New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2020 Week 9 Recap

Game story

In Week 9 of the 2020 NFL season on 2020-11-08, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, pulling away with a 38–3 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Brady (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) paced the passing game, with -21.00 total EPA, and -3.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Hill (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.29 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+8.8% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (9:42) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 10-T.Smith for 14 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 T. Hill · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +6.29 total EPA · 3 snaps · +2.10 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Brees · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +5.41 total EPA · 33 snaps · +0.16 EPA/play
3. 3 E. Sanders · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +5.03 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.01 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Trautman · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +4.98 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.66 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Thomas · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.27 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.55 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Harris · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.06 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.06 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Smith · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.79 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.39 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Hill · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.33 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.16 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

• New Orleans Saints — T. Smith (D. Brees pass) (Q1 54:42)
• New Orleans Saints — A. Trautman (D. Brees pass) (Q1 45:04)
• New Orleans Saints — E. Sanders (D. Brees pass) (Q2 41:50)
• New Orleans Saints — A. Kamara (Q2 38:49)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Hill (D. Brees pass) (Q4 9:10)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — W. Lutz (Q2 31:54)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — R. Succop (Q4 5:57)

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 14–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the TB 14 (Q1 54:42) — (9:42) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 10-T.Smith for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the TB 15 (Q1 54:34) — 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 45:04); New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the TB 15 (Q1 45:00) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 17–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the TB 12 (Q2 41:50) — (11:50) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 17-E.Sanders for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the TB 15 (Q2 41:44) — 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 1 (Q2 38:49) — (8:49) 41-A.Kamara left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the TB 15 (Q2 38:45) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the TB 18 (Q2 31:54) — (1:54) 3-W.Lutz 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–3. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the TB 3 (Q4 9:10) — (9:10) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 89-J.Hill for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the TB 15 (Q4 9:07) — 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 30 (Q4 5:57) — (5:57) 3-R.Succop 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-97-Z.Triner, Holder-8-B.Pinion..

Turning points

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q1 54:42) — (9:42) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 10-T.Smith for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +8.8% · EPA +3.33]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 48:46) — (3:46) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 87-J.Cook to TB 2 for 11 yards (33-J.Whitehead; 45-D.White). FUMBLES (33-J.Whitehead), RECOVERED by TB-54-L.David at TB 2. The Replay Official reviewed [WPA -8.1% · EPA -4.73]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 56:09) — (11:09) (Shotgun) 7-T.Hill pass short left to 87-J.Cook to TB 14 for 19 yards (45-D.White). [WPA +6.0% · EPA +1.97]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 45:04) — (:04) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 82-A.Trautman for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. TB-54-L.David was injured during the play. His return is Questionable. [WPA +4.2% · EPA +2.13]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q1 59:18) — (14:18) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass incomplete short left to 87-R.Gronkowski. [WPA -4.2% · EPA -1.69]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q3 26:58) — (11:58) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees sacked at NO 39 for -9 yards (58-S.Barrett). FUMBLES (58-S.Barrett) [58-S.Barrett], RECOVERED by TB-32-M.Edwards at TB 48. 32-M.Edwards pushed ob at NO 21 for 31 yards (87- [WPA -0.2% · EPA -6.08]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q2 41:05) — (11:05) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short left intended for 27-R.Jones INTERCEPTED by 93-D.Onyemata (92-M.Davenport) at TB 30. 93-D.Onyemata to TB 27 for 3 yards (76-D.Smith). [WPA -1.6% · EPA -5.75]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 48:46) — (3:46) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 87-J.Cook to TB 2 for 11 yards (33-J.Whitehead; 45-D.White). FUMBLES (33-J.Whitehead), RECOVERED by TB-54-L.David at TB 2. The Replay Official reviewed [WPA -8.1% · EPA -4.73]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q3 24:36) — (9:36) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass incomplete short left to 13-M.Evans (23-M.Lattimore). [WPA -0.1% · EPA -3.91]

Quarterback report card

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

• T.Brady (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) · 44 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -3.9% CPOE · -0.48 EPA/play · -21.00 total EPA
• D.Brees (New Orleans Saints) · 33 dropbacks · 78.8% completion · +18.4% CPOE · +0.16 EPA/play · +5.41 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 (+0.20 vs -0.41), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• New Orleans Saints: 11 drives, +16.80 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 11 drives, -25.57 total EPA, 2 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.
• T. Hill (New Orleans Saints) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• T. Brady (TB) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• 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. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 54:42 · TB 14 · Score 6-0
   (9:42) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 10-T.Smith for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 54:34 · TB 15 · Score 7-0
   3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
3. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 45:04 · TB 7 · Score 13-0
   (:04) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 82-A.Trautman for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. TB-54-L.David was injured during the play. His return is Questionable.
4. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 45:00 · TB 15 · Score 14-0
   3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
5. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 41:50 · TB 12 · Score 20-0
   (11:50) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 17-E.Sanders for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 41:44 · TB 15 · Score 21-0
   3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
7. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 38:49 · TB 1 · Score 27-0
   (8:49) 41-A.Kamara left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
8. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 38:45 · TB 15 · Score 28-0
   3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
9. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 31:54 · TB 18 · Score 31-0
   (1:54) 3-W.Lutz 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
10. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 9:10 · TB 3 · Score 37-0
    (9:10) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 89-J.Hill for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 9:07 · TB 15 · Score 38-0
    3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers FG (+3) — Q4 5:57 · NO 30 · Score 38-3
    (5:57) 3-R.Succop 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-97-Z.Triner, Holder-8-B.Pinion.