New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers: 2012 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2012 NFL season on 2012-09-16, the Carolina Panthers took care of business against the New Orleans Saints, pulling away with a 35–27 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with +2.67 total EPA, and +0.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, C. Newton (Carolina Panthers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +13.80 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-17.8% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (5:41) 9-D.Brees pass short right intended for 85-D.Thomas INTERCEPTED by 30-C.Godfrey at NO 9. 30-C.Godfrey for 9 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. Newton · Carolina Panthers · Passing · +13.80 total EPA · 24 snaps · +0.58 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Sproles · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +8.43 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.60 EPA/play
3. 3 P. Thomas · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +6.90 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.77 EPA/play
4. 4 S. Smith · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +6.86 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.72 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Colston · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +4.79 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.20 EPA/play
6. 6 B. LaFell · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +4.10 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.51 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Brees · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +2.67 total EPA · 51 snaps · +0.05 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Stewart · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +2.45 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.45 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. Graham (D. Brees pass) (Q1 54:43)
• Carolina Panthers — C. Godfrey (Q1 50:41)
• Carolina Panthers — J. Stewart (C. Newton pass) (Q2 33:41)
• Carolina Panthers — M. Tolbert (Q2 30:14)
• Carolina Panthers — D. Williams (Q3 23:21)
• New Orleans Saints — M. Ingram (Q4 12:57)
• Carolina Panthers — C. Newton (Q4 9:58)
• New Orleans Saints — D. Brees (Q4 1:59)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — G. Hartley (Q1 46:30)
• New Orleans Saints — G. Hartley (Q2 37:13)

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 10–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 1 (Q1 54:43) — (9:43) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 80-J.Graham for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q1 54:39) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the CAR 91 (Q1 50:41) — (5:41) 9-D.Brees pass short right intended for 85-D.Thomas INTERCEPTED by 30-C.Godfrey at NO 9. 30-C.Godfrey for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q1 50:33) — 6-J.Medlock extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CAR 4 (Q1 46:30) — (1:30) 5-G.Hartley 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel..

The second quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 14–3. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CAR 35 (Q2 37:13) — (7:13) 5-G.Hartley 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the NO 17 (Q2 33:41) — (3:41) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left to 28-J.Stewart for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q2 33:33) — 6-J.Medlock extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the NO 2 (Q2 30:14) — (:14) (Shotgun) 35-M.Tolbert up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q2 30:11) — 6-J.Medlock extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman..

The third quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 7–0. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the NO 3 (Q3 23:21) — (8:21) (Shotgun) 34-D.Williams up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q3 23:17) — 6-J.Medlock extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 14–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 1 (Q4 12:57) — (12:57) 28-M.Ingram up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q4 12:53) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the NO 5 (Q4 9:58) — (9:58) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton left guard for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q4 9:55) — 6-J.Medlock extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 1 (Q4 1:59); New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q4 1:55) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel..

Turning points

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q1 50:41) — (5:41) 9-D.Brees pass short right intended for 85-D.Thomas INTERCEPTED by 30-C.Godfrey at NO 9. 30-C.Godfrey for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -17.8% · EPA -5.95]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 41:53) — (11:53) 1-C.Newton FUMBLES (Aborted) at NO 8, RECOVERED by NO-52-J.Casillas at NO 8. 52-J.Casillas to NO 8 for no gain (89-S.Smith). [WPA -12.2% · EPA -3.15]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 35:24) — (5:24) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep left to 89-S.Smith to NO 32 for 35 yards (21-P.Robinson). [WPA +10.7% · EPA +3.62]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 57:18) — (12:18) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 43-D.Sproles to CAR 23 for 25 yards (43-H.Nakamura). [WPA +10.5% · EPA +2.80]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 33:41) — (3:41) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left to 28-J.Stewart for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +9.5% · EPA +2.45]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q1 50:41) — (5:41) 9-D.Brees pass short right intended for 85-D.Thomas INTERCEPTED by 30-C.Godfrey at NO 9. 30-C.Godfrey for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -17.8% · EPA -5.95]
• Carolina Panthers (Q4 12:53) — (12:53) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep right to 89-S.Smith to NO 14 for 66 yards (24-C.White). [WPA +4.6% · EPA +4.06]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 35:24) — (5:24) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep left to 89-S.Smith to NO 32 for 35 yards (21-P.Robinson). [WPA +10.7% · EPA +3.62]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 20:08) — (5:08) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass incomplete short middle [76-G.Hardy]. PENALTY on NO-9-D.Brees, Intentional Grounding, 10 yards, enforced at CAR 28. [WPA -3.6% · EPA -3.47]

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) · 51 dropbacks · 60.8% completion · +0.9% CPOE · +0.05 EPA/play · +2.67 total EPA
• C.Newton (Carolina Panthers) · 24 dropbacks · 58.3% completion · +13.3% CPOE · +0.58 EPA/play · +13.80 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 (+0.23 vs +0.14), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Carolina Panthers: 12 drives, +18.25 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 12 drives, +13.47 total EPA, 6 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.
• C. Newton (Carolina Panthers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• C. Newton (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. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 54:43 · CAR 1 · Score 6-0
   (9:43) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 80-J.Graham for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 54:39 · CAR 2 · Score 7-0
   5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
3. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q1 50:41 · CAR 91 · Score 7-6
   (5:41) 9-D.Brees pass short right intended for 85-D.Thomas INTERCEPTED by 30-C.Godfrey at NO 9. 30-C.Godfrey for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q1 50:33 · NO 2 · Score 7-7
   6-J.Medlock extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
5. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q1 46:30 · CAR 4 · Score 10-7
   (1:30) 5-G.Hartley 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
6. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 37:13 · CAR 35 · Score 13-7
   (7:13) 5-G.Hartley 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
7. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q2 33:41 · NO 17 · Score 13-13
   (3:41) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left to 28-J.Stewart for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q2 33:33 · NO 2 · Score 13-14
   6-J.Medlock extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
9. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q2 30:14 · NO 2 · Score 13-20
   (:14) (Shotgun) 35-M.Tolbert up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q2 30:11 · NO 2 · Score 13-21
    6-J.Medlock extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
11. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q3 23:21 · NO 3 · Score 13-27
    (8:21) (Shotgun) 34-D.Williams up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q3 23:17 · NO 2 · Score 13-28
    6-J.Medlock extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
13. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 12:57 · CAR 1 · Score 19-28
    (12:57) 28-M.Ingram up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
14. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 12:53 · CAR 2 · Score 20-28
    5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
15. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q4 9:58 · NO 5 · Score 20-34
    (9:58) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton left guard for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
16. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q4 9:55 · NO 2 · Score 20-35
    6-J.Medlock extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
17. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 1:59 · CAR 1 · Score 26-35
    (1:59) 9-D.Brees up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Assistant challenged the runner broke the plane ruling, and the play was Upheld.
18. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 1:55 · CAR 2 · Score 27-35
    5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.