New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2002 Week 1 Recap

Game story

In Week 1 of the 2002 NFL season on 2002-09-08, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, pulling away with a 26–20 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Johnson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) paced the passing game, with -3.85 total EPA.

On the individual side, J. Horn (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.14 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+53.6% win probability) landed in overtime when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (4:27) 6-D.Johnson punts 49 yards to TB 10, Center-47-K.Houser. 86-K.Williams to TB 6 for -4 yards (40-M.Mitchell).

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 J. Horn · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +9.14 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.83 EPA/play
2. 2 A. Brooks · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +7.86 total EPA · 47 snaps · +0.17 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Stallworth · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +5.26 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.88 EPA/play
4. 4 B. Williams · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +4.11 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.06 EPA/play
5. 5 K. McCardell · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +3.86 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.43 EPA/play
6. 6 M. Alstott · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +2.52 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.50 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Jurevicius · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +2.51 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.50 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Sloan · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.05 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.05 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 — B. Williams (A. Brooks pass) (Q2 34:17)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — K. McCardell (B. Johnson pass) (Q3 26:39)
• New Orleans Saints — D. Stallworth (A. Brooks pass) (Q3 23:46)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — J. Jurevicius (B. Johnson pass) (Q4 2:47)
• New Orleans Saints — T. Tupa (OT 2:59)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — J. Carney (Q1 53:18)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Carney (Q1 45:24)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — M. Gramatica (Q2 43:24)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — M. Gramatica (Q4 0:04)

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 6–0. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the TB 10 (Q1 53:18) — (8:18) 3-J.Carney 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-12-J.Delhomme.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the TB 23 (Q1 45:24) — (:24) 3-J.Carney 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-12-J.Delhomme. hit left upright and bounced through.

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers connected on a field goal from the NO 34 (Q2 43:24) — (13:24) 7-M.Gramatica 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-M.Solwold, Holder-9-T.Tupa.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the TB 32 (Q2 34:17) — (4:17) 2-A.Brooks pass to 82-B.Williams for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the TB 2 (Q2 34:02) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-12-J.Delhomme..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the NO 4 (Q3 26:39) — (11:39) 14-B.Johnson pass to 87-K.McCardell for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. left corner end zone quick curl out; Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q3 26:34) — 7-M.Gramatica extra point is GOOD, Center-45-M.Solwold, Holder-9-T.Tupa.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the TB 41 (Q3 23:46) — (8:46) 2-A.Brooks pass to 83-D.Stallworth for 41 yards, TOUCHDOWN. right side; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the TB 2 (Q3 23:36) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-12-J.Delhomme..

The fourth quarter: Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the period 10–0. Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the NO 11 (Q4 2:47) — (2:47) 14-B.Johnson pass to 83-J.Jurevicius for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q4 2:41) — 7-M.Gramatica extra point is GOOD, Center-45-M.Solwold, Holder-9-T.Tupa.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers connected on a field goal from the NO 23 (Q4 0:04) — (:04) 7-M.Gramatica 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-M.Solwold, Holder-9-T.Tupa..

Overtime: New Orleans Saints won the period 6–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the NO 93 (OT 2:59) — (2:59) (Punt formation) 9-T.Tupa pass intended for 38-J.Howell INTERCEPTED by 50-J.Allen at TB 0. TOUCHDOWN..

Turning points

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

• New Orleans Saints (OT 4:27) — (4:27) 6-D.Johnson punts 49 yards to TB 10, Center-47-K.Houser. 86-K.Williams to TB 6 for -4 yards (40-M.Mitchell). [WPA +53.6% · EPA +0.86]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q4 0:04) — (:04) 7-M.Gramatica 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-M.Solwold, Holder-9-T.Tupa. [WPA +33.1% · EPA +0.76]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (OT 7:27) — (7:27) 9-T.Tupa punts 52 yards to end zone, Center-45-M.Solwold, Touchback. [WPA +30.1% · EPA -0.15]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (OT 11:55) — (11:55) 14-B.Johnson pass incomplete to 85-K.Dilger. [WPA -18.7% · EPA -1.80]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (OT 8:20) — (8:20) 14-B.Johnson sacked at TB 48 for -7 yards (98-W.Whitehead). FUMBLES (98-W.Whitehead), touched at TB 48, recovered by TB-62-J.Christy at TB 48. [WPA -18.0% · EPA -1.45]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q3 16:31) — (1:31) 2-A.Brooks pass INTERCEPTED by 55-D.Brooks at TB 23. 55-D.Brooks to TB 46 for 23 yards (68-K.Turley). [WPA -9.1% · EPA -5.45]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (OT 2:59) — (2:59) (Punt formation) 9-T.Tupa pass intended for 38-J.Howell INTERCEPTED by 50-J.Allen at TB 0. TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -11.9% · EPA -5.35]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 23:46) — (8:46) 2-A.Brooks pass to 83-D.Stallworth for 41 yards, TOUCHDOWN. right side [WPA +13.1% · EPA +4.72]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 34:17) — (4:17) 2-A.Brooks pass to 82-B.Williams for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.9% · EPA +4.59]

Quarterback report card

B.Johnson led all passers in efficiency for Tampa Bay Buccaneers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• B.Johnson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) · 61 dropbacks · 45.9% completion · -0.06 EPA/play · -3.85 total EPA
• A.Brooks (New Orleans Saints) · 47 dropbacks · 51.1% completion · +0.17 EPA/play · +7.86 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 (+0.05 vs -0.06), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• New Orleans Saints: 13 drives, +4.74 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 15 drives, -5.85 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.
• J. Horn (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. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q1 53:18 · TB 10 · Score 3-0
   (8:18) 3-J.Carney 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-12-J.Delhomme.
2. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q1 45:24 · TB 23 · Score 6-0
   (:24) 3-J.Carney 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-12-J.Delhomme. hit left upright and bounced through
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers FG (+3) — Q2 43:24 · NO 34 · Score 6-3
   (13:24) 7-M.Gramatica 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-M.Solwold, Holder-9-T.Tupa.
4. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 34:17 · TB 32 · Score 12-3
   (4:17) 2-A.Brooks pass to 82-B.Williams for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 34:02 · TB 2 · Score 13-3
   3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-12-J.Delhomme.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q3 26:39 · NO 4 · Score 13-9
   (11:39) 14-B.Johnson pass to 87-K.McCardell for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. left corner end zone quick curl out
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q3 26:34 · NO 2 · Score 13-10
   7-M.Gramatica extra point is GOOD, Center-45-M.Solwold, Holder-9-T.Tupa.
8. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 23:46 · TB 41 · Score 19-10
   (8:46) 2-A.Brooks pass to 83-D.Stallworth for 41 yards, TOUCHDOWN. right side
9. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 23:36 · TB 2 · Score 20-10
   3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-12-J.Delhomme.
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q4 2:47 · NO 11 · Score 20-16
    (2:47) 14-B.Johnson pass to 83-J.Jurevicius for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q4 2:41 · NO 2 · Score 20-17
    7-M.Gramatica extra point is GOOD, Center-45-M.Solwold, Holder-9-T.Tupa.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers FG (+3) — Q4 0:04 · NO 23 · Score 20-20
    (:04) 7-M.Gramatica 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-M.Solwold, Holder-9-T.Tupa.
13. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — OT 2:59 · NO 93 · Score 26-20
    (2:59) (Punt formation) 9-T.Tupa pass intended for 38-J.Howell INTERCEPTED by 50-J.Allen at TB 0. TOUCHDOWN.