New Orleans Saints vs. New England Patriots: 2021 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2021 NFL season on 2021-09-26, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the New England Patriots, pulling away with a 28–13 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Jones (New England Patriots) paced the passing game, with -16.12 total EPA, and -1.0% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, K. Bourne (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.27 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-17.9% win probability) landed in the second quarter when New England Patriots changed the game: (2:56) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short middle intended for 85-H.Henry INTERCEPTED by 26-P.Williams [55-K.Elliss] at NO 45. 26-P.Williams to NE 9 for 46 yards (25-B.Bolden). FUMBLES (25-B.Bolden), reco

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 K. Bourne · New England Patriots · Receiving · +6.27 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.78 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Harris · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +4.93 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.64 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Callaway · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +4.92 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.98 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Winston · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +4.08 total EPA · 26 snaps · +0.16 EPA/play
5. 5 A. Kamara · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.87 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.97 EPA/play
6. 6 M. Jones · New England Patriots · Rushing · +2.57 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.86 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Meyers · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.25 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.16 EPA/play
8. 8 B. Bolden · New England Patriots · Receiving · +1.71 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.43 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 (J. Winston pass) (Q1 52:40)
• New Orleans Saints — M. Callaway (J. Winston pass) (Q2 31:50)
• New Orleans Saints — M. Jenkins (Q3 30:00)
• New England Patriots — K. Bourne (M. Jones pass) (Q4 9:28)
• New Orleans Saints — T. Hill (Q4 2:41)

Field goals

• New England Patriots — N. Folk (Q2 30:39)
• New England Patriots — N. Folk (Q3 16:35)

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 7–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the NE 11 (Q1 52:40) — (7:40) (Shotgun) 2-J.Winston pass short middle to 41-A.Kamara for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q1 52:35) — 6-A.Rosas extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–3. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the NE 7 (Q2 31:50); New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q2 31:44) — 6-A.Rosas extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the NO 27 (Q2 30:39) — (:39) 6-N.Folk 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–3. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the NO 75 (Q3 30:00) — (15:00) 10-M.Jones pass short middle intended for 81-J.Smith INTERCEPTED by 27-M.Jenkins at NE 34. 27-M.Jenkins for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q3 29:51) — 6-A.Rosas extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the NO 8 (Q3 16:35).

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. New England Patriots found the end zone from the NO 22 (Q4 9:28) — (9:28) 10-M.Jones pass deep right to 84-K.Bourne for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q4 9:22) — 6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the NE 4 (Q4 2:41) — (2:41) (Shotgun) Direct snap to 7-T.Hill. 7-T.Hill right guard for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q4 2:37) — 6-A.Rosas extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin..

Turning points

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

• New England Patriots (Q2 32:56) — (2:56) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short middle intended for 85-H.Henry INTERCEPTED by 26-P.Williams [55-K.Elliss] at NO 45. 26-P.Williams to NE 9 for 46 yards (25-B.Bolden). FUMBLES (25-B.Bolden), reco [WPA -17.9% · EPA -5.72]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 34:16) — (4:16) 6-A.Rosas 36 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin. [WPA -11.5% · EPA -3.42]
• New England Patriots (Q3 30:00) — (15:00) 10-M.Jones pass short middle intended for 81-J.Smith INTERCEPTED by 27-M.Jenkins at NE 34. 27-M.Jenkins for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -10.0% · EPA -8.47]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 52:40) — (7:40) (Shotgun) 2-J.Winston pass short middle to 41-A.Kamara for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.2% · EPA +3.10]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 45:13) — (:13) 6-A.Rosas 52 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin. [WPA -7.0% · EPA -3.38]

Impact plays

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

• New England Patriots (Q3 30:00) — (15:00) 10-M.Jones pass short middle intended for 81-J.Smith INTERCEPTED by 27-M.Jenkins at NE 34. 27-M.Jenkins for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -10.0% · EPA -8.47]
• New England Patriots (Q2 32:56) — (2:56) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short middle intended for 85-H.Henry INTERCEPTED by 26-P.Williams [55-K.Elliss] at NO 45. 26-P.Williams to NE 9 for 46 yards (25-B.Bolden). FUMBLES (25-B.Bolden), reco [WPA -17.9% · EPA -5.72]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 34:16) — (4:16) 6-A.Rosas 36 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin. [WPA -11.5% · EPA -3.42]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 45:13) — (:13) 6-A.Rosas 52 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin. [WPA -7.0% · EPA -3.38]

Quarterback report card

M.Jones led all passers in efficiency for New England Patriots, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• M.Jones (New England Patriots) · 57 dropbacks · 52.6% completion · -1.0% CPOE · -0.28 EPA/play · -16.12 total EPA
• J.Winston (New Orleans Saints) · 26 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · +3.0% CPOE · +0.16 EPA/play · +4.08 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 (-0.04 vs -0.23), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• New England Patriots: 12 drives, -20.96 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 13 drives, -2.77 total EPA, 3 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.
• K. Bourne (New England Patriots) 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. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 52:40 · NE 11 · Score 6-0
   (7:40) (Shotgun) 2-J.Winston pass short middle to 41-A.Kamara for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 52:35 · NE 15 · Score 7-0
   6-A.Rosas extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.
3. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 31:50 · NE 7 · Score 13-0
   (1:50) (Shotgun) 2-J.Winston pass short middle to 1-M.Callaway for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN [23-K.Dugger]. Penalty on NE-31-J.Jones, Defensive Holding, declined.
4. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 31:44 · NE 15 · Score 14-0
   6-A.Rosas extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.
5. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 30:39 · NO 27 · Score 14-3
   (:39) 6-N.Folk 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.
6. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 30:00 · NO 75 · Score 20-3
   (15:00) 10-M.Jones pass short middle intended for 81-J.Smith INTERCEPTED by 27-M.Jenkins at NE 34. 27-M.Jenkins for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 29:51 · NE 15 · Score 21-3
   6-A.Rosas extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.
8. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q3 16:35 · NO 8 · Score 21-6
   (1:35) 6-N.Folk 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey. NE 6-Folk 35th consecutive FG, t-8th all-time (Vinatieri & Tucker).
9. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 9:28 · NO 22 · Score 21-12
   (9:28) 10-M.Jones pass deep right to 84-K.Bourne for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 9:22 · NO 15 · Score 21-13
    6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.
11. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 2:41 · NE 4 · Score 27-13
    (2:41) (Shotgun) Direct snap to 7-T.Hill. 7-T.Hill right guard for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 2:37 · NE 15 · Score 28-13
    6-A.Rosas extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-4-B.Gillikin.