New Orleans Saints vs. Cleveland Browns: 2014 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2014 NFL season on 2014-09-14, the Cleveland Browns took care of business against the New Orleans Saints, pulling away with a 26–24 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 16 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Hoyer (Cleveland Browns) paced the passing game, with +2.07 total EPA, and -1.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Graham (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.01 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+22.8% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Cleveland Browns changed the game: (:13) (Shotgun) 6-B.Hoyer pass deep right to 16-A.Hawkins to NO 11 for 28 yards (28-K.Lewis). Penalty on NO-21-P.Robinson, Defensive Holding, declined.

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 · +5.01 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.39 EPA/play
2. 2 G. Barnidge · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +4.84 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.21 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Ingram · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +4.27 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.39 EPA/play
4. 4 R. Meachem · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.35 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play
5. 5 B. Hoyer · Cleveland Browns · Passing · +2.07 total EPA · 43 snaps · +0.05 EPA/play
6. 6 T. West · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +1.67 total EPA · 20 snaps · +0.08 EPA/play
7. 7 T. West · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +1.54 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.77 EPA/play
8. 8 B. Cooks · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +1.51 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.76 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

• Cleveland Browns — M. Austin (B. Hoyer pass) (Q1 51:02)
• Cleveland Browns — T. Gipson (Q2 33:37)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Graham (D. Brees pass) (Q2 30:08)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Graham (D. Brees pass) (Q3 24:36)
• Cleveland Browns — T. West (Q3 18:23)
• New Orleans Saints — M. Ingram (Q4 12:15)

Field goals

• Cleveland Browns — B. Cundiff (Q1 45:05)
• New Orleans Saints — S. Graham (Q2 35:20)
• Cleveland Browns — B. Cundiff (Q4 0:06)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 10–0. Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the NO 3 (Q1 51:02) — (6:02) (Shotgun) 6-B.Hoyer pass short middle to 19-M.Austin for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q1 50:59) — 8-B.Cundiff extra point is GOOD, Center-57-C.Yount, Holder-5-S.Lanning.; Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the NO 14 (Q1 45:05) — (:05) (Field Goal formation) 8-B.Cundiff 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-C.Yount, Holder-5-S.Lanning..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 10–6. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CLE 9 (Q2 35:20) — (5:20) (Field Goal formation) 3-S.Graham 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the CLE 56 (Q2 33:37); New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CLE 9 (Q2 30:08) — (:08) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 80-J.Graham for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CLE 2 (Q2 30:03) — (Kick formation) 3-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CLE 1 (Q3 24:36) — (9:36) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 80-J.Graham for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CLE 2 (Q3 24:32) — 3-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the NO 9 (Q3 18:23) — (3:23) 28-T.West left tackle for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q3 18:19) — 8-B.Cundiff extra point is GOOD, Center-57-C.Yount, Holder-5-S.Lanning..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–3. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CLE 1 (Q4 12:15) — (12:15) 22-M.Ingram right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CLE 2 (Q4 12:12) — 3-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.; Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the NO 11 (Q4 0:06) — (:06) (Field Goal formation) 8-B.Cundiff 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-C.Yount, Holder-5-S.Lanning..

