New Orleans Saints vs. San Francisco 49ers: 2011 Wild Card Recap

Game story

In the Wild Card of the 2011 NFL season on 2012-01-14, the San Francisco 49ers took care of business against the New Orleans Saints, pulling away with a 36–32 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 34 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with +14.42 total EPA, and +1.5% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +14.42 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+44.0% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when San Francisco 49ers changed the game: (:14) 11-Alex Smith pass short middle to 85-V.Davis 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 D. Brees · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +14.42 total EPA · 69 snaps · +0.21 EPA/play
2. 2 V. Davis · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +13.90 total EPA · 10 snaps · +1.39 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Colston · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +10.81 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.90 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Graham · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +8.79 total EPA · 8 snaps · +1.10 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Sproles · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +6.19 total EPA · 20 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Smith · San Francisco 49ers · Rushing · +4.71 total EPA · 1 snaps · +4.71 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Henderson · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.78 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.35 EPA/play
8. 8 B. Miller · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +1.09 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.09 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

• San Francisco 49ers — V. Davis (Q1 47:17)
• San Francisco 49ers — M. Crabtree (Q1 45:44)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Graham (D. Brees pass) (Q2 39:37)
• New Orleans Saints — M. Colston (D. Brees pass) (Q2 34:16)
• New Orleans Saints — D. Sproles (D. Brees pass) (Q4 4:11)
• San Francisco 49ers — unlisted player (Q4 2:18)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Graham (D. Brees pass) (Q4 1:48)
• San Francisco 49ers — V. Davis (Q4 0:14)

Field goals

• San Francisco 49ers — D. Akers (Q2 44:17)
• San Francisco 49ers — D. Akers (Q3 25:39)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Kasay (Q4 13:13)
• San Francisco 49ers — D. Akers (Q4 7:40)

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 14–0. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the NO 49 (Q1 47:17) — (2:17) 11-Alex Smith pass deep left to 85-V.Davis for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at NO 32. 32-yds YAC; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q1 47:08) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the NO 4 (Q1 45:44) — (:44) (Shotgun) 11-Alex Smith pass short right to 15-M.Crabtree for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at NO 1. 1-yd YAC; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q1 45:41) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 14–3. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the NO 7 (Q2 44:17) — (14:17) 2-D.Akers 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the SF 14 (Q2 39:37) — (9:37) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 80-J.Graham for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q2 39:32) — 2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the SF 25 (Q2 34:16) — (4:16) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 12-M.Colston for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 1. 1-yd YAC; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the SF 1 (Q2 34:09) — 2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel..

The third quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 3–0. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the NO 23 (Q3 25:39) — (10:39) 2-D.Akers 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 18–16. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the SF 29 (Q4 13:13) — (13:13) 2-J.Kasay 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the NO 19 (Q4 7:40) — (7:40) 2-D.Akers 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the SF 44 (Q4 4:11) — (4:11) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 43-D.Sproles for 44 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 37. 37-yds YAC; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q4 4:02) — 2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the NO 28 (Q4 2:18); New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the SF 66 (Q4 1:48) — (1:48) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep middle to 80-J.Graham for 66 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 42. 42-yds YAC; New Orleans Saints registered a safety from the SF 2 (Q4 1:37) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 9-D.Brees pass to 43-D.Sproles is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS. Shotgun formation.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the NO 14 (Q4 0:14) — (:14) 11-Alex Smith pass short middle to 85-V.Davis for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q4 0:09) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

