New Orleans Saints vs. Cleveland Browns: 2022 Week 16 Recap

Game story

In Week 16 of the 2022 NFL season on 2022-12-24, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Cleveland Browns, pulling away with a 17–10 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

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

D. Watson (Cleveland Browns) paced the passing game, with -16.28 total EPA, and -4.7% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, A. Cooper (Cleveland Browns) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.55 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-16.9% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Cleveland Browns changed the game: (3:06) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short left intended for 18-Dav.Bell INTERCEPTED by 25-D.Sorensen (27-A.Taylor) at NO 49. 25-D.Sorensen to CLE 15 for 36 yards (75-J.Bitonio).

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 A. Cooper · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +7.55 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.76 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Watson · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +3.14 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.05 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Hill · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +2.02 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.22 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Johnson · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.92 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.92 EPA/play
5. 5 R. Shaheed · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.89 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.38 EPA/play
6. 6 N. Chubb · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +1.04 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.04 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Prentice · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +0.33 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.16 EPA/play
8. 8 A. Dalton · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +0.00 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.00 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 — D. Watson (Q2 45:00)
• New Orleans Saints — T. Hill (Q3 24:45)
• New Orleans Saints — A. Kamara (Q3 16:01)

Field goals

• Cleveland Browns — C. York (Q2 34:11)
• New Orleans Saints — W. Lutz (Q2 30:03)
• New Orleans Saints — unlisted player (Q2 30:00)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The second quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 10–6. Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the NO 12 (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson left end for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q2 44:55) — 3-C.York extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.; Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the NO 12 (Q2 34:11) — (4:11) 3-C.York 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CLE 5 (Q2 30:03) — (:03) 3-W.Lutz 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal (Q2 30:00) — END QUARTER 2.

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 14–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CLE 8 (Q3 24:45) — (9:45) (Shotgun) 7-T.Hill right guard for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q3 24:40) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CLE 4 (Q3 16:01) — (1:01) (No Huddle) 41-A.Kamara left guard for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q3 15:55) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin..

Turning points

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

• Cleveland Browns (Q3 18:06) — (3:06) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short left intended for 18-Dav.Bell INTERCEPTED by 25-D.Sorensen (27-A.Taylor) at NO 49. 25-D.Sorensen to CLE 15 for 36 yards (75-J.Bitonio). [WPA -16.9% · EPA -6.64]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 47:57) — (2:57) (Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton pass short middle intended for 83-J.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 22-G.Delpit at CLE 30. 22-G.Delpit to NO 30 for 40 yards (78-E.McCoy; 14-A.Dalton). [WPA -13.3% · EPA -5.78]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 16:01) — (1:01) (No Huddle) 41-A.Kamara left guard for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +10.3% · EPA +1.10]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 50:54) — (5:54) (Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton pass incomplete deep left. PENALTY on NO-14-A.Dalton, Intentional Grounding, 10 yards, enforced at CLE 37. [WPA -9.1% · EPA -1.97]
• Cleveland Browns (Q4 1:55) — (1:55) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short middle to 2-A.Cooper to NO 44 for 9 yards (21-B.Roby). [WPA +8.6% · EPA +1.44]

Impact plays

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

• Cleveland Browns (Q3 18:06) — (3:06) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short left intended for 18-Dav.Bell INTERCEPTED by 25-D.Sorensen (27-A.Taylor) at NO 49. 25-D.Sorensen to CLE 15 for 36 yards (75-J.Bitonio). [WPA -16.9% · EPA -6.64]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 47:57) — (2:57) (Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton pass short middle intended for 83-J.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 22-G.Delpit at CLE 30. 22-G.Delpit to NO 30 for 40 yards (78-E.McCoy; 14-A.Dalton). [WPA -13.3% · EPA -5.78]
• Cleveland Browns (Q2 35:46) — (5:46) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short left to 2-A.Cooper to NO 12 for 21 yards (30-J.Evans). [WPA +8.0% · EPA +3.38]
• Cleveland Browns (Q4 7:00) — (7:00) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass incomplete deep right to 11-D.Peoples-Jones. [WPA -7.5% · EPA -3.03]

Quarterback report card

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

• D.Watson (Cleveland Browns) · 36 dropbacks · 41.7% completion · -4.7% CPOE · -0.45 EPA/play · -16.28 total EPA
• A.Dalton (New Orleans Saints) · 15 dropbacks · 53.3% completion · -11.6% CPOE · -0.33 EPA/play · -5.01 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 (-0.11 vs -0.19), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Cleveland Browns: 10 drives, -15.86 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 11 drives, -7.42 total EPA, 3 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• A. Cooper (Cleveland Browns) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Watson (CLE) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• A. Dalton (NO) 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. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q2 45:00 · NO 12 · Score 0-6
   (15:00) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson left end for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q2 44:55 · NO 15 · Score 0-7
   3-C.York extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.
3. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q2 34:11 · NO 12 · Score 0-10
   (4:11) 3-C.York 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.
4. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 30:03 · CLE 5 · Score 3-10
   (:03) 3-W.Lutz 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.
5. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 30:00 · Score 3-10
   END QUARTER 2
6. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 24:45 · CLE 8 · Score 9-10
   (9:45) (Shotgun) 7-T.Hill right guard for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 24:40 · CLE 15 · Score 10-10
   3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.
8. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 16:01 · CLE 4 · Score 16-10
   (1:01) (No Huddle) 41-A.Kamara left guard for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 15:55 · CLE 15 · Score 17-10
   3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.