Final Record: 11-5 (1-1)
Finished: 2nd Place in the NFC South
2014 Draft Position: 27th
Preseason Ranking: 19
Week 1: Defeated the Atlanta Falcons, 23-17
Ranked - 9
The Saints are off to a fast, strong start after knocking out their division rivals. If they can stay the course, they'll be on their way to the playoffs.
Week 2: Defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 16-14
Ranked - 6
When this defense limits the opposing team to just 14 points - 7, really, because of a pick-6 thrown by Brees - the offense should be able to win the game by more than a last-second field goal.
Week 3: Defeated the Arizona Cardinals, 31-7
Ranked - 5
If the Saints can continue to play defense - something sorely lacking last season - New Orleans should find themselves back in the playoffs come January.
Week 4: Defeated the Miami Dolphins, 38-17
Ranked - 4
The Saints keep on flying… and now they are playing defense, too.
Week 5: Defeated the Chicago Bears, 26-18
Ranked - 3
The only undefeated team left in the NFC, the Saints now have a commanding 4 game lead in their division. The number one overall seed is theirs to lose.
Week 6: Lost at the New England Patriots, 30-27
Ranked - 5
The Saints had the Patriots right until the very end, then they let it all slip away.
Week 7: BYE WEEK
Ranked - 5
Let's see if the Saints learned anything during their bye week after their horrible letdown against the Patriots in week 6.
Week 8: Defeated the Buffalo Bills, 35-17
Ranked - 4
Aside from a terrible sequence in New England, the Saints could be undefeated and they don't show any signs of slowing down.
Week 9: Lost at the New York Jets, 26-20
Ranked - 7
The Saints just can't win on the road against the AFC East.
Week 10: Defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 49-17
Ranked - 4
The scariest part about the Saints' win over Dallas on Sunday night was not that Drew Brees threw for nearly 400 yards and 4 touchdowns, it was that Pierre Thomas, Mark Ingram and Darren Sproles combined for 244 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns.
Week 11: Defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 23-20
Ranked - 4
New Orleans almost has to win in Seattle when they face off in a few weeks if they hope to have any chance of claiming home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Week 12: Defeated the Atlanta Falcons, 17-13
Ranked - 3
The Saints didn't have quite as long to prepare for their epic Monday Night matchup with the Seahawks as Seattle did, but they should come to the Pacific Northwest eager to silence the 12th Man.
Week 13: Lost at the Seattle Seahawks, 34-7
Ranked - 5
The Saints were absolutely manhandled by the Seahawks on Monday night. No other way to say it. They may have enough firepower to make it back to Seattle for the NFC Championship Game, but they could be a double-digit underdog going into that game.
Week 14: Defeated the Carolina Panthers, 31-13
Ranked - 3
Now that the bad taste of the Seattle loss is behind them, New Orleans needs to play perfect down the stretch if they want any shot at all of achieving home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Week 15: Lost at the St. Louis Rams, 27-16
Ranked - 5
If they want the division, they have to beat Carolina this weekend.
Week 16: Lost at the Carolina Panthers, 17-13
Ranked - 8
The Saints need a win or a loss by the Cardinals to get into the playoffs… if they win, they can still take the NFC South division and a first-round bye if Carolina also loses.
Week 17: Defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 42-17
Ranked - 8
The Saints have fallen off the NFC pace a bit in recent weeks and now their road to the Super Bowl has to most likely go through Philadelphia, Seattle and Carolina - by no means an easy path. If they can make it to the end, they will have truly earned their place in the championship game.
Wild Card Round: Defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 26-24
Ranked - 6
The Saints played a cold weather game on the road and won. They will have to play absolutely perfect if they hope to walk out of Seattle this week with a win.
Divisional Round: Lost at the Seattle Seahawks, 23-15
Final Ranking: 6
Tomorrow, the 2013 Carolina Panthers...
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