Turning points

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

• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 0:14) — (:14) 11-Alex Smith pass short middle to 85-V.Davis for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +44.0% · EPA +3.88]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 1:48) — (1:48) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep middle to 80-J.Graham for 66 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 42. 42-yds YAC [WPA +33.8% · EPA +6.00]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 0:40) — (:40) (Shotgun) 11-Alex Smith pass deep left to 85-V.Davis to NO 20 for 47 yards (27-M.Jenkins). Caught at NO 45. 20-yds YAC [WPA +30.6% · EPA +3.09]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 4:11) — (4:11) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 43-D.Sproles for 44 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 37. 37-yds YAC [WPA +27.2% · EPA +4.96]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 2:18) — (2:18) (Shotgun) 11-Alex Smith left end for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Assistant challenged the runner was in bounds ruling, and the play was Upheld. [WPA +21.6% · EPA +4.71]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q1 46:12) — (1:12) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right intended for 87-A.Arrington INTERCEPTED by 38-D.Goldson at NO 45. 38-D.Goldson to NO 4 for 41 yards (73-J.Evans). [WPA -11.8% · EPA -6.43]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 26:47) — (11:47) 4-A.Lee punts 57 yards to NO 22, Center-86-B.Jennings. 43-D.Sproles to NO 27 for 5 yards (51-B.Costanzo). FUMBLES (51-B.Costanzo), RECOVERED by SF-43-C.Jones at NO 27. 43-C.Jones to NO 26 for [WPA +18.0% · EPA +6.08]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 1:48) — (1:48) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep middle to 80-J.Graham for 66 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 42. 42-yds YAC [WPA +33.8% · EPA +6.00]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 45:41) — 2-D.Akers kicks 65 yards from SF 35 to NO 0. 15-C.Roby MUFFS catch, and recovers at NO 11. 15-C.Roby to NO 13 for 2 yards (20-M.Williams). FUMBLES (20-M.Williams), RECOVERED by SF-51-B.Costanzo at NO [WPA -4.4% · EPA -5.14]

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) · 69 dropbacks · 58.0% completion · +1.5% CPOE · +0.21 EPA/play · +14.42 total EPA
• A.Smith (San Francisco 49ers) · 45 dropbacks · 53.3% completion · -3.3% CPOE · -0.01 EPA/play · -0.61 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 (New Orleans Saints +0.09, San Francisco 49ers +0.12) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• New Orleans Saints: 16 drives, +8.72 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 16 drives, +10.76 total EPA, 7 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• San Francisco 49ers 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.
• D. Brees (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 TD (+6) — Q1 47:17 · NO 49 · Score 0-6
   (2:17) 11-Alex Smith pass deep left to 85-V.Davis for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at NO 32. 32-yds YAC
2. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q1 47:08 · NO 2 · Score 0-7
   2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
3. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q1 45:44 · NO 4 · Score 0-13
   (:44) (Shotgun) 11-Alex Smith pass short right to 15-M.Crabtree for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at NO 1. 1-yd YAC
4. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q1 45:41 · NO 2 · Score 0-14
   2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
5. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q2 44:17 · NO 7 · Score 0-17
   (14:17) 2-D.Akers 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
6. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 39:37 · SF 14 · Score 6-17
   (9:37) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 80-J.Graham for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 39:32 · SF 2 · Score 7-17
   2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
8. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 34:16 · SF 25 · Score 13-17
   (4:16) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 12-M.Colston for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 1. 1-yd YAC
9. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 34:09 · SF 1 · Score 14-17
   2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
10. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q3 25:39 · NO 23 · Score 14-20
    (10:39) 2-D.Akers 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
11. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 13:13 · SF 29 · Score 17-20
    (13:13) 2-J.Kasay 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
12. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q4 7:40 · NO 19 · Score 17-23
    (7:40) 2-D.Akers 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
13. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 4:11 · SF 44 · Score 23-23
    (4:11) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 43-D.Sproles for 44 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 37. 37-yds YAC
14. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 4:02 · SF 2 · Score 24-23
    2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
15. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q4 2:18 · NO 28 · Score 24-29
    (2:18) (Shotgun) 11-Alex Smith left end for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Assistant challenged the runner was in bounds ruling, and the play was Upheld.
16. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 1:48 · SF 66 · Score 30-29
    (1:48) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep middle to 80-J.Graham for 66 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 42. 42-yds YAC
17. New Orleans Saints Safety (+2) — Q4 1:37 · SF 2 · Score 32-29
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 9-D.Brees pass to 43-D.Sproles is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS. Shotgun formation.
18. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q4 0:14 · NO 14 · Score 32-35
    (:14) 11-Alex Smith pass short middle to 85-V.Davis for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
19. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q4 0:09 · NO 2 · Score 32-36
    2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.