Game story
In Week 2 of the 2018 NFL season on 2018-09-16, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Cleveland Browns, pulling away with a 21–18 final that came down to the wire.
The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 24 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.
D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with -2.37 total EPA, and +9.3% completion percentage over expected.
On the individual side, A. Callaway (Cleveland Browns) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +8.78 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.
The momentum swing (-34.5% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Cleveland Browns changed the game: (5:10) 5-T.Taylor pass short right intended for 85-D.Njoku INTERCEPTED by 43-M.Williams at CLE 40. 43-M.Williams to CLE 18 for 22 yards (5-T.Taylor). NO-21-P.Robinson was injured during the play. His
Line score
Final score and points by quarter.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | — | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 18 |
| New Orleans Saints | 3 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 21 |
Stars of the game
Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.
- 1 A. Callaway · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +8.78 total EPA · 4 snaps · +2.19 EPA/play
- 2 A. Kamara · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +4.27 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.71 EPA/play
- 3 T. Taylor · Cleveland Browns · Passing · +3.25 total EPA · 37 snaps · +0.09 EPA/play
- 4 T. Taylor · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +2.22 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.11 EPA/play
- 5 R. Higgins · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +1.80 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
- 6 M. Thomas · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.09 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.08 EPA/play
- 7 T. Smith · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.03 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.03 EPA/play
- 8 D. Fells · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +0.96 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.48 EPA/play
Player of the game
FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.
A. Callaway — CLE · Receiving
A. Callaway posted the highest total EPA (+8.78) in the game, making the biggest overall impact on Cleveland Browns's efficiency. Across 4 counted snaps, they averaged +2.19 EPA per play.
The signature play (-6.09 EPA) came from Cleveland Browns: (5:10) 5-T.Taylor pass short right intended for 85-D.Njoku INTERCEPTED by 43-M.Williams at CLE 40. 43-M.Williams to CLE 18 for 22 yards (5-T.Taylor). NO-21-P.Robinson was injured during the play. His return is Questionab
Who scored touchdowns and field goals
Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.
Touchdowns
- Cleveland Browns — C. Hyde
- New Orleans Saints — M. Thomas (D. Brees pass)
- New Orleans Saints — M. Thomas (D. Brees pass)
- Cleveland Browns — A. Callaway (T. Taylor pass)
Field goals
- Cleveland Browns — Z. Gonzalez
- New Orleans Saints — W. Lutz
- Cleveland Browns — Z. Gonzalez
- New Orleans Saints — W. Lutz
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 3–3. Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the NO 21 (Q1 53:35) — (8:35) 2-Z.Gonzalez 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CLE 12 (Q1 47:52) — (2:52) 3-W.Lutz 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead..
The second quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 3–0. Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the NO 21 (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) 2-Z.Gonzalez 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-4-B.Colquitt..
The third quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 6–0. Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the NO 1 (Q3 21:48) — (6:48) 34-C.Hyde left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN..
The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 18–6. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CLE 2 (Q4 8:45) — (8:45) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 13-M.Thomas for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 2, YAC 4; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q4 8:41) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CLE 5 (Q4 2:44) — (2:44) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 13-M.Thomas for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 5, YAC 0; New Orleans Saints registered a safety from the CLE 2 (Q4 2:40) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 41-A.Kamara rushes right end. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS. NO #74 J.Bushrod checked in as eligible.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the NO 47 (Q4 1:24) — (1:24) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor pass deep middle to 11-A.Callaway for 47 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 47, YAC 0; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CLE 26 (Q4 0:26) — (:26) 3-W.Lutz 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead..
Turning points
Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.
- Cleveland Browns (Q4 5:10) — (5:10) 5-T.Taylor pass short right intended for 85-D.Njoku INTERCEPTED by 43-M.Williams at CLE 40. 43-M.Williams to CLE 18 for 22 yards (5-T.Taylor). NO-21-P.Robinson was injured during the play. His
- Cleveland Browns (Q4 1:24) — (1:24) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor pass deep middle to 11-A.Callaway for 47 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 47, YAC 0
- Cleveland Browns (Q4 0:08) — (:08) 2-Z.Gonzalez 52 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
- New Orleans Saints (Q4 0:26) — (:26) 3-W.Lutz 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
- Cleveland Browns (Q4 1:16) — 2-Z.Gonzalez extra point is No Good, Wide Left, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
Impact plays
Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.
- Cleveland Browns (Q4 5:10) — (5:10) 5-T.Taylor pass short right intended for 85-D.Njoku INTERCEPTED by 43-M.Williams at CLE 40. 43-M.Williams to CLE 18 for 22 yards (5-T.Taylor). NO-21-P.Robinson was injured during the play. His
- Cleveland Browns (Q4 1:24) — (1:24) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor pass deep middle to 11-A.Callaway for 47 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 47, YAC 0
- New Orleans Saints (Q1 56:38) — (11:38) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 13-M.Thomas to NO 46 for 8 yards (39-T.Mitchell). FUMBLES (39-T.Mitchell), RECOVERED by CLE-23-D.Randall at NO 46. 23-D.Randall ran ob at NO 46 for no ga
- New Orleans Saints (Q2 40:46) — (10:46) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 19-T.Ginn to NO 49 for no gain (39-T.Mitchell). FUMBLES (39-T.Mitchell), RECOVERED by CLE-39-T.Mitchell at NO 46. 39-T.Mitchell to NO 46 for no gain (19-
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) · 42 dropbacks · 66.7% completion · +9.3% CPOE · -0.06 EPA/play · -2.37 total EPA
- T.Taylor (Cleveland Browns) · 37 dropbacks · 59.5% completion · +2.6% CPOE · +0.09 EPA/play · +3.25 total EPA
Team stats comparison
Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.
