Chicago Bears vs. New Orleans Saints: 2011 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2011 NFL season on 2011-09-18, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Chicago Bears, pulling away with a 30–13 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 16 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Cutler (Chicago Bears) paced the passing game, with -11.20 total EPA, and -18.1% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Henderson (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +10.26 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+28.6% win probability) landed in the second quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (12:48) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep middle to 19-D.Henderson for 79 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 41, YAC 38

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. Henderson · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +10.26 total EPA · 3 snaps · +3.42 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Brees · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +7.70 total EPA · 40 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Graham · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +5.38 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.77 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Forte · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +3.44 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.25 EPA/play
5. 5 R. Meachem · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.05 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Clutts · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +0.94 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.94 EPA/play
7. 7 E. Bennett · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +0.72 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.72 EPA/play
8. 8 R. Meachem · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +0.69 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.69 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

• Chicago Bears — D. Sanzenbacher (J. Cutler pass) (Q1 51:59)
• New Orleans Saints — D. Henderson (D. Brees pass) (Q2 42:48)
• New Orleans Saints — R. Meachem (D. Brees pass) (Q3 22:37)
• New Orleans Saints — D. Sproles (D. Brees pass) (Q4 12:12)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — J. Kasay (Q1 45:25)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Kasay (Q2 35:56)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Kasay (Q2 32:14)
• Chicago Bears — R. Gould (Q2 30:05)
• Chicago Bears — R. Gould (Q3 27:19)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 7–3. Chicago Bears found the end zone from the NO 8 (Q1 51:59) — (6:59) 6-J.Cutler pass short middle to 18-D.Sanzenbacher for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 8, YAC 0; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q1 51:55) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-8-A.Podlesh.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CHI 14 (Q1 45:25) — (:25) 2-J.Kasay 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 13–3. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CHI 79 (Q2 42:48) — (12:48) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep middle to 19-D.Henderson for 79 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 41, YAC 38; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q2 42:37) — 2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CHI 11 (Q2 35:56) — (5:56) 2-J.Kasay 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CHI 35 (Q2 32:14) — (2:14) (Field Goal formation) 2-J.Kasay 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.; Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the NO 24 (Q2 30:05) — (:05) 9-R.Gould 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-8-A.Podlesh..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–3. Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the NO 20 (Q3 27:19) — (12:19) 9-R.Gould 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-8-A.Podlesh.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CHI 4 (Q3 22:37) — (7:37) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 17-R.Meachem for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 4, YAC 0; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q3 22:33) — 2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CHI 12 (Q4 12:12) — (12:12) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 43-D.Sproles for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass -7, YAC 19; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q4 12:05) — 2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel..

Turning points

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q2 42:48) — (12:48) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep middle to 19-D.Henderson for 79 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 41, YAC 38 [WPA +28.6% · EPA +7.48]
• Chicago Bears (Q3 25:11) — (10:11) 6-J.Cutler sacked at CHI 29 for -7 yards (90-T.McBride). FUMBLES (90-T.McBride) [90-T.McBride], RECOVERED by NO-51-J.Vilma at CHI 29. 51-J.Vilma to CHI 29 for no gain (63-R.Garza). [WPA -11.5% · EPA -4.94]
• Chicago Bears (Q3 28:18) — (13:18) 6-J.Cutler pass deep middle to 13-J.Knox to NO 20 for 30 yards (52-J.Casillas). Pass 21, YAC 9 [WPA +7.6% · EPA +2.20]
• Chicago Bears (Q1 55:58) — (10:58) 6-J.Cutler pass short left to 22-M.Forte pushed ob at NO 31 for 18 yards (51-J.Vilma). Pass 11, YAC 7 [WPA +6.6% · EPA +2.23]
• Chicago Bears (Q1 57:24) — (12:24) 22-M.Forte right end to NO 45 for 42 yards (27-M.Jenkins). [WPA +6.3% · EPA +2.87]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q2 42:48) — (12:48) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep middle to 19-D.Henderson for 79 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 41, YAC 38 [WPA +28.6% · EPA +7.48]
• Chicago Bears (Q3 25:11) — (10:11) 6-J.Cutler sacked at CHI 29 for -7 yards (90-T.McBride). FUMBLES (90-T.McBride) [90-T.McBride], RECOVERED by NO-51-J.Vilma at CHI 29. 51-J.Vilma to CHI 29 for no gain (63-R.Garza). [WPA -11.5% · EPA -4.94]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 3:44) — (3:44) 28-M.Ingram right end to CHI 19 for 6 yards (33-C.Tillman). FUMBLES (33-C.Tillman), RECOVERED by CHI-33-C.Tillman at CHI 8. 33-C.Tillman to CHI 9 for 1 yard (45-J.Collins). [WPA -0.1% · EPA -3.53]
• Chicago Bears (Q4 4:23) — (4:23) 6-J.Cutler sacked at CHI 27 for -14 yards (41-R.Harper, 27-M.Jenkins). [WPA -0.1% · EPA -3.43]

Quarterback report card

J.Cutler led all passers in efficiency for Chicago Bears, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Cutler (Chicago Bears) · 54 dropbacks · 35.2% completion · -18.1% CPOE · -0.21 EPA/play · -11.20 total EPA
• D.Brees (New Orleans Saints) · 40 dropbacks · 65.0% completion · +1.9% CPOE · +0.19 EPA/play · +7.70 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 (+0.02 vs -0.19), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Chicago Bears: 13 drives, -16.49 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 13 drives, +1.38 total EPA, 6 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. Henderson (New Orleans Saints) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Cutler (CHI) 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. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q1 51:59 · NO 8 · Score 6-0
   (6:59) 6-J.Cutler pass short middle to 18-D.Sanzenbacher for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 8, YAC 0
2. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q1 51:55 · NO 2 · Score 7-0
   9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-8-A.Podlesh.
3. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q1 45:25 · CHI 14 · Score 7-3
   (:25) 2-J.Kasay 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
4. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 42:48 · CHI 79 · Score 7-9
   (12:48) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep middle to 19-D.Henderson for 79 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 41, YAC 38
5. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 42:37 · CHI 2 · Score 7-10
   2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
6. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 35:56 · CHI 11 · Score 7-13
   (5:56) 2-J.Kasay 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
7. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 32:14 · CHI 35 · Score 7-16
   (2:14) (Field Goal formation) 2-J.Kasay 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
8. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q2 30:05 · NO 24 · Score 10-16
   (:05) 9-R.Gould 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-8-A.Podlesh.
9. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q3 27:19 · NO 20 · Score 13-16
   (12:19) 9-R.Gould 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-8-A.Podlesh.
10. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 22:37 · CHI 4 · Score 13-22
    (7:37) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 17-R.Meachem for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 4, YAC 0
11. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 22:33 · CHI 2 · Score 13-23
    2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
12. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 12:12 · CHI 12 · Score 13-29
    (12:12) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 43-D.Sproles for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass -7, YAC 19
13. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 12:05 · CHI 2 · Score 13-30
    2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.