New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers: 2013 Week 16 Recap

Game story

In Week 16 of the 2013 NFL season on 2013-12-22, the Carolina Panthers took care of business against the New Orleans Saints, pulling away with a 17–13 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with -4.22 total EPA, and +2.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Colston (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +3.71 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+39.1% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Carolina Panthers changed the game: (:28) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left to 87-D.Hixon for 14 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 M. Colston · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.71 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.37 EPA/play
2. 2 De. Williams · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +3.17 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
3. 3 B. Watson · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.46 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.23 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Hixon · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +1.98 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.66 EPA/play
5. 5 L. Moore · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.84 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.61 EPA/play
6. 6 R. Meachem · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.21 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.61 EPA/play
7. 7 S. Smith · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +1.16 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.58 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Collins · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +1.03 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.34 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

• Carolina Panthers — unlisted player (Q2 31:54)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Graham (D. Brees pass) (Q4 6:43)
• Carolina Panthers — D. Hixon (C. Newton pass) (Q4 0:28)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — S. Graham (Q2 40:53)
• New Orleans Saints — S. Graham (Q2 37:24)
• Carolina Panthers — G. Gano (Q3 22:25)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The second quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 7–6. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CAR 22 (Q2 40:53) — (10:53) 3-S.Graham 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CAR 7 (Q2 37:24) — (7:24) 3-S.Graham 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the NO 43 (Q2 31:54) — (1:54) 34-De.Williams up the middle for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q2 31:45) — 9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman..

The third quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 3–0. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the NO 22 (Q3 22:25) — (7:25) 9-G.Gano 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 5 (Q4 6:43) — (6:43) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 80-J.Graham for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q4 6:37) — 3-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the NO 14 (Q4 0:28) — (:28) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left to 87-D.Hixon for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q4 0:23) — 9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman..

Turning points

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

• Carolina Panthers (Q4 0:28) — (:28) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left to 87-D.Hixon for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +39.1% · EPA +3.38]
• Carolina Panthers (Q4 0:55) — (:55) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep middle to 19-T.Ginn pushed ob at NO 28 for 37 yards (41-R.Harper). [WPA +19.3% · EPA +2.23]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 0:05) — (:05) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass incomplete deep right to 80-J.Graham (21-M.Mitchell) [99-K.Short]. [WPA -17.0% · EPA -0.39]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 1:02) — (1:02) 6-T.Morstead punts 37 yards to CAR 35, Center-47-J.Drescher, fair catch by 19-T.Ginn. [WPA -16.8% · EPA -0.35]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 31:54) — (1:54) 34-De.Williams up the middle for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +15.4% · EPA +4.58]

Impact plays

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

• Carolina Panthers (Q2 31:54) — (1:54) 34-De.Williams up the middle for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +15.4% · EPA +4.58]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 56:48) — (11:48) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short middle intended for 19-T.Ginn INTERCEPTED by 27-M.Jenkins at NO 10. 27-M.Jenkins to NO 14 for 4 yards (67-R.Kalil). [WPA -11.5% · EPA -3.63]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 11:57) — (11:57) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 80-J.Graham to CAR 48 for 46 yards (58-T.Davis). [WPA +10.4% · EPA +3.42]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 43:27) — (13:27) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 12-M.Colston to CAR 23 for 35 yards (59-L.Kuechly). [WPA +11.9% · EPA +3.39]

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) · 52 dropbacks · 57.7% completion · +2.3% CPOE · -0.08 EPA/play · -4.22 total EPA
• C.Newton (Carolina Panthers) · 26 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · +2.6% CPOE · -0.24 EPA/play · -6.35 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (New Orleans Saints -0.05, Carolina Panthers -0.06) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Carolina Panthers: 14 drives, -3.46 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 14 drives, -4.71 total EPA, 3 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• M. Colston (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 FG (+3) — Q2 40:53 · CAR 22 · Score 3-0
   (10:53) 3-S.Graham 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.
2. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 37:24 · CAR 7 · Score 6-0
   (7:24) 3-S.Graham 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.
3. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q2 31:54 · NO 43 · Score 6-6
   (1:54) 34-De.Williams up the middle for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q2 31:45 · NO 2 · Score 6-7
   9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
5. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q3 22:25 · NO 22 · Score 6-10
   (7:25) 9-G.Gano 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
6. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 6:43 · CAR 5 · Score 12-10
   (6:43) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 80-J.Graham for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 6:37 · CAR 2 · Score 13-10
   3-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.
8. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q4 0:28 · NO 14 · Score 13-16
   (:28) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left to 87-D.Hixon for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q4 0:23 · NO 2 · Score 13-17
   9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.