Kansas City Chiefs vs. New Orleans Saints: 2020 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 2020 NFL season on 2020-12-20, the Kansas City Chiefs took care of business against the New Orleans Saints, pulling away with a 32–29 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 25 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) paced the passing game, with +6.44 total EPA, and -6.0% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.44 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+14.8% win probability) landed in the third quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (13:29) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 28-L.Murray for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass -1, YAC 25

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 P. Mahomes · Kansas City Chiefs · Passing · +6.44 total EPA · 60 snaps · +0.11 EPA/play
2. 2 E. Sanders · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +5.08 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.02 EPA/play
3. 3 S. Watkins · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +4.68 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.78 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Kelce · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +4.65 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.36 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Robinson · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +3.17 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.06 EPA/play
6. 6 C. Edwards-Helaire · Kansas City Chiefs · Rushing · +2.67 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Hill · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +2.37 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.24 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Cook · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.85 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.37 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

• Kansas City Chiefs — T. Hill (P. Mahomes pass) (Q1 51:24)
• Kansas City Chiefs — T. Kelce (P. Mahomes pass) (Q2 45:00)
• New Orleans Saints — T. Hill (Q2 40:24)
• New Orleans Saints — L. Murray (D. Brees pass) (Q3 28:29)
• Kansas City Chiefs — M. Hardman (P. Mahomes pass) (Q3 23:31)
• Kansas City Chiefs — P. Mahomes (Q4 13:50)
• New Orleans Saints — A. Kamara (D. Brees pass) (Q4 9:50)
• New Orleans Saints — L. Humphrey (D. Brees pass) (Q4 2:12)

Field goals

• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q4 4:21)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 7–0. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the NO 5 (Q1 51:24) — (6:24) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right to 10-T.Hill for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 5, YAC 0; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q1 51:18) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 9–7. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the NO 1 (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right to 87-T.Kelce for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Pass -2, YAC 3; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q2 44:58) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the KC 1 (Q2 40:24) — (10:24) T.Hill at quarterback. (Shotgun) 74-J.Hurst reported in as eligible. 7-T.Hill left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q2 40:21) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; New Orleans Saints registered a safety from the KC 64 (Q2 30:20).

The third quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 7–6. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the KC 24 (Q3 28:29) — (13:29) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 28-L.Murray for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass -1, YAC 25; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the NO 5 (Q3 23:31) — (8:31) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short left to 17-M.Hardman for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN [94-C.Jordan]. Pass 5, YAC 0; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q3 23:23) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend. INJURY UPDATE: KC #43 E.Smith, hamstring, DOUBTFUL to return..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 14–11. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the NO 13 (Q4 13:50) — (13:50) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes right end to NO 12 for 1 yard. Lateral to 26-L.Bell for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs registered a safety from the NO 2 (Q4 13:44) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 15-P.Mahomes pass to 87-T.Kelce is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the KC 14 (Q4 9:50) — (9:50) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 41-A.Kamara for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass -4, YAC 18; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q4 9:43) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead. INJURY UPDATE: NO#43 M.Williams, ankle, QUESTIONABLE to return.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the NO 4 (Q4 4:21) — (4:21) 7-H.Butker 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the KC 17 (Q4 2:12) — (2:12) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 84-L.Humphrey for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 17, YAC 0; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q4 2:06) — 3-W.Lutz extra point 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.

