Arizona Cardinals vs. New Orleans Saints: 2013 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2013 NFL season on 2013-09-22, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 31–7 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with +16.11 total EPA, and +2.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +16.11 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+9.9% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (5:34) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 17-R.Meachem for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 26, YAC 1

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 D. Brees · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +16.11 total EPA · 54 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Graham · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +10.91 total EPA · 15 snaps · +0.73 EPA/play
3. 3 R. Meachem · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.89 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.95 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Smith · Arizona Cardinals · Rushing · +3.50 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.17 EPA/play
5. 5 L. Fitzgerald · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +2.57 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.43 EPA/play
6. 6 M. Colston · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.40 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Sproles · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.33 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.39 EPA/play
8. 8 K. Robinson · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +1.88 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Arizona Cardinals — A. Smith (Q1 54:19)
• New Orleans Saints — R. Meachem (D. Brees pass) (Q1 50:34)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Graham (D. Brees pass) (Q2 32:56)
• New Orleans Saints — D. Brees (Q4 14:48)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Graham (D. Brees pass) (Q4 5:29)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — G. Hartley (Q3 19:08)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the NO 3 (Q1 54:19) — (9:19) 29-A.Smith right end for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q1 54:13) — 4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-9-D.Zastudil.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ARI 27 (Q1 50:34) — (5:34) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 17-R.Meachem for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 26, YAC 1; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q1 50:28) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ARI 16 (Q2 32:56) — (2:56) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 80-J.Graham for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 16, YAC 0; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q2 32:52) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 3–0. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the ARI 13 (Q3 19:08) — (4:08) 5-G.Hartley 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 14–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ARI 7 (Q4 14:48) — (14:48) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees scrambles left tackle for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q4 14:42) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ARI 7 (Q4 5:29) — (5:29) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 80-J.Graham for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 3, YAC 4; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q4 5:25) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• New Orleans Saints (Q1 50:34) — (5:34) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 17-R.Meachem for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 26, YAC 1 [WPA +9.9% · EPA +3.51]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 55:43) — (10:43) 29-A.Smith left end pushed ob at NO 24 for 21 yards (32-K.Vaccaro). [WPA +7.1% · EPA +1.59]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 51:41) — (6:41) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 12-M.Colston to ARI 21 for 24 yards (56-K.Dansby). Pass 12, YAC 12 [WPA +6.4% · EPA +1.94]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 32:56) — (2:56) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 80-J.Graham for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 16, YAC 0 [WPA +6.0% · EPA +3.02]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 34:33) — (4:33) 9-D.Brees pass deep middle to 80-J.Graham to ARI 29 for 21 yards (32-T.Mathieu). Pass 18, YAC 3 [WPA +5.7% · EPA +1.13]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 12:08) — (12:08) 3-C.Palmer pass short right intended for 84-R.Housler INTERCEPTED by 32-K.Vaccaro at NO 8. 32-K.Vaccaro to NO 37 for 29 yards (29-A.Smith). [WPA -3.3% · EPA -6.61]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 0:40) — (:40) 9-D.Brees kneels to ARI 13 for -1 yards. [EPA -4.05]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 25:23) — (10:23) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep left intended for 16-L.Moore INTERCEPTED by 32-T.Mathieu at ARI 0. Touchback. [WPA -5.1% · EPA -3.60]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 50:34) — (5:34) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 17-R.Meachem for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 26, YAC 1 [WPA +9.9% · EPA +3.51]

Quarterback report card

D.Brees led all passers in efficiency for New Orleans Saints, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Brees (New Orleans Saints) · 54 dropbacks · 53.7% completion · +2.4% CPOE · +0.30 EPA/play · +16.11 total EPA
• C.Palmer (Arizona Cardinals) · 42 dropbacks · 42.9% completion · -5.2% CPOE · -0.39 EPA/play · -16.35 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

New Orleans Saints held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.10 vs -0.21), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Arizona Cardinals: 11 drives, -15.43 total EPA, 1 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 12 drives, +9.29 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• New Orleans Saints leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• C. Palmer (ARI) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q1 54:19 · NO 3 · Score 6-0
   (9:19) 29-A.Smith right end for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q1 54:13 · NO 2 · Score 7-0
   4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-9-D.Zastudil.
3. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 50:34 · ARI 27 · Score 7-6
   (5:34) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 17-R.Meachem for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 26, YAC 1
4. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 50:28 · ARI 2 · Score 7-7
   5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.
5. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 32:56 · ARI 16 · Score 7-13
   (2:56) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 80-J.Graham for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 16, YAC 0
6. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 32:52 · ARI 2 · Score 7-14
   5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.
7. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q3 19:08 · ARI 13 · Score 7-17
   (4:08) 5-G.Hartley 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.
8. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 14:48 · ARI 7 · Score 7-23
   (14:48) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees scrambles left tackle for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 14:42 · ARI 2 · Score 7-24
   5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.
10. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 5:29 · ARI 7 · Score 7-30
    (5:29) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 80-J.Graham for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 3, YAC 4
11. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 5:25 · ARI 2 · Score 7-31
    5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.