. Their first loss came in Week 6 in New England were the Patriots’ Tom Brady had a terrific game-winning drive and touchdown pass to win 30-27.
By Week 12, the Saints had nine wins with only two losses and seemed like they would win the division with ease. Unfortunately, the Saints would struggle in the final quarter of the season by losing three of their last five games of the season.
It was almost possible that the Saints would miss the playoffs due to the Arizona Cardinals right on their tail for the last Wild Card spot. Had the Saints lost the final game of the season and the Cardinals won, the Saints would have 10 wins and miss the playoffs just like the Cardinals did this year.
Fortunately for the Saints they took care of business in that final game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by absolutely destroying them 42-17. The Saints would make the playoffs as the sixth seed and look to make a deep run in the playoffs.
They defeated the Philadelphia Eagles on the road in a very close game 26-24. They would then go on to lose against the to-be Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks 23-15. Overall the New Orleans Saints had a great turnaround season and will look to get further in to the playoffs next year.
Biggest Win
The biggest win for the Saints would be in Week 14 where they defeated their rising rivals, the Carolina Panthers 31-13. With that win the Saints regained sole possession of the NFC South and snapped the Panthers winning streak of eight games.
The Panthers defense hadn’t given up two touchdowns in a single game all season up to that point and Drew Brees and the high powered offense scored three in just the second quarter. Brees ended up with four touchdown passes and Marques Colston had his biggest game of the season that night with nine receptions, 125 yards and two touchdowns. A win of this caliber put the Saints in the driver’s seat toward the division title and their destiny lied in their own hands.
Toughest Loss
There are actually two toughest losses of the season for the Saints. Obviously the loss to the Seahawks in the Divisional Round of the playoffs was a heartbreaker simply because it ended their campaign to the Super Bowl.
But it is quite possible that all of that could have been avoided had they not lost to the Panthers in Week 16.
Two weeks earlier was their biggest win against the Panthers and now their biggest loss comes against them.
This game was pretty much for the division title and a bye week in the playoffs and a home game where we all know that the Saints excel in the Superdome.
In this game the Carolina defense showed up and shut down Drew Brees and that explosive offense. He was only able to get one touchdown pass that game and it was to the star tight end Jimmy Graham.
The game came down to a late drive by Cam Newton and the Panthers offense and scored a touchdown with 32 seconds left on the clock. The Saints just couldn’t move the ball down the field in those final seconds and ended up losing the game 17-13.
Had the Saints been able to pull out this win, they would have clinched the division which would have given them a home game, and given them the tiebreaker over the 49ers for the second seed and a bye week. Who knows, maybe the whole outcome of the playoffs would have been different had the Saints beat the Panthers.
Offensive MVP
The offensive MVP would have to go to the tight end, Jimmy Graham. It could be argued to go to Brees but his inconsistency of playing home and away is not good enough to be an MVP. Graham played outstanding all season by having 16 touchdowns and over 1,000 receiving yards. He had six games where he had at least 100 receiving yards and only four games that he played in where he didn’t find the end zone.
Defensive MVP
The defensive MVP for the Saints would be the defensive end Cameron Jordan. He was a menace on the defensive front alongside Junior Galette where they both racked up a total of 24.5 sacks, 12.5 of them from Jordan which is why he is the defensive MVP.
Jordan also able to record 47 tackles this season and two forced fumbles with two fumble recoveries. He was also able to record 2.5 sacks in the two postseason games he played this year. Jordan’s best performance came in Week 14 against the Atlanta Falcons where he was able to get six tackles and 2.5 sacks on Matt Ryan.
Most Disappointing Player
Unfortunately Darren Sproles will have to get the label of most disappointing player for the Saints. Since joining the Saints in 2011, Sproles had seven receiving touchdowns in his first two seasons there. This year, he had the same type of rushing and receiving numbers but was in the end zone a lot less. Sproles was only able to score touchdowns twice on the ground and twice through the air. This decline of scoring gives him the title of most disappointing player.
Best Rookie
The best rookie in 2013 for the Saints would be the safety Kenny Vaccaro. He was a huge pickup for the Saints this offseason in the draft and it was a much needed upgrade to the position. Vaccaro was able to record 79 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception in the 2013 campaign. The best game for him came early in the season in Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals where he recorded seven tackles and his lone interception of the season.
Statistical Leaders
QB Drew Brees: 5,162 pass yards, 39 touchdowns, 68.6 completion percentage, 12 interceptions
RB Pierre Thomas: 549 rush yards, two touchdowns, 513 receiving yards, three touchdowns
RB Darren Sproles: 220 rush yards, two touchdowns, 604 receiving yards, two touchdowns
TE Jimmy Graham: 86 receptions, 1,215 receiving yards, 16 touchdowns
WR Marques Colston: 75 receptions, 943 receiving yards, 5 touchdowns
Tackles: LB Curtis Lofton – 125
Sacks: DE Cameron Jordan – 12.5
Interceptions: CB Keenan Lewis – 4