New York Jets vs. New Orleans Saints: 2017 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 2017 NFL season on 2017-12-17, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the New York Jets, pulling away with a 31–19 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Petty (New York Jets) paced the passing game, with -5.39 total EPA, and -14.0% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Thomas (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +8.37 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-15.4% win probability) landed in the third quarter when New York Jets changed the game: (4:52) (Shotgun) 9-B.Petty pass short left INTERCEPTED by 52-C.Robertson (20-K.Crawley) at NO 47. 52-C.Robertson to NYJ 33 for 20 yards (22-M.Forte).

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. Thomas · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +8.37 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.76 EPA/play
2. 2 E. McGuire · New York Jets · Receiving · +4.06 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.35 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Ingram · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +3.52 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.27 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Ingram · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.18 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.36 EPA/play
5. 5 A. Seferian-Jenkins · New York Jets · Receiving · +1.78 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.89 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Natson · New York Jets · Rushing · +1.64 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.64 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Natson · New York Jets · Receiving · +1.60 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.80 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Hill · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.25 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.63 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 — M. Ingram (Q1 48:11)
• New York Jets — B. Powell (Q2 41:04)
• New Orleans Saints — A. Kamara (D. Brees pass) (Q2 36:17)
• New Orleans Saints — M. Thomas (D. Brees pass) (Q4 7:42)
• New York Jets — E. McGuire (B. Petty pass) (Q4 1:55)
• New Orleans Saints — M. Ingram (Q4 1:43)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — W. Lutz (Q1 56:41)
• New York Jets — C. Catanzaro (Q2 30:13)
• New York Jets — C. Catanzaro (Q3 23:12)

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 10–0. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the NYJ 5 (Q1 56:41) — (11:41) 3-W.Lutz 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the NYJ 1 (Q1 48:11) — (3:11) 22-M.Ingram left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the NYJ 15 (Q1 48:07) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead..

The second quarter: New York Jets won the period 10–7. New York Jets found the end zone from the NO 2 (Q2 41:04) — (11:04) 79-B.Qvale reported in as eligible. 29-B.Powell left end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Jets added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q2 40:58) — 7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-42-T.Hennessy, Holder-4-L.Edwards.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the NYJ 10 (Q2 36:17) — (6:17) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 41-A.Kamara for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 6, YAC 4; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the NYJ 15 (Q2 36:12) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; New York Jets connected on a field goal from the NO 11 (Q2 30:13) — (:13) 7-C.Catanzaro 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-T.Hennessy, Holder-4-L.Edwards..

The third quarter: New York Jets won the period 3–0. New York Jets connected on a field goal from the NO 8 (Q3 23:12) — (8:12) 7-C.Catanzaro 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-T.Hennessy, Holder-4-L.Edwards..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 14–6. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the NYJ 4 (Q4 7:42) — (7:42) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 13-M.Thomas for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 2, YAC 2; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the NYJ 15 (Q4 7:39) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; New York Jets found the end zone from the NO 2 (Q4 1:55) — (1:55) 9-B.Petty pass short right to 25-E.McGuire for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass -2, YAC 4; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the NYJ 50 (Q4 1:43) — (1:43) 22-M.Ingram right tackle for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the NYJ 15 (Q4 1:33) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead..

Turning points

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

• New York Jets (Q3 19:52) — (4:52) (Shotgun) 9-B.Petty pass short left INTERCEPTED by 52-C.Robertson (20-K.Crawley) at NO 47. 52-C.Robertson to NYJ 33 for 20 yards (22-M.Forte). [WPA -15.4% · EPA -6.47]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 18:21) — (3:21) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 16-B.Coleman to NYJ 7 for 6 yards (33-Ja.Adams). FUMBLES (33-Ja.Adams), RECOVERED by NYJ-48-J.Jenkins at NYJ 17. 48-J.Jenkins to NYJ 17 for no gain (71-R.Ramczyk). [WPA -12.9% · EPA -5.21]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 31:22) — (1:22) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle intended for 16-B.Coleman INTERCEPTED by 92-L.Williams [75-X.Cooper] at NO 17. 92-L.Williams to NO 11 for 6 yards (11-T.Lewis). NO-67-L.Warford was injured [WPA -11.8% · EPA -5.27]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 58:42) — (13:42) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 22-M.Ingram pushed ob at NYJ 10 for 54 yards (58-D.Lee). NYJ-58-D.Lee was injured during the play. His return is Probable. Pass -4, YAC 58 [WPA +11.1% · EPA +2.80]
• New York Jets (Q3 24:19) — (9:19) (Shotgun) 9-B.Petty pass deep right to 25-E.McGuire pushed ob at NO 8 for 38 yards (51-M.Te'o). Pass 35, YAC 3 [WPA +10.8% · EPA +3.13]

