New Orleans Saints vs. Seattle Seahawks: 2013 Wild Card Recap

Game story

In the Wild Card of the 2013 NFL season on 2014-01-11, the Seattle Seahawks took care of business against the New Orleans Saints, pulling away with a 23–15 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 22 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with +0.97 total EPA, and -7.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Colston (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.57 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-11.2% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (5:08) 3-S.Graham 45 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.

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. Colston · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +6.57 total EPA · 15 snaps · +0.44 EPA/play
2. 2 R. Meachem · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +4.61 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.30 EPA/play
3. 3 K. Robinson · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +3.15 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.23 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Kearse · Seattle Seahawks · Receiving · +2.68 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.68 EPA/play
5. 5 Z. Miller · Seattle Seahawks · Receiving · +1.13 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.13 EPA/play
6. 6 K. Robinson · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +0.98 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.98 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Brees · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +0.97 total EPA · 46 snaps · +0.02 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Hill · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +0.93 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.47 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

• Seattle Seahawks — M. Lynch (Q2 44:23)
• New Orleans Saints — K. Robinson (Q4 13:14)
• Seattle Seahawks — M. Lynch (Q4 2:48)
• New Orleans Saints — M. Colston (D. Brees pass) (Q4 0:32)

Field goals

• Seattle Seahawks — S. Hauschka (Q1 55:24)
• Seattle Seahawks — S. Hauschka (Q1 45:42)
• Seattle Seahawks — S. Hauschka (Q2 31:22)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Seattle Seahawks won the period 6–0. Seattle Seahawks connected on a field goal from the NO 20 (Q1 55:24) — (10:24) 4-S.Hauschka 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-C.Gresham, Holder-9-J.Ryan.; Seattle Seahawks connected on a field goal from the NO 31 (Q1 45:42) — (:42) 4-S.Hauschka 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-C.Gresham, Holder-9-J.Ryan..

The second quarter: Seattle Seahawks won the period 10–0. Seattle Seahawks found the end zone from the NO 15 (Q2 44:23) — (14:23) (Shotgun) 24-M.Lynch up the middle for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Seattle Seahawks added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q2 44:17) — 4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-49-C.Gresham, Holder-9-J.Ryan.; Seattle Seahawks connected on a field goal from the NO 8 (Q2 31:22) — (1:22) 4-S.Hauschka 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-C.Gresham, Holder-9-J.Ryan..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 15–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the SEA 1 (Q4 13:14) — (13:14) #79 eligible 29-K.Robinson right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints registered a safety from the SEA 2 (Q4 13:11) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 22-M.Ingram rushes left guard. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.; Seattle Seahawks found the end zone from the NO 31 (Q4 2:48) — (2:48) 24-M.Lynch left end for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Seattle Seahawks added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q4 2:40) — 4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-49-C.Gresham, Holder-9-J.Ryan.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the SEA 9 (Q4 0:32) — (:32) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 12-M.Colston for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the SEA 2 (Q4 0:26) — 3-S.Graham extra point 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 (Q1 50:08) — (5:08) 3-S.Graham 45 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown. [WPA -11.2% · EPA -3.76]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 22-M.Ingram up the middle to NO 24 for no gain (72-M.Bennett). FUMBLES (72-M.Bennett), RECOVERED by SEA-72-M.Bennett at NO 24. 72-M.Bennett to NO 24 for no gain (73-J.Evans). [WPA -8.9% · EPA -4.38]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 5:03) — (5:03) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 17-R.Meachem to SEA 25 for 52 yards (31-K.Chancellor). [WPA +8.5% · EPA +3.34]
• Seattle Seahawks (Q1 57:24) — (12:24) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass incomplete deep left to 11-P.Harvin (25-R.Bush). PENALTY on NO-25-R.Bush, Unnecessary Roughness, 14 yards, enforced at NO 41 - No Play. [WPA +8.4% · EPA +2.49]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 52:45) — (7:45) 22-M.Ingram left tackle pushed ob at SEA 33 for 12 yards (29-E.Thomas). [WPA +5.4% · EPA +1.20]

Impact plays

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

• Seattle Seahawks (Q4 2:48) — (2:48) 24-M.Lynch left end for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +1.9% · EPA +5.07]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 0:32) — (:32) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 12-M.Colston for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +0.2% · EPA +4.72]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 22-M.Ingram up the middle to NO 24 for no gain (72-M.Bennett). FUMBLES (72-M.Bennett), RECOVERED by SEA-72-M.Bennett at NO 24. 72-M.Bennett to NO 24 for no gain (73-J.Evans). [WPA -8.9% · EPA -4.38]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 50:08) — (5:08) 3-S.Graham 45 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown. [WPA -11.2% · EPA -3.76]

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) · 47 dropbacks · 51.1% completion · -7.6% CPOE · +0.02 EPA/play · +0.97 total EPA
• R.Wilson (Seattle Seahawks) · 26 dropbacks · 34.6% completion · -7.2% CPOE · -0.04 EPA/play · -0.97 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Seattle Seahawks held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.00 vs -0.08), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• New Orleans Saints: 13 drives, -7.53 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• Seattle Seahawks: 12 drives, +0.30 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Seattle Seahawks leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• M. Colston (New Orleans Saints) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Brees (NO) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• R. Wilson (SEA) 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. Seattle Seahawks FG (+3) — Q1 55:24 · NO 20 · Score 0-3
   (10:24) 4-S.Hauschka 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-C.Gresham, Holder-9-J.Ryan.
2. Seattle Seahawks FG (+3) — Q1 45:42 · NO 31 · Score 0-6
   (:42) 4-S.Hauschka 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-C.Gresham, Holder-9-J.Ryan.
3. Seattle Seahawks TD (+6) — Q2 44:23 · NO 15 · Score 0-12
   (14:23) (Shotgun) 24-M.Lynch up the middle for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Seattle Seahawks XP (+1) — Q2 44:17 · NO 2 · Score 0-13
   4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-49-C.Gresham, Holder-9-J.Ryan.
5. Seattle Seahawks FG (+3) — Q2 31:22 · NO 8 · Score 0-16
   (1:22) 4-S.Hauschka 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-C.Gresham, Holder-9-J.Ryan.
6. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 13:14 · SEA 1 · Score 6-16
   (13:14) #79 eligible 29-K.Robinson right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
7. New Orleans Saints Safety (+2) — Q4 13:11 · SEA 2 · Score 8-16
   TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 22-M.Ingram rushes left guard. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
8. Seattle Seahawks TD (+6) — Q4 2:48 · NO 31 · Score 8-22
   (2:48) 24-M.Lynch left end for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Seattle Seahawks XP (+1) — Q4 2:40 · NO 2 · Score 8-23
   4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-49-C.Gresham, Holder-9-J.Ryan.
10. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 0:32 · SEA 9 · Score 14-23
    (:32) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 12-M.Colston for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 0:26 · SEA 2 · Score 15-23
    3-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.