Las Vegas Raiders vs. New Orleans Saints: 2008 Week 6 Recap

Game story

In Week 6 of the 2008 NFL season on 2008-10-12, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Las Vegas Raiders, pulling away with a 34–3 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Russell (Las Vegas Raiders) paced the passing game, with -16.22 total EPA, and -20.1% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +15.04 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-11.6% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (4:15) 5-T.Mehlhaff 31 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.

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 D. Brees · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +15.04 total EPA · 34 snaps · +0.44 EPA/play
2. 2 L. Moore · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +7.75 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.11 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Henderson · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +4.56 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.28 EPA/play
4. 4 R. Curry · Las Vegas Raiders · Receiving · +4.32 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.44 EPA/play
5. 5 R. Bush · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.42 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.14 EPA/play
6. 6 Z. Miller · Las Vegas Raiders · Receiving · +3.09 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.03 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Stecker · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.75 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.75 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Campbell · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.52 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.84 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 — R. Bush (Q2 33:51)
• New Orleans Saints — A. Stecker (D. Brees pass) (Q3 22:49)
• New Orleans Saints — R. Bush (D. Brees pass) (Q3 21:07)
• New Orleans Saints — M. Campbell (D. Brees pass) (Q4 11:09)

Field goals

• Las Vegas Raiders — S. Janikowski (Q1 54:47)
• New Orleans Saints — T. Mehlhaff (Q2 30:54)
• New Orleans Saints — T. Mehlhaff (Q4 14:14)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Las Vegas Raiders won the period 3–0. Las Vegas Raiders connected on a field goal from the NO 6 (Q1 54:47) — (9:47) 11-S.Janikowski 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 10–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the LV 3 (Q2 33:51) — (3:51) 25-R.Bush left end for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the LV 2 (Q2 33:45) — 5-T.Mehlhaff extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the LV 26 (Q2 30:54) — (:54) 5-T.Mehlhaff 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 14–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the LV 8 (Q3 22:49) — (7:49) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 27-A.Stecker for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the LV 2 (Q3 22:42) — 5-T.Mehlhaff extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the LV 15 (Q3 21:07) — (6:07) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 25-R.Bush for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the LV 2 (Q3 20:57) — 5-T.Mehlhaff extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 10–0. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the LV 15 (Q4 14:14) — (14:14) 5-T.Mehlhaff 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the LV 2 (Q4 11:09) — (11:09) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 80-M.Campbell for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the LV 2 (Q4 11:04) — 5-T.Mehlhaff extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford..

Turning points

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q1 49:15) — (4:15) 5-T.Mehlhaff 31 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford. [WPA -11.6% · EPA -3.17]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 53:31) — (8:31) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 80-M.Campbell to LV 29 for 29 yards (57-R.Brown, 23-D.Hall). NO-80-M.Campbell was injured during the play. His return is Probable. [WPA +10.6% · EPA +2.30]
• Las Vegas Raiders (Q1 46:31) — (1:31) 2-J.Russell pass short left to 89-R.Curry to LV 49 for 8 yards (20-R.Gay). [WPA +7.0% · EPA +1.26]
• Las Vegas Raiders (Q2 31:53) — (1:53) 11-S.Janikowski 57 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler. [WPA -6.6% · EPA -2.75]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 58:27) — (13:27) 7-S.Weatherford punts 46 yards to LV 26, Center-47-K.Houser. 15-J.Higgins to NO 39 for 35 yards (7-S.Weatherford). [WPA -6.4% · EPA -2.51]

Impact plays

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

• Las Vegas Raiders (Q3 21:44) — (6:44) (Shotgun) 2-J.Russell pass short left intended for 87-A.Lelie INTERCEPTED by 42-J.David at LV 35. 42-J.David to LV 17 for 18 yards (87-A.Lelie). [WPA -5.2% · EPA -5.14]
• Las Vegas Raiders (Q4 12:49) — (12:49) (Shotgun) 2-J.Russell sacked at LV 32 for -8 yards (93-B.McCray). FUMBLES (93-B.McCray), RECOVERED by NO-71-K.Clancy at LV 32. [WPA -0.1% · EPA -4.10]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 16:10) — (1:10) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 19-D.Henderson to LV 21 for 51 yards (24-M.Huff). [WPA +0.3% · EPA +3.55]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 49:15) — (4:15) 5-T.Mehlhaff 31 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford. [WPA -11.6% · EPA -3.17]

Quarterback report card

J.Russell led all passers in efficiency for Las Vegas Raiders, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Russell (Las Vegas Raiders) · 39 dropbacks · 33.3% completion · -20.1% CPOE · -0.42 EPA/play · -16.22 total EPA
• D.Brees (New Orleans Saints) · 34 dropbacks · 76.5% completion · +18.6% CPOE · +0.44 EPA/play · +15.04 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 (+0.11 vs -0.30), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Las Vegas Raiders: 10 drives, -22.88 total EPA, 1 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 11 drives, +8.98 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.
• D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Russell (LV) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• 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.

1. Las Vegas Raiders FG (+3) — Q1 54:47 · NO 6 · Score 3-0
   (9:47) 11-S.Janikowski 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
2. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 33:51 · LV 3 · Score 3-6
   (3:51) 25-R.Bush left end for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 33:45 · LV 2 · Score 3-7
   5-T.Mehlhaff extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.
4. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 30:54 · LV 26 · Score 3-10
   (:54) 5-T.Mehlhaff 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.
5. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 22:49 · LV 8 · Score 3-16
   (7:49) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 27-A.Stecker for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 22:42 · LV 2 · Score 3-17
   5-T.Mehlhaff extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.
7. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 21:07 · LV 15 · Score 3-23
   (6:07) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 25-R.Bush for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 20:57 · LV 2 · Score 3-24
   5-T.Mehlhaff extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.
9. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 14:14 · LV 15 · Score 3-27
   (14:14) 5-T.Mehlhaff 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.
10. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 11:09 · LV 2 · Score 3-33
    (11:09) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 80-M.Campbell for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 11:04 · LV 2 · Score 3-34
    5-T.Mehlhaff extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.