Quick answer
- Winner
- New Orleans Saints
- Final score
- New Orleans Saints 33–7 Carolina Panthers
- Halftime
- New Orleans Saints 16–7 Carolina Panthers at halftime
- FantasyHQ MVP
- D. Brees
- Top passer
- D. Brees
- Biggest EPA play
- (10:49) (Shotgun) 5-T.Bridgewater pass deep middle intended for 12-D.Moore INTERCEPTED by …
- Game date
- 2021-01-03
Game summary
The New Orleans Saints beat the Carolina Panthers 33–7 on 2021-01-03. D. Brees posted a game-high +5.19 total EPA in the passing.
The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 14 combined points.
Line score
Final score and points by quarter.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | — | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 New Orleans Saints | 7 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 33 |
 Carolina Panthers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Scoring Map
Each pin marks where a score occurred on the field — yard line from play-by-play.
NONew Orleans Saints
(9:09) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 87-J.Cook for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN [95-D.Brown].
3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
(1:44) 35-R.Smith left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
4-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-3-J.Charlton.
(8:17) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 17-E.Sanders for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
(:05) 3-W.Lutz 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
(11:54) 3-W.Lutz 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
(5:00) (Shotgun) 7-T.Hill right tackle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
(15:00) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 80-A.Carr for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
CARCarolina PanthersFantasyHQ Analytics
Scoring timeline
Chronological scoring plays — scroll to follow the game.
- NONew Orleans Saints
Q1 9:09TD James Cook IIIPoints+6
- Yard line
- CAR 18
- Score
- 6-0
(9:09) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 87-J.Cook for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN [95-D.Brown].
- NONew Orleans Saints
Q1 9:04XP Wil LutzPoints+1
- Yard line
- CAR 15
- Score
- 7-0
3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
- CARCarolina Panthers
Q1 1:44TD Ryan SmithPoints+6
- Yard line
- NO 1
- Score
- 7-6
(1:44) 35-R.Smith left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
- CARCarolina Panthers
Q1 1:40XP Joey SlyePoints+1
- Yard line
- NO 15
- Score
- 7-7
4-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-3-J.Charlton.
- NONew Orleans Saints
Q2 8:17TD ESEli SandersPoints+6
- Yard line
- CAR 8
- Score
- 13-7
(8:17) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 17-E.Sanders for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- NONew Orleans Saints
Q2 0:05FG Wil LutzPoints+3
- Yard line
- CAR 15
- Score
- 16-7
(:05) 3-W.Lutz 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
- NONew Orleans Saints
Q3 11:54FG Wil LutzPoints+3
- Yard line
- CAR 29
- Score
- 19-7
(11:54) 3-W.Lutz 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
- NONew Orleans Saints
Q3 5:00TD Trysten HillPoints+6
- Yard line
- CAR 3
- Score
- 25-7
(5:00) (Shotgun) 7-T.Hill right tackle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- NONew Orleans Saints
Q3 4:56XP Wil LutzPoints+1
- Yard line
- CAR 15
- Score
- 26-7
3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
- NONew Orleans Saints
Q4 15:00TD ACA. CarrPoints+6
- Yard line
- CAR 11
- Score
- 32-7
(15:00) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 80-A.Carr for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- NONew Orleans Saints
Q4 14:55XP Wil LutzPoints+1
- Yard line
- CAR 15
- Score
- 33-7
3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
Stars of the game
Top performers by total expected points added (EPA).
- 1D. Brees · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +5.19 total EPA · 34 snaps · +0.15 EPA/play
- 2Ryan Smith · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +4.76 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.48 EPA/play
- 3
Marquez Callaway · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.94 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.98 EPA/play - 4James Cook III · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.69 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.74 EPA/play
- 5Trysten Hill · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +3.56 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.59 EPA/play
- 6A. Carr · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.09 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.09 EPA/play
- 7Eli Sanders · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.84 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
- 8
Tommy Stevens · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +1.73 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.43 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
D. Brees — NO · Passing
D. Brees posted the highest total EPA (+5.19) in the game, the strongest overall impact for New Orleans Saints. Across 34 counted snaps, they averaged +0.15 EPA per play.
D. Brees's top snap (+2.61 EPA): (8:55) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 12-M.Callaway to NO 41 for 18 yards (24-R.Douglas). NO-12-M.Callaway was injured during the play. His return is Probable.
Biggest single play (-7.20 EPA): Teddy Bridgewater — (10:49) (Shotgun) 5-T.Bridgewater pass deep middle intended for 12-D.Moore INTERCEPTED by 27-M.Jenkins at NO -2. 27-M.Jenkins pushed ob at NO 46 for 48 yards (10-C.Samuel).
