Cleveland Browns vs. New England Patriots: 2001 Week 13 Recap

Game story

In Week 13 of the 2001 NFL season on 2001-12-09, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Cleveland Browns, pulling away with a 27–16 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Couch (Cleveland Browns) paced the passing game, with -12.28 total EPA.

On the individual side, T. Brown (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.86 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-25.9% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New England Patriots changed the game: (1:12) 12-T.Brady pass intended for 86-D.Patten INTERCEPTED by 24-C.Fuller at NE 49. 24-C.Fuller for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

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 T. Brown · New England Patriots · Receiving · +6.86 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.86 EPA/play
2. 2 A. Smith · New England Patriots · Rushing · +4.80 total EPA · 21 snaps · +0.23 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Glenn · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.98 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.99 EPA/play
4. 4 J. White · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +3.31 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.10 EPA/play
5. 5 A. Shea · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +0.86 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.86 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Jackson · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +0.85 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
7. 7 J. White · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +0.50 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.25 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Patten · New England Patriots · Rushing · +0.46 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.46 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

• Cleveland Browns — C. Fuller (Q1 46:12)
• New England Patriots — A. Smith (Q2 39:57)
• New England Patriots — T. Brown (Q2 33:45)
• New England Patriots — A. Smith (Q4 2:49)

Field goals

• New England Patriots — A. Vinatieri (Q1 54:46)
• Cleveland Browns — P. Dawson (Q1 46:25)
• New England Patriots — A. Vinatieri (Q2 30:08)
• Cleveland Browns — P. Dawson (Q3 25:49)
• Cleveland Browns — P. Dawson (Q4 12:42)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 10–3. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the CLE 36 (Q1 54:46) — (9:46) 4-A.Vinatieri 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.; Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the NE 10 (Q1 46:25) — (1:25) 4-P.Dawson 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-97-R.Kuehl, Holder-17-C.Gardocki.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the CLE 56 (Q1 46:12) — (1:12) 12-T.Brady pass intended for 86-D.Patten INTERCEPTED by 24-C.Fuller at NE 49. 24-C.Fuller for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q1 46:02) — 4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-97-R.Kuehl, Holder-17-C.Gardocki..

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 17–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the CLE 1 (Q2 39:57) — (9:57) 32-A.Smith left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the CLE 2 (Q2 39:39) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the NE 58 (Q2 33:45) — (3:45) 17-C.Gardocki punts 43 yards to NE 15, Center-97-R.Kuehl. 80-T.Brown for 85 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the CLE 2 (Q2 33:28) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the CLE 20 (Q2 30:08) — (:08) 4-A.Vinatieri 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter..

The third quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 3–0. Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the NE 21 (Q3 25:49) — (10:49) 4-P.Dawson 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-97-R.Kuehl, Holder-17-C.Gardocki..

The fourth quarter: New England Patriots won the period 7–3. Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the NE 4 (Q4 12:42) — (12:42) 4-P.Dawson 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-97-R.Kuehl, Holder-17-C.Gardocki.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the CLE 5 (Q4 2:49) — (2:49) 32-A.Smith right tackle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the CLE 2 (Q4 2:43) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter..

Turning points

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

• New England Patriots (Q1 46:12) — (1:12) 12-T.Brady pass intended for 86-D.Patten INTERCEPTED by 24-C.Fuller at NE 49. 24-C.Fuller for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -25.9% · EPA -9.24]
• Cleveland Browns (Q2 33:45) — (3:45) 17-C.Gardocki punts 43 yards to NE 15, Center-97-R.Kuehl. 80-T.Brown for 85 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -14.0% · EPA -6.52]
• Cleveland Browns (Q4 9:04) — (9:04) 2-T.Couch pass intended for 86-D.Northcutt INTERCEPTED by 98-A.Pleasant at CLE 35. 98-A.Pleasant to CLE 35 for no gain (86-D.Northcutt). FUMBLES (86-D.Northcutt), recovered by NE-45-O.Smith at [WPA -13.8% · EPA -3.86]
• Cleveland Browns (Q2 31:31) — (1:31) (Shotgun) 2-T.Couch pass intended for 85-K.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 27-T.Buckley at NE 5. 27-T.Buckley to NE 29 for 24 yards (69-R.Chanoine). [WPA -11.9% · EPA -3.75]
• New England Patriots (Q2 40:37) — (10:37) 67-Ruegamer eligible. 32-A.Smith left guard to CLE 1 for 2 yards (52-B.Boyer, 58-W.Rainer). [WPA +9.6% · EPA +2.74]

