New Orleans Saints vs. Minnesota Vikings: 2011 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 2011 NFL season on 2011-12-18, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Minnesota Vikings, pulling away with a 42–20 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 24 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with +32.03 total EPA, and +14.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +32.03 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-18.8% win probability) landed in the second quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (14:27) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees FUMBLES (Aborted) at NO 45, RECOVERED by MIN-97-E.Griffen at NO 30. 97-E.Griffen to NO 21 for 9 yards (9-D.Brees). Penalty on NO-12-M.Colston, Illegal Shift, 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 D. Brees · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +32.03 total EPA · 44 snaps · +0.73 EPA/play
2. 2 L. Moore · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +9.28 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.55 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Sproles · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +8.34 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.39 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Gerhart · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +6.53 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.63 EPA/play
5. 5 P. Thomas · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +4.34 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.17 EPA/play
6. 6 M. Colston · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.57 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
7. 7 R. Meachem · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.02 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
8. 8 K. Rudolph · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +0.99 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.49 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 — L. Moore (D. Brees pass) (Q1 47:55)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Graham (D. Brees pass) (Q2 40:08)
• Minnesota Vikings — T. Gerhart (C. Ponder pass) (Q2 37:04)
• New Orleans Saints — D. Sproles (D. Brees pass) (Q2 31:38)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Gilmore (D. Brees pass) (Q3 27:19)
• New Orleans Saints — L. Moore (D. Brees pass) (Q3 25:29)
• New Orleans Saints — P. Thomas (Q4 12:53)
• Minnesota Vikings — T. Gerhart (C. Ponder pass) (Q4 5:19)

Field goals

• Minnesota Vikings — R. Longwell (Q1 57:24)
• Minnesota Vikings — R. Longwell (Q2 43:18)

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 7–3. Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the NO 26 (Q1 57:24) — (12:24) 8-R.Longwell 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-4-C.Kluwe.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the MIN 5 (Q1 47:55) — (2:55) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 16-L.Moore for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q1 47:51) — 2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 14–10. Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the NO 31 (Q2 43:18) — (13:18) 8-R.Longwell 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-4-C.Kluwe.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the MIN 1 (Q2 40:08) — (10:08) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 80-J.Graham for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q2 40:04) — 2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the NO 10 (Q2 37:04) — (7:04) (Shotgun) 7-C.Ponder pass short middle to 32-T.Gerhart for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q2 36:59) — 8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-4-C.Kluwe.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the MIN 13 (Q2 31:38) — (1:38) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 43-D.Sproles for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q2 31:33) — 2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 14–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the MIN 2 (Q3 27:19) — (12:19) 76-P.McQuistan reported in as eligible. 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 89-J.Gilmore for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q3 27:15) — 2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the MIN 47 (Q3 25:29) — (10:29) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 16-L.Moore for 47 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q3 25:18) — 2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the MIN 1 (Q4 12:53) — (12:53) 23-P.Thomas right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q4 12:50) — 2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the NO 16 (Q4 5:19) — (5:19) (Shotgun) 7-C.Ponder pass short left to 32-T.Gerhart for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q4 5:12) — 8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-4-C.Kluwe..

