New Orleans Saints vs. Minnesota Vikings: 2005 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2005 NFL season on 2005-09-25, the Minnesota Vikings took care of business against the New Orleans Saints, pulling away with a 33–16 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Culpepper (Minnesota Vikings) paced the passing game, with +6.74 total EPA.

On the individual side, D. Henderson (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.07 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+11.3% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Minnesota Vikings changed the game: (14:53) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 89-T.Taylor for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by NO and Upheld. (Timeout #1 by NO at 14:47.)

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. Henderson · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +9.07 total EPA · 3 snaps · +3.02 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Wiggins · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +6.87 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.15 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Culpepper · Minnesota Vikings · Passing · +6.74 total EPA · 44 snaps · +0.15 EPA/play
4. 4 E. Conwell · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +6.57 total EPA · 3 snaps · +2.19 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Williamson · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +6.32 total EPA · 3 snaps · +2.11 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Taylor · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +5.53 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.84 EPA/play
7. 7 M. Robinson · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +4.92 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.46 EPA/play
8. 8 A. Smith · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +1.57 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.52 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

• Minnesota Vikings — T. Taylor (D. Culpepper pass) (Q1 59:53)
• Minnesota Vikings — T. Taylor (D. Culpepper pass) (Q1 45:38)
• Minnesota Vikings — T. Williamson (D. Culpepper pass) (Q2 35:44)
• New Orleans Saints — E. Conwell (A. Brooks pass) (Q2 31:59)
• New Orleans Saints — D. McAllister (Q4 11:45)

Field goals

• Minnesota Vikings — P. Edinger (Q1 52:21)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Carney (Q3 20:41)
• Minnesota Vikings — P. Edinger (Q4 6:20)
• Minnesota Vikings — P. Edinger (Q4 4:33)
• Minnesota Vikings — P. Edinger (Q4 1:11)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 17–0. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the NO 24 (Q1 59:53) — (14:53) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 89-T.Taylor for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by NO and Upheld. (Timeout #1 by NO at 14:47.); Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q1 59:47) — 1-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson.; Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the NO 6 (Q1 52:21) — (7:21) 1-P.Edinger 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the NO 13 (Q1 45:38) — (:38) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 89-T.Taylor for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q1 45:33) — 1-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson..

The second quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 7–6. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the NO 53 (Q2 35:44) — (5:44) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 19-T.Williamson for 53 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on NO-57-C.Bockwoldt, Illegal Use of Hands, declined.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q2 35:37) — 1-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the MIN 13 (Q2 31:59) — (1:59) 2-A.Brooks pass to 85-E.Conwell for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 3–0. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the MIN 4 (Q3 20:41) — (5:41) 3-J.Carney 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman..

The fourth quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 9–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the MIN 1 (Q4 11:45) — (11:45) 26-D.McAllister right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q4 11:40) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman.; Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the NO 10 (Q4 6:20) — (6:20) 1-P.Edinger 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson.; Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the NO 29 (Q4 4:33) — (4:33) 1-P.Edinger 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson.; Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the NO 17 (Q4 1:11) — (1:11) 1-P.Edinger 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson..

Turning points

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

• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 59:53) — (14:53) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 89-T.Taylor for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by NO and Upheld. (Timeout #1 by NO at 14:47.) [WPA +11.3% · EPA +2.60]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 60:00) — 1-P.Edinger kicks 55 yards from MIN 30 to NO 15. 27-A.Stecker to NO 30 for 15 yards (49-R.Owens). FUMBLES (49-R.Owens), RECOVERED by MIN-26-A.Winfield at NO 24. 26-A.Winfield to NO 24 for no gain (25- [WPA -7.4% · EPA -4.43]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 51:17) — (6:17) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 87-M.Robinson to NO 16 for 68 yards (21-J.Craft). [WPA +5.6% · EPA +4.01]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 48:13) — (3:13) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 85-E.Conwell INTERCEPTED by 52-K.Newman at NO 27. 52-K.Newman to NO 26 for 1 yard (85-E.Conwell). [WPA -4.9% · EPA -2.83]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 56:04) — (11:04) 30-M.Moore left end pushed ob at NO 38 for 28 yards (57-C.Bockwoldt). [WPA +4.7% · EPA +1.81]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q3 23:33) — (8:33) 2-A.Brooks pass to 19-D.Henderson pushed ob at MIN 18 for 66 yards (33-R.Brown). [WPA +3.7% · EPA +6.35]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 35:44) — (5:44) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 19-T.Williamson for 53 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on NO-57-C.Bockwoldt, Illegal Use of Hands, declined. [WPA +2.1% · EPA +4.73]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 60:00) — 1-P.Edinger kicks 55 yards from MIN 30 to NO 15. 27-A.Stecker to NO 30 for 15 yards (49-R.Owens). FUMBLES (49-R.Owens), RECOVERED by MIN-26-A.Winfield at NO 24. 26-A.Winfield to NO 24 for no gain (25- [WPA -7.4% · EPA -4.43]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 51:17) — (6:17) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 87-M.Robinson to NO 16 for 68 yards (21-J.Craft). [WPA +5.6% · EPA +4.01]

Quarterback report card

D.Culpepper led all passers in efficiency for Minnesota Vikings, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Culpepper (Minnesota Vikings) · 44 dropbacks · 47.7% completion · +0.15 EPA/play · +6.74 total EPA
• A.Brooks (New Orleans Saints) · 41 dropbacks · 29.3% completion · -0.15 EPA/play · -5.97 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Minnesota Vikings held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.04 vs -0.13), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Minnesota Vikings: 15 drives, +4.06 total EPA, 7 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 14 drives, -10.85 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Minnesota Vikings leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• D. Henderson (New Orleans Saints) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

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

1. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q1 59:53 · NO 24 · Score 0-6
   (14:53) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 89-T.Taylor for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by NO and Upheld. (Timeout #1 by NO at 14:47.)
2. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q1 59:47 · NO 2 · Score 0-7
   1-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson.
3. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q1 52:21 · NO 6 · Score 0-10
   (7:21) 1-P.Edinger 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson.
4. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q1 45:38 · NO 13 · Score 0-16
   (:38) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 89-T.Taylor for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q1 45:33 · NO 2 · Score 0-17
   1-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson.
6. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q2 35:44 · NO 53 · Score 0-23
   (5:44) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 19-T.Williamson for 53 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on NO-57-C.Bockwoldt, Illegal Use of Hands, declined.
7. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q2 35:37 · NO 2 · Score 0-24
   1-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson.
8. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 31:59 · MIN 13 · Score 6-24
   (1:59) 2-A.Brooks pass to 85-E.Conwell for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q3 20:41 · MIN 4 · Score 9-24
   (5:41) 3-J.Carney 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman.
10. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 11:45 · MIN 1 · Score 15-24
    (11:45) 26-D.McAllister right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
11. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 11:40 · MIN 2 · Score 16-24
    3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman.
12. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q4 6:20 · NO 10 · Score 16-27
    (6:20) 1-P.Edinger 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson.
13. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q4 4:33 · NO 29 · Score 16-30
    (4:33) 1-P.Edinger 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson.
14. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q4 1:11 · NO 17 · Score 16-33
    (1:11) 1-P.Edinger 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson.