New Orleans Saints vs. Kansas City Chiefs: 2016 Week 7 Recap

Game story

In Week 7 of the 2016 NFL season on 2016-10-23, the Kansas City Chiefs took care of business against the New Orleans Saints, pulling away with a 27–21 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with +12.55 total EPA, and +12.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +12.55 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-17.2% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (:58) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle intended for 83-W.Snead INTERCEPTED by 49-D.Sorensen (29-E.Berry) at NO 48. 49-D.Sorensen for 48 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on NO-73-J.Evans, Offensive Holdi

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 · +12.55 total EPA · 51 snaps · +0.25 EPA/play
2. 2 A. Smith · Kansas City Chiefs · Passing · +10.54 total EPA · 25 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Thomas · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +5.06 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.39 EPA/play
4. 4 B. Cooks · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +4.01 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.45 EPA/play
5. 5 C. Conley · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +3.94 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.97 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Maclin · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +3.61 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.72 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Hill · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +3.58 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.58 EPA/play
8. 8 B. Coleman · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.53 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.53 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 — B. Cooks (D. Brees pass) (Q1 51:12)
• Kansas City Chiefs — S. Ware (A. Smith pass) (Q1 49:16)
• Kansas City Chiefs — D. Sorensen (Q1 45:58)
• Kansas City Chiefs — T. Hill (A. Smith pass) (Q2 37:09)
• New Orleans Saints — M. Ingram (D. Brees pass) (Q3 22:02)
• New Orleans Saints — B. Coleman (D. Brees pass) (Q4 2:40)

Field goals

• Kansas City Chiefs — C. Santos (Q3 18:26)
• Kansas City Chiefs — C. Santos (Q4 0:33)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 14–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the KC 9 (Q1 51:12) — (6:12) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 10-B.Cooks for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q1 51:07) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the NO 46 (Q1 49:16) — (4:16) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short left to 32-S.Ware for 46 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q1 49:07) — 5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the KC 61 (Q1 45:58); Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q1 45:46) — 5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..

The second quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 7–0. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the NO 38 (Q2 37:09) — (7:09) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass deep left to 10-T.Hill for 38 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q2 37:02) — 5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–3. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the KC 3 (Q3 22:02) — (7:02) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 22-M.Ingram for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q3 21:57) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the NO 21 (Q3 18:26) — (3:26) 5-C.Santos 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–3. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the KC 10 (Q4 2:40) — (2:40) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 16-B.Coleman for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q4 2:33) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the NO 23 (Q4 0:33) — (:33) 5-C.Santos 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..

Turning points

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q1 45:58) — (:58) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle intended for 83-W.Snead INTERCEPTED by 49-D.Sorensen (29-E.Berry) at NO 48. 49-D.Sorensen for 48 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on NO-73-J.Evans, Offensive Holdi [WPA -17.2% · EPA -6.90]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 8:37) — (8:37) 22-M.Ingram up the middle to KC 7 for 6 yards (38-R.Parker). FUMBLES (38-R.Parker), RECOVERED by KC-22-M.Peters at KC 7. 22-M.Peters to KC 28 for 21 yards (83-W.Snead; 13-M.Thomas). [WPA -15.6% · EPA -6.33]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 49:16) — (4:16) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short left to 32-S.Ware for 46 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.5% · EPA +3.83]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 2:40) — (2:40) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 16-B.Coleman for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.4% · EPA +3.53]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 53:08) — (8:08) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 83-W.Snead to KC 38 for 7 yards (20-S.Nelson). [WPA +8.8% · EPA +1.37]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q1 45:58) — (:58) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle intended for 83-W.Snead INTERCEPTED by 49-D.Sorensen (29-E.Berry) at NO 48. 49-D.Sorensen for 48 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on NO-73-J.Evans, Offensive Holdi [WPA -17.2% · EPA -6.90]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 8:37) — (8:37) 22-M.Ingram up the middle to KC 7 for 6 yards (38-R.Parker). FUMBLES (38-R.Parker), RECOVERED by KC-22-M.Peters at KC 7. 22-M.Peters to KC 28 for 21 yards (83-W.Snead; 13-M.Thomas). [WPA -15.6% · EPA -6.33]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 49:16) — (4:16) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short left to 32-S.Ware for 46 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.5% · EPA +3.83]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 37:09) — (7:09) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass deep left to 10-T.Hill for 38 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +5.9% · EPA +3.58]

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) · 51 dropbacks · 72.5% completion · +12.6% CPOE · +0.25 EPA/play · +12.55 total EPA
• A.Smith (Kansas City Chiefs) · 25 dropbacks · 68.0% completion · +10.5% CPOE · +0.42 EPA/play · +10.54 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Kansas City Chiefs held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.15 vs +0.06), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Kansas City Chiefs: 10 drives, +10.46 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 10 drives, +5.86 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Kansas City Chiefs 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.
• 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.
• A. Smith (KC) 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 TD (+6) — Q1 51:12 · KC 9 · Score 6-0
   (6:12) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 10-B.Cooks for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 51:07 · KC 15 · Score 7-0
   3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
3. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q1 49:16 · NO 46 · Score 7-6
   (4:16) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short left to 32-S.Ware for 46 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q1 49:07 · NO 15 · Score 7-7
   5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
5. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q1 45:58 · KC 61 · Score 7-13
   (:58) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle intended for 83-W.Snead INTERCEPTED by 49-D.Sorensen (29-E.Berry) at NO 48. 49-D.Sorensen for 48 yards, TOUCHDOWN. P
6. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q1 45:46 · NO 15 · Score 7-14
   5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
7. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q2 37:09 · NO 38 · Score 7-20
   (7:09) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass deep left to 10-T.Hill for 38 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q2 37:02 · NO 15 · Score 7-21
   5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
9. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 22:02 · KC 3 · Score 13-21
   (7:02) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 22-M.Ingram for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 21:57 · KC 15 · Score 14-21
    3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
11. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q3 18:26 · NO 21 · Score 14-24
    (3:26) 5-C.Santos 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
12. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 2:40 · KC 10 · Score 20-24
    (2:40) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 16-B.Coleman for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 2:33 · KC 15 · Score 21-24
    3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
14. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q4 0:33 · NO 23 · Score 21-27
    (:33) 5-C.Santos 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.