Kansas City Chiefs vs. New Orleans Saints: 2012 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2012 NFL season on 2012-09-23, the Kansas City Chiefs took care of business against the New Orleans Saints, pulling away with a 27–24 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Cassel (Kansas City Chiefs) paced the passing game, with -5.42 total EPA, and -4.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Charles (Kansas City Chiefs) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.33 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+22.7% win probability) landed in overtime when Kansas City Chiefs changed the game: (10:40) 25-J.Charles right tackle to NO 41 for 3 yards (50-C.Lofton).

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. Charles · Kansas City Chiefs · Rushing · +7.33 total EPA · 33 snaps · +0.22 EPA/play
2. 2 L. Moore · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +5.87 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.84 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Bowe · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +3.36 total EPA · 16 snaps · +0.21 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Colston · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.85 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.71 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Baldwin · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +2.43 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.61 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Collins · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.78 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.78 EPA/play
7. 7 P. Thomas · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.59 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Charles · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +0.66 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.08 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 — L. Moore (D. Brees pass) (Q1 57:23)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Graham (D. Brees pass) (Q3 28:14)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Collins (D. Brees pass) (Q3 20:41)
• Kansas City Chiefs — J. Charles (Q3 20:32)

Field goals

• Kansas City Chiefs — R. Succop (Q1 49:56)
• New Orleans Saints — G. Hartley (Q2 45:00)
• Kansas City Chiefs — R. Succop (Q2 34:46)
• Kansas City Chiefs — R. Succop (Q4 13:45)
• Kansas City Chiefs — R. Succop (Q4 9:16)
• Kansas City Chiefs — R. Succop (Q4 0:08)
• Kansas City Chiefs — R. Succop (OT 6:32)

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 7–3. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the KC 9 (Q1 57:23) — (12:23) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 16-L.Moore for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 9, YAC 0; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q1 57:18) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the NO 6 (Q1 49:56) — (4:56) 6-R.Succop 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..

The second quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the KC 22 (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) 5-G.Hartley 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the NO 27 (Q2 34:46) — (4:46) 6-R.Succop 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 14–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the KC 1 (Q3 28:14) — (13:14) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 80-J.Graham for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 0, YAC 1; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q3 28:10) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the KC 6 (Q3 20:41) — (5:41) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 45-J.Collins for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 0, YAC 6; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q3 20:36) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the NO 91 (Q3 20:32) — (5:32) 25-J.Charles left end for 91 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q3 20:18) — 6-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..

The fourth quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 11–0. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the NO 16 (Q4 13:45) — (13:45) 6-R.Succop 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the NO 20 (Q4 9:16) — (9:16) 6-R.Succop 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Kansas City Chiefs registered a safety from the KC 93 (Q4 5:40); Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the NO 25 (Q4 0:08) — (:08) 6-R.Succop 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..

Overtime: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 3–0. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the NO 13 (OT 6:32) — (6:32) 6-R.Succop 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..

Turning points

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

• Kansas City Chiefs (OT 10:40) — (10:40) 25-J.Charles right tackle to NO 41 for 3 yards (50-C.Lofton). [WPA +22.7% · EPA +2.31]
• Kansas City Chiefs (OT 13:46) — (13:46) (Shotgun) 7-M.Cassel pass short middle to 25-J.Charles to KC 48 for 9 yards (50-C.Lofton). Pass 3, YAC 6 [WPA +18.5% · EPA +1.97]
• Kansas City Chiefs (OT 12:28) — (12:28) (Shotgun) 7-M.Cassel pass incomplete short right to 15-S.Breaston (41-R.Harper). [WPA -17.0% · EPA -1.77]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 2:26) — (2:26) (Shotgun) 7-M.Cassel pass short left to 82-D.Bowe to NO 39 for 7 yards (24-C.White). Pass 4, YAC 3 [WPA +16.0% · EPA +2.50]
• Kansas City Chiefs (OT 8:58) — (8:58) (Shotgun) 7-M.Cassel pass short right to 82-D.Bowe pushed ob at NO 27 for 9 yards (21-P.Robinson). Pass 7, YAC 2 [WPA +15.0% · EPA +1.58]

Impact plays

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

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 20:32) — (5:32) 25-J.Charles left end for 91 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.2% · EPA +7.29]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 21:31) — (6:31) 7-M.Cassel pass short left intended for 15-S.Breaston INTERCEPTED by 33-J.Greer at KC 35. 33-J.Greer to KC 7 for 28 yards (76-B.Albert). [WPA -4.6% · EPA -5.27]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 17:43) — (2:43) 9-D.Brees pass deep left intended for 19-D.Henderson INTERCEPTED by 26-S.Routt at KC 0. 26-S.Routt to KC 32 for 32 yards (9-D.Brees). [WPA -7.0% · EPA -5.04]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 29:57) — (14:57) 7-M.Cassel pass short right to 22-D.McCluster to KC 19 for 3 yards (33-J.Greer). New Orleans challenged the runner was down by contact ruling, and the play was REVERSED. 7-M.Cassel pass short [WPA -12.2% · EPA -4.64]

Quarterback report card

M.Cassel led all passers in efficiency for Kansas City Chiefs, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• M.Cassel (Kansas City Chiefs) · 47 dropbacks · 55.3% completion · -4.6% CPOE · -0.12 EPA/play · -5.42 total EPA
• D.Brees (New Orleans Saints) · 41 dropbacks · 48.8% completion · -5.7% CPOE · -0.07 EPA/play · -2.91 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Kansas City Chiefs generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.01 vs -0.10), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Kansas City Chiefs: 15 drives, -1.45 total EPA, 7 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 15 drives, -7.64 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Kansas City Chiefs 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.
• J. Charles (Kansas City Chiefs) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• M. Cassel (KC) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• D. Brees (NO) 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. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 57:23 · KC 9 · Score 0-6
   (12:23) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 16-L.Moore for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 9, YAC 0
2. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 57:18 · KC 2 · Score 0-7
   5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
3. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q1 49:56 · NO 6 · Score 3-7
   (4:56) 6-R.Succop 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
4. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 45:00 · KC 22 · Score 3-10
   (15:00) 5-G.Hartley 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
5. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 34:46 · NO 27 · Score 6-10
   (4:46) 6-R.Succop 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
6. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 28:14 · KC 1 · Score 6-16
   (13:14) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 80-J.Graham for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 0, YAC 1
7. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 28:10 · KC 2 · Score 6-17
   5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
8. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 20:41 · KC 6 · Score 6-23
   (5:41) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 45-J.Collins for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 0, YAC 6
9. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 20:36 · KC 2 · Score 6-24
   5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
10. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q3 20:32 · NO 91 · Score 12-24
    (5:32) 25-J.Charles left end for 91 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q3 20:18 · NO 2 · Score 13-24
    6-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
12. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q4 13:45 · NO 16 · Score 16-24
    (13:45) 6-R.Succop 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
13. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q4 9:16 · NO 20 · Score 19-24
    (9:16) 6-R.Succop 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
14. Kansas City Chiefs Safety (+2) — Q4 5:40 · KC 93 · Score 21-24
    (5:40) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees sacked in End Zone for -7 yards, SAFETY (50-J.Houston). The Replay Assistant challenged the safety ruling, and the play was Upheld.
15. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q4 0:08 · NO 25 · Score 24-24
    (:08) 6-R.Succop 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
16. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — OT 6:32 · NO 13 · Score 27-24
    (6:32) 6-R.Succop 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.