The 2013 season was the Seattle Seahawks' 38th in the National Football League (NFL) and their fourth under head coach Pete Carroll. With the Seahawks tenth win in the eleventh week of the season, the team secured double-digit victories in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history. Their 13–3 regular season record is tied with the 2005 season for the second best in franchise history. Seattle's defense in 2013 is regarded by many to be one of the best in NFL history.
The Seahawks clinched the NFC's No. 1 seed and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs with their 13–3 record. The Seahawks defeated the New Orleans Saints 23–15 in the Divisional round and the San Francisco 49ers 23–17 in the NFC Championship. In Super Bowl XLVIII, they defeated the Denver Broncos 43–8 for their first Super Bowl victory in franchise history. Eight of Seattle's wins were by double digits. The Seahawks allowed just 14.4 points per game in the regular season, which is a team record. The defense led the league in points allowed (231), yards allowed (4,378), and takeaways (39), the first team to lead all three categories since the 1985 Chicago Bears. The Seahawks outscored their opponents by 186 points, which was a team record until the Super Bowl LX-winning 2025 team came around, outscoring their opponents by 191.
The 2013 Seahawks rank #18 on the 100 greatest teams of all time presented by the NFL on its 100th anniversary.
2013 draft class
Round Selection Player Position College 2 62 Christine Michael RB Texas A&M 3 87 Jordan Hill DT Penn State 4 123 Chris Harper WR Kansas State 5 137 Jesse Williams DT Alabama 138 Tharold Simon CB LSU 158 Luke Willson TE Rice 6 194 Spencer Ware RB LSU 7 220 Ryan Seymour G Vanderbilt 231 Ty Powell LB Harding 241 Jared Smith DT New Hampshire 242 Michael Bowie OT Northeastern State Notes The Seahawks traded their first-round selection (No. 25 overall), one of their seventh-round selections (No. 214 overall; previously acquired in a trade that sent quarterback Tarvaris Jackson to the Buffalo Bills) and a conditional 2014 selection to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for wide receiver Percy Harvin. The Seahawks traded their second-round selection (No. 56 overall) to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for the Ravens' second-, fifth- and sixth- round selections — Nos. 62, 165 and 199 overall. The latter two selections were traded to the Detroit Lions in exchange for the Lions' fifth-round selection (No. 137 overall). The Seahawks acquired this fifth-round selection as part of a trade that sent linebacker Aaron Curry to the Oakland Raiders. The Seahawks acquired this seventh-round selection in a trade that sent linebacker Barrett Ruud to the New Orleans Saints. Compensatory selection.
Staff
Final roster
Starters in bold.
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 at San Diego Chargers W 31–10 1–0 Qualcomm Stadium 54,709 Recap 2 Denver Broncos W 40–10 2–0 CenturyLink Field 67,635 Recap 3 at Green Bay Packers W 17–10 3–0 Lambeau Field 74,030 Recap 4 Oakland Raiders W 22–6 4–0 CenturyLink Field 67,341 Recap
Regular season Divisional matchups: the NFC West played the NFC South and the AFC South.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 8 at Carolina Panthers W 12–7 1–0 Bank of America Stadium 73,294 Recap 2 September 15 San Francisco 49ers W 29–3 2–0 CenturyLink Field 68,338 Recap 3 September 22 Jacksonville Jaguars W 45–17 3–0 CenturyLink Field 68,087 Recap 4 September 29 at Houston Texans W 23–20 4–0 Reliant Stadium 71,756 Recap 5 October 6 at Indianapolis Colts L 28–34 4–1 Lucas Oil Stadium 66,608 Recap 6 October 13 Tennessee Titans W 20–13 5–1 CenturyLink Field 68,127 Recap 7 at Arizona Cardinals W 34–22 6–1 University of Phoenix Stadium 61,200 Recap 8 at St. Louis Rams W 14–9 7–1 Edward Jones Dome 55,966 Recap 9 November 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 27–24 8–1 CenturyLink Field 67,873 Recap 10 November 10 at Atlanta Falcons W 33–10 9–1 Georgia Dome 70,309 Recap 11 November 17 Minnesota Vikings W 41–20 10–1 CenturyLink Field 68,235 Recap 12Bye 13 New Orleans Saints W 34–7 11–1 CenturyLink Field 68,387 Recap 14 December 8 at San Francisco 49ers L 17–19 11–2 Candlestick Park 69,732 Recap 15 December 15 at New York Giants W 23–0 12–2 MetLife Stadium 79,691 Recap 16 December 22 Arizona Cardinals L 10–17 12–3 CenturyLink Field 68,266 Recap 17 December 29 St. Louis Rams W 27–9 13–3 CenturyLink Field 68,264 Recap
Bold indicates division opponents.
Standings Division
Conference
Game summaries
Preseason
Week P1: at San Diego Chargers
Week P2: vs. Denver Broncos
Week P3: at Green Bay Packers
Week P4: vs. Oakland Raiders
Regular season
Week 1: at Carolina Panthers
The Seattle Seahawks kicked off their 2013 campaign with a hard-fought, ugly win over the Carolina Panthers, 12–7. This game marked Russell Wilson's first 300-yard passing game, and Cam Newton's worst career performance, posting 125 yards through the air, a career low.
The first quarter was scoreless, with both sides exchanging a couple of punts. On their third possession of the game, in the second quarter, Seattle drove into the red zone, capping it with a Stephen Hauschka 27-yard field goal. Carolina responded immediately, taking advantage of a couple of Seattle penalties and some big runs by DeAngelo Williams. Cam Newton hit Steve Smith for a 3-yard TD. Seattle responded with a drive to around the Carolina 27 yard line, but Charles Godfrey sacked Russell Wilson and stripped the football, which Carolina recovered. So the first half ended 7–3, in favor of Carolina.