Turning points

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

• Cleveland Browns (Q4 0:13) — (:13) (Shotgun) 6-B.Hoyer pass deep right to 16-A.Hawkins to NO 11 for 28 yards (28-K.Lewis). Penalty on NO-21-P.Robinson, Defensive Holding, declined. [WPA +22.8% · EPA +1.19]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 33:37) — (3:37) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep middle intended for 80-J.Graham INTERCEPTED by 39-T.Gipson [99-P.Kruger] at CLE 38. 39-T.Gipson for 62 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -15.9% · EPA -8.63]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 0:03) — 8-B.Cundiff kicks 53 yards from CLE 35 to NO 12. 29-K.Robinson to NO 42 for 30 yards (33-J.Poyer). FUMBLES (33-J.Poyer), RECOVERED by CLE-15-M.Moore at NO 40. 15-M.Moore to NO 40 for no gain (39-T.Cad [WPA -15.6% · EPA +0.00]
• Cleveland Browns (Q4 0:38) — (:38) (Shotgun) 6-B.Hoyer pass short middle to 82-G.Barnidge to CLE 48 for 10 yards (31-J.Byrd). [WPA +11.4% · EPA +1.09]
• Cleveland Browns (Q4 1:08) — (1:08) (Shotgun) 6-B.Hoyer sacked at CLE 32 for -2 yards (93-J.Galette). [WPA -11.2% · EPA -0.53]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q2 33:37) — (3:37) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep middle intended for 80-J.Graham INTERCEPTED by 39-T.Gipson [99-P.Kruger] at CLE 38. 39-T.Gipson for 62 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -15.9% · EPA -8.63]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 30:08) — (:08) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 80-J.Graham for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +8.7% · EPA +4.03]
• Cleveland Browns (Q3 23:06) — (8:06) (Shotgun) 6-B.Hoyer pass short left to 82-G.Barnidge to CLE 41 for 13 yards (25-R.Bush). #6 Hoyer in at QB [WPA +8.8% · EPA +2.51]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 46:29) — (1:29) (Field Goal formation) 8-B.Cundiff 44 yard field goal is No Good, Hit Right Upright, Center-57-C.Yount, Holder-5-S.Lanning. PENALTY on NO-21-P.Robinson, Neutral Zone Infraction, 5 yards, enforc [WPA +3.6% · EPA +2.42]

Quarterback report card

B.Hoyer led all passers in efficiency for Cleveland Browns, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• B.Hoyer (Cleveland Browns) · 43 dropbacks · 55.8% completion · -1.3% CPOE · +0.05 EPA/play · +2.07 total EPA
• D.Brees (New Orleans Saints) · 42 dropbacks · 64.3% completion · +4.6% CPOE · -0.04 EPA/play · -1.55 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 +0.04, Cleveland Browns +0.04) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Cleveland Browns: 12 drives, +3.53 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 11 drives, +3.46 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Cleveland Browns 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.
• 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.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q1 51:02 · NO 3 · Score 0-6
   (6:02) (Shotgun) 6-B.Hoyer pass short middle to 19-M.Austin for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q1 50:59 · NO 2 · Score 0-7
   8-B.Cundiff extra point is GOOD, Center-57-C.Yount, Holder-5-S.Lanning.
3. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q1 45:05 · NO 14 · Score 0-10
   (:05) (Field Goal formation) 8-B.Cundiff 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-C.Yount, Holder-5-S.Lanning.
4. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 35:20 · CLE 9 · Score 3-10
   (5:20) (Field Goal formation) 3-S.Graham 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.
5. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q2 33:37 · CLE 56 · Score 3-16
   (3:37) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep middle intended for 80-J.Graham INTERCEPTED by 39-T.Gipson [99-P.Kruger] at CLE 38. 39-T.Gipson for 62 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 30:08 · CLE 9 · Score 9-16
   (:08) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 80-J.Graham for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 30:03 · CLE 2 · Score 10-16
   (Kick formation) 3-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.
8. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 24:36 · CLE 1 · Score 16-16
   (9:36) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 80-J.Graham for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
9. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 24:32 · CLE 2 · Score 17-16
   3-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.
10. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q3 18:23 · NO 9 · Score 17-22
    (3:23) 28-T.West left tackle for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q3 18:19 · NO 2 · Score 17-23
    8-B.Cundiff extra point is GOOD, Center-57-C.Yount, Holder-5-S.Lanning.
12. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 12:15 · CLE 1 · Score 23-23
    (12:15) 22-M.Ingram right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
13. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 12:12 · CLE 2 · Score 24-23
    3-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.
14. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q4 0:06 · NO 11 · Score 24-26
    (:06) (Field Goal formation) 8-B.Cundiff 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-C.Yount, Holder-5-S.Lanning.