Carolina Panthers vs. New Orleans Saints: 2017 Week 13 Recap

Game story

In Week 13 of the 2017 NFL season on 2017-12-03, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Carolina Panthers, pulling away with a 31–21 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with +1.22 total EPA, and +6.0% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, A. Kamara (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.62 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+13.9% win probability) landed in the second quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (13:08) 22-M.Ingram right guard to CAR 12 for 72 yards (26-D.Worley).

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 A. Kamara · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +6.62 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.74 EPA/play
2. 2 A. Kamara · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.37 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.56 EPA/play
3. 3 C. Newton · Carolina Panthers · Passing · +2.64 total EPA · 36 snaps · +0.07 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Thomas · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.40 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.27 EPA/play
5. 5 W. Snead · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.40 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.20 EPA/play
6. 6 E. Dickson · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +2.18 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.09 EPA/play
7. 7 K. Clay · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +2.10 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.10 EPA/play
8. 8 B. Coleman · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.88 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.94 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 — A. Kamara (Q1 55:21)
• Carolina Panthers — J. Stewart (Q1 50:12)
• New Orleans Saints — M. Ingram (Q2 41:36)
• New Orleans Saints — M. Thomas (D. Brees pass) (Q2 37:27)
• Carolina Panthers — C. McCaffrey (C. Newton pass) (Q2 32:05)
• New Orleans Saints — A. Kamara (Q3 23:17)
• Carolina Panthers — D. Funchess (C. Newton pass) (Q4 4:03)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — W. Lutz (Q4 6:13)

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. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 2 (Q1 55:21) — (10:21) 41-A.Kamara right end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q1 55:15) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the NO 2 (Q1 50:12) — (5:12) 72-T.Moton reported in as eligible. 28-J.Stewart left guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q1 50:09) — 9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 14–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 3 (Q2 41:36) — (11:36) 22-M.Ingram right guard for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q2 41:32) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 10 (Q2 37:27) — (7:27) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 13-M.Thomas for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 10, YAC 0; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q2 37:21) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the NO 21 (Q2 32:05); Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q2 31:56) — 9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 20 (Q3 23:17) — (8:17) 41-A.Kamara right tackle for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q3 23:10) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead..

The fourth quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 7–3. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CAR 13 (Q4 6:13) — (6:13) 3-W.Lutz 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the NO 24 (Q4 4:03) — (4:03) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short right to 17-D.Funchess for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 14, YAC 10; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q4 3:57) — 9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy..

Turning points

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q2 43:08) — (13:08) 22-M.Ingram right guard to CAR 12 for 72 yards (26-D.Worley). [WPA +13.9% · EPA +4.15]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 55:21) — (10:21) 41-A.Kamara right end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.7% · EPA +3.76]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 33:57) — (3:57) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 89-J.Hill to NO 42 for 8 yards (29-M.Adams). FUMBLES (29-M.Adams), RECOVERED by CAR-59-L.Kuechly at NO 45. 59-L.Kuechly to NO 45 for no gain (83-W.Snead) [WPA -6.7% · EPA -4.24]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 59:23) — (14:23) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 13-M.Thomas to CAR 40 for 22 yards (20-K.Coleman). Pass 17, YAC 5 [WPA +6.2% · EPA +1.92]
• Carolina Panthers (Q3 29:10) — (14:10) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton sacked at CAR 14 for -13 yards (53-A.Klein). [WPA -5.7% · EPA -3.08]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q4 9:08) — (9:08) 6-T.Morstead punts 53 yards to CAR 42, Center-49-Z.Wood. 12-K.Clay to CAR 45 for 3 yards (31-C.Banjo). FUMBLES (31-C.Banjo), RECOVERED by NO-52-C.Robertson at CAR 47. 52-C.Robertson to CAR 47 f [WPA +4.0% · EPA +5.40]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 33:57) — (3:57) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 89-J.Hill to NO 42 for 8 yards (29-M.Adams). FUMBLES (29-M.Adams), RECOVERED by CAR-59-L.Kuechly at NO 45. 59-L.Kuechly to NO 45 for no gain (83-W.Snead) [WPA -6.7% · EPA -4.24]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 43:08) — (13:08) 22-M.Ingram right guard to CAR 12 for 72 yards (26-D.Worley). [WPA +13.9% · EPA +4.15]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 55:21) — (10:21) 41-A.Kamara right end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.7% · EPA +3.76]

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) · 37 dropbacks · 67.6% completion · +6.0% CPOE · +0.03 EPA/play · +1.22 total EPA
• C.Newton (Carolina Panthers) · 36 dropbacks · 47.2% completion · -5.7% CPOE · +0.07 EPA/play · +2.64 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 (+0.09 vs -0.05), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Carolina Panthers: 11 drives, -3.86 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 12 drives, +6.71 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.
• A. Kamara (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.
• C. Newton (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. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 55:21 · CAR 2 · Score 0-6
   (10:21) 41-A.Kamara right end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 55:15 · CAR 15 · Score 0-7
   3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
3. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q1 50:12 · NO 2 · Score 6-7
   (5:12) 72-T.Moton reported in as eligible. 28-J.Stewart left guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q1 50:09 · NO 15 · Score 7-7
   9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy.
5. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 41:36 · CAR 3 · Score 7-13
   (11:36) 22-M.Ingram right guard for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 41:32 · CAR 15 · Score 7-14
   3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
7. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 37:27 · CAR 10 · Score 7-20
   (7:27) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 13-M.Thomas for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 10, YAC 0
8. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 37:21 · CAR 15 · Score 7-21
   3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
9. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q2 32:05 · NO 21 · Score 13-21
   (2:05) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left to 22-C.McCaffrey for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN. NO-91-T.Hendrickson was injured during the play. His return is Questionab
10. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q2 31:56 · NO 15 · Score 14-21
    9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy.
11. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 23:17 · CAR 20 · Score 14-27
    (8:17) 41-A.Kamara right tackle for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 23:10 · CAR 15 · Score 14-28
    3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
13. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 6:13 · CAR 13 · Score 14-31
    (6:13) 3-W.Lutz 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
14. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q4 4:03 · NO 24 · Score 20-31
    (4:03) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short right to 17-D.Funchess for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 14, YAC 10
15. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q4 3:57 · NO 15 · Score 21-31
    9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy.