Carolina Panthers vs. New Orleans Saints: 2009 Week 9 Recap

Game story

In Week 9 of the 2009 NFL season on 2009-11-08, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Carolina Panthers, pulling away with a 30–20 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with -0.11 total EPA, and +5.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, R. Meachem (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.97 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+27.4% win probability) landed in the third quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (:02) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 17-R.Meachem for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 23, Catch 31

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 R. Meachem · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +6.97 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.16 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Henderson · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +6.61 total EPA · 3 snaps · +2.20 EPA/play
3. 3 G. Barnidge · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +3.76 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.94 EPA/play
4. 4 K. Moore · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +2.96 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.96 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Delhomme · Carolina Panthers · Passing · +1.79 total EPA · 31 snaps · +0.06 EPA/play
6. 6 S. Smith · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +1.61 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.20 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Stewart · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +0.96 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.96 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Jarrett · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +0.80 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.11 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

• Carolina Panthers — D. Williams (Q1 59:11)
• Carolina Panthers — D. Williams (Q1 51:58)
• New Orleans Saints — P. Thomas (Q3 28:20)
• New Orleans Saints — R. Meachem (D. Brees pass) (Q3 15:02)
• New Orleans Saints — D. Williams (Q4 2:17)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — J. Carney (Q2 43:44)
• Carolina Panthers — J. Kasay (Q2 35:34)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Carney (Q2 30:08)
• Carolina Panthers — J. Kasay (Q3 18:30)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Carney (Q4 4:41)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 14–0. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the NO 66 (Q1 59:11) — (14:11) 34-D.Williams right guard for 66 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q1 59:00) — 4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-7-J.Baker.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the NO 7 (Q1 51:58) — (6:58) 34-D.Williams right guard for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q1 51:53) — 4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-7-J.Baker..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 6–3. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CAR 5 (Q2 43:44) — (13:44) 3-J.Carney 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-11-M.Brunell.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the NO 14 (Q2 35:34) — (5:34) 4-J.Kasay 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-7-J.Baker.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CAR 7 (Q2 30:08) — (:08) 3-J.Carney 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-11-M.Brunell..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 14–3. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 10 (Q3 28:20) — (13:20) 23-P.Thomas right guard for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q3 28:14) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-11-M.Brunell.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the NO 6 (Q3 18:30) — (3:30) 4-J.Kasay 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-7-J.Baker.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 54 (Q3 15:02) — (:02) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 17-R.Meachem for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 23, Catch 31; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q3 15:00) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-11-M.Brunell..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 10–0. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CAR 22 (Q4 4:41) — (4:41) 3-J.Carney 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-11-M.Brunell.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the NO 98 (Q4 2:17); New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q4 2:00) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-11-M.Brunell..

Turning points

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q3 15:02) — (:02) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 17-R.Meachem for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 23, Catch 31 [WPA +27.4% · EPA +5.37]
• Carolina Panthers (Q4 2:17) — (2:17) 34-D.Williams left guard to CAR 1 for -1 yards (69-T.Hargrove). FUMBLES (69-T.Hargrove), RECOVERED by NO-69-T.Hargrove at CAR 1. 69-T.Hargrove for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -18.4% · EPA -7.10]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 59:11) — (14:11) 34-D.Williams right guard for 66 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +15.5% · EPA +5.59]
• Carolina Panthers (Q4 3:49) — (3:49) 17-J.Delhomme pass short left to 82-G.Barnidge pushed ob at NO 45 for 19 yards (42-D.Sharper). Pass 5, Catch 14 [WPA +13.3% · EPA +1.28]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 41:07) — (11:07) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right intended for 12-M.Colston INTERCEPTED by 20-C.Gamble at CAR 4. 20-C.Gamble pushed ob at CAR 45 for 41 yards. [WPA -13.2% · EPA -6.44]

Impact plays

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

• Carolina Panthers (Q4 2:17) — (2:17) 34-D.Williams left guard to CAR 1 for -1 yards (69-T.Hargrove). FUMBLES (69-T.Hargrove), RECOVERED by NO-69-T.Hargrove at CAR 1. 69-T.Hargrove for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -18.4% · EPA -7.10]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 41:07) — (11:07) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right intended for 12-M.Colston INTERCEPTED by 20-C.Gamble at CAR 4. 20-C.Gamble pushed ob at CAR 45 for 41 yards. [WPA -13.2% · EPA -6.44]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 59:11) — (14:11) 34-D.Williams right guard for 66 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +15.5% · EPA +5.59]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 52:47) — (7:47) 9-D.Brees sacked at NO 5 for -6 yards (96-T.Brayton). FUMBLES (96-T.Brayton), RECOVERED by CAR-52-J.Beason at NO 11. 52-J.Beason to NO 11 for no gain (73-J.Evans). [WPA -12.9% · EPA -5.51]

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) · 39 dropbacks · 61.5% completion · +5.2% CPOE · -0.00 EPA/play · -0.11 total EPA
• J.Delhomme (Carolina Panthers) · 31 dropbacks · 54.8% completion · -4.6% CPOE · +0.06 EPA/play · +1.79 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 (-0.00 vs -0.08), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Carolina Panthers: 12 drives, -7.59 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 12 drives, -0.23 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.
• R. Meachem (New Orleans Saints) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Brees (NO) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• J. Delhomme (CAR) 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. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q1 59:11 · NO 66 · Score 6-0
   (14:11) 34-D.Williams right guard for 66 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q1 59:00 · NO 2 · Score 7-0
   4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-7-J.Baker.
3. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q1 51:58 · NO 7 · Score 13-0
   (6:58) 34-D.Williams right guard for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q1 51:53 · NO 2 · Score 14-0
   4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-7-J.Baker.
5. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 43:44 · CAR 5 · Score 14-3
   (13:44) 3-J.Carney 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-11-M.Brunell.
6. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q2 35:34 · NO 14 · Score 17-3
   (5:34) 4-J.Kasay 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-7-J.Baker.
7. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 30:08 · CAR 7 · Score 17-6
   (:08) 3-J.Carney 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-11-M.Brunell.
8. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 28:20 · CAR 10 · Score 17-12
   (13:20) 23-P.Thomas right guard for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 28:14 · CAR 2 · Score 17-13
   3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-11-M.Brunell.
10. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q3 18:30 · NO 6 · Score 20-13
    (3:30) 4-J.Kasay 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-7-J.Baker.
11. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 15:02 · CAR 54 · Score 20-19
    (:02) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 17-R.Meachem for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 23, Catch 31
12. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 15:00 · CAR 2 · Score 20-20
    3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-11-M.Brunell.
13. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 4:41 · CAR 22 · Score 20-23
    (4:41) 3-J.Carney 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-11-M.Brunell.
14. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 2:17 · NO 98 · Score 20-29
    (2:17) 34-D.Williams left guard to CAR 1 for -1 yards (69-T.Hargrove). FUMBLES (69-T.Hargrove), RECOVERED by NO-69-T.Hargrove at CAR 1. 69-T.Hargrove for 1 yard
15. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 2:00 · CAR 2 · Score 20-30
    3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-11-M.Brunell.