The 1973 New Orleans Saints Season Schedule
| Regular Season | ||
| Sept 16 | Falcons | L 7-62 |
| Sep 24 | Cowboys | L 3-40 |
| Sep 30 | Colts | L 10-14 |
| Oct 6 | Bears | W 21-16 |
| Oct 13 | Lions | W 20-13 |
| Oct 20 | 49ers | L 0-40 |
| Oct 27 | Redskins | W 19-3 |
| Nov 4 | Bills | W 13-0 |
| Nov 11 | Rams | L 7-29 |
| Nov 18 | Chargers | L 14-17 |
| Nov 25 | Rams | L 13-24 |
| Dec 2 | Packers | L 17-30 |
| Dec 9 | 49ers | W 16-10 |
| Dec 16 | Falcons | L 10-14 |
5 Wins 9 Loses
Coach: John North
First Round Draft Pick: None (Traded to Baltimore for Billy Newsome)
Yet again, the New Orleans Saints saw fit to trade the year’s first round pick of the draft away. This time it was with Baltimore to bring defensive lineman Billy Newsome in. Newsome would stay with the Saints for the next 2 years. But the second round pick did bring in another defensive lineman; Derland Moore from Oklahoma. Moore would stay with the Saints for 13 years and set the team record for games played with 169.
Things started badly for new coach John North and the 1973 New Orleans Saints, getting blown out by Atlanta 62-7* in the opener. In week 2, against Dallas, we played our second ever Monday Night Football Game. Not only did the Saints get blown out 40-3, but it would be wide receiver Danny Abramowicz’s last game as a Saints.
Getting things together, they did manage to win 5 before the end of the year, including a 19-3 upset of Washington. Against Buffalo, the Saints would record their first ever shut-out. The defense held O.J. Simpson to only 79 yards on the ground. It was the year Simpson would become the first player to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season.
New acquisitions Jess Phillips (from Cincinnati) and John Beasley (from Minnesota) led the team in rushing and receiving. Phillips had 663 yards (198 carries) and Beasley had 32 catches-283 yards-2 TDs. Bob Newland led in receiving yards with 489 on 29 catches and 4 TDs.
Manning’s numbers: 267 attempts, 140 completions, 52% completed, 1642 yards, 10 TDs & 12 interceptions.
1973 New Orleans Stats
1973 New Orleans Saints Roster
New Orleans Saints 1972 Season Highlights
