Quick answer
- Winner
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Final score
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48–21 New Orleans Saints
- Halftime
- New Orleans Saints 0–30 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at halftime
- FantasyHQ MVP
- Buddy Johnson
- Top passer
- A. Brooks
- Biggest EPA play
- (2:13) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 88-W.Jackson INTERCEPTED by 20-R.Barber at N…
- Game date
- 2001-12-23
Game summary
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the New Orleans Saints 48–21 on 2001-12-23. Buddy Johnson posted a game-high +11.61 total EPA in the passing.
The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 29 combined points.
Line score
Final score and points by quarter.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | — | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 21 | |
| 17 | 13 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 48 |
Stars of the game
Top performers by total expected points added (EPA).
- 1

Buddy Johnson · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Passing · +11.61 total EPA · 34 snaps · +0.34 EPA/play - 2

David Moore · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +6.69 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.34 EPA/play - 3

Russell Wilson · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.94 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.99 EPA/play - 4
M. Alstott · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Rushing · +3.72 total EPA · 24 snaps · +0.15 EPA/play - 5

Evan Williams · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.09 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play - 6
Juwan Green · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +1.94 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.97 EPA/play - 7
W. Dunn · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +1.09 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play - 8

Kristian Williams · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +1.06 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.27 EPA/play
FantasyHQ Game MVP
Highest total EPA with the player's top snap and the game's biggest single play when different.

FantasyHQ Game MVP
Buddy Johnson — TB · Passing
Buddy Johnson posted the highest total EPA (+11.61) in the game, the strongest overall impact for Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Across 34 counted snaps, they averaged +0.34 EPA per play.
Buddy Johnson's top snap (+3.34 EPA): (1:18) 14-B.Johnson pass to 28-W.Dunn for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Biggest single play (-7.63 EPA): A. Brooks — (2:13) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 88-W.Jackson INTERCEPTED by 20-R.Barber at NO 36. 20-R.Barber for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Quarterback report card
A. Brooks led all passers in efficiency for New Orleans Saints, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.
A. Brooks (New Orleans Saints) · 44 dropbacks · 47.7% completion · -0.15 EPA/play · -6.54 total EPA
Buddy Johnson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) · 34 dropbacks · 47.1% completion · +0.34 EPA/play · +11.61 total EPA
Team stats comparison
Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency.
| Stat | ||
|---|---|---|
| Offensive EPA/play | -0.021 | +0.271 |
| Offensive success rate | 46.1% | 51.1% |
| Pass EPA/play | -0.149 | +0.341 |
| Rush EPA/play | -0.256 | +0.064 |
| Defensive EPA/play | -0.271 | +0.021 |
| Defensive success rate | 48.9% | 53.9% |
Drive & efficiency notes
Tampa Bay Buccaneers held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.27 vs -0.02), even if the scoreboard told a different story.
Season benchmark context (offensive EPA per play):
- New Orleans Saints: -0.02 EPA/play (47th percentile vs. 2001 team-game averages)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: +0.27 EPA/play (97th percentile vs. 2001 team-game averages)
- New Orleans Saints: 13 drives, -1.63 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 12 drives, +24.37 total EPA, 8 scoring drives
Who scored touchdowns and field goals
Every touchdown and field goal from official play-by-play.
Touchdowns

Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Kristian Williams (Buddy Johnson pass)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers — M. Alstott
Tampa Bay Buccaneers — W. Dunn (Buddy Johnson pass) 
New Orleans Saints — Jimmy Horn Jr. (A. Brooks pass) 
New Orleans Saints — Evan Williams (A. Brooks pass) 
Tampa Bay Buccaneers — David Moore (Buddy Johnson pass) 
New Orleans Saints — Jimmy Horn Jr. (A. Brooks pass) 
Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Ricky Barber
Field goals
Tampa Bay Buccaneers — M. Gramatica
Tampa Bay Buccaneers — M. Gramatica
Tampa Bay Buccaneers — M. Gramatica
Tampa Bay Buccaneers — M. Gramatica
Quarter by quarter
Quarter-by-quarter recap from live scoring plays.
The opening quarter: Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the period 17–0. Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the NO 14 (Q1 14:01) — (14:01) 14-B.Johnson pass to 86-K.Williams for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q1 13:54) — 7-M.Gramatica extra point is GOOD, Center-84-S.McDermott, Holder-3-M.Royals.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the NO 1 (Q1 10:17) — (10:17) 40-M.Alstott up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q1 10:10) — 7-M.Gramatica extra point is GOOD, Center-84-S.McDermott, Holder-3-M.Royals.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers connected on a field goal from the NO 2 (Q1 3:43) — (3:43) 7-M.Gramatica 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-84-S.McDermott, Holder-3-M.Royals..
The second quarter: Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the period 13–0. Tampa Bay Buccaneers connected on a field goal from the NO 6 (Q2 7:11) — (7:11) 7-M.Gramatica 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-84-S.McDermott, Holder-3-M.Royals.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the NO 17 (Q2 1:18) — (1:18) 14-B.Johnson pass to 28-W.Dunn for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q2 1:07) — 7-M.Gramatica extra point is GOOD, Center-84-S.McDermott, Holder-3-M.Royals.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers connected on a field goal from the NO 14 (Q2 0:21) — (:21) 7-M.Gramatica 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-84-S.McDermott, Holder-3-M.Royals..
The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–3. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the TB 11 (Q3 8:16) — (8:16) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass to 87-J.Horn for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the TB 2 (Q3 8:09) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers connected on a field goal from the NO 9 (Q3 2:14) — (2:14) 7-M.Gramatica 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-84-S.McDermott, Holder-3-M.Royals..
The fourth quarter: Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the period 15–14. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the TB 16 (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) 2-A.Brooks pass to 82-E.Williams for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the TB 2 (Q4 14:54) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the NO 4 (Q4 9:12) — (9:12) 14-B.Johnson pass to 83-D.Moore for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q4 9:03) — 7-M.Gramatica extra point is GOOD, Center-84-S.McDermott, Holder-3-M.Royals.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the TB 10 (Q4 5:24) — (5:24) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass to 87-J.Horn for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the TB 2 (Q4 5:16) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the TB 69 (Q4 2:13) — (2:13) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 88-W.Jackson INTERCEPTED by 20-R.Barber at NO 36. 20-R.Barber for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers registered a safety from the NO 2 (Q4 2:00) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 10-S.King rushes left end. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..
Turning points
Plays that moved win probability the most.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q1 15:00) — 3-J.Carney kicks 70 yards from NO 30 to TB 0. 22-A.Stecker to NO 14 for 86 yards (84-M.Lewis).
- New Orleans Saints (Q1 12:29) — (12:29) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 87-J.Horn INTERCEPTED by 20-R.Barber at NO 27. 20-R.Barber to NO 12 for 15 yards (78-D.Terrell).
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q1 14:01) — (14:01) 14-B.Johnson pass to 86-K.Williams for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q1 5:28) — (5:28) 14-B.Johnson pass to 83-D.Moore to NO 13 for 22 yards (20-J.Bellamy, 29-S.Knight).
- New Orleans Saints (Q1 2:15) — (2:15) 4-T.Gowin punts 27 yards to TB 44, Center-47-K.Houser, downed by NO-47-K.Houser.
Impact plays
Highest EPA snaps that flipped field position.
- New Orleans Saints (Q4 2:13) — (2:13) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 88-W.Jackson INTERCEPTED by 20-R.Barber at NO 36. 20-R.Barber for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- New Orleans Saints (Q2 1:07) — (1:07) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 87-J.Horn INTERCEPTED by 34-D.Jackson at NO 45. 34-D.Jackson to NO 16 for 29 yards (34-R.Williams).
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q1 15:00) — 3-J.Carney kicks 70 yards from NO 30 to TB 0. 22-A.Stecker to NO 14 for 86 yards (84-M.Lewis).
- New Orleans Saints (Q1 12:29) — (12:29) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 87-J.Horn INTERCEPTED by 20-R.Barber at NO 27. 20-R.Barber to NO 12 for 15 yards (78-D.Terrell).
Every scoring play
Chronological scoring with play-by-play context.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q1 14:01 · NO 14 · Score 0-6