The second half began with a defensive battle. Hauschka made a 40-yard field goal, after a drive that lasted over 4 minutes, cutting the lead to 7–6. After forcing Carolina to punt midway through the fourth quarter, Seattle's offense produced its finest drive of the day. A couple of Russell Wilson passes, followed by a Robert Turbin 15-yard scamper, set up Seattle at the Panthers' 43 yard line. Russell Wilson overthrew receiver Stephen Williams on first down, but on second down and 10, using exactly the same play, Wilson connected with second-year man Jermaine Kearse for a 43-yard score, with 10 minutes left to play. They failed on the two-point conversion however, so Seattle clung to a 12–7 lead. DeAngelo Williams made some big runs. Inside the Seattle 35 yard line, Williams took off for 24 yards and looked like he was going to score, but Earl Thomas caused him to fumble inside the 10 yard line.
Week 2: vs. San Francisco 49ers
In week 2, the Seahawks took on their division rivals, the San Francisco 49ers. Prior to the season, NFL analysts rated this rivalry as the top upcoming rivalry, as well as the top rivalry of the decade. Both teams proved that point, when they had an arms race in the off-season, Seattle picking up Percy Harvin and San Francisco picking Anquan Boldin in the off-season, among others. Last season, the teams were 1–1 against each other, Seattle being the better team, as they blew out the Niners 42–13 in the last meeting in Seattle, coincidentally, also on Sunday Night Football. It was also a day that Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick appeared to bet an eyebrow, with the loser shaving his eyebrow; this was later revealed to be a publicity stunt. Finally, it was a day where former Seahawk Shaun Alexander would raise the 12th man flag.
The game began quietly though, as both sides failed to establish a rhythm. The game was delayed midway through the first quarter due to lightning in the vicinity of the stadium, the second such case in the 2013 season (Ravens-Broncos kickoff game in week 1 was the first). After getting back onto the field, the 49ers blocked a Seahawks punt and got the ball in Seattle territory. However, Seattle claimed a whistle was heard from the crowd, which confused the linemen and the punter. That claim was later justified by NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth. The Niners took advantage and drove to the Seattle 10-yard line. However, on third down, Earl Thomas intercepted a Colin Kaepernick pass, and Seattle regained possession. A few plays later, Russell Wilson was intercepted by rookie Eric Reid, and the tug of war continued into the second quarter.
All was quiet until midway through the second quarter, where fullback Bruce Miller was caught holding in the endzone, the result of which was a safety, and a Seattle 2–0 lead. Later on, defensive end Cliff Avril strip sacked Kaepernick and K. J. Wright recovered for Seattle, the result of which was a Stephen Hauschka 30-yard field goal. Halftime came with a small 5–0 Seahawks lead. The game was pretty dark and messy at that point, the only bright side being Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch.
In the third quarter, the Seahawks came out roaring. On third and 12, Wilson connected with receiver Doug Baldwin for a 51-yard gain to inside the 49ers 25 yard line. A few plays later, Lynch took it to the house on a 14-yard run, 12–0 Seattle. The 49ers responded with a drive to the Seattle 6-yard line, capped off by Phil Dawson 21-yard field goal, that included a 28-yard scramble by Kaepernick, 12–3 Seahawks. However, that would be it for the Niners, and the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Seahawks demolished the Niners on all phases of play. It started with Wilson hitting Lynch for a 7-yard score on third down. A few plays into the Niners next drive, Kaepernick was intercepted by Richard Sherman, who took it to the 49ers 25-yard line. That resulted in a 37-yard Hauschka field goal. On the ensuing Niners drive, Kaepernick was intercepted again, this time by safety Kam Chancellor, who had signed a contract extension earlier in the year. Lynch scored on a 2-yard run on the next play. Seattle led 29–3. The 49ers fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Seattle recovered.
Seattle won, in convincing style, silencing any critics. The 12th man also broke a Guinness world record, for the loudest outdoor stadium. Yet again, Seattle dominated on SNF, and Pete Carroll improved to 3–4 overall against the Niners, and 2–3 against bitter rival Jim Harbaugh. Seattle was now 2–0, and still unbeaten at home.
Week 3: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Seahawks entered week 3 on top of the NFC to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars who were on the opposite end of the AFC. This game did not garner much attention, considering the fact that it was a "best vs worst" game. However, that didn't change Seattle's positive "1–0" mentality to the game.
Seattle opened up the game with a punt. After forcing a Jacksonville three and out, on a drive which included a Clinton McDonald sack, Russell Wilson marched the Seahawks right down the field, on a drive that included a 27-yard run by Marshawn Lynch, and on third and goal from the 1-yard line, hit tight end Zach Miller for a touchdown, and an early 7–0 lead.
Picking up from where they left off in the first quarter, Seattle took their first drive of the second quarter, where Wilson connected with Miller for a 4-yard touchdown pass, the duo's second of the day. After a Stephen Hauschka 21-yard field goal on the next drive, the game got quiet until the Jaguars final drive of the half, where Chad Henne was intercepted by linebacker Bobby Wagner, with under a minute left to play. Wilson then made some beautiful completions to receivers Golden Tate and Sidney Rice in lightning fast succession, the latter of whom caught an 11-yard pass for a touchdown with 10 seconds left on the clock, to send Seattle up 24–0 at the half.