New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2017 Week 17 Recap

Game story

In Week 17 of the 2017 NFL season on 2017-12-31, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took care of business against the New Orleans Saints, pulling away with a 31–24 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 25 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Winston (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) paced the passing game, with +13.37 total EPA, and -2.7% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Winston (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +13.37 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+42.9% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Tampa Bay Buccaneers changed the game: (:15) (Shotgun) 3-J.Winston pass deep right to 12-C.Godwin for 39 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 J. Winston · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Passing · +13.37 total EPA · 59 snaps · +0.23 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Brees · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +8.96 total EPA · 32 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
3. 3 C. Godwin · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +8.36 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.70 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Humphries · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +7.59 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.69 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Thomas · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +6.55 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.82 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Kamara · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +6.08 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.87 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Brate · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +2.97 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.59 EPA/play
8. 8 A. Kamara · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +1.61 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.16 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

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — P. Barber (Q1 54:47)
• New Orleans Saints — A. Kamara (Q1 54:42)
• New Orleans Saints — A. Kamara (Q1 47:41)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — L. Wester (Q2 35:57)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — I. Johnson (Q4 14:19)
• New Orleans Saints — Z. Line (D. Brees pass) (Q4 7:13)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — C. Godwin (J. Winston pass) (Q4 0:15)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — W. Lutz (Q3 17:48)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — P. Murray (Q4 4:35)

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 14–7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the NO 1 (Q1 54:47) — (9:47) 66-L.Wester reported in as eligible. 25-P.Barber right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q1 54:42) — 7-P.Murray extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-9-B.Anger.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the TB 35 (Q1 54:42) — 7-P.Murray kicks 71 yards from TB 35 to NO -6. 41-A.Kamara for 106 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the TB 15 (Q1 54:29) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the TB 7 (Q1 47:41) — (2:41) 41-A.Kamara up the middle for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the TB 15 (Q1 47:36) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead..

The second quarter: Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the period 6–0. Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the NO 1 (Q2 35:57) — (5:57) 66-L.Wester reported in as eligible. 3-J.Winston scrambles up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 3–0. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the TB 30 (Q3 17:48) — (2:48) (Field Goal formation) 3-W.Lutz 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead..

The fourth quarter: Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the period 18–7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the NO 68 (Q4 14:19); Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q4 14:04) — 7-P.Murray extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-9-B.Anger.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the TB 3 (Q4 7:13) — (7:13) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 42-Z.Line for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the TB 15 (Q4 7:07) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers connected on a field goal from the NO 24 (Q4 4:35) — (4:35) (Field Goal formation) 7-P.Murray 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-9-B.Anger.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the NO 39 (Q4 0:15) — (:15) (Shotgun) 3-J.Winston pass deep right to 12-C.Godwin for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers registered a safety from the NO 2 (Q4 0:09) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 3-J.Winston pass to 13-M.Evans is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..

Turning points

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

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q4 0:15) — (:15) (Shotgun) 3-J.Winston pass deep right to 12-C.Godwin for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +42.9% · EPA +5.60]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q4 14:19) — (14:19) (Punt formation) 9-B.Anger punts 54 yards to NO 14, Center-65-G.Sanborn. 11-T.Lewis to NO 7 for -7 yards (26-J.Robinson). FUMBLES (26-J.Robinson), RECOVERED by TB-39-I.Johnson at NO 7. 39-I.Jo [WPA +36.6% · EPA +8.02]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q4 1:41) — (1:41) (Shotgun) 3-J.Winston pass short middle to 84-C.Brate to TB 17 for 12 yards (25-R.Bush). [WPA +18.6% · EPA +1.03]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) 3-J.Winston pass short left intended for 25-P.Barber INTERCEPTED by 52-C.Robertson at NO 42. 52-C.Robertson to NO 42 for no gain (25-P.Barber). [WPA -16.9% · EPA -3.49]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 54:42) — 7-P.Murray kicks 71 yards from TB 35 to NO -6. 41-A.Kamara for 106 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +15.1% · EPA +6.25]

Impact plays

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

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q4 14:19) — (14:19) (Punt formation) 9-B.Anger punts 54 yards to NO 14, Center-65-G.Sanborn. 11-T.Lewis to NO 7 for -7 yards (26-J.Robinson). FUMBLES (26-J.Robinson), RECOVERED by TB-39-I.Johnson at NO 7. 39-I.Jo [WPA +36.6% · EPA +8.02]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 54:42) — 7-P.Murray kicks 71 yards from TB 35 to NO -6. 41-A.Kamara for 106 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +15.1% · EPA +6.25]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q4 0:15) — (:15) (Shotgun) 3-J.Winston pass deep right to 12-C.Godwin for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +42.9% · EPA +5.60]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q1 51:09) — (6:09) 3-J.Winston pass short right intended for 13-M.Evans INTERCEPTED by 43-M.Williams at NO 35. 43-M.Williams to NO 35 for no gain (13-M.Evans). [WPA -10.9% · EPA -4.51]

Quarterback report card

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

• J.Winston (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) · 59 dropbacks · 47.5% completion · -2.7% CPOE · +0.23 EPA/play · +13.37 total EPA
• D.Brees (New Orleans Saints) · 32 dropbacks · 68.8% completion · +7.6% CPOE · +0.28 EPA/play · +8.96 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (New Orleans Saints +0.18, Tampa Bay Buccaneers +0.18) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• New Orleans Saints: 10 drives, +13.90 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 10 drives, +17.91 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers 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. Winston (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Brees (NO) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q1 54:47 · NO 1 · Score 0-6
   (9:47) 66-L.Wester reported in as eligible. 25-P.Barber right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q1 54:42 · NO 15 · Score 0-7
   7-P.Murray extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-9-B.Anger.
3. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 54:42 · TB 35 · Score 6-7
   7-P.Murray kicks 71 yards from TB 35 to NO -6. 41-A.Kamara for 106 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 54:29 · TB 15 · Score 7-7
   3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
5. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 47:41 · TB 7 · Score 13-7
   (2:41) 41-A.Kamara up the middle for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 47:36 · TB 15 · Score 14-7
   3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q2 35:57 · NO 1 · Score 14-13
   (5:57) 66-L.Wester reported in as eligible. 3-J.Winston scrambles up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
8. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q3 17:48 · TB 30 · Score 17-13
   (2:48) (Field Goal formation) 3-W.Lutz 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q4 14:19 · NO 68 · Score 17-19
   (14:19) (Punt formation) 9-B.Anger punts 54 yards to NO 14, Center-65-G.Sanborn. 11-T.Lewis to NO 7 for -7 yards (26-J.Robinson). FUMBLES (26-J.Robinson), RECOV
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q4 14:04 · NO 15 · Score 17-20
    7-P.Murray extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-9-B.Anger.
11. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 7:13 · TB 3 · Score 23-20
    (7:13) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 42-Z.Line for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 7:07 · TB 15 · Score 24-20
    3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers FG (+3) — Q4 4:35 · NO 24 · Score 24-23
    (4:35) (Field Goal formation) 7-P.Murray 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-9-B.Anger.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q4 0:15 · NO 39 · Score 24-29
    (:15) (Shotgun) 3-J.Winston pass deep right to 12-C.Godwin for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Safety (+2) — Q4 0:09 · NO 2 · Score 24-31
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 3-J.Winston pass to 13-M.Evans is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.