New Orleans Saints vs. New England Patriots: 2023 Week 5 Recap

Game story

In Week 5 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-10-08, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the New England Patriots, pulling away with a 34–0 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Carr (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with +3.64 total EPA, and +10.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Thomas (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.57 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-19.6% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New England Patriots changed the game: (7:11) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short middle intended for 38-R.Stevenson INTERCEPTED by 32-T.Mathieu [96-C.Granderson] at NE 27. 32-T.Mathieu for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

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 M. Thomas · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +5.57 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.80 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Carr · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +3.64 total EPA · 29 snaps · +0.13 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Douglas · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.16 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.58 EPA/play
4. 4 K. Miller · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.07 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.77 EPA/play
5. 5 F. Moreau · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.99 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.99 EPA/play
6. 6 R. Shaheed · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.67 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.83 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Hill · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +0.89 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.89 EPA/play
8. 8 A. Kamara · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +0.75 total EPA · 23 snaps · +0.03 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 — T. Mathieu (Q1 52:11)
• New Orleans Saints — A. Kamara (Q2 44:27)
• New Orleans Saints — C. Olave (D. Carr pass) (Q2 40:53)
• New Orleans Saints — F. Moreau (D. Carr pass) (Q4 13:10)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — B. Grupe (Q3 26:40)
• New Orleans Saints — B. Grupe (Q4 5:47)

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 NO 76 (Q1 52:11); New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q1 52:02) — 19-B.Grupe extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 14–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the NE 2 (Q2 44:27) — (14:27) NO 4-Carr now at QB. 73-M.Garcia reported in as eligible. 41-A.Kamara right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q2 44:23) — 19-B.Grupe extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the NE 5 (Q2 40:53) — (10:53) 4-D.Carr pass short middle to 12-C.Olave for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q2 40:47) — 19-B.Grupe extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 3–0. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the NE 35 (Q3 26:40) — (11:40) 19-B.Grupe 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 10–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the NE 6 (Q4 13:10) — (13:10) NO 4-Carr now at QB. (Shotgun) 4-D.Carr pass short middle to 87-F.Moreau for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q4 13:03) — 19-B.Grupe extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the NE 35 (Q4 5:47) — (5:47) 19-B.Grupe 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley..

Turning points

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

• New England Patriots (Q1 52:11) — (7:11) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short middle intended for 38-R.Stevenson INTERCEPTED by 32-T.Mathieu [96-C.Granderson] at NE 27. 32-T.Mathieu for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -19.6% · EPA -6.90]
• New England Patriots (Q1 50:47) — (5:47) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass deep left to 81-D.Douglas to NE 48 for 24 yards (23-M.Lattimore). PENALTY on NO-23-M.Lattimore, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced at NE 48. New Orleans challen [WPA +9.2% · EPA +3.71]
• New England Patriots (Q1 48:45) — (3:45) 37-C.Ryland 48 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer. [WPA -8.5% · EPA -2.62]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 47:03) — (2:03) (Shotgun) 4-D.Carr pass deep middle to 13-M.Thomas to NE 37 for 26 yards (2-J.Mills). [WPA +7.3% · EPA +3.37]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 56:23) — (11:23) (Shotgun) 4-D.Carr sacked at NO 46 for -9 yards (8-J.Bentley). [WPA -6.4% · EPA -2.37]

Impact plays

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

• New England Patriots (Q1 52:11) — (7:11) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short middle intended for 38-R.Stevenson INTERCEPTED by 32-T.Mathieu [96-C.Granderson] at NE 27. 32-T.Mathieu for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -19.6% · EPA -6.90]
• New England Patriots (Q3 29:04) — (14:04) 10-M.Jones FUMBLES (Aborted) at NE 29, RECOVERED by NO-94-C.Jordan at NE 29. [WPA -4.4% · EPA -5.83]
• New England Patriots (Q3 16:13) — (1:13) 10-M.Jones pass deep right intended for 14-T.Montgomery INTERCEPTED by 20-P.Werner (31-J.Howden) at NE 31. 20-P.Werner to NE 31 for no gain (14-T.Montgomery). [WPA -0.3% · EPA -4.10]
• New England Patriots (Q1 50:47) — (5:47) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass deep left to 81-D.Douglas to NE 48 for 24 yards (23-M.Lattimore). PENALTY on NO-23-M.Lattimore, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced at NE 48. New Orleans challen [WPA +9.2% · EPA +3.71]

Quarterback report card

D.Carr led all passers in efficiency for New Orleans Saints, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Carr (New Orleans Saints) · 29 dropbacks · 62.1% completion · +10.2% CPOE · +0.13 EPA/play · +3.64 total EPA
• M.Jones (New England Patriots) · 26 dropbacks · 46.2% completion · -12.4% CPOE · -0.65 EPA/play · -16.86 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 (-0.03 vs -0.62), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• New England Patriots: 14 drives, -44.91 total EPA, 1 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 15 drives, -2.68 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.
• M. Thomas (New Orleans Saints) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Carr (NO) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• M. Jones (NE) 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. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 52:11 · NO 76 · Score 6-0
   (7:11) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short middle intended for 38-R.Stevenson INTERCEPTED by 32-T.Mathieu [96-C.Granderson] at NE 27. 32-T.Mathieu for 27 yards, TOU
2. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 52:02 · NE 15 · Score 7-0
   19-B.Grupe extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley.
3. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 44:27 · NE 2 · Score 13-0
   (14:27) NO 4-Carr now at QB. 73-M.Garcia reported in as eligible. 41-A.Kamara right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 44:23 · NE 15 · Score 14-0
   19-B.Grupe extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley.
5. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 40:53 · NE 5 · Score 20-0
   (10:53) 4-D.Carr pass short middle to 12-C.Olave for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 40:47 · NE 15 · Score 21-0
   19-B.Grupe extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley.
7. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q3 26:40 · NE 35 · Score 24-0
   (11:40) 19-B.Grupe 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley.
8. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 13:10 · NE 6 · Score 30-0
   (13:10) NO 4-Carr now at QB. (Shotgun) 4-D.Carr pass short middle to 87-F.Moreau for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 13:03 · NE 15 · Score 31-0
   19-B.Grupe extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley.
10. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 5:47 · NE 35 · Score 34-0
    (5:47) 19-B.Grupe 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley.