| Team: | New Orleans Saints |
| Year: | 1993 |
| Record: | 8–8 |
| Division Place: | 2nd NFC West |
| Coach: | Jim Mora |
| General Manager: | Jim Finks (resigned July 14) Jim Miller |
| Stadium: | Louisiana Superdome |
| Playoffs: | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers: | LB Rickey Jackson LB Renaldo Turnbull KR Tyrone Hughes |
| Shortnavlink: | Saints seasons |
The 1993 New Orleans Saints season was the team's 27th as a member of the National Football League (NFL). They were unable to match their previous season's output of 12–4, winning only eight games despite starting the season 5–0.[1] The team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in four years.
Quarterback Bobby Hebert, who was the Saints' starter from late 1985 through 1992, save for a season-long holdout in 1990, signed as a free agent with the division rival Atlanta Falcons. Wade Wilson, who had fallen out of favor with the Minnesota Vikings after the hiring of coach Dennis Green in 1992, was signed as Hebert's replacement.
During a loss to the New York Giants on Monday Night Football, fans in the Louisiana Superdome let out a sarcastic cheer when Wilson was injured. The incident enraged coach Jim Mora, who let loose with a tirade during his post-game press conference.[2]
Jim Finks, the club's president and general manager since January 1986, was diagnosed with lung cancer in April.[3] He was limited to consulting with team officials by telephone since undergoing chemotherapy. During his absence, most of Finks' day-to-day duties were handled by vice president of administration Jim Miller. On July 14, Finks resigned from all his duties to concentrate on the treatment of his illness.[4]
See main article: article and 1993 NFL Draft. [5]
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 5 | Houston Oilers | W 33–21 | 1–0 | Louisiana Superdome | 69,029 | ||
| 2 | September 12 | at Atlanta Falcons | W 34–31 | 2–0 | Georgia Dome | 64,287 | ||
| 3 | September 19 | Detroit Lions | W 14–3 | 3–0 | Louisiana Superdome | 69,039 | ||
| 4 | September 26 | San Francisco 49ers | W 16–13 | 4–0 | Louisiana Superdome | 69,041 | ||
| 5 | October 3 | at Los Angeles Rams | W 37–6 | 5–0 | Anaheim Stadium | 50,709 | ||
| 6 | Bye | |||||||
| 7 | October 17 | L 14–37 | 5–1 | Three Rivers Stadium | 56,056 | |||
| 8 | October 24 | Atlanta Falcons | L 15–26 | 5–2 | Louisiana Superdome | 69,043 | ||
| 9 | October 31 | at Phoenix Cardinals | W 20–17 | 6–2 | Sun Devil Stadium | 36,778 | ||
| 10 | Bye | |||||||
| 11 | November 14 | Green Bay Packers | L 17–19 | 6–3 | Louisiana Superdome | 69,043 | ||
| 12 | at San Francisco 49ers | L 7–42 | 6–4 | Candlestick Park | 66,500 | |||
| 13 | November 28 | at Minnesota Vikings | W 17–14 | 7–4 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 53,030 | ||
| 14 | December 5 | L 13–17 | 7–5 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 60,388 | |||
| 15 | December 12 | Los Angeles Rams | L 20–23 | 7–6 | Louisiana Superdome | 69,033 | ||
| 16 | New York Giants | L 14–24 | 7–7 | Louisiana Superdome | 69,036 | |||
| 17 | December 26 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 26–37 | 7–8 | Veterans Stadium | 50,085 | ||
| 18 | January 2, 1994 | Cincinnati Bengals | W 20–13 | 8–8 | Louisiana Superdome | 58,036 | ||
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. | ||||||||