Lions 35–27 Saints: Score, Stats & Recap | Week 15, 2015

Q: Who was FantasyHQ's player of the game in Detroit Lions vs New Orleans Saints?

M. Stafford (Detroit Lions) was FantasyHQ's Game MVP with +14.37 total EPA on Passing plays. across 30 snaps. Their top snap (+3.23 EPA): (:18) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 85-E.Ebron to NO 14 for 45 yards (32-K.Vaccaro). Pass 4, YAC 42.

Quick answer

Winner: Detroit Lions
Final score: Detroit Lions 35–27 New Orleans Saints
Halftime: Detroit Lions 21–3 New Orleans Saints at halftime
FantasyHQ MVP: Matthew Stafford
Top passer: D. Brees
Biggest EPA play: (12:53) 21-A.Abdullah right tackle to DET 32 for 4 yards (50-S.Anthony; 44-H.Kikaha). New …
Game date: 2015-12-21

Game summary

The Detroit Lions beat the New Orleans Saints 35–27 on 2015-12-21. Matthew Stafford posted a game-high +14.37 total EPA in the passing.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 24 combined points.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	—	T
Detroit Lions	7	14	7	7	0	35
New Orleans Saints	3	0	7	17	0	27

Scoring Map

Each pin marks where a score occurred on the field — yard line from play-by-play.

DETDetroit Lions

+3DET 27

DET 27

+3DET 4

DET 1

NONew Orleans Saints

FantasyHQ Analytics

Scoring timeline

18 scores

Chronological scoring plays — scroll to follow the game.

DETDetroit Lions
Q1 7:56TD
GTG. Tate
Points+6
Yard line
NO 1
Score
6-0
(7:56) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 15-G.Tate for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 0, YAC 1
DETDetroit Lions
Q1 7:51XP
Matt Prater
Points+1
Yard line
NO 15
Score
7-0
5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
NONew Orleans Saints
Q1 1:11FG
KFK. Forbath
Points+3
Yard line
DET 27
Score
7-3
(1:11) 5-K.Forbath 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
DETDetroit Lions
Q2 14:18TD
Michael Burton
Points+6
Yard line
NO 4
Score
13-3
(14:18) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 46-M.Burton for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 1, YAC 3
DETDetroit Lions
Q2 14:12XP
Matt Prater
Points+1
Yard line
NO 15
Score
14-3
5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
DETDetroit Lions
Q2 4:32TD
GTG. Tate
Points+6
Yard line
NO 5
Score
20-3
(4:32) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short left to 15-G.Tate for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on NO-39-B.Browner, Illegal Use of Hands, declined. Pass 5, YAC 0
DETDetroit Lions
Q2 4:27XP
Matt Prater
Points+1
Yard line
NO 15
Score
21-3
5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
DETDetroit Lions
Q3 11:58TD
Ameer Abdullah
Points+6
Yard line
NO 15
Score
27-3
(11:58) (Shotgun) 21-A.Abdullah left end for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
DETDetroit Lions
Q3 11:50XP
Matt Prater
Points+1
Yard line
NO 15
Score
28-3
5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
NONew Orleans Saints
Q3 5:10TD
Brandin Cooks
Points+6
Yard line
DET 27
Score
28-9
(5:10) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 10-B.Cooks for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN [94-E.Ansah]. Penalty on DET-32-J.Ihedigbo, Defensive Holding, declined. PENALTY on DET-94-E.Ansah, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced between downs. Pass 25, YAC 2. The roughing the passer penalty was assessed on the kickoff.
NONew Orleans Saints
Q3 5:03XP
KFK. Forbath
Points+1
Yard line
DET 15
Score
28-10
5-K.Forbath extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
NONew Orleans Saints
Q4 13:06FG
KFK. Forbath
Points+3
Yard line
DET 4
Score
28-13
(13:06) 5-K.Forbath 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
NONew Orleans Saints
Q4 10:11TD
MCM. Colston
Points+6
Yard line
DET 11
Score
28-19
(10:11) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 12-M.Colston for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 6, YAC 5
NONew Orleans Saints
Q4 10:06XP
KFK. Forbath
Points+1
Yard line
DET 15
Score
28-20
5-K.Forbath extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
DETDetroit Lions
Q4 5:28TD
Jaheim Bell
Points+6
Yard line
NO 1
Score
34-20
(5:28) 77-C.Lucas reported in as eligible. 35-J.Bell left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
DETDetroit Lions
Q4 5:24XP
Matt Prater
Points+1
Yard line
NO 15
Score
35-20
5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
NONew Orleans Saints
Q4 1:58TD
Blake Watson
Points+6
Yard line
DET 1
Score
35-26
(1:58) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 82-B.Watson for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 0, YAC 1
NONew Orleans Saints
Q4 1:55XP
KFK. Forbath
Points+1
Yard line
DET 15
Score
35-27
5-K.Forbath extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-6-T.Morstead.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA).

