New Orleans Saints vs. Minnesota Vikings: 2018 Week 8 Recap

Game story

In Week 8 of the 2018 NFL season on 2018-10-28, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Minnesota Vikings, pulling away with a 30–20 final that built a comfortable lead.

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

K. Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) paced the passing game, with -1.67 total EPA, and +7.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Hill (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +3.20 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-27.0% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Minnesota Vikings changed the game: (1:11) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short left to 19-A.Thielen to NO 14 for 4 yards (47-A.Anzalone). FUMBLES (47-A.Anzalone), RECOVERED by NO-23-M.Lattimore at NO 13. 23-M.Lattimore to MIN 33 for 54 yar

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 T. Hill · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +3.20 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.20 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Thomas · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.27 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.38 EPA/play
3. 3 A. Thielen · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +1.85 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Smith · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.72 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.43 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Ingram · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.60 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.53 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Robinson · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +1.51 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.76 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Brees · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +1.07 total EPA · 23 snaps · +0.05 EPA/play
8. 8 A. Kamara · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +0.96 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.12 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 — A. Kamara (D. Brees pass) (Q1 55:38)
• Minnesota Vikings — S. Diggs (K. Cousins pass) (Q1 48:21)
• Minnesota Vikings — L. Murray (Q2 42:01)
• New Orleans Saints — A. Kamara (Q2 30:33)
• New Orleans Saints — P. Williams (Q3 21:08)
• Minnesota Vikings — A. Thielen (K. Cousins pass) (Q4 4:30)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — W. Lutz (Q2 37:32)
• New Orleans Saints — W. Lutz (Q3 23:22)
• New Orleans Saints — W. Lutz (Q4 9:39)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the MIN 3 (Q1 55:38) — (10:38) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 41-A.Kamara for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the MIN 15 (Q1 55:33) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the NO 1 (Q1 48:21) — (3:21) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short left to 14-S.Diggs for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q1 48:16) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-6-M.Wile..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 10–6. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the NO 1 (Q2 42:01) — (12:01) 25-L.Murray up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the MIN 34 (Q2 37:32) — (7:32) 3-W.Lutz 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the MIN 1 (Q2 30:33) — (:33) (No Huddle) 41-A.Kamara up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the MIN 20 (Q2 30:30) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 10–0. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the MIN 24 (Q3 23:22) — (8:22) 3-W.Lutz 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the NO 56 (Q3 21:08); New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the MIN 15 (Q3 20:58) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead..

The fourth quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 7–3. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the MIN 24 (Q4 9:39) — (9:39) 3-W.Lutz 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the NO 1 (Q4 4:30) — (4:30) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short middle to 19-A.Thielen for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q4 4:26) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-6-M.Wile..

Turning points

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

• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 31:11) — (1:11) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short left to 19-A.Thielen to NO 14 for 4 yards (47-A.Anzalone). FUMBLES (47-A.Anzalone), RECOVERED by NO-23-M.Lattimore at NO 13. 23-M.Lattimore to MIN 33 for 54 yar [WPA -27.0% · EPA -9.18]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q3 21:08) — (6:08) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short middle intended for 14-S.Diggs INTERCEPTED by 26-P.Williams at MIN 45. 26-P.Williams for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -20.1% · EPA -9.22]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 33:07) — (3:07) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle intended for 13-M.Thomas INTERCEPTED by 22-H.Smith at MIN 33. 22-H.Smith to MIN 33 for no gain (13-M.Thomas). [WPA -13.8% · EPA -4.12]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 48:21) — (3:21) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short left to 14-S.Diggs for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.5% · EPA +2.02]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 57:36) — (12:36) (Shotgun) 7-T.Hill pass deep middle to 13-M.Thomas to MIN 8 for 44 yards (23-G.Iloka) [93-S.Richardson]. Penalty on MIN-22-H.Smith, Defensive Pass Interference, declined. [WPA +12.5% · EPA +3.20]

Impact plays

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

• Minnesota Vikings (Q3 21:08) — (6:08) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short middle intended for 14-S.Diggs INTERCEPTED by 26-P.Williams at MIN 45. 26-P.Williams for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -20.1% · EPA -9.22]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 31:11) — (1:11) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short left to 19-A.Thielen to NO 14 for 4 yards (47-A.Anzalone). FUMBLES (47-A.Anzalone), RECOVERED by NO-23-M.Lattimore at NO 13. 23-M.Lattimore to MIN 33 for 54 yar [WPA -27.0% · EPA -9.18]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 33:07) — (3:07) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle intended for 13-M.Thomas INTERCEPTED by 22-H.Smith at MIN 33. 22-H.Smith to MIN 33 for no gain (13-M.Thomas). [WPA -13.8% · EPA -4.12]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q3 27:33) — (12:33) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass incomplete short middle to 11-L.Treadwell (23-M.Lattimore). [WPA -7.4% · EPA -3.70]

Quarterback report card

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

• K.Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) · 48 dropbacks · 64.6% completion · +7.3% CPOE · -0.03 EPA/play · -1.67 total EPA
• D.Brees (New Orleans Saints) · 23 dropbacks · 78.3% completion · +4.1% CPOE · +0.05 EPA/play · +1.07 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 (+0.07 vs -0.12), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Minnesota Vikings: 10 drives, -10.44 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 9 drives, +5.10 total EPA, 5 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.
• T. Hill (New Orleans Saints) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• K. Cousins (MIN) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• D. Brees (NO) 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 55:38 · MIN 3 · Score 6-0
   (10:38) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 41-A.Kamara for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 55:33 · MIN 15 · Score 7-0
   3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
3. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q1 48:21 · NO 1 · Score 7-6
   (3:21) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short left to 14-S.Diggs for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q1 48:16 · NO 15 · Score 7-7
   5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-6-M.Wile.
5. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q2 42:01 · NO 1 · Score 7-13
   (12:01) 25-L.Murray up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
6. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 37:32 · MIN 34 · Score 10-13
   (7:32) 3-W.Lutz 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
7. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 30:33 · MIN 1 · Score 16-13
   (:33) (No Huddle) 41-A.Kamara up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
8. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 30:30 · MIN 20 · Score 17-13
   3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
9. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q3 23:22 · MIN 24 · Score 20-13
   (8:22) 3-W.Lutz 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
10. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 21:08 · NO 56 · Score 26-13
    (6:08) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short middle intended for 14-S.Diggs INTERCEPTED by 26-P.Williams at MIN 45. 26-P.Williams for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 20:58 · MIN 15 · Score 27-13
    3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
12. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 9:39 · MIN 24 · Score 30-13
    (9:39) 3-W.Lutz 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
13. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q4 4:30 · NO 1 · Score 30-19
    (4:30) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short middle to 19-A.Thielen for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q4 4:26 · NO 15 · Score 30-20
    5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-6-M.Wile.