San Francisco 49ers vs. New Orleans Saints: 2006 Week 13 Recap

Game story

In Week 13 of the 2006 NFL season on 2006-12-03, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the San Francisco 49ers, pulling away with a 34–10 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

A. Smith (San Francisco 49ers) paced the passing game, with -14.88 total EPA, and -4.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, R. Bush (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +14.20 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-17.9% win probability) landed in the third quarter when San Francisco 49ers changed the game: (10:51) 11-A.Smith pass deep right intended for 81-A.Bryant INTERCEPTED by 34-M.McKenzie at NO 40. 34-M.McKenzie to SF 1 for 59 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by SF-85-V.Davis at SF 1. 85-V.Davis to SF 1 f

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 R. Bush · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +14.20 total EPA · 9 snaps · +1.58 EPA/play
2. 2 R. Bush · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +5.80 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.53 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Brees · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +5.20 total EPA · 31 snaps · +0.17 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Bryant · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +4.80 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.20 EPA/play
5. 5 A. Battle · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +2.59 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.65 EPA/play
6. 6 V. Davis · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +2.31 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.31 EPA/play
7. 7 B. Gilmore · San Francisco 49ers · Rushing · +2.23 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.23 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Horn · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.11 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.11 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 — R. Bush (Q2 42:17)
• New Orleans Saints — R. Bush (Q2 30:50)
• San Francisco 49ers — A. Bryant (A. Smith pass) (Q3 26:00)
• New Orleans Saints — R. Bush (D. Brees pass) (Q3 15:17)
• New Orleans Saints — R. Bush (Q4 11:28)

Field goals

• San Francisco 49ers — J. Nedney (Q1 45:25)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Carney (Q3 24:06)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Carney (Q4 2:36)

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 3–0. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the NO 12 (Q1 45:25) — (:25) 6-J.Nedney 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 14–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the SF 1 (Q2 42:17) — (12:17) 25-R.Bush left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by SF and Upheld. (Timeout #1 by SF at 12:11.); New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q2 42:11) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the SF 8 (Q2 30:50) — (:50) 25-R.Bush left end for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q2 30:43) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 10–7. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the NO 48 (Q3 26:00) — (11:00) 11-A.Smith pass deep left to 81-A.Bryant for 48 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q3 25:52) — 6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the SF 1 (Q3 24:06) — (9:06) 3-J.Carney 19 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the SF 5 (Q3 15:17) — (:17) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 25-R.Bush for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q3 15:12) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 10–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the SF 10 (Q4 11:28) — (11:28) 25-R.Bush left end for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by SF and Upheld. (Timeout #3 by SF at 11:18.); New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q4 11:18) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the SF 15 (Q4 2:36) — (2:36) 3-J.Carney 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin..

Turning points

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

• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 25:51) — (10:51) 11-A.Smith pass deep right intended for 81-A.Bryant INTERCEPTED by 34-M.McKenzie at NO 40. 34-M.McKenzie to SF 1 for 59 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by SF-85-V.Davis at SF 1. 85-V.Davis to SF 1 f [WPA -17.9% · EPA -7.36]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 26:00) — (11:00) 11-A.Smith pass deep left to 81-A.Bryant for 48 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +12.0% · EPA +4.57]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 49:27) — (4:27) (Shotgun) 84-B.Gilmore left end pushed ob at NO 42 for 12 yards (21-J.Craft, 29-J.Bullocks). Direct snap to #21 Frank Gore, rushes right, hands off to Gilmore rushing left, reverse. [WPA +6.8% · EPA +2.23]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 43:12) — (13:12) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 25-R.Bush to SF 1 for 14 yards (31-S.Davis, 27-W.Harris). [WPA +6.7% · EPA +2.43]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 48:43) — (3:43) 11-A.Smith pass short right to 83-A.Battle ran ob at NO 29 for 13 yards (23-O.Stoutmire). [WPA +6.6% · EPA +1.03]

Impact plays

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

• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 25:51) — (10:51) 11-A.Smith pass deep right intended for 81-A.Bryant INTERCEPTED by 34-M.McKenzie at NO 40. 34-M.McKenzie to SF 1 for 59 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by SF-85-V.Davis at SF 1. 85-V.Davis to SF 1 f [WPA -17.9% · EPA -7.36]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 13:24) — (13:24) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 25-R.Bush ran ob at SF 18 for 74 yards. [WPA +2.3% · EPA +6.25]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 26:00) — (11:00) 11-A.Smith pass deep left to 81-A.Bryant for 48 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +12.0% · EPA +4.57]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 30:50) — (:50) 25-R.Bush left end for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +3.4% · EPA +3.04]

Quarterback report card

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

• A.Smith (San Francisco 49ers) · 33 dropbacks · 42.4% completion · -4.4% CPOE · -0.45 EPA/play · -14.88 total EPA
• D.Brees (New Orleans Saints) · 31 dropbacks · 54.8% completion · +1.6% CPOE · +0.17 EPA/play · +5.20 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 (+0.10 vs -0.24), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• New Orleans Saints: 13 drives, +8.90 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 13 drives, -15.67 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.
• R. Bush (New Orleans Saints) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• A. Smith (SF) 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. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q1 45:25 · NO 12 · Score 3-0
   (:25) 6-J.Nedney 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
2. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 42:17 · SF 1 · Score 3-6
   (12:17) 25-R.Bush left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by SF and Upheld. (Timeout #1 by SF at 12:11.)
3. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 42:11 · SF 2 · Score 3-7
   3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin.
4. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 30:50 · SF 8 · Score 3-13
   (:50) 25-R.Bush left end for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 30:43 · SF 2 · Score 3-14
   3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin.
6. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q3 26:00 · NO 48 · Score 9-14
   (11:00) 11-A.Smith pass deep left to 81-A.Bryant for 48 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q3 25:52 · NO 2 · Score 10-14
   6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
8. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q3 24:06 · SF 1 · Score 10-17
   (9:06) 3-J.Carney 19 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin.
9. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 15:17 · SF 5 · Score 10-23
   (:17) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 25-R.Bush for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 15:12 · SF 2 · Score 10-24
    3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin.
11. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 11:28 · SF 10 · Score 10-30
    (11:28) 25-R.Bush left end for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by SF and Upheld. (Timeout #3 by SF at 11:18.)
12. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 11:18 · SF 2 · Score 10-31
    3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin.
13. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 2:36 · SF 15 · Score 10-34
    (2:36) 3-J.Carney 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-10-J.Martin.