2023 New Orleans Saints Season

The 2023 season was the New Orleans Saints' 57th season in the National Football League (NFL), the 48th to host games at the Caesars Superdome and the second and final full season under head coach Dennis Allen, as he would be fired during their next season. The team improved on their 7–10 record from 2022, but missed the playoffs for a third consecutive season. The Saints finished tied with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the NFC South division title, as well as in a three-way tie with the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks for the last Wild Card spot; however, the Saints lost both tiebreakers.

The New Orleans Saints drew an average home attendance of 70,020 in 8 home games in the 2023 NFL season.

Draft

Draft trades

Staff

Final roster

Preseason

The Saints' preseason opponents and schedule were announced in the spring.

Regular season

Schedule

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Tennessee Titans

In the Saints home opener against the Tennessee Titans, they barely held on with a 16–15 win. They start off the season 1–0.

Week 2: at Carolina Panthers

With the win, the Saints started 2–0 for the first time since 2013.

Week 3: at Green Bay Packers

The Saints led 17–0 going into the fourth quarter, but the Packers mounted an 18-point comeback and won, 18–17, on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Love to Romeo Doubs, which was followed by a missed potential game-winning 46-yard field goal attempt by Saints kicker Blake Grupe. With the loss, the Saints fell to 2–1.

Week 4: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Saints endured their second consecutive loss, falling to 2–2. Last season, Lattimore and Evans were ejected for fighting.

Week 5: at New England Patriots

The Saints dominated the Patriots with a 34-point shutout, picking up the third win of the season. They improve to 3–2.

Week 6: at Houston Texans

The Saints endured a loss to the Texans, thus bringing their record down to 3–3.

Week 7: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

For the first time since the 2003 season, the Saints were defeated by the Jaguars. They fall to 3–4. Foster Moreau dropped the potentially game-tying touchdown on the final seconds of regulation.

Week 8: at Indianapolis Colts

The Saints still defeated the Colts 38–27, even after a tough loss from last Thursday. The Saints improve to 4–4 and tie for first in the division with their rival Falcons.

Week 9: vs. Chicago Bears

The Saints defeated the Bears 24–17, while the Atlanta Falcons lost to the Minnesota Vikings, thus bringing the Saints' record to 5–4 and allowing them to take the Number 1 spot in the NFC South.

Week 10: at Minnesota Vikings

Coming off the win over the Bears, the Saints traveled to U.S. Bank Stadium to take on the Minnesota Vikings. The two teams played in London last season. The Saints still lost to the Vikings 27–19, in which they dropped to 5–5 on the season despite also being on top of the NFC South.

Week 12: at Atlanta Falcons

The Saints weren't able to win this game over the Atlanta Falcons, bringing their record to 5–6.

Week 13: vs. Detroit Lions

For the first time since the 2016 season, the Saints were defeated by the Lions. They fell to 5–7.

Week 14: vs. Carolina Panthers

The Saints previously defeated the Panthers in Week 2. After scoring four touchdowns and allowing two field goals, the Saints held on with the 28–6 win over Carolina. They improve to 6–7 and sweep the Panthers for the first time since the 2020 season.

Week 15: vs. New York Giants

The Saints remain home in the Superdome to take on the New York Giants. It has been two seasons since they lost to them in overtime. For the first time since the 2018 season, the Saints defeated the Giants, primarily due to New Orleans dominating New York. They improve to 7–7, tying the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and allowing the Panthers to defeat the Falcons.

Week 16: at Los Angeles Rams

The Saints traveled to Sofi Stadium to take on the Los Angeles Rams. The Saints would lose this game and fall to 7–8.

Week 17: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Saints travel to Raymond James Stadium to take on the Buccaneers. In a must-win game, the Saints start off with the opening drive touchdown and held on with the 23–13 win, improving them to 8–8.

Week 18: vs. Atlanta Falcons

The Saints were previously defeated by the Falcons. With a dominant comeback in the second half, the Saints go to 9–8, tying their record from the 2021 season. The game ended in controversy; with the team up 41–17, Saints head coach Dennis Allen called for a quarterback kneel to exhaust the final minute of the game. Instead, quarterback Jameis Winston handed the ball to running back Jamaal Williams who scored a one-yard touchdown. Williams had failed to record a rushing touchdown during the 2023 season up to that point. Allen and Falcons coach Arthur Smith would have a heated exchange on the field following the game's end over the perceived lack of sportsmanship.

Despite being eliminated from postseason contention, the Saints maintained a winning season.

Standings

Division

Conference

References

External links

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{{2023 NFL season by team

New Orleans
New Orleans Saints seasons
New Orleans Saints
2020s in New Orleans