New Orleans Saints vs. San Francisco 49ers: 2000 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 2000 NFL season on 2000-12-10, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the San Francisco 49ers, pulling away with a 31–27 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 30 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Garcia (San Francisco 49ers) paced the passing game, with +10.31 total EPA.

On the individual side, A. Brooks (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +11.44 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+54.2% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when San Francisco 49ers changed the game: T.Gowin kicks 70 yards from NO 30 to end zone, Touchback.

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 A. Brooks · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +11.44 total EPA · 11 snaps · +1.04 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Garcia · San Francisco 49ers · Passing · +10.31 total EPA · 40 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Owens · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +5.88 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.65 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Rice · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +5.53 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.79 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Garcia · San Francisco 49ers · Rushing · +5.28 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.06 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Glover · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.21 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.80 EPA/play
7. 7 G. Clark · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +3.04 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.51 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Allen · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +2.71 total EPA · 19 snaps · +0.14 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

• San Francisco 49ers — unlisted player (Q1 55:27)
• San Francisco 49ers — unlisted player (Q2 30:17)
• New Orleans Saints — unlisted player (Q3 17:05)
• San Francisco 49ers — unlisted player (Q4 13:04)
• San Francisco 49ers — unlisted player (Q4 8:38)
• New Orleans Saints — unlisted player (Q4 5:57)
• New Orleans Saints — unlisted player (Q4 0:49)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — unlisted player (Q1 52:11)
• New Orleans Saints — unlisted player (Q3 23:28)
• New Orleans Saints — unlisted player (Q4 8:54)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 7–3. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the NO 8 (Q1 55:27) — (10:27) J.Garcia up the middle for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the NO 12 (Q1 55:24) — W.Richey extra point is GOOD, Center-B.Jennings, Holder-C.Stanley.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the SF 22 (Q1 52:11) — (7:11) D.Brien 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-K.Houser, Holder-T.Gowin..

The second quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 7–0. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the NO 1 (Q2 30:17) — (:17) J.Garcia up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q2 30:12) — W.Richey extra point is GOOD, Center-B.Jennings, Holder-C.Stanley..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 11–0. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the SF 23 (Q3 23:28) — (8:28) D.Brien 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-K.Houser, Holder-T.Gowin.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the SF 15 (Q3 17:05) — (2:05) A.Brooks pass to A.Glover for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints registered a safety from the SF 2 (Q3 16:59) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. T.Allen rushes left guard. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 17–13. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the NO 4 (Q4 13:04) — (13:04) J.Garcia pass to G.Clark for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at NO 8.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q4 12:58) — W.Richey extra point is GOOD, Center-B.Jennings, Holder-C.Stanley.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the SF 10 (Q4 8:54) — (8:54) D.Brien 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-K.Houser, Holder-T.Gowin.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the NO 69 (Q4 8:38) — (8:38) J.Garcia pass to T.Owens for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught on NO 39.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the SF 22 (Q4 5:57) — (5:57) (Shotgun) A.Brooks pass to W.Jackson for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q4 5:46) — D.Brien extra point is GOOD, Center-K.Houser, Holder-T.Gowin.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the SF 1 (Q4 0:49) — (:49) T.Allen right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q4 0:46) — D.Brien extra point is GOOD, Center-K.Houser, Holder-T.Gowin..

Turning points

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

• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 60:00) — T.Gowin kicks 70 yards from NO 30 to end zone, Touchback. [WPA +54.2% · EPA +0.02]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 3:02) — (3:02) (Shotgun) A.Brooks up the middle to NO 48 for 10 yards (A.Plummer). [WPA +16.4% · EPA +2.20]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 8:38) — (8:38) J.Garcia pass to T.Owens for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught on NO 39. [WPA +16.3% · EPA +5.98]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 0:49) — (:49) T.Allen right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +15.3% · EPA +1.30]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 13:04) — (13:04) J.Garcia pass to G.Clark for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at NO 8. [WPA +13.6% · EPA +2.73]

Impact plays

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

• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 8:38) — (8:38) J.Garcia pass to T.Owens for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught on NO 39. [WPA +16.3% · EPA +5.98]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 26:51) — (11:51) C.Garner up the middle to NO 44 for no gain (J.Johnson). FUMBLES (J.Johnson), touched at NO 44, RECOVERED by NO-L.Glover at NO 44. [WPA -6.9% · EPA -4.53]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 49:34) — (4:34) J.Garcia pass intended for C.Garner INTERCEPTED by D.Perry at NO 33. D.Perry to NO 33 for no gain (C.Garner). [WPA -11.5% · EPA -3.96]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 5:57) — (5:57) (Shotgun) A.Brooks pass to W.Jackson for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.9% · EPA +3.44]

Quarterback report card

J.Garcia led all passers in efficiency for San Francisco 49ers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Garcia (San Francisco 49ers) · 40 dropbacks · 62.5% completion · +0.26 EPA/play · +10.31 total EPA
• A.Brooks (New Orleans Saints) · 34 dropbacks · 35.3% completion · -0.01 EPA/play · -0.47 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 (+0.23 vs +0.16), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• New Orleans Saints: 13 drives, +20.62 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 12 drives, +13.65 total EPA, 4 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• A. Brooks (New Orleans Saints) 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. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q1 55:27 · NO 8 · Score 0-6
   (10:27) J.Garcia up the middle for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q1 55:24 · NO 12 · Score 0-7
   W.Richey extra point is GOOD, Center-B.Jennings, Holder-C.Stanley.
3. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q1 52:11 · SF 22 · Score 3-7
   (7:11) D.Brien 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-K.Houser, Holder-T.Gowin.
4. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q2 30:17 · NO 1 · Score 3-13
   (:17) J.Garcia up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
5. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q2 30:12 · NO 2 · Score 3-14
   W.Richey extra point is GOOD, Center-B.Jennings, Holder-C.Stanley.
6. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q3 23:28 · SF 23 · Score 6-14
   (8:28) D.Brien 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-K.Houser, Holder-T.Gowin.
7. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 17:05 · SF 15 · Score 12-14
   (2:05) A.Brooks pass to A.Glover for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. New Orleans Saints Safety (+2) — Q3 16:59 · SF 2 · Score 14-14
   TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. T.Allen rushes left guard. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
9. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q4 13:04 · NO 4 · Score 14-20
   (13:04) J.Garcia pass to G.Clark for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at NO 8.
10. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q4 12:58 · NO 2 · Score 14-21
    W.Richey extra point is GOOD, Center-B.Jennings, Holder-C.Stanley.
11. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 8:54 · SF 10 · Score 17-21
    (8:54) D.Brien 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-K.Houser, Holder-T.Gowin.
12. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q4 8:38 · NO 69 · Score 17-27
    (8:38) J.Garcia pass to T.Owens for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught on NO 39.
13. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 5:57 · SF 22 · Score 23-27
    (5:57) (Shotgun) A.Brooks pass to W.Jackson for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 5:46 · SF 2 · Score 24-27
    D.Brien extra point is GOOD, Center-K.Houser, Holder-T.Gowin.
15. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 0:49 · SF 1 · Score 30-27
    (:49) T.Allen right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
16. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 0:46 · SF 2 · Score 31-27
    D.Brien extra point is GOOD, Center-K.Houser, Holder-T.Gowin.