Green Bay Packers vs. New Orleans Saints: 2021 Week 1 Recap

Game story

In Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season on 2021-09-12, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Green Bay Packers, pulling away with a 38–3 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

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

A. Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) paced the passing game, with -13.24 total EPA, and -8.0% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Winston (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +22.34 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-10.3% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Green Bay Packers changed the game: (9:41) (Shotgun) 12-Aa.Rodgers pass short left intended for 17-D.Adams INTERCEPTED by 29-P.Adebo [70-C.Ringo] at NO 7. 29-P.Adebo to NO 40 for 33 yards (74-E.Jenkins).

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 J. Winston · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +22.34 total EPA · 24 snaps · +0.93 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Johnson · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +8.02 total EPA · 3 snaps · +2.67 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Harris · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +6.51 total EPA · 2 snaps · +3.26 EPA/play
4. 4 C. Hogan · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.21 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.21 EPA/play
5. 5 R. Cobb · Green Bay Packers · Receiving · +2.53 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.53 EPA/play
6. 6 Am. Rodgers · Green Bay Packers · Receiving · +2.35 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.35 EPA/play
7. 7 M. Lewis · Green Bay Packers · Receiving · +1.34 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.34 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Winston · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +0.49 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.16 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 (J. Winston pass) (Q2 44:24)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Johnson (J. Winston pass) (Q2 31:14)
• New Orleans Saints — C. Hogan (J. Winston pass) (Q3 18:14)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Johnson (J. Winston pass) (Q4 15:00)
• New Orleans Saints — D. Harris (J. Winston pass) (Q4 10:55)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — A. Rosas (Q1 56:05)
• Green Bay Packers — M. Crosby (Q2 30:04)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 3–0. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the GB 26 (Q1 56:05) — (11:05) 6-A.Rosas 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 14–3. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the GB 3 (Q2 44:24) — (14:24) (Shotgun) 2-J.Winston pass short middle to 41-A.Kamara for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the GB 15 (Q2 44:18) — 6-A.Rosas extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the GB 1 (Q2 31:14) — (1:14) 2-J.Winston pass short middle to 83-J.Johnson for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN [52-R.Gary].; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the GB 15 (Q2 31:07) — 6-A.Rosas extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.; Green Bay Packers connected on a field goal from the NO 21 (Q2 30:04) — (:04) 2-M.Crosby 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-H.Bradley, Holder-7-C.Bojorquez..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the GB 10 (Q3 18:14) — (3:14) (Shotgun) 2-J.Winston pass short middle to 80-C.Hogan for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the GB 15 (Q3 18:07) — 6-A.Rosas extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 14–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the GB 8 (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 2-J.Winston pass short left to 83-J.Johnson for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the GB 15 (Q4 14:54) — 6-A.Rosas extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the GB 55 (Q4 10:55) — (10:55) 2-J.Winston pass deep left to 11-D.Harris for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the GB 15 (Q4 10:46) — 6-A.Rosas extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin..

Turning points

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

• Green Bay Packers (Q3 24:41) — (9:41) (Shotgun) 12-Aa.Rodgers pass short left intended for 17-D.Adams INTERCEPTED by 29-P.Adebo [70-C.Ringo] at NO 7. 29-P.Adebo to NO 40 for 33 yards (74-E.Jenkins). [WPA -10.3% · EPA -6.46]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 57:33) — (12:33) (Shotgun) 2-J.Winston scrambles up the middle to GB 29 for 15 yards (31-A.Amos). NO-78-E.McCoy was injured during the play. [WPA +7.5% · EPA +1.38]
• Green Bay Packers (Q3 26:56) — (11:56) (Shotgun) 12-Aa.Rodgers pass incomplete deep right to 85-R.Tonyan. PENALTY on NO-27-M.Jenkins, Defensive Pass Interference, 6 yards, enforced at NO 31 - No Play. [WPA +4.9% · EPA +2.78]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 35:08) — (5:08) (Shotgun) 2-J.Winston pass short right to 83-J.Johnson to GB 29 for 12 yards (23-J.Alexander; 26-D.Savage). [WPA +4.8% · EPA +3.04]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 47:48) — (2:48) (Shotgun) 2-J.Winston scrambles right end to GB 25 for 10 yards (31-A.Amos). [WPA +4.6% · EPA +1.97]

Impact plays

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

• Green Bay Packers (Q3 24:41) — (9:41) (Shotgun) 12-Aa.Rodgers pass short left intended for 17-D.Adams INTERCEPTED by 29-P.Adebo [70-C.Ringo] at NO 7. 29-P.Adebo to NO 40 for 33 yards (74-E.Jenkins). [WPA -10.3% · EPA -6.46]
• Green Bay Packers (Q4 1:10) — (1:10) (Shotgun) 10-J.Love sacked at NO 10 for -5 yards (90-T.Kpassagnon). FUMBLES (90-T.Kpassagnon) [90-T.Kpassagnon], touched at NO 9, RECOVERED by NO-55-K.Elliss at NO 2. 55-K.Elliss to NO 2 for no [WPA +0.0% · EPA -5.64]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 10:55) — (10:55) 2-J.Winston pass deep left to 11-D.Harris for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +0.0% · EPA +5.56]
• Green Bay Packers (Q3 19:51) — (4:51) (Shotgun) 12-Aa.Rodgers pass deep middle intended for 83-M.Valdes-Scantling INTERCEPTED by 43-M.Williams at NO 35. 43-M.Williams pushed ob at GB 12 for 53 yards (74-E.Jenkins). [WPA -2.0% · EPA -3.53]

Quarterback report card

A.Rodgers led all passers in efficiency for Green Bay Packers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• A.Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) · 33 dropbacks · 45.5% completion · -8.0% CPOE · -0.40 EPA/play · -13.24 total EPA
• J.Winston (New Orleans Saints) · 24 dropbacks · 58.3% completion · +10.6% CPOE · +0.93 EPA/play · +22.34 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 (+0.28 vs -0.28), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Green Bay Packers: 9 drives, -19.11 total EPA, 1 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 9 drives, +21.34 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.
• J. Winston (New Orleans Saints) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• A. Rodgers (GB) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• J. Winston (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.

1. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q1 56:05 · GB 26 · Score 0-3
   (11:05) 6-A.Rosas 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.
2. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 44:24 · GB 3 · Score 0-9
   (14:24) (Shotgun) 2-J.Winston pass short middle to 41-A.Kamara for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 44:18 · GB 15 · Score 0-10
   6-A.Rosas extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.
4. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 31:14 · GB 1 · Score 0-16
   (1:14) 2-J.Winston pass short middle to 83-J.Johnson for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN [52-R.Gary].
5. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 31:07 · GB 15 · Score 0-17
   6-A.Rosas extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.
6. Green Bay Packers FG (+3) — Q2 30:04 · NO 21 · Score 3-17
   (:04) 2-M.Crosby 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-H.Bradley, Holder-7-C.Bojorquez.
7. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 18:14 · GB 10 · Score 3-23
   (3:14) (Shotgun) 2-J.Winston pass short middle to 80-C.Hogan for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 18:07 · GB 15 · Score 3-24
   6-A.Rosas extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.
9. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 15:00 · GB 8 · Score 3-30
   (15:00) (Shotgun) 2-J.Winston pass short left to 83-J.Johnson for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 14:54 · GB 15 · Score 3-31
    6-A.Rosas extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.
11. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 10:55 · GB 55 · Score 3-37
    (10:55) 2-J.Winston pass deep left to 11-D.Harris for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 10:46 · GB 15 · Score 3-38
    6-A.Rosas extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.