1Matthew Stafford · Detroit Lions · Passing · +14.37 total EPA · 30 snaps · +0.48 EPA/play
2D. Brees · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +10.64 total EPA · 59 snaps · +0.18 EPA/play
3G. Tate · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +6.93 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.16 EPA/play
4Brandin Cooks · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +6.35 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.49 EPA/play
5E. Ebron · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +5.42 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.08 EPA/play
6Blake Watson · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +4.87 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.41 EPA/play
7Jaheim Bell · Detroit Lions · Rushing · +3.53 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.44 EPA/play
8Willie Snead · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.44 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.29 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

Matthew Stafford — DET · Passing

Matthew Stafford posted the highest total EPA (+14.37) in the game, the strongest overall impact for Detroit Lions. Across 30 counted snaps, they averaged +0.48 EPA per play.

Matthew Stafford's top snap (+3.23 EPA): (:18) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 85-E.Ebron to NO 14 for 45 yards (32-K.Vaccaro). Pass 4, YAC 42

Biggest single play (-4.88 EPA): Ameer Abdullah — (12:53) 21-A.Abdullah right tackle to DET 32 for 4 yards (50-S.Anthony; 44-H.Kikaha). New Orleans challenged the runner was down by contact ruling, and the play was REVERSED. 21-A.Abdullah right tackl

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) · 59 dropbacks · 57.6% completion · -2.0% CPOE · +0.18 EPA/play · +10.64 total EPA
Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) · 30 dropbacks · 73.3% completion · +13.5% CPOE · +0.48 EPA/play · +14.37 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency.

Stat	Detroit Lions	New Orleans Saints
Offensive EPA/play	+0.214	+0.041
Offensive success rate	67.1%	44.8%
Pass EPA/play	+0.479	+0.180
Rush EPA/play	+0.070	-0.292
Defensive EPA/play	-0.041	-0.214
Defensive success rate	55.2%	32.9%

Drive & efficiency notes

Despite the final score, Detroit Lions generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.21 vs +0.04), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

Season benchmark context (offensive EPA per play):

Detroit Lions: +0.21 EPA/play (94th percentile vs. 2015 team-game averages)
New Orleans Saints: +0.04 EPA/play (67th percentile vs. 2015 team-game averages)

Detroit Lions: 10 drives, +14.96 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
New Orleans Saints: 11 drives, +3.94 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal from official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

Detroit Lions — G. Tate (Matthew Stafford pass) (Q1 7:56)
Detroit Lions — Michael Burton (Matthew Stafford pass) (Q2 14:18)
Detroit Lions — G. Tate (Matthew Stafford pass) (Q2 4:32)
Detroit Lions — Ameer Abdullah (Q3 11:58)
New Orleans Saints — Brandin Cooks (D. Brees pass) (Q3 5:10)
New Orleans Saints — M. Colston (D. Brees pass) (Q4 10:11)
Detroit Lions — Jaheim Bell (Q4 5:28)
New Orleans Saints — Blake Watson (D. Brees pass) (Q4 1:58)

Field goals

New Orleans Saints — K. Forbath (Q1 1:11)
New Orleans Saints — K. Forbath (Q4 13:06)

Quarter by quarter

Quarter-by-quarter recap from live scoring plays.

