Cleveland Browns vs. New Orleans Saints: 2002 Week 12 Recap

Game story

In Week 12 of the 2002 NFL season on 2002-11-24, the Cleveland Browns took care of business against the New Orleans Saints, pulling away with a 24–15 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

A. Brooks (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with -9.79 total EPA.

On the individual side, M. Lewis (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.20 — 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: (7:29) 2-A.Brooks sacked at CLE 23 for -10 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by CLE-92-C.Brown at CLE 15. Play Challenged by NO and Upheld. (Timeout #2.)

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 M. Lewis · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +7.20 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.80 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Northcutt · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +3.94 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.31 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Couch · Cleveland Browns · Passing · +3.28 total EPA · 23 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
4. 4 F. McAfee · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +3.13 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.13 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Northcutt · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +2.97 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.74 EPA/play
6. 6 Q. Morgan · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +1.80 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Sloan · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.51 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.51 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Jackson · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +1.13 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.56 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 — W. Green (Q1 48:30)
• Cleveland Browns — D. Northcutt (Q2 33:58)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Fenderson (Q3 23:24)
• Cleveland Browns — K. Johnson (T. Couch pass) (Q3 19:53)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — J. Carney (Q1 56:14)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Carney (Q2 44:11)
• New Orleans Saints — T. Couch (Q2 43:16)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Carney (Q4 10:18)
• Cleveland Browns — P. Dawson (Q4 3:28)

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 7–3. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CLE 15 (Q1 56:14) — (11:14) 3-J.Carney 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the NO 1 (Q1 48:30) — (3:30) 31-W.Green right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q1 48:30) — 4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-97-R.Kuehl, Holder-17-C.Gardocki..

The second quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 14–6. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CLE 8 (Q2 44:11) — (14:11) 3-J.Carney 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the NO 56 (Q2 43:16) — (13:16) 2-T.Couch left end to CLE 47 for 3 yards.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the NO 56 (Q2 43:16) — (13:16) 2-T.Couch left end to CLE 47 for 3 yards.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the NO 36 (Q2 33:58) — (3:58) 86-D.Northcutt left tackle for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q2 33:50) — 4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-97-R.Kuehl, Holder-17-C.Gardocki..

The third quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 7–6. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CLE 17 (Q3 23:24) — (8:24) 48-J.Fenderson right end for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the NO 24 (Q3 19:53) — (4:53) 2-T.Couch pass to 85-K.Johnson for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 3, Run 21; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q3 19:44) — 4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-97-R.Kuehl, Holder-17-C.Gardocki..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CLE 31 (Q4 10:18) — (10:18) 3-J.Carney 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin.; Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the NO 11 (Q4 3:28) — (3:28) 4-P.Dawson 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-97-R.Kuehl, Holder-17-C.Gardocki..

Turning points

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q2 37:29) — (7:29) 2-A.Brooks sacked at CLE 23 for -10 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by CLE-92-C.Brown at CLE 15. Play Challenged by NO and Upheld. (Timeout #2.) [WPA -18.1% · EPA -4.64]
• Cleveland Browns (Q2 34:12) — (4:12) 17-C.Gardocki punts 36 yards to NO 36, Center-97-R.Kuehl. 84-M.Lewis MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by CLE-54-Andra Davis at NO 36. 54-Andra Davis to NO 36 for no gain (84-M.Lewis). [WPA +17.1% · EPA +3.63]
• Cleveland Browns (Q2 33:58) — (3:58) 86-D.Northcutt left tackle for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +14.3% · EPA +4.67]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 23:24) — (8:24) 48-J.Fenderson right end for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.5% · EPA +2.11]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 52:11) — (7:11) 2-T.Couch pass to 81-Q.Morgan to NO 28 for 46 yards (20-J.Bellamy). Pass 31, Run 15 [WPA +11.6% · EPA +3.35]

Impact plays

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

• Cleveland Browns (Q2 33:58) — (3:58) 86-D.Northcutt left tackle for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +14.3% · EPA +4.67]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 37:29) — (7:29) 2-A.Brooks sacked at CLE 23 for -10 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by CLE-92-C.Brown at CLE 15. Play Challenged by NO and Upheld. (Timeout #2.) [WPA -18.1% · EPA -4.64]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 31:53) — (1:53) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 87-J.Horn INTERCEPTED by 37-A.Henry at CLE 1. 37-A.Henry ran ob at CLE 1 for no gain. [WPA -8.5% · EPA -4.20]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 15:25) — (:25) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 83-D.Stallworth INTERCEPTED by 20-E.Little at CLE 0. Touchback. [WPA -10.4% · EPA -4.01]

Quarterback report card

A.Brooks led all passers in efficiency for New Orleans Saints, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• A.Brooks (New Orleans Saints) · 45 dropbacks · 51.1% completion · -0.22 EPA/play · -9.79 total EPA
• T.Couch (Cleveland Browns) · 23 dropbacks · 52.2% completion · +0.14 EPA/play · +3.28 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Cleveland Browns generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.12 vs -0.04), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Cleveland Browns: 12 drives, +9.83 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 10 drives, -2.89 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Cleveland Browns leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• M. Lewis (New Orleans Saints) 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 Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q1 56:14 · CLE 15 · Score 0-3
   (11:14) 3-J.Carney 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin.
2. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q1 48:30 · NO 1 · Score 6-3
   (3:30) 31-W.Green right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q1 48:30 · NO 2 · Score 7-3
   4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-97-R.Kuehl, Holder-17-C.Gardocki.
4. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 44:11 · CLE 8 · Score 7-6
   (14:11) 3-J.Carney 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin.
5. Cleveland Browns TD (+7) — Q2 43:16 · NO 56 · Score 7-6
   (13:16) 2-T.Couch left end to CLE 47 for 3 yards.
6. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 43:16 · NO 56 · Score 7-6
   (13:16) 2-T.Couch left end to CLE 47 for 3 yards.
7. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q2 33:58 · NO 36 · Score 13-6
   (3:58) 86-D.Northcutt left tackle for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q2 33:50 · NO 2 · Score 14-6
   4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-97-R.Kuehl, Holder-17-C.Gardocki.
9. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 23:24 · CLE 17 · Score 14-12
   (8:24) 48-J.Fenderson right end for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q3 19:53 · NO 24 · Score 20-12
    (4:53) 2-T.Couch pass to 85-K.Johnson for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 3, Run 21
11. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q3 19:44 · NO 2 · Score 21-12
    4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-97-R.Kuehl, Holder-17-C.Gardocki.
12. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 10:18 · CLE 31 · Score 21-15
    (10:18) 3-J.Carney 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin.
13. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q4 3:28 · NO 11 · Score 24-15
    (3:28) 4-P.Dawson 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-97-R.Kuehl, Holder-17-C.Gardocki.