San Francisco 49ers vs. New Orleans Saints: 2013 Week 11 Recap

Game story

In Week 11 of the 2013 NFL season on 2013-11-17, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the San Francisco 49ers, pulling away with a 23–20 final that came down to the wire.

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

D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with +0.90 total EPA, and +3.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, A. Boldin (San Francisco 49ers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.29 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-20.8% win probability) landed in the third quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (12:23) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right intended for 80-J.Graham INTERCEPTED by 55-A.Brooks at NO 44. 55-A.Brooks to NO 22 for 22 yards (64-Z.Strief). FUMBLES (64-Z.Strief), and recovers at NO 22

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 A. Boldin · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +7.29 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.81 EPA/play
2. 2 R. Meachem · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +5.74 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.87 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Colston · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +4.71 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.67 EPA/play
4. 4 V. Davis · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +1.67 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.33 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Collins · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +1.49 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.75 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Brees · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +0.90 total EPA · 45 snaps · +0.02 EPA/play
7. 7 P. Thomas · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +0.53 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.11 EPA/play
8. 8 N. Toon · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +0.45 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.45 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 — J. Hill (D. Brees pass) (Q1 45:49)
• San Francisco 49ers — A. Boldin (C. Kaepernick pass) (Q2 40:21)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Collins (Q2 32:00)
• San Francisco 49ers — V. Davis (C. Kaepernick pass) (Q3 25:58)

Field goals

• San Francisco 49ers — P. Dawson (Q2 33:39)
• San Francisco 49ers — P. Dawson (Q4 13:27)
• New Orleans Saints — G. Hartley (Q4 7:53)
• New Orleans Saints — G. Hartley (Q4 2:11)
• New Orleans Saints — G. Hartley (Q4 0:03)

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 7–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the SF 3 (Q1 45:49) — (:49) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 89-J.Hill for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 1, YAC 2; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q1 45:44) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown..

The second quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 10–7. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the NO 11 (Q2 40:21) — (10:21) 7-C.Kaepernick pass short left to 81-A.Boldin for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 10, YAC 1; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q2 40:16) — 9-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-4-A.Lee.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the NO 37 (Q2 33:39) — (3:39) 9-P.Dawson 55 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-4-A.Lee.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the SF 1 (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) 45-J.Collins left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q2 31:58) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown..

The third quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 7–0. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the NO 17 (Q3 25:58) — (10:58) (Shotgun) 7-C.Kaepernick pass deep right to 85-V.Davis for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 17, YAC 0; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q3 25:52) — 9-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 9–3. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the NO 11 (Q4 13:27) — (13:27) 9-P.Dawson 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-4-A.Lee.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the SF 3 (Q4 7:53) — (7:53) 5-G.Hartley 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the SF 24 (Q4 2:11) — (2:11) 5-G.Hartley 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the SF 13 (Q4 0:03) — (:03) 5-G.Hartley 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown..

Turning points

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q3 27:23) — (12:23) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right intended for 80-J.Graham INTERCEPTED by 55-A.Brooks at NO 44. 55-A.Brooks to NO 22 for 22 yards (64-Z.Strief). FUMBLES (64-Z.Strief), and recovers at NO 22 [WPA -20.8% · EPA -6.29]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 50:02) — (5:02) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 17-R.Meachem pushed ob at SF 25 for 44 yards (22-C.Rogers). Pass 10, YAC 34 [WPA +15.1% · EPA +3.65]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 0:03) — (:03) 5-G.Hartley 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown. [WPA +14.5% · EPA +0.16]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 10:38) — (10:38) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 12-M.Colston to SF 6 for 26 yards (30-E.Wright). Pass 22, YAC 4 [WPA +13.6% · EPA +2.09]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 33:34) — 9-P.Dawson kicks 68 yards from SF 35 to NO -3. 39-T.Cadet pushed ob at SF 21 for 82 yards (26-T.Brock). [WPA +12.8% · EPA +2.89]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q3 27:23) — (12:23) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right intended for 80-J.Graham INTERCEPTED by 55-A.Brooks at NO 44. 55-A.Brooks to NO 22 for 22 yards (64-Z.Strief). FUMBLES (64-Z.Strief), and recovers at NO 22 [WPA -20.8% · EPA -6.29]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 40:36) — (10:36) 4-A.Lee punts 37 yards to NO 11, Center-47-K.McDermott. 16-L.Moore MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by SF-41-R.Ventrone at NO 11. 41-R.Ventrone to NO 11 for no gain (16-L.Moore). [WPA +10.8% · EPA +5.01]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 50:02) — (5:02) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 17-R.Meachem pushed ob at SF 25 for 44 yards (22-C.Rogers). Pass 10, YAC 34 [WPA +15.1% · EPA +3.65]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 25:58) — (10:58) (Shotgun) 7-C.Kaepernick pass deep right to 85-V.Davis for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 17, YAC 0 [WPA +11.7% · EPA +3.17]

Quarterback report card

D.Brees led all passers in efficiency for New Orleans Saints, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Brees (New Orleans Saints) · 45 dropbacks · 66.7% completion · +3.9% CPOE · +0.02 EPA/play · +0.90 total EPA
• C.Kaepernick (San Francisco 49ers) · 38 dropbacks · 44.7% completion · -2.9% CPOE · -0.00 EPA/play · -0.16 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 (San Francisco 49ers +0.03, New Orleans Saints +0.04) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• New Orleans Saints: 11 drives, +2.86 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 12 drives, +2.05 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.
• A. Boldin (San Francisco 49ers) 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. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 45:49 · SF 3 · Score 0-6
   (:49) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 89-J.Hill for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 1, YAC 2
2. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 45:44 · SF 2 · Score 0-7
   5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.
3. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q2 40:21 · NO 11 · Score 6-7
   (10:21) 7-C.Kaepernick pass short left to 81-A.Boldin for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 10, YAC 1
4. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q2 40:16 · NO 2 · Score 7-7
   9-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-4-A.Lee.
5. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q2 33:39 · NO 37 · Score 10-7
   (3:39) 9-P.Dawson 55 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-4-A.Lee.
6. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 32:00 · SF 1 · Score 10-13
   (2:00) 45-J.Collins left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
7. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 31:58 · SF 2 · Score 10-14
   5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.
8. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q3 25:58 · NO 17 · Score 16-14
   (10:58) (Shotgun) 7-C.Kaepernick pass deep right to 85-V.Davis for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 17, YAC 0
9. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q3 25:52 · NO 2 · Score 17-14
   9-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-4-A.Lee.
10. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q4 13:27 · NO 11 · Score 20-14
    (13:27) 9-P.Dawson 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.McDermott, Holder-4-A.Lee.
11. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 7:53 · SF 3 · Score 20-17
    (7:53) 5-G.Hartley 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.
12. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 2:11 · SF 24 · Score 20-20
    (2:11) 5-G.Hartley 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.
13. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 0:03 · SF 13 · Score 20-23
    (:03) 5-G.Hartley 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.