• New Orleans Saints (Q3 28:29) — (13:29) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 28-L.Murray for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass -1, YAC 25 [WPA +14.8% · EPA +2.90]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 54:39) — (9:39) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right intended for 84-L.Humphrey INTERCEPTED by 38-L.Sneed at NO 39. 38-L.Sneed ran ob at NO 36 for 3 yards. [WPA -11.4% · EPA -4.19]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 29:17) — (14:17) 9-D.Brees pass incomplete deep left to 7-T.Hill. PENALTY on KC-38-L.Sneed, Defensive Pass Interference, 19 yards, enforced at KC 39 - No Play. [WPA +9.7% · EPA +2.17]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 2:12) — (2:12) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 84-L.Humphrey for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 17, YAC 0 [WPA +9.7% · EPA +2.29]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 26:00) — (11:00) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short left to 14-S.Watkins pushed ob at NO 21 for 20 yards (23-M.Lattimore). Pass 6, YAC 14 [WPA +9.4% · EPA +2.56]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q2 41:38) — (11:38) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 17-E.Sanders to KC 3 for 51 yards (32-T.Mathieu). Pass 38, YAC 13 [WPA +7.6% · EPA +4.90]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 11:04) — (11:04) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes sacked at KC 22 for -12 yards (91-T.Hendrickson). FUMBLES (91-T.Hendrickson) [91-T.Hendrickson], RECOVERED by NO-58-K.Alexander at KC 25. [WPA -5.6% · EPA -4.81]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 54:39) — (9:39) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right intended for 84-L.Humphrey INTERCEPTED by 38-L.Sneed at NO 39. 38-L.Sneed ran ob at NO 36 for 3 yards. [WPA -11.4% · EPA -4.19]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 3:44) — (3:44) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep middle to 87-J.Cook to KC 46 for 21 yards (56-B.Niemann). Pass 16, YAC 5 [WPA +5.7% · EPA +3.46]

Quarterback report card

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

• P.Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) · 60 dropbacks · 43.3% completion · -6.0% CPOE · +0.11 EPA/play · +6.44 total EPA
• D.Brees (New Orleans Saints) · 38 dropbacks · 39.5% completion · -24.6% CPOE · -0.08 EPA/play · -2.92 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 (+0.02 vs -0.06), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Kansas City Chiefs: 13 drives, +2.06 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 14 drives, -4.08 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.
• P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• P. Mahomes (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. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q1 51:24 · NO 5 · Score 6-0
   (6:24) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right to 10-T.Hill for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 5, YAC 0
2. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q1 51:18 · NO 15 · Score 7-0
   7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
3. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q2 45:00 · NO 1 · Score 13-0
   (15:00) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right to 87-T.Kelce for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Pass -2, YAC 3
4. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q2 44:58 · NO 15 · Score 14-0
   7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
5. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 40:24 · KC 1 · Score 14-6
   (10:24) T.Hill at quarterback. (Shotgun) 74-J.Hurst reported in as eligible. 7-T.Hill left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
6. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 40:21 · KC 15 · Score 14-7
   3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
7. New Orleans Saints Safety (+2) — Q2 30:20 · KC 64 · Score 14-9
   (:20) 6-T.Morstead punts 51 yards to KC 13, Center-49-Z.Wood. 11-D.Robinson to KC 6 for -7 yards (52-C.Robertson). FUMBLES (52-C.Robertson), touched at KC -7, b
8. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 28:29 · KC 24 · Score 14-15
   (13:29) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 28-L.Murray for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass -1, YAC 25
9. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q3 23:31 · NO 5 · Score 20-15
   (8:31) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short left to 17-M.Hardman for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN [94-C.Jordan]. Pass 5, YAC 0
10. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q3 23:23 · NO 15 · Score 21-15
    7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend. INJURY UPDATE: KC #43 E.Smith, hamstring, DOUBTFUL to return.
11. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q4 13:50 · NO 13 · Score 27-15
    (13:50) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes right end to NO 12 for 1 yard. Lateral to 26-L.Bell for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Kansas City Chiefs Safety (+2) — Q4 13:44 · NO 2 · Score 29-15
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 15-P.Mahomes pass to 87-T.Kelce is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
13. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 9:50 · KC 14 · Score 29-21
    (9:50) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 41-A.Kamara for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass -4, YAC 18
14. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 9:43 · KC 15 · Score 29-22
    3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead. INJURY UPDATE: NO#43 M.Williams, ankle, QUESTIONABLE to return.
15. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q4 4:21 · NO 4 · Score 32-22
    (4:21) 7-H.Butker 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
16. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 2:12 · KC 17 · Score 32-28
    (2:12) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 84-L.Humphrey for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 17, YAC 0
17. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 2:06 · KC 15 · Score 32-29
    3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.