Impact plays

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

• New York Jets (Q3 19:52) — (4:52) (Shotgun) 9-B.Petty pass short left INTERCEPTED by 52-C.Robertson (20-K.Crawley) at NO 47. 52-C.Robertson to NYJ 33 for 20 yards (22-M.Forte). [WPA -15.4% · EPA -6.47]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 1:43) — (1:43) 22-M.Ingram right tackle for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +2.9% · EPA +5.71]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 31:22) — (1:22) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle intended for 16-B.Coleman INTERCEPTED by 92-L.Williams [75-X.Cooper] at NO 17. 92-L.Williams to NO 11 for 6 yards (11-T.Lewis). NO-67-L.Warford was injured [WPA -11.8% · EPA -5.27]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 18:21) — (3:21) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 16-B.Coleman to NYJ 7 for 6 yards (33-Ja.Adams). FUMBLES (33-Ja.Adams), RECOVERED by NYJ-48-J.Jenkins at NYJ 17. 48-J.Jenkins to NYJ 17 for no gain (71-R.Ramczyk). [WPA -12.9% · EPA -5.21]

Quarterback report card

B.Petty led all passers in efficiency for New York Jets, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• B.Petty (New York Jets) · 45 dropbacks · 42.2% completion · -14.0% CPOE · -0.12 EPA/play · -5.39 total EPA
• D.Brees (New Orleans Saints) · 37 dropbacks · 70.3% completion · +1.8% CPOE · -0.06 EPA/play · -2.29 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

New Orleans Saints held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.00 vs -0.13), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• New Orleans Saints: 14 drives, -0.14 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• New York Jets: 13 drives, -12.11 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.
• M. Thomas (New Orleans Saints) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• B. Petty (NYJ) 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 Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q1 56:41 · NYJ 5 · Score 0-3
   (11:41) 3-W.Lutz 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
2. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 48:11 · NYJ 1 · Score 0-9
   (3:11) 22-M.Ingram left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
3. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 48:07 · NYJ 15 · Score 0-10
   3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
4. New York Jets TD (+6) — Q2 41:04 · NO 2 · Score 6-10
   (11:04) 79-B.Qvale reported in as eligible. 29-B.Powell left end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. New York Jets XP (+1) — Q2 40:58 · NO 15 · Score 7-10
   7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-42-T.Hennessy, Holder-4-L.Edwards.
6. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 36:17 · NYJ 10 · Score 7-16
   (6:17) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 41-A.Kamara for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 6, YAC 4
7. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 36:12 · NYJ 15 · Score 7-17
   3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
8. New York Jets FG (+3) — Q2 30:13 · NO 11 · Score 10-17
   (:13) 7-C.Catanzaro 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-T.Hennessy, Holder-4-L.Edwards.
9. New York Jets FG (+3) — Q3 23:12 · NO 8 · Score 13-17
   (8:12) 7-C.Catanzaro 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-T.Hennessy, Holder-4-L.Edwards.
10. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 7:42 · NYJ 4 · Score 13-23
    (7:42) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 13-M.Thomas for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 2, YAC 2
11. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 7:39 · NYJ 15 · Score 13-24
    3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
12. New York Jets TD (+6) — Q4 1:55 · NO 2 · Score 19-24
    (1:55) 9-B.Petty pass short right to 25-E.McGuire for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass -2, YAC 4
13. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 1:43 · NYJ 50 · Score 19-30
    (1:43) 22-M.Ingram right tackle for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 1:33 · NYJ 15 · Score 19-31
    3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.