New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers: 2008 Week 7 Recap

Game story

In Week 7 of the 2008 NFL season on 2008-10-19, the Carolina Panthers took care of business against the New Orleans Saints, pulling away with a 30–7 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.

D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with -11.81 total EPA, and -5.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, S. Smith (Carolina Panthers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +10.09 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-13.6% win probability) landed in the second quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (12:13) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 88-J.Shockey to NO 41 for -5 yards (90-J.Peppers). FUMBLES (90-J.Peppers), RECOVERED by CAR-43-C.Harris at NO 43. 43-C.Harris to NO 40 for 3 yards (73-J.Evans).

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 S. Smith · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +10.09 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.68 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Delhomme · Carolina Panthers · Passing · +9.23 total EPA · 23 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Muhammad · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +4.63 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.54 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Henderson · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +4.62 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.54 EPA/play
5. 5 B. Miller · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.31 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.83 EPA/play
6. 6 R. Bush · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +2.88 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Williams · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +2.56 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.56 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Jarrett · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +2.00 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.00 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 — M. Karney (Q2 45:00)
• Carolina Panthers — J. Stewart (Q2 40:05)
• Carolina Panthers — S. Smith (J. Delhomme pass) (Q3 27:47)
• Carolina Panthers — D. Williams (J. Delhomme pass) (Q3 19:04)

Field goals

• Carolina Panthers — J. Kasay (Q1 54:44)
• Carolina Panthers — J. Kasay (Q2 33:33)
• Carolina Panthers — J. Kasay (Q4 2:00)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 3–0. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the NO 22 (Q1 54:44) — (9:44) 4-J.Kasay 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker..

The second quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 10–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 1 (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) 44-M.Karney left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q2 44:58) — 5-T.Mehlhaff extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the NO 18 (Q2 40:05) — (10:05) 28-J.Stewart right tackle for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q2 39:58) — 4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the NO 30 (Q2 33:33) — (3:33) 4-J.Kasay 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker..

The third quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 14–0. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the NO 39 (Q3 27:47) — (12:47) 17-J.Delhomme pass deep middle to 89-S.Smith for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q3 27:39) — 4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the NO 4 (Q3 19:04) — (4:04) 17-J.Delhomme pass short right to 34-D.Williams for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q3 18:58) — 4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker..

The fourth quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 3–0. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the NO 10 (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) 4-J.Kasay 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker..

Turning points

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q2 42:13) — (12:13) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 88-J.Shockey to NO 41 for -5 yards (90-J.Peppers). FUMBLES (90-J.Peppers), RECOVERED by CAR-43-C.Harris at NO 43. 43-C.Harris to NO 40 for 3 yards (73-J.Evans). [WPA -13.6% · EPA -4.70]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 40:45) — (10:45) (Shotgun) 17-J.Delhomme pass short right to 89-S.Smith to NO 18 for 19 yards (43-K.Kaesviharn). [WPA +9.2% · EPA +2.37]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 36:34) — (6:34) 7-S.Weatherford punts 37 yards to CAR 15, Center-47-K.Houser. 84-M.Jones to CAR 39 for 24 yards (97-J.Charleston; 39-C.Reis). [WPA -9.0% · EPA -1.66]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 48:09) — (3:09) 25-R.Bush right end to 50 for 2 yards (31-R.Marshall). PENALTY on CAR-31-R.Marshall, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced at 50. [WPA +8.7% · EPA +1.98]
• Carolina Panthers (Q3 27:47) — (12:47) 17-J.Delhomme pass deep middle to 89-S.Smith for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.5% · EPA +3.59]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q3 22:05) — (7:05) 9-D.Brees pass deep left intended for 12-M.Colston INTERCEPTED by 21-K.Lucas at NO 49. 21-K.Lucas to NO 18 for 31 yards (70-J.Brown). Play Challenged by NO and Upheld. (Timeout #1 at 06:53.) [WPA -4.1% · EPA -4.81]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 42:13) — (12:13) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 88-J.Shockey to NO 41 for -5 yards (90-J.Peppers). FUMBLES (90-J.Peppers), RECOVERED by CAR-43-C.Harris at NO 43. 43-C.Harris to NO 40 for 3 yards (73-J.Evans). [WPA -13.6% · EPA -4.70]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 13:52) — (13:52) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep middle to 19-D.Henderson to CAR 11 for 54 yards (21-K.Lucas). [WPA +0.4% · EPA +3.68]
• Carolina Panthers (Q3 27:47) — (12:47) 17-J.Delhomme pass deep middle to 89-S.Smith for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.5% · EPA +3.59]

Quarterback report card

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

• D.Brees (New Orleans Saints) · 41 dropbacks · 51.2% completion · -5.9% CPOE · -0.29 EPA/play · -11.81 total EPA
• J.Delhomme (Carolina Panthers) · 23 dropbacks · 60.9% completion · +7.2% CPOE · +0.40 EPA/play · +9.23 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Carolina Panthers held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.16 vs -0.14), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Carolina Panthers: 11 drives, +11.72 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 11 drives, -11.40 total EPA, 1 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Carolina Panthers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• S. Smith (Carolina Panthers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Brees (NO) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• J. Delhomme (CAR) 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. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q1 54:44 · NO 22 · Score 0-3
   (9:44) 4-J.Kasay 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.
2. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 45:00 · CAR 1 · Score 6-3
   (15:00) 44-M.Karney left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
3. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 44:58 · CAR 2 · Score 7-3
   5-T.Mehlhaff extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.
4. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q2 40:05 · NO 18 · Score 7-9
   (10:05) 28-J.Stewart right tackle for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q2 39:58 · NO 2 · Score 7-10
   4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.
6. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q2 33:33 · NO 30 · Score 7-13
   (3:33) 4-J.Kasay 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.
7. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q3 27:47 · NO 39 · Score 7-19
   (12:47) 17-J.Delhomme pass deep middle to 89-S.Smith for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q3 27:39 · NO 2 · Score 7-20
   4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.
9. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q3 19:04 · NO 4 · Score 7-26
   (4:04) 17-J.Delhomme pass short right to 34-D.Williams for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q3 18:58 · NO 2 · Score 7-27
    4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.
11. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q4 2:00 · NO 10 · Score 7-30
    (2:00) 4-J.Kasay 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.