Impact plays

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

• New England Patriots (Q1 46:12) — (1:12) 12-T.Brady pass intended for 86-D.Patten INTERCEPTED by 24-C.Fuller at NE 49. 24-C.Fuller for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -25.9% · EPA -9.24]
• Cleveland Browns (Q2 33:45) — (3:45) 17-C.Gardocki punts 43 yards to NE 15, Center-97-R.Kuehl. 80-T.Brown for 85 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -14.0% · EPA -6.52]
• Cleveland Browns (Q4 9:04) — (9:04) 2-T.Couch pass intended for 86-D.Northcutt INTERCEPTED by 98-A.Pleasant at CLE 35. 98-A.Pleasant to CLE 35 for no gain (86-D.Northcutt). FUMBLES (86-D.Northcutt), recovered by NE-45-O.Smith at [WPA -13.8% · EPA -3.86]
• Cleveland Browns (Q2 31:31) — (1:31) (Shotgun) 2-T.Couch pass intended for 85-K.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 27-T.Buckley at NE 5. 27-T.Buckley to NE 29 for 24 yards (69-R.Chanoine). [WPA -11.9% · EPA -3.75]

Quarterback report card

T.Couch led all passers in efficiency for Cleveland Browns, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• T.Couch (Cleveland Browns) · 44 dropbacks · 45.5% completion · -0.28 EPA/play · -12.28 total EPA
• T.Brady (New England Patriots) · 31 dropbacks · 61.3% completion · -0.30 EPA/play · -9.21 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

New England Patriots held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.09 vs -0.20), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Cleveland Browns: 15 drives, -16.10 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 14 drives, -7.53 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• New England Patriots leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• T. Brown (New England Patriots) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

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

1. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q1 54:46 · CLE 36 · Score 0-3
   (9:46) 4-A.Vinatieri 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
2. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q1 46:25 · NE 10 · Score 3-3
   (1:25) 4-P.Dawson 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-97-R.Kuehl, Holder-17-C.Gardocki.
3. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q1 46:12 · CLE 56 · Score 9-3
   (1:12) 12-T.Brady pass intended for 86-D.Patten INTERCEPTED by 24-C.Fuller at NE 49. 24-C.Fuller for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q1 46:02 · NE 2 · Score 10-3
   4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-97-R.Kuehl, Holder-17-C.Gardocki.
5. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 39:57 · CLE 1 · Score 10-9
   (9:57) 32-A.Smith left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
6. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 39:39 · CLE 2 · Score 10-10
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
7. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 33:45 · NE 58 · Score 10-16
   (3:45) 17-C.Gardocki punts 43 yards to NE 15, Center-97-R.Kuehl. 80-T.Brown for 85 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 33:28 · CLE 2 · Score 10-17
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
9. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 30:08 · CLE 20 · Score 10-20
   (:08) 4-A.Vinatieri 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
10. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q3 25:49 · NE 21 · Score 13-20
    (10:49) 4-P.Dawson 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-97-R.Kuehl, Holder-17-C.Gardocki.
11. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q4 12:42 · NE 4 · Score 16-20
    (12:42) 4-P.Dawson 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-97-R.Kuehl, Holder-17-C.Gardocki.
12. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 2:49 · CLE 5 · Score 16-26
    (2:49) 32-A.Smith right tackle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 2:43 · CLE 2 · Score 16-27
    4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.