| Stat | Cleveland Browns | New Orleans Saints |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive EPA/play | -0.138 | -0.127 |
| Offensive success rate | 35.9% | 44.3% |
| Pass EPA/play | +0.088 | -0.056 |
| Rush EPA/play | -0.208 | -0.212 |
| Defensive EPA/play | +0.127 | +0.138 |
| Defensive success rate | 55.7% | 64.1% |
By the numbers
Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Cleveland Browns -0.14, New Orleans Saints -0.13) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.
- Cleveland Browns: 12 drives, -10.80 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
- New Orleans Saints: 12 drives, -10.04 total EPA, 4 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.
- One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
- A. Callaway (Cleveland Browns) 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.
Every scoring play
Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.
- Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q1 53:35 · NO 21 · Score 3-0
(8:35) 2-Z.Gonzalez 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-4-B.Colquitt. - New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q1 47:52 · CLE 12 · Score 3-3
(2:52) 3-W.Lutz 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead. - Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q2 32:00 · NO 21 · Score 6-3
(2:00) 2-Z.Gonzalez 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-4-B.Colquitt. - Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q3 21:48 · NO 1 · Score 12-3
(6:48) 34-C.Hyde left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. - New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 8:45 · CLE 2 · Score 12-9
(8:45) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 13-M.Thomas for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 2, YAC 4 - New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 8:41 · CLE 15 · Score 12-10
3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead. - New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 2:44 · CLE 5 · Score 12-16
(2:44) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 13-M.Thomas for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 5, YAC 0 - New Orleans Saints Safety (+2) — Q4 2:40 · CLE 2 · Score 12-18
TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 41-A.Kamara rushes right end. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS. NO #74 J.Bushrod checked in as eligible. - Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q4 1:24 · NO 47 · Score 18-18
(1:24) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor pass deep middle to 11-A.Callaway for 47 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 47, YAC 0 - New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 0:26 · CLE 26 · Score 18-21
(:26) 3-W.Lutz 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Cleveland Browns vs New Orleans Saints?
The New Orleans Saints beat the Cleveland Browns 21-18 in Week 2, 2018 on 2018-09-16.
What was the final score of Cleveland Browns vs New Orleans Saints?
The final score was Cleveland Browns 18, New Orleans Saints 21 (CLE 18-21 NO) in Week 2, 2018 on 2018-09-16.
What was the score by quarter in Cleveland Browns vs New Orleans Saints?
Q1: Cleveland Browns 3, New Orleans Saints 3; Q2: Cleveland Browns 3, New Orleans Saints 0; Q3: Cleveland Browns 6, New Orleans Saints 0; Q4: Cleveland Browns 6, New Orleans Saints 18; Final: Cleveland Browns 18, New Orleans Saints 21.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals in Cleveland Browns vs New Orleans Saints?
Cleveland Browns touchdown — C. Hyde (Q3 21:48) New Orleans Saints touchdown — M. Thomas (D. Brees pass) (Q4 8:45) New Orleans Saints touchdown — M. Thomas (D. Brees pass) (Q4 2:44) Cleveland Browns touchdown — A. Callaway (T. Taylor pass) (Q4 1:24) Cleveland Browns field goal — Z. Gonzalez (Q1 53:35, 3 pts) New Orleans Saints field goal — W. Lutz (Q1 47:52, 3 pts) Cleveland Browns field goal — Z. Gonzalez (Q2 32:00, 3 pts) New Orleans Saints field goal — W. Lutz (Q4 0:26, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.
How did the quarterbacks play in Cleveland Browns vs New Orleans Saints?
D. Brees (New Orleans Saints), 66.7% completion, +9.3% CPOE, -0.06 EPA per dropback, -2.37 total passing EPA. T. Taylor (Cleveland Browns), 59.5% completion, +2.6% CPOE, +0.09 EPA per dropback, +3.25 total passing EPA.
Who was the most impactful player in Cleveland Browns vs New Orleans Saints?
A. Callaway (Cleveland Browns) led the game in total EPA with +8.78 on receiving plays. across 4 snaps. The top single-play swing was (-6.09 EPA): (5:10) 5-T.Taylor pass short right intended for 85-D.Njoku INTERCEPTED by 43-M.Williams at CLE 40. 43-M.Williams to CLE 18 for 22 yards (5-T.Taylor). NO-21-P.Robinson was injured d. The biggest win-probability swing was -34.5%.
Was Cleveland Browns vs New Orleans Saints a close game?
Yes — the margin was 3 points. New Orleans Saints won 21-18 in a game that came down to the wire.
Season records after this game
Cleveland Browns
Now 0-1 L
New Orleans Saints
Entered 0-1 Now 1-1 W
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