(14:01) 14-B.Johnson pass to 86-K.Williams for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q1 13:54 · NO 2 · Score 0-7
7-M.Gramatica extra point is GOOD, Center-84-S.McDermott, Holder-3-M.Royals.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q1 10:17 · NO 1 · Score 0-13
(10:17) 40-M.Alstott up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q1 10:10 · NO 2 · Score 0-14
7-M.Gramatica extra point is GOOD, Center-84-S.McDermott, Holder-3-M.Royals.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers FG (+3) — Q1 3:43 · NO 2 · Score 0-17
(3:43) 7-M.Gramatica 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-84-S.McDermott, Holder-3-M.Royals.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers FG (+3) — Q2 7:11 · NO 6 · Score 0-20
(7:11) 7-M.Gramatica 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-84-S.McDermott, Holder-3-M.Royals.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q2 1:18 · NO 17 · Score 0-26
(1:18) 14-B.Johnson pass to 28-W.Dunn for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q2 1:07 · NO 2 · Score 0-27
7-M.Gramatica extra point is GOOD, Center-84-S.McDermott, Holder-3-M.Royals.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers FG (+3) — Q2 0:21 · NO 14 · Score 0-30
(:21) 7-M.Gramatica 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-84-S.McDermott, Holder-3-M.Royals.
New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 8:16 · TB 11 · Score 6-30
(8:16) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass to 87-J.Horn for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 8:09 · TB 2 · Score 7-30
3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers FG (+3) — Q3 2:14 · NO 9 · Score 7-33
(2:14) 7-M.Gramatica 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-84-S.McDermott, Holder-3-M.Royals.
New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 15:00 · TB 16 · Score 13-33
(15:00) 2-A.Brooks pass to 82-E.Williams for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 14:54 · TB 2 · Score 14-33
3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q4 9:12 · NO 4 · Score 14-39
(9:12) 14-B.Johnson pass to 83-D.Moore for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q4 9:03 · NO 2 · Score 14-40
7-M.Gramatica extra point is GOOD, Center-84-S.McDermott, Holder-3-M.Royals.
New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 5:24 · TB 10 · Score 20-40
(5:24) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass to 87-J.Horn for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 5:16 · TB 2 · Score 21-40
3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q4 2:13 · TB 69 · Score 21-46
(2:13) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 88-W.Jackson INTERCEPTED by 20-R.Barber at NO 36. 20-R.Barber for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Safety (+2) — Q4 2:00 · NO 2 · Score 21-48
TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 10-S.King rushes left end. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
Key takeaways
What to remember for fantasy research and follow-up box score digging.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers earned the result — use the box score for snap-level context.
- Buddy Johnson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) led total EPA — start here for highlight and prop research.
Frequently asked questions
Who won New Orleans Saints vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers on 2001-12-23?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the New Orleans Saints 48-21 in Week 15, 2001.
What was the score by quarter in New Orleans Saints vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
Q1: New Orleans Saints 0, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17; Q2: New Orleans Saints 0, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 13; Q3: New Orleans Saints 7, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3; Q4: New Orleans Saints 14, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 15; Final: New Orleans Saints 21, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals in New Orleans Saints vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers touchdown — K. Williams (B. Johnson pass) (Q1 14:01) Tampa Bay Buccaneers touchdown — M. Alstott (Q1 10:17) Tampa Bay Buccaneers touchdown — W. Dunn (B. Johnson pass) (Q2 1:18) New Orleans Saints touchdown — J. Horn (A. Brooks pass) (Q3 8:16) New Orleans Saints touchdown — E. Williams (A. Brooks pass) (Q4 15:00) Tampa Bay Buccaneers touchdown — D. Moore (B. Johnson pass) (Q4 9:12) New Orleans Saints touchdown — J. Horn (A. Brooks pass) (Q4 5:24) Tampa Bay Buccaneers touchdown — R. Barber (Q4 2:13) Tampa Bay Buccaneers field goal — M. Gramatica (Q1 3:43, 3 pts) Tampa Bay Buccaneers field goal — M. Gramatica (Q2 7:11, 3 pts) Tampa Bay Buccaneers field goal — M. Gramatica (Q2 0:21, 3 pts) Tampa Bay Buccaneers field goal — M. Gramatica (Q3 2:14, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.
How did the quarterbacks play in New Orleans Saints vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
A. Brooks (New Orleans Saints), 47.7% completion, -0.15 EPA per dropback, -6.54 total passing EPA. Buddy Johnson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), 47.1% completion, +0.34 EPA per dropback, +11.61 total passing EPA.
Who was FantasyHQ's player of the game in New Orleans Saints vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
Buddy Johnson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) was FantasyHQ's Game MVP with +11.61 total EPA on Passing plays. across 34 snaps. Their top snap (+3.34 EPA): (1:18) 14-B.Johnson pass to 28-W.Dunn for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN..
Season records after this game
New Orleans Saints
Entered 7-6 Now 7-7 L
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Entered 7-6 Now 8-6 W