New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers: 2010 Week 9 Recap

Game story

In Week 9 of the 2010 NFL season on 2010-11-07, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Carolina Panthers, pulling away with a 34–3 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 10 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with +2.93 total EPA, and +8.8% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Graham (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.98 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-27.5% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (13:28) 9-D.Brees FUMBLES (Aborted) at CAR 11, and recovers at CAR 11. 9-D.Brees pass intended for 17-R.Meachem INTERCEPTED by 31-R.Marshall at CAR 6. 31-R.Marshall to NO 28 for 66 yards (12-M.Colston

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. Graham · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +5.98 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.50 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Colston · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +4.06 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.45 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Thomas · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.24 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.54 EPA/play
4. 4 L. Moore · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.16 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Brees · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +2.93 total EPA · 45 snaps · +0.07 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Jones · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +2.79 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Senn · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +2.73 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.73 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Shockey · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.50 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.75 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 — J. Shockey (D. Brees pass) (Q1 47:32)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Graham (D. Brees pass) (Q2 32:55)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Greer (Q3 15:50)
• New Orleans Saints — L. Betts (Q4 8:20)

Field goals

• Carolina Panthers — J. Kasay (Q1 55:23)
• New Orleans Saints — G. Hartley (Q2 30:02)
• New Orleans Saints — G. Hartley (Q3 23:43)

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. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the NO 2 (Q1 55:23) — (10:23) 4-J.Kasay 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-7-J.Baker.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 7 (Q1 47:32) — (2:32) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 88-J.Shockey for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q1 47:28) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-10-C.Daniel..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 10–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 19 (Q2 32:55) — (2:55) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 80-J.Graham for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q2 32:49) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-10-C.Daniel.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CAR 13 (Q2 30:02) — (:02) 5-G.Hartley 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-10-C.Daniel..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 10–0. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CAR 18 (Q3 23:43) — (8:43) 5-G.Hartley 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-10-C.Daniel.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the NO 80 (Q3 15:50); New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q3 15:41) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-10-C.Daniel..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 1 (Q4 8:20) — (8:20) 46-L.Betts left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q4 8:12) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-10-C.Daniel..

Turning points

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q1 58:28) — (13:28) 9-D.Brees FUMBLES (Aborted) at CAR 11, and recovers at CAR 11. 9-D.Brees pass intended for 17-R.Meachem INTERCEPTED by 31-R.Marshall at CAR 6. 31-R.Marshall to NO 28 for 66 yards (12-M.Colston [WPA -27.5% · EPA -8.81]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 50:38) — (5:38) 28-J.Stewart right end to CAR 27 for 5 yards (51-J.Vilma). New Orleans challenged the runner was down by contact ruling, and the play was REVERSED. 28-J.Stewart right end to CAR 27 for 5 yards [WPA -16.4% · EPA -4.23]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 60:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 21-J.Jones up the middle to CAR 26 for 54 yards (30-C.Godfrey). [WPA +12.8% · EPA +3.98]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 46:15) — (1:15) 22-T.Sutton right tackle to NO 28 for 32 yards (98-S.Ellis). PENALTY on NO-55-D.Clark, Illegal Use of Hands, 5 yards, enforced at NO 28. [WPA +10.5% · EPA +2.24]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 44:56) — (14:56) 4-J.Kasay 40 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-7-J.Baker. [WPA -9.6% · EPA -2.84]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q1 58:28) — (13:28) 9-D.Brees FUMBLES (Aborted) at CAR 11, and recovers at CAR 11. 9-D.Brees pass intended for 17-R.Meachem INTERCEPTED by 31-R.Marshall at CAR 6. 31-R.Marshall to NO 28 for 66 yards (12-M.Colston [WPA -27.5% · EPA -8.81]
• Carolina Panthers (Q3 15:50) — (:50) (Shotgun) 2-J.Clausen pass short right intended for 88-D.Rosario INTERCEPTED by 33-J.Greer at CAR 24. 33-J.Greer for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -3.8% · EPA -7.76]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 50:38) — (5:38) 28-J.Stewart right end to CAR 27 for 5 yards (51-J.Vilma). New Orleans challenged the runner was down by contact ruling, and the play was REVERSED. 28-J.Stewart right end to CAR 27 for 5 yards [WPA -16.4% · EPA -4.23]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 60:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 21-J.Jones up the middle to CAR 26 for 54 yards (30-C.Godfrey). [WPA +12.8% · EPA +3.98]

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) · 45 dropbacks · 60.0% completion · +8.8% CPOE · +0.07 EPA/play · +2.93 total EPA
• J.Clausen (Carolina Panthers) · 22 dropbacks · 36.4% completion · -19.4% CPOE · -0.68 EPA/play · -15.04 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 -0.35), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Carolina Panthers: 13 drives, -30.76 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 13 drives, +5.18 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.
• J. Graham (New Orleans Saints) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Brees (NO) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• J. Clausen (CAR) 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. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q1 55:23 · NO 2 · Score 0-3
   (10:23) 4-J.Kasay 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-7-J.Baker.
2. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 47:32 · CAR 7 · Score 6-3
   (2:32) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 88-J.Shockey for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 47:28 · CAR 2 · Score 7-3
   5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
4. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 32:55 · CAR 19 · Score 13-3
   (2:55) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 80-J.Graham for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 32:49 · CAR 2 · Score 14-3
   5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
6. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 30:02 · CAR 13 · Score 17-3
   (:02) 5-G.Hartley 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
7. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q3 23:43 · CAR 18 · Score 20-3
   (8:43) 5-G.Hartley 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
8. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 15:50 · NO 80 · Score 26-3
   (:50) (Shotgun) 2-J.Clausen pass short right intended for 88-D.Rosario INTERCEPTED by 33-J.Greer at CAR 24. 33-J.Greer for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 15:41 · CAR 2 · Score 27-3
   5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
10. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 8:20 · CAR 1 · Score 33-3
    (8:20) 46-L.Betts left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
11. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 8:12 · CAR 2 · Score 34-3
    5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-10-C.Daniel.