New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers: 2015 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2015 NFL season on 2015-09-27, the Carolina Panthers took care of business against the New Orleans Saints, pulling away with a 27–22 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

L. McCown (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with +8.80 total EPA, and +14.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, C. Newton (Carolina Panthers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +14.06 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-36.6% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (1:17) (Shotgun) 7-L.McCown pass deep right intended for 10-B.Cooks INTERCEPTED by 24-J.Norman at CAR -5. Touchback.

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 · +14.06 total EPA · 36 snaps · +0.39 EPA/play
2. 2 G. Olsen · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +9.02 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.82 EPA/play
3. 3 L. McCown · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +8.80 total EPA · 45 snaps · +0.20 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Ginn · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +5.08 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.85 EPA/play
5. 5 W. Snead · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.27 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play
6. 6 C. Newton · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +3.05 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.51 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Spiller · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.63 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.31 EPA/play
8. 8 A. Johnson · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +1.81 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.90 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. Ingram (Q2 41:50)
• Carolina Panthers — G. Olsen (C. Newton pass) (Q2 35:20)
• New Orleans Saints — M. Murphy (Q3 27:52)
• Carolina Panthers — G. Olsen (C. Newton pass) (Q3 23:48)
• Carolina Panthers — C. Newton (Q4 9:39)
• New Orleans Saints — K. Robinson (Q4 4:55)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — Z. Hocker (Q1 54:03)
• Carolina Panthers — G. Gano (Q2 30:04)
• Carolina Panthers — G. Gano (Q3 16:36)

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 3–0. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CAR 13 (Q1 54:03) — (9:03) 2-Z.Hocker 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown..

The second quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 10–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 5 (Q2 41:50) — (11:50) 22-M.Ingram right end for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q2 41:44) — 2-Z.Hocker extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the NO 11 (Q2 35:20) — (5:20) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short right to 88-G.Olsen for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q2 35:14) — 9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the NO 2 (Q2 30:04) — (:04) 9-G.Gano 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman..

The third quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 10–6. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the NO 81 (Q3 27:52) — (12:52) 8-B.Nortman punts 55 yards to NO 26, Center-44-J.Jansen. 23-M.Murphy for 74 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the NO 11 (Q3 23:48) — (8:48) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short middle to 88-G.Olsen for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q3 23:43) — 9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the NO 29 (Q3 16:36) — (1:36) 9-G.Gano 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman..

The fourth quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 7–6. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the NO 13 (Q4 9:39) — (9:39) 1-C.Newton left end for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q4 9:32) — 9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 2 (Q4 4:55) — (4:55) 29-K.Robinson left end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

Turning points

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q4 1:17) — (1:17) (Shotgun) 7-L.McCown pass deep right intended for 10-B.Cooks INTERCEPTED by 24-J.Norman at CAR -5. Touchback. [WPA -36.6% · EPA -2.85]
• Carolina Panthers (Q3 27:52) — (12:52) 8-B.Nortman punts 55 yards to NO 26, Center-44-J.Jansen. 23-M.Murphy for 74 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -17.8% · EPA -4.98]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 0:06) — (:06) (Shotgun) 7-L.McCown pass short left to 22-M.Ingram to CAR 22 for 23 yards (20-K.Coleman; 97-M.Addison). [WPA -17.1% · EPA -0.52]
• Carolina Panthers (Q3 25:57) — (10:57) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep left to 19-T.Ginn to NO 25 for 55 yards (39-B.Browner). [WPA +14.3% · EPA +3.91]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 19:59) — (4:59) (Shotgun) 7-L.McCown pass short middle to 82-B.Watson to CAR 47 for 8 yards (58-T.Davis). FUMBLES (58-T.Davis), RECOVERED by CAR-41-R.Harper at CAR 41. 41-R.Harper to CAR 42 for 1 yard (83-W.Sn [WPA -13.4% · EPA -3.93]

Impact plays

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

• Carolina Panthers (Q3 27:52) — (12:52) 8-B.Nortman punts 55 yards to NO 26, Center-44-J.Jansen. 23-M.Murphy for 74 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -17.8% · EPA -4.98]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 19:59) — (4:59) (Shotgun) 7-L.McCown pass short middle to 82-B.Watson to CAR 47 for 8 yards (58-T.Davis). FUMBLES (58-T.Davis), RECOVERED by CAR-41-R.Harper at CAR 41. 41-R.Harper to CAR 42 for 1 yard (83-W.Sn [WPA -13.4% · EPA -3.93]
• Carolina Panthers (Q3 25:57) — (10:57) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep left to 19-T.Ginn to NO 25 for 55 yards (39-B.Browner). [WPA +14.3% · EPA +3.91]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 5:01) — (5:01) (Shotgun) 7-L.McCown pass short left to 28-C.Spiller pushed ob at CAR 2 for 19 yards (20-K.Coleman). [WPA +3.9% · EPA +2.96]

Quarterback report card

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

• L.McCown (New Orleans Saints) · 45 dropbacks · 68.9% completion · +14.6% CPOE · +0.20 EPA/play · +8.80 total EPA
• C.Newton (Carolina Panthers) · 36 dropbacks · 55.6% completion · +5.4% CPOE · +0.39 EPA/play · +14.06 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 +0.09, Carolina Panthers +0.14) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Carolina Panthers: 9 drives, +11.13 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 10 drives, +8.04 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.
• C. Newton (Carolina Panthers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• L. McCown (NO) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• 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 FG (+3) — Q1 54:03 · CAR 13 · Score 3-0
   (9:03) 2-Z.Hocker 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.
2. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 41:50 · CAR 5 · Score 9-0
   (11:50) 22-M.Ingram right end for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 41:44 · CAR 15 · Score 10-0
   2-Z.Hocker extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.
4. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q2 35:20 · NO 11 · Score 10-6
   (5:20) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short right to 88-G.Olsen for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q2 35:14 · NO 15 · Score 10-7
   9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
6. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q2 30:04 · NO 2 · Score 10-10
   (:04) 9-G.Gano 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
7. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 27:52 · NO 81 · Score 16-10
   (12:52) 8-B.Nortman punts 55 yards to NO 26, Center-44-J.Jansen. 23-M.Murphy for 74 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q3 23:48 · NO 11 · Score 16-16
   (8:48) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short middle to 88-G.Olsen for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q3 23:43 · NO 15 · Score 16-17
   9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
10. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q3 16:36 · NO 29 · Score 16-20
    (1:36) 9-G.Gano 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
11. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q4 9:39 · NO 13 · Score 16-26
    (9:39) 1-C.Newton left end for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q4 9:32 · NO 15 · Score 16-27
    9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
13. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 4:55 · CAR 2 · Score 22-27
    (4:55) 29-K.Robinson left end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.