Turning points

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q2 44:27) — (14:27) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees FUMBLES (Aborted) at NO 45, RECOVERED by MIN-97-E.Griffen at NO 30. 97-E.Griffen to NO 21 for 9 yards (9-D.Brees). Penalty on NO-12-M.Colston, Illegal Shift, declined. [WPA -18.8% · EPA -6.12]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 37:04) — (7:04) (Shotgun) 7-C.Ponder pass short middle to 32-T.Gerhart for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +14.1% · EPA +3.01]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 58:52) — (13:52) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 80-J.Graham to NO 48 for 18 yards (33-J.Sanford). FUMBLES (33-J.Sanford), RECOVERED by MIN-41-M.Raymond at MIN 48. 41-M.Raymond to NO 26 for 26 yards (23-P.Thoma [WPA -13.1% · EPA -4.81]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 31:38) — (1:38) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 43-D.Sproles for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +12.5% · EPA +3.06]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 41:31) — (11:31) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 43-D.Sproles pushed ob at MIN 25 for 39 yards (33-J.Sanford) [56-EJ.Henderson]. PENALTY on MIN-33-J.Sanford, Unnecessary Roughness, 13 yards, enforced a [WPA +11.2% · EPA +3.97]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q2 44:27) — (14:27) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees FUMBLES (Aborted) at NO 45, RECOVERED by MIN-97-E.Griffen at NO 30. 97-E.Griffen to NO 21 for 9 yards (9-D.Brees). Penalty on NO-12-M.Colston, Illegal Shift, declined. [WPA -18.8% · EPA -6.12]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 25:29) — (10:29) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 16-L.Moore for 47 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +5.3% · EPA +5.38]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 58:52) — (13:52) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 80-J.Graham to NO 48 for 18 yards (33-J.Sanford). FUMBLES (33-J.Sanford), RECOVERED by MIN-41-M.Raymond at MIN 48. 41-M.Raymond to NO 26 for 26 yards (23-P.Thoma [WPA -13.1% · EPA -4.81]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 41:31) — (11:31) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 43-D.Sproles pushed ob at MIN 25 for 39 yards (33-J.Sanford) [56-EJ.Henderson]. PENALTY on MIN-33-J.Sanford, Unnecessary Roughness, 13 yards, enforced a [WPA +11.2% · EPA +3.97]

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) · 44 dropbacks · 72.7% completion · +14.6% CPOE · +0.73 EPA/play · +32.03 total EPA
• C.Ponder (Minnesota Vikings) · 38 dropbacks · 36.8% completion · -15.1% CPOE · -0.15 EPA/play · -5.52 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 (+0.20 vs -0.10), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Minnesota Vikings: 12 drives, -7.10 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 12 drives, +19.94 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.
• C. Ponder (MIN) 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. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q1 57:24 · NO 26 · Score 0-3
   (12:24) 8-R.Longwell 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-4-C.Kluwe.
2. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 47:55 · MIN 5 · Score 6-3
   (2:55) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 16-L.Moore for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 47:51 · MIN 2 · Score 7-3
   2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
4. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q2 43:18 · NO 31 · Score 7-6
   (13:18) 8-R.Longwell 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-4-C.Kluwe.
5. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 40:08 · MIN 1 · Score 13-6
   (10:08) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 80-J.Graham for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
6. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 40:04 · MIN 2 · Score 14-6
   2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
7. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q2 37:04 · NO 10 · Score 14-12
   (7:04) (Shotgun) 7-C.Ponder pass short middle to 32-T.Gerhart for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q2 36:59 · NO 2 · Score 14-13
   8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-4-C.Kluwe.
9. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 31:38 · MIN 13 · Score 20-13
   (1:38) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 43-D.Sproles for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 31:33 · MIN 2 · Score 21-13
    2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
11. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 27:19 · MIN 2 · Score 27-13
    (12:19) 76-P.McQuistan reported in as eligible. 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 89-J.Gilmore for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 27:15 · MIN 2 · Score 28-13
    2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
13. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 25:29 · MIN 47 · Score 34-13
    (10:29) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 16-L.Moore for 47 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 25:18 · MIN 2 · Score 35-13
    2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
15. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 12:53 · MIN 1 · Score 41-13
    (12:53) 23-P.Thomas right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
16. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 12:50 · MIN 2 · Score 42-13
    2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
17. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q4 5:19 · NO 16 · Score 42-19
    (5:19) (Shotgun) 7-C.Ponder pass short left to 32-T.Gerhart for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
18. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q4 5:12 · NO 2 · Score 42-20
    8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-4-C.Kluwe.