The 2003 season was the New Orleans Saints' 37th in the National Football League (NFL), their 28th playing home games at the Louisiana Superdome, and fourth under head coach Jim Haslett. They failed to improve on their 9–7 record from 2002 and finished with a record of 8–8.2003 New Orleans Saints
This was the season of the River City Relay, a play that has gone down in NFL lore from a week 16 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Saints were 7–7 and needed a victory to keep their postseason hopes alive. The Jaguars held a 20–13 lead with seven seconds left in regulation, and the Saints had possession on their own 25. In a scene evoking memories of The Play, Aaron Brooks passed to Donté Stallworth for 42 yards, Stallworth lateraled to Michael Lewis for 7 yards, Lewis lateraled to Deuce McAllister for 5 yards, and McAllister lateraled to Jerome Pathon for 21 yards and a touchdown. The score was 20–19, leaving only the extra point to force overtime. However, in an unlikely twist, John Carney, who in his career made 98.4% of extra points attempted and had not missed one in a full decade, inexplicably missed the kick wide right, causing the Saints to miss the playoffs for the third consecutive season and 10th time in the past 11.
Offseason NFL draft
Personnel Staff
Roster
Regular season Schedule During the 2003 regular season, the Saints’ non-division opponents were primarily from the NFC East and AFC South, based on the NFLʼs schedule rotation. They also played the Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears based on the teams' divisional placement.
WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance 1 September 7 at Seattle Seahawks L 10–27 0–1 Seahawks Stadium 52,250 2 September 14 Houston Texans W 31–10 1–1 Louisiana Superdome 68,390 3 September 21 at Tennessee Titans L 12–27 1–2 The Coliseum 68,809 4 September 28 Indianapolis Colts L 21–55 1–3 Louisiana Superdome 70,020 5 October 5 at Carolina Panthers L 13–19 1–4 Ericsson Stadium 72,496 6 October 12 Chicago Bears W 20–13 2–4 Louisiana Superdome 68,390 7 October 19 at Atlanta Falcons W 45–17 3–4 Georgia Dome 70,837 8 October 26 Carolina Panthers L 20–23 3–5 Louisiana Superdome 68,370 9 November 2 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 17–14 4–5 Raymond James Stadium 65,524 10 Bye 11 November 16 Atlanta Falcons W 23–20 5–5 Louisiana Superdome 68,432 12 November 23 at Philadelphia Eagles L 20–33 5–6 Lincoln Financial Field 67,802 13 November 30 at Washington Redskins W 24–20 6–6 FedExField 76,821 14 December 7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 7–14 6–7 Louisiana Superdome 68,442 15 December 14 New York Giants W 45–7 7–7 Louisiana Superdome 68,399 16 December 21 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 19–20 7–8 Alltel Stadium 49,207 17 December 28 Dallas Cowboys W 13–7 8–8 Louisiana Superdome 68,451
Standings
References
External links 2003 New Orleans Saints at Pro-Football-Reference.com