Buffalo Bills vs. New Orleans Saints: 2013 Week 8 Recap

Game story

In Week 8 of the 2013 NFL season on 2013-10-27, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Buffalo Bills, pulling away with a 35–17 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 24 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Lewis (Buffalo Bills) paced the passing game, with -2.96 total EPA, and -3.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +13.09 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+18.1% win probability) landed in the second quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (3:53) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 84-K.Stills for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 29, YAC 40

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 · +13.09 total EPA · 45 snaps · +0.29 EPA/play
2. 2 K. Stills · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +11.77 total EPA · 4 snaps · +2.94 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Graham · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +5.41 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.80 EPA/play
4. 4 P. Thomas · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +3.96 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
5. 5 S. Johnson · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +3.24 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.29 EPA/play
6. 6 L. Moore · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.68 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.67 EPA/play
7. 7 B. Watson · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.52 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.84 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Hill · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.22 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.61 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

• New Orleans Saints — L. Moore (D. Brees pass) (Q1 49:50)
• Buffalo Bills — S. Johnson (T. Lewis pass) (Q2 40:49)
• New Orleans Saints — K. Stills (D. Brees pass) (Q2 33:53)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Graham (D. Brees pass) (Q2 30:35)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Graham (D. Brees pass) (Q3 20:21)
• Buffalo Bills — F. Jackson (Q4 14:23)
• New Orleans Saints — K. Stills (D. Brees pass) (Q4 7:44)

Field goals

• Buffalo Bills — D. Carpenter (Q2 34:38)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the BUF 15 (Q1 49:50) — (4:50) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 16-L.Moore for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 11, YAC 4; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q1 49:44) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 14–10. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the NO 13 (Q2 40:49) — (10:49) (Shotgun) 9-T.Lewis pass short left to 13-S.Johnson for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 13, YAC 0; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q2 40:44) — 2-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the NO 19 (Q2 34:38) — (4:38) 2-D.Carpenter 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the BUF 69 (Q2 33:53) — (3:53) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 84-K.Stills for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 29, YAC 40; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q2 33:43) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the BUF 15 (Q2 30:35) — (:35) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 80-J.Graham for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 12, YAC 3; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q2 30:30) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the BUF 13 (Q3 20:21); New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q3 20:15) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the NO 1 (Q4 14:23) — (14:23) 22-F.Jackson left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q4 14:20) — 2-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the BUF 42 (Q4 7:44) — (7:44) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 84-K.Stills for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 42, YAC 0; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q4 7:34).

Turning points

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q2 33:53) — (3:53) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 84-K.Stills for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 29, YAC 40 [WPA +18.1% · EPA +5.53]
• Buffalo Bills (Q1 51:12) — (6:12) (Shotgun) 9-T.Lewis sacked at BUF 21 for -13 yards (94-C.Jordan). FUMBLES (94-C.Jordan), RECOVERED by NO-94-C.Jordan at BUF 21. 94-C.Jordan to BUF 21 for no gain (9-T.Lewis). [WPA -14.3% · EPA -4.93]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 37:20) — (7:20) (Shotgun) 9-T.Lewis pass short right to 84-S.Chandler pushed ob at NO 40 for 22 yards (50-C.Lofton). Pass 11, YAC 11 [WPA +11.0% · EPA +2.54]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 58:26) — (13:26) 5-G.Hartley 47 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown. [WPA -10.0% · EPA -3.17]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 40:49) — (10:49) (Shotgun) 9-T.Lewis pass short left to 13-S.Johnson for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 13, YAC 0 [WPA +8.2% · EPA +2.57]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q4 7:44) — (7:44) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 84-K.Stills for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 42, YAC 0 [WPA +2.8% · EPA +5.67]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 33:53) — (3:53) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 84-K.Stills for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 29, YAC 40 [WPA +18.1% · EPA +5.53]
• Buffalo Bills (Q1 51:12) — (6:12) (Shotgun) 9-T.Lewis sacked at BUF 21 for -13 yards (94-C.Jordan). FUMBLES (94-C.Jordan), RECOVERED by NO-94-C.Jordan at BUF 21. 94-C.Jordan to BUF 21 for no gain (9-T.Lewis). [WPA -14.3% · EPA -4.93]
• Buffalo Bills (Q1 60:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 9-T.Lewis left end to BUF 23 for 3 yards (57-D.Hawthorne). FUMBLES (57-D.Hawthorne), RECOVERED by NO-93-J.Galette at BUF 25. 93-J.Galette to BUF 22 for 3 yards (22-F.Jackson). BUF-9- [WPA -7.4% · EPA -4.90]

Quarterback report card

T.Lewis led all passers in efficiency for Buffalo Bills, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• T.Lewis (Buffalo Bills) · 47 dropbacks · 46.8% completion · -3.6% CPOE · -0.06 EPA/play · -2.96 total EPA
• D.Brees (New Orleans Saints) · 45 dropbacks · 57.8% completion · +14.5% CPOE · +0.29 EPA/play · +13.09 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 (+0.06 vs -0.14), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Buffalo Bills: 12 drives, -11.91 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 12 drives, +4.96 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.
• T. Lewis (BUF) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• D. Brees (NO) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

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

1. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 49:50 · BUF 15 · Score 0-6
   (4:50) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 16-L.Moore for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 11, YAC 4
2. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 49:44 · BUF 2 · Score 0-7
   5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.
3. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q2 40:49 · NO 13 · Score 6-7
   (10:49) (Shotgun) 9-T.Lewis pass short left to 13-S.Johnson for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 13, YAC 0
4. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q2 40:44 · NO 2 · Score 7-7
   2-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
5. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q2 34:38 · NO 19 · Score 10-7
   (4:38) 2-D.Carpenter 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
6. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 33:53 · BUF 69 · Score 10-13
   (3:53) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 84-K.Stills for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 29, YAC 40
7. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 33:43 · BUF 2 · Score 10-14
   5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.
8. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 30:35 · BUF 15 · Score 10-20
   (:35) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 80-J.Graham for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 12, YAC 3
9. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 30:30 · BUF 2 · Score 10-21
   5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.
10. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 20:21 · BUF 13 · Score 10-27
    (5:21) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 80-J.Graham for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 5, YAC 8 The Replay Assistant challenged the runner broke the plane rul
11. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 20:15 · BUF 2 · Score 10-28
    5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.
12. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q4 14:23 · NO 1 · Score 16-28
    (14:23) 22-F.Jackson left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q4 14:20 · NO 2 · Score 17-28
    2-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
14. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 7:44 · BUF 42 · Score 17-34
    (7:44) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 84-K.Stills for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 42, YAC 0
15. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 7:34 · BUF 2 · Score 17-35
    5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown. BUF-23-A.Williams was injured during the play. His return is Probable. PENALTY on BUF-