New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers: 2001 Week 5 Recap

Game story

In Week 5 of the 2001 NFL season on 2001-10-14, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Carolina Panthers, pulling away with a 27–25 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

A. Brooks (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with -5.30 total EPA.

On the individual side, C. Cleeland (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.76 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-47.8% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (2:04) 4-T.Gowin punts 51 yards to CAR 30, Center-47-K.Houser. 89-S.Smith for 70 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

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 C. Cleeland · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +4.76 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.19 EPA/play
2. 2 R. Williams · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +4.61 total EPA · 31 snaps · +0.15 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Horn · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.40 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.34 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Hayes · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +2.68 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.24 EPA/play
5. 5 W. Walls · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +2.66 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.33 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Biakabutuka · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +1.99 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
7. 7 D. McAllister · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +0.63 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.63 EPA/play
8. 8 S. Smith · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +0.43 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.22 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 — C. Cleeland (A. Brooks pass) (Q1 54:02)
• New Orleans Saints — C. Cleeland (A. Brooks pass) (Q2 42:56)
• Carolina Panthers — D. Hayes (C. Weinke pass) (Q3 19:38)
• Carolina Panthers — W. Walls (C. Weinke pass) (Q4 3:50)
• Carolina Panthers — S. Smith (Q4 2:04)
• New Orleans Saints — R. Williams (Q4 0:00)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — J. Carney (Q1 50:41)
• Carolina Panthers — J. Kasay (Q2 34:08)
• Carolina Panthers — J. Kasay (Q2 31:11)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Carney (Q3 15:10)

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 10–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 11 (Q1 54:02) — (9:02) 2-A.Brooks pass to 85-C.Cleeland for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q1 53:57) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CAR 12 (Q1 50:41) — (5:41) 3-J.Carney 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–6. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 16 (Q2 42:56) — (12:56) 2-A.Brooks pass to 85-C.Cleeland for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q2 42:49) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the NO 29 (Q2 34:08) — (4:08) 4-J.Kasay 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-10-T.Sauerbrun.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the NO 35 (Q2 31:11) — (1:11) 4-J.Kasay 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-10-T.Sauerbrun..

The third quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 6–3. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the NO 9 (Q3 19:38) — (4:38) 16-C.Weinke pass to 81-D.Hayes for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on NO-59-K.Mitchell, Defensive Holding, declined.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CAR 21 (Q3 15:10) — (:10) 3-J.Carney 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin..

The fourth quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 13–7. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the NO 23 (Q4 3:50) — (3:50) 16-C.Weinke pass to 85-W.Walls for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the CAR 81 (Q4 2:04) — (2:04) 4-T.Gowin punts 51 yards to CAR 30, Center-47-K.Houser. 89-S.Smith for 70 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q4 1:48) — 4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-10-T.Sauerbrun.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 1 (Q4 0:00) — (:00) 34-R.Williams left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q4 0:00) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin..

Turning points

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q4 2:04) — (2:04) 4-T.Gowin punts 51 yards to CAR 30, Center-47-K.Houser. 89-S.Smith for 70 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -47.8% · EPA -6.28]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 0:00) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin. [WPA +27.7% · EPA +0.03]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 0:00) — (:00) 34-R.Williams left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +24.9% · EPA +2.95]
• Carolina Panthers (Q4 3:50) — (3:50) 16-C.Weinke pass to 85-W.Walls for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +19.7% · EPA +4.05]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 0:55) — (:55) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass to 88-W.Jackson to CAR 41 for 14 yards (95-D.Wells). [WPA +16.1% · EPA +1.41]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q4 2:04) — (2:04) 4-T.Gowin punts 51 yards to CAR 30, Center-47-K.Houser. 89-S.Smith for 70 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -47.8% · EPA -6.28]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 53:06) — (8:06) 16-C.Weinke sacked at CAR 46 for -11 yards (54-D.Smith). FUMBLES (54-D.Smith), RECOVERED by NO-97-L.Glover at CAR 45. 97-L.Glover to CAR 33 for 12 yards (21-T.Biakabutuka). FUMBLES (21-T.Biakab [WPA -12.8% · EPA -5.73]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 54:41) — (9:41) 16-C.Weinke FUMBLES (Aborted) at CAR 11, touched at CAR 11, RECOVERED by NO-29-S.Knight at CAR 12. 29-S.Knight to CAR 12 for no gain (75-T.Steussie). [WPA -15.3% · EPA -4.65]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 44:38) — (14:38) 16-C.Weinke pass intended for 87-M.Muhammad INTERCEPTED by 56-C.Clemons at CAR 31. 56-C.Clemons to CAR 28 for 3 yards (87-M.Muhammad). [WPA -6.7% · EPA -4.11]

Quarterback report card

A.Brooks led all passers in efficiency for New Orleans Saints, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• A.Brooks (New Orleans Saints) · 48 dropbacks · 29.2% completion · -0.11 EPA/play · -5.30 total EPA
• C.Weinke (Carolina Panthers) · 46 dropbacks · 45.7% completion · -0.19 EPA/play · -8.93 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, New Orleans Saints generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.06 vs -0.13), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Carolina Panthers: 16 drives, -10.31 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 15 drives, -6.12 total EPA, 5 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.
• C. Cleeland (New Orleans Saints) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 54:02 · CAR 11 · Score 6-0
   (9:02) 2-A.Brooks pass to 85-C.Cleeland for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 53:57 · CAR 2 · Score 7-0
   3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin.
3. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q1 50:41 · CAR 12 · Score 10-0
   (5:41) 3-J.Carney 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin.
4. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 42:56 · CAR 16 · Score 16-0
   (12:56) 2-A.Brooks pass to 85-C.Cleeland for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 42:49 · CAR 2 · Score 17-0
   3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin.
6. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q2 34:08 · NO 29 · Score 17-3
   (4:08) 4-J.Kasay 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-10-T.Sauerbrun.
7. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q2 31:11 · NO 35 · Score 17-6
   (1:11) 4-J.Kasay 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-10-T.Sauerbrun.
8. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q3 19:38 · NO 9 · Score 17-12
   (4:38) 16-C.Weinke pass to 81-D.Hayes for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on NO-59-K.Mitchell, Defensive Holding, declined.
9. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q3 15:10 · CAR 21 · Score 20-12
   (:10) 3-J.Carney 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin.
10. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q4 3:50 · NO 23 · Score 20-18
    (3:50) 16-C.Weinke pass to 85-W.Walls for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q4 2:04 · CAR 81 · Score 20-24
    (2:04) 4-T.Gowin punts 51 yards to CAR 30, Center-47-K.Houser. 89-S.Smith for 70 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q4 1:48 · NO 2 · Score 20-25
    4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-10-T.Sauerbrun.
13. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 0:00 · CAR 1 · Score 26-25
    (:00) 34-R.Williams left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
14. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 0:00 · CAR 2 · Score 27-25
    3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin.