New Orleans Saints vs. New York Giants: 2006 Week 16 Recap

Game story

In Week 16 of the 2006 NFL season on 2006-12-24, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the New York Giants, pulling away with a 30–7 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 10 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with -3.92 total EPA, and -23.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Colston (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.46 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+13.7% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New York Giants changed the game: (13:00) 10-E.Manning pass deep left to 17-P.Burress for 55 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. Colston · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +7.46 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.87 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Copper · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +5.91 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.96 EPA/play
3. 3 R. Bush · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +4.98 total EPA · 21 snaps · +0.24 EPA/play
4. 4 P. Burress · New York Giants · Receiving · +4.89 total EPA · 1 snaps · +4.89 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Campbell · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.54 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.54 EPA/play
6. 6 D. McAllister · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.05 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.53 EPA/play
7. 7 M. Karney · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +0.23 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.23 EPA/play
8. 8 R. Bush · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +0.21 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.10 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 York Giants — P. Burress (E. Manning pass) (Q1 58:00)
• New Orleans Saints — M. Colston (D. Brees pass) (Q2 31:56)
• New Orleans Saints — R. Bush (Q3 23:05)
• New Orleans Saints — D. McAllister (Q4 14:17)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — J. Carney (Q1 54:27)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Carney (Q2 43:05)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Carney (Q4 11:57)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: New York Giants won the period 7–3. New York Giants found the end zone from the NO 55 (Q1 58:00) — (13:00) 10-E.Manning pass deep left to 17-P.Burress for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Giants added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q1 57:43) — 2-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-90-R.Kuehl, Holder-18-J.Feagles.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the NYG 14 (Q1 54:27) — (9:27) 3-J.Carney 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 10–0. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the NYG 8 (Q2 43:05) — (13:05) 3-J.Carney 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the NYG 2 (Q2 31:56) — (1:56) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 12-M.Colston for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the NYG 2 (Q2 31:51) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the NYG 1 (Q3 23:05) — (8:05) 25-R.Bush left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. End Around.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the NYG 2 (Q3 22:55) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 10–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the NYG 9 (Q4 14:17) — (14:17) 26-D.McAllister up the middle for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the NYG 2 (Q4 14:06) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the NYG 20 (Q4 11:57) — (11:57) 3-J.Carney 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin..

Turning points

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

• New York Giants (Q1 58:00) — (13:00) 10-E.Manning pass deep left to 17-P.Burress for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.7% · EPA +4.89]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 55:58) — (10:58) 7-S.Weatherford punts 41 yards to NYG 17, Center-47-K.Houser. 29-C.Morton MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by NO-89-J.Jones at NYG 18. 89-J.Jones to NYG 18 for no gain (35-K.Dockery). [WPA +10.6% · EPA +5.58]
• New York Giants (Q2 30:49) — (:49) (Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass incomplete short right to 80-J.Shockey. [WPA -10.0% · EPA -1.27]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 31:56) — (1:56) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 12-M.Colston for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +8.8% · EPA +4.12]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 24:13) — (9:13) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 18-T.Copper pushed ob at NYG 2 for 40 yards (25-R.McQuarters). [WPA +8.4% · EPA +3.71]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q1 55:58) — (10:58) 7-S.Weatherford punts 41 yards to NYG 17, Center-47-K.Houser. 29-C.Morton MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by NO-89-J.Jones at NYG 18. 89-J.Jones to NYG 18 for no gain (35-K.Dockery). [WPA +10.6% · EPA +5.58]
• New York Giants (Q4 13:37) — (13:37) (Shotgun) 10-E.Manning Aborted. 60-S.O'Hara FUMBLES at NYG 33, RECOVERED by NO-94-C.Grant at NYG 24. 94-C.Grant to NYG 24 for no gain (67-K.McKenzie). [WPA -0.6% · EPA -5.08]
• New York Giants (Q1 58:00) — (13:00) 10-E.Manning pass deep left to 17-P.Burress for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.7% · EPA +4.89]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 31:56) — (1:56) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 12-M.Colston for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +8.8% · EPA +4.12]

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) · 34 dropbacks · 38.2% completion · -23.2% CPOE · -0.12 EPA/play · -3.92 total EPA
• E.Manning (New York Giants) · 27 dropbacks · 33.3% completion · -29.2% CPOE · -0.83 EPA/play · -22.51 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 (+0.01 vs -0.43), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• New Orleans Saints: 15 drives, +1.33 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• New York Giants: 14 drives, -26.90 total EPA, 1 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. Colston (New Orleans Saints) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Brees (NO) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• E. Manning (NYG) 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 York Giants TD (+6) — Q1 58:00 · NO 55 · Score 0-6
   (13:00) 10-E.Manning pass deep left to 17-P.Burress for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New York Giants XP (+1) — Q1 57:43 · NO 2 · Score 0-7
   2-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-90-R.Kuehl, Holder-18-J.Feagles.
3. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q1 54:27 · NYG 14 · Score 3-7
   (9:27) 3-J.Carney 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin.
4. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 43:05 · NYG 8 · Score 6-7
   (13:05) 3-J.Carney 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin.
5. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 31:56 · NYG 2 · Score 12-7
   (1:56) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 12-M.Colston for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 31:51 · NYG 2 · Score 13-7
   3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin.
7. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 23:05 · NYG 1 · Score 19-7
   (8:05) 25-R.Bush left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. End Around.
8. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 22:55 · NYG 2 · Score 20-7
   3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin.
9. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 14:17 · NYG 9 · Score 26-7
   (14:17) 26-D.McAllister up the middle for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 14:06 · NYG 2 · Score 27-7
    3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin.
11. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 11:57 · NYG 20 · Score 30-7
    (11:57) 3-J.Carney 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin.