New Orleans Saints vs. Detroit Lions: 2008 Week 16 Recap

Game story

In Week 16 of the 2008 NFL season on 2008-12-21, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Detroit Lions, pulling away with a 42–7 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with +29.91 total EPA, and +8.8% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +29.91 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+7.9% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: 4-J.Hanson kicks 71 yards from DET 30 to NO -1. 10-S.Green to DET 41 for 60 yards (30-D.Wynn; 4-J.Hanson).

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 D. Brees · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +29.91 total EPA · 40 snaps · +0.75 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Colston · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +12.04 total EPA · 9 snaps · +1.34 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Henderson · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +7.93 total EPA · 2 snaps · +3.96 EPA/play
4. 4 B. Miller · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +5.07 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.27 EPA/play
5. 5 C. Johnson · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +4.89 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.22 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Standeford · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +3.63 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.21 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Shockey · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.62 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.72 EPA/play
8. 8 L. Moore · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.58 total EPA · 4 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 — R. Meachem (Q1 57:31)
• New Orleans Saints — D. McAllister (Q1 46:13)
• Detroit Lions — unlisted player (Q2 39:49)
• New Orleans Saints — M. Bell (Q2 34:44)
• New Orleans Saints — P. Thomas (Q2 30:50)
• New Orleans Saints — M. Colston (D. Brees pass) (Q3 24:37)
• New Orleans Saints — M. Colston (D. Brees pass) (Q3 18:09)

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 14–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the DET 20 (Q1 57:31) — (12:31) 17-R.Meachem right end for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q1 57:23) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-G.Pakulak.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the DET 2 (Q1 46:13) — (1:13) 26-D.McAllister left tackle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q1 46:07) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-G.Pakulak..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 14–7. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the NO 1 (Q2 39:49) — (9:49) 34-Kevin Smith up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q2 39:45) — 4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the DET 1 (Q2 34:44) — (4:44) 40-M.Bell up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q2 34:40) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-G.Pakulak.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the DET 2 (Q2 30:50) — (:50) (No Huddle) 23-P.Thomas left tackle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q2 30:47) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-G.Pakulak..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 14–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the DET 6 (Q3 24:37) — (9:37) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 12-M.Colston for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q3 24:33); New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the DET 3 (Q3 18:09) — (3:09) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 12-M.Colston for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q3 18:04) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-G.Pakulak..

Turning points

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q1 60:00) — 4-J.Hanson kicks 71 yards from DET 30 to NO -1. 10-S.Green to DET 41 for 60 yards (30-D.Wynn; 4-J.Hanson). [WPA +7.9% · EPA +2.79]
• Detroit Lions (Q2 39:54) — (9:54) 6-D.Orlovsky pass incomplete short left to 86-M.Gaines (41-R.Harper). PENALTY on NO-41-R.Harper, Defensive Pass Interference, 2 yards, enforced at NO 3 - No Play. [WPA +7.5% · EPA +3.39]
• Detroit Lions (Q2 39:49) — (9:49) 34-Kevin Smith up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.0% · EPA +0.66]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 55:18) — (10:18) (Shotgun) 6-D.Orlovsky pass deep left to 16-J.Standeford pushed ob at NO 43 for 19 yards (42-J.David). New Orleans challenged the pass completion ruling, and the play was Upheld. (Timeout #1.) [WPA +6.6% · EPA +2.53]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 37:01) — (7:01) 23-P.Thomas right tackle pushed ob at DET 26 for 29 yards (27-D.Bullocks). [WPA +5.6% · EPA +2.46]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q4 13:22) — (13:22) 23-P.Thomas right tackle to DET 24 for 11 yards (92-C.Avril). FUMBLES (92-C.Avril), RECOVERED by DET-28-L.Bodden at DET 21. 28-L.Bodden to DET 29 for 8 yards (17-R.Meachem). [WPA +0.0% · EPA -4.99]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 25:32) — (10:32) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 19-D.Henderson to DET 6 for 64 yards (21-T.Fisher). [WPA +1.1% · EPA +4.89]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 20:42) — (5:42) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 12-M.Colston pushed ob at DET 27 for 30 yards (39-S.Schweigert). [WPA +0.0% · EPA +3.57]
• Detroit Lions (Q2 39:54) — (9:54) 6-D.Orlovsky pass incomplete short left to 86-M.Gaines (41-R.Harper). PENALTY on NO-41-R.Harper, Defensive Pass Interference, 2 yards, enforced at NO 3 - No Play. [WPA +7.5% · 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) · 40 dropbacks · 75.0% completion · +8.8% CPOE · +0.75 EPA/play · +29.91 total EPA
• D.Orlovsky (Detroit Lions) · 27 dropbacks · 37.0% completion · -13.6% CPOE · -0.03 EPA/play · -0.72 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 (+0.45 vs -0.06), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Detroit Lions: 8 drives, -4.24 total EPA, 1 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 8 drives, +36.55 total EPA, 6 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.
• D. Brees (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.
• D. Orlovsky (DET) 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. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 57:31 · DET 20 · Score 6-0
   (12:31) 17-R.Meachem right end for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 57:23 · DET 2 · Score 7-0
   5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-G.Pakulak.
3. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 46:13 · DET 2 · Score 13-0
   (1:13) 26-D.McAllister left tackle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 46:07 · DET 2 · Score 14-0
   5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-G.Pakulak.
5. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 39:49 · NO 1 · Score 14-6
   (9:49) 34-Kevin Smith up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 39:45 · NO 2 · Score 14-7
   4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.
7. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 34:44 · DET 1 · Score 20-7
   (4:44) 40-M.Bell up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
8. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 34:40 · DET 2 · Score 21-7
   5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-G.Pakulak.
9. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 30:50 · DET 2 · Score 27-7
   (:50) (No Huddle) 23-P.Thomas left tackle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 30:47 · DET 2 · Score 28-7
    5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-G.Pakulak.
11. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 24:37 · DET 6 · Score 34-7
    (9:37) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 12-M.Colston for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 24:33 · DET 2 · Score 35-7
    5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-G.Pakulak. PENALTY on DET-98-L.Cohen, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced between downs.
13. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 18:09 · DET 3 · Score 41-7
    (3:09) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 12-M.Colston for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 18:04 · DET 2 · Score 42-7
    5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-G.Pakulak.