The opening quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 7–3. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the NO 1 (Q1 7:56) — (7:56) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 15-G.Tate for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 0, YAC 1; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q1 7:51) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the DET 27 (Q1 1:11) — (1:11) 5-K.Forbath 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-6-T.Morstead..

The second quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 14–0. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the NO 4 (Q2 14:18) — (14:18) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 46-M.Burton for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 1, YAC 3; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q2 14:12) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the NO 5 (Q2 4:32); Detroit Lions added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q2 4:27) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the NO 15 (Q3 11:58) — (11:58) (Shotgun) 21-A.Abdullah left end for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q3 11:50) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the DET 27 (Q3 5:10); New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q3 5:03) — 5-K.Forbath extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-6-T.Morstead..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 17–7. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the DET 4 (Q4 13:06) — (13:06) 5-K.Forbath 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the DET 11 (Q4 10:11) — (10:11) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 12-M.Colston for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 6, YAC 5; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q4 10:06) — 5-K.Forbath extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the NO 1 (Q4 5:28) — (5:28) 77-C.Lucas reported in as eligible. 35-J.Bell left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q4 5:24) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the DET 1 (Q4 1:58) — (1:58) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 82-B.Watson for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 0, YAC 1; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q4 1:55) — 5-K.Forbath extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-6-T.Morstead..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most.

Detroit Lions (Q1 0:18) — (:18) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 85-E.Ebron to NO 14 for 45 yards (32-K.Vaccaro). Pass 4, YAC 42 [WPA +6.9% · EPA +3.23]
Detroit Lions (Q1 7:56) — (7:56) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 15-G.Tate for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 0, YAC 1 [WPA +5.2% · EPA +1.28]
New Orleans Saints (Q2 1:12) — (1:12) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 10-B.Cooks for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 28, YAC 1 The Replay Official reviewed the runner broke the plane ruling, and the play was REVERSED. (Shotgun) 9- [WPA +5.2% · EPA +3.01]
New Orleans Saints (Q1 13:43) — (13:43) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass incomplete deep left to 10-B.Cooks. [WPA -4.8% · EPA -1.76]
New Orleans Saints (Q2 0:43) — (:43) (Shotgun) 34-T.Hightower left guard to DET 1 for no gain (28-Q.Diggs). [WPA -4.8% · EPA -1.71]

Impact plays

Highest EPA snaps that flipped field position.

Detroit Lions (Q4 12:53) — (12:53) 21-A.Abdullah right tackle to DET 32 for 4 yards (50-S.Anthony; 44-H.Kikaha). New Orleans challenged the runner was down by contact ruling, and the play was REVERSED. 21-A.Abdullah right tackl [WPA -4.7% · EPA -4.88]
New Orleans Saints (Q2 0:03) — (:03) Detroit attempted to call timeout before the play was run, but was out of timeouts. The referee said the down would be replayed, and no timeout granted. (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to [WPA -3.6% · EPA -3.38]
Detroit Lions (Q1 0:18) — (:18) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 85-E.Ebron to NO 14 for 45 yards (32-K.Vaccaro). Pass 4, YAC 42 [WPA +6.9% · EPA +3.23]
New Orleans Saints (Q4 2:21) — (2:21) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 82-B.Watson to DET 1 for 10 yards (32-J.Ihedigbo). Pass 10, YAC 0 [WPA +0.3% · EPA +3.04]

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with play-by-play context.

Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q1 7:56 · NO 1 · Score 6-0
(7:56) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 15-G.Tate for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 0, YAC 1
Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q1 7:51 · NO 15 · Score 7-0
5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q1 1:11 · DET 27 · Score 7-3
(1:11) 5-K.Forbath 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 14:18 · NO 4 · Score 13-3
(14:18) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 46-M.Burton for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 1, YAC 3
Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 14:12 · NO 15 · Score 14-3
5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 4:32 · NO 5 · Score 20-3
(4:32) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short left to 15-G.Tate for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on NO-39-B.Browner, Illegal Use of Hands, declined. Pass 5, YAC 0
Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 4:27 · NO 15 · Score 21-3
5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q3 11:58 · NO 15 · Score 27-3
(11:58) (Shotgun) 21-A.Abdullah left end for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q3 11:50 · NO 15 · Score 28-3
5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 5:10 · DET 27 · Score 28-9
(5:10) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 10-B.Cooks for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN [94-E.Ansah]. Penalty on DET-32-J.Ihedigbo, Defensive Holding, declined. PENALTY on DET-94-E.Ansah, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards,
New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 5:03 · DET 15 · Score 28-10
5-K.Forbath extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 13:06 · DET 4 · Score 28-13
(13:06) 5-K.Forbath 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 10:11 · DET 11 · Score 28-19
(10:11) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 12-M.Colston for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 6, YAC 5
New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 10:06 · DET 15 · Score 28-20
5-K.Forbath extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q4 5:28 · NO 1 · Score 34-20
(5:28) 77-C.Lucas reported in as eligible. 35-J.Bell left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q4 5:24 · NO 15 · Score 35-20
5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 1:58 · DET 1 · Score 35-26
(1:58) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 82-B.Watson for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 0, YAC 1
New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 1:55 · DET 15 · Score 35-27
5-K.Forbath extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-6-T.Morstead.

Key takeaways

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

Detroit Lions earned the result — use the box score for snap-level context.
Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) led total EPA — start here for highlight and prop research.
Matthew Stafford (DET) finished above expected through the air (positive CPOE).

Frequently asked questions

Who won Detroit Lions vs New Orleans Saints on 2015-12-21?

The Detroit Lions beat the New Orleans Saints 35-27 in Week 15, 2015.

What was the score by quarter in Detroit Lions vs New Orleans Saints?

Q1: Detroit Lions 7, New Orleans Saints 3; Q2: Detroit Lions 14, New Orleans Saints 0; Q3: Detroit Lions 7, New Orleans Saints 7; Q4: Detroit Lions 7, New Orleans Saints 17; Final: Detroit Lions 35, New Orleans Saints 27.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals in Detroit Lions vs New Orleans Saints?

Detroit Lions touchdown — G. Tate (M. Stafford pass) (Q1 7:56) Detroit Lions touchdown — M. Burton (M. Stafford pass) (Q2 14:18) Detroit Lions touchdown — G. Tate (M. Stafford pass) (Q2 4:32) Detroit Lions touchdown — A. Abdullah (Q3 11:58) New Orleans Saints touchdown — B. Cooks (D. Brees pass) (Q3 5:10) New Orleans Saints touchdown — M. Colston (D. Brees pass) (Q4 10:11) Detroit Lions touchdown — J. Bell (Q4 5:28) New Orleans Saints touchdown — B. Watson (D. Brees pass) (Q4 1:58) New Orleans Saints field goal — K. Forbath (Q1 1:11, 3 pts) New Orleans Saints field goal — K. Forbath (Q4 13:06, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.

How did the quarterbacks play in Detroit Lions vs New Orleans Saints?

D. Brees (New Orleans Saints), 57.6% completion, -2.0% CPOE, +0.18 EPA per dropback, +10.64 total passing EPA. Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions), 73.3% completion, +13.5% CPOE, +0.48 EPA per dropback, +14.37 total passing EPA.

Who was FantasyHQ's player of the game in Detroit Lions vs New Orleans Saints?

Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) was FantasyHQ's Game MVP with +14.37 total EPA on Passing plays. across 30 snaps. Their top snap (+3.23 EPA): (:18) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 85-E.Ebron to NO 14 for 45 yards (32-K.Vaccaro). Pass 4, YAC 42.

Season records after this game

Detroit Lions

Entered 4-9 Now 5-9 W

New Orleans Saints

Entered 5-8 Now 5-9 L

Detroit Lions vs. New Orleans Saints: 2015 Week 15 Recap

Top fantasy performers · Lions

Top fantasy performers · Saints

Quick answer

Game summary