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) · 34 dropbacks · 64.7% completion · +8.2% CPOE · +0.15 EPA/play · +5.19 total EPA
Teddy Bridgewater (Carolina Panthers) · 27 dropbacks · 48.1% completion · -3.9% CPOE · -0.30 EPA/play · -8.00 total EPA
Team stats comparison
Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency.
| Stat | New Orleans Saints | Carolina Panthers |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive EPA/play | +0.117 | -0.318 |
| Offensive success rate | 48.1% | 40.5% |
| Pass EPA/play | +0.180 | -0.530 |
| Rush EPA/play | +0.144 | -0.028 |
| Defensive EPA/play | +0.318 | -0.117 |
| Defensive success rate | 59.5% | 51.9% |
Drive & efficiency notes
Despite the final score, New Orleans Saints generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.12 vs -0.32), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.
Season benchmark context (offensive EPA per play):
- New Orleans Saints: +0.12 EPA/play (73rd percentile vs. 2020 team-game averages)
- Carolina Panthers: -0.32 EPA/play (4th percentile vs. 2020 team-game averages)
- Carolina Panthers: 11 drives, -23.55 total EPA, 1 scoring drives
- New Orleans Saints: 12 drives, +9.24 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
Who scored touchdowns and field goals
Every touchdown and field goal from official play-by-play.
Touchdowns
- New Orleans Saints — James Cook III (D. Brees pass)
- Carolina Panthers — Ryan Smith
- New Orleans Saints — Eli Sanders (D. Brees pass)
- New Orleans Saints — Trysten Hill
- New Orleans Saints — A. Carr (D. Brees pass)
Field goals
- New Orleans Saints — Wil Lutz
- New Orleans Saints — Wil Lutz
Quarter by quarter
Quarter-by-quarter recap from live scoring plays.
The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 18 (Q1 9:09) — (9:09) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 87-J.Cook for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN [95-D.Brown].; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q1 9:04) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the NO 1 (Q1 1:44) — (1:44) 35-R.Smith left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q1 1:40) — 4-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-3-J.Charlton..
The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 9–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 8 (Q2 8:17) — (8:17) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 17-E.Sanders for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CAR 15 (Q2 0:05) — (:05) 3-W.Lutz 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead..
The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 10–0. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CAR 29 (Q3 11:54) — (11:54) 3-W.Lutz 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 3 (Q3 5:00) — (5:00) (Shotgun) 7-T.Hill right tackle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q3 4:56) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead..
The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 11 (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 80-A.Carr for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q4 14:55) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead..
Turning points
Plays that moved win probability the most.
- Carolina Panthers (Q2 10:49) — (10:49) (Shotgun) 5-T.Bridgewater pass deep middle intended for 12-D.Moore INTERCEPTED by 27-M.Jenkins at NO -2. 27-M.Jenkins pushed ob at NO 46 for 48 yards (10-C.Samuel).
- New Orleans Saints (Q2 9:24) — (9:24) 74-J.Hurst reported in as eligible. 88-T.Montgomery left end pushed ob at CAR 11 for 36 yards (33-T.Boston).
- Carolina Panthers (Q2 2:52) — (2:52) (Shotgun) 10-C.Samuel up the middle to NO 22 for -1 yards (90-M.Brown).
- Carolina Panthers (Q3 9:41) — (9:41) (Shotgun) 5-T.Bridgewater pass deep right intended for 80-I.Thomas INTERCEPTED by 30-G.Haley at NO -5. Touchback.
- Carolina Panthers (Q2 13:49) — (13:49) 35-R.Smith right guard to NO 41 for 4 yards (26-P.Williams).
Impact plays
Highest EPA snaps that flipped field position.
- Carolina Panthers (Q2 10:49) — (10:49) (Shotgun) 5-T.Bridgewater pass deep middle intended for 12-D.Moore INTERCEPTED by 27-M.Jenkins at NO -2. 27-M.Jenkins pushed ob at NO 46 for 48 yards (10-C.Samuel).
- Carolina Panthers (Q3 9:41) — (9:41) (Shotgun) 5-T.Bridgewater pass deep right intended for 80-I.Thomas INTERCEPTED by 30-G.Haley at NO -5. Touchback.
- Carolina Panthers (Q3 6:12) — (6:12) (Shotgun) 6-P.Walker pass short middle intended for 10-C.Samuel INTERCEPTED by 23-M.Lattimore at CAR 37. 23-M.Lattimore to CAR 24 for 13 yards (80-I.Thomas).
- Carolina Panthers (Q4 4:22) — (4:22) (Shotgun) 6-P.Walker pass deep middle intended for 11-R.Anderson INTERCEPTED by 26-P.Williams [92-M.Davenport] at NO 1. 26-P.Williams to NO 31 for 30 yards (10-C.Samuel).
Every scoring play
Chronological scoring with play-by-play context.
- New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 9:09 · CAR 18 · Score 6-0
(9:09) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 87-J.Cook for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN [95-D.Brown]. - New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 9:04 · CAR 15 · Score 7-0
3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead. - Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q1 1:44 · NO 1 · Score 7-6
(1:44) 35-R.Smith left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. - Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q1 1:40 · NO 15 · Score 7-7
4-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-3-J.Charlton. - New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 8:17 · CAR 8 · Score 13-7
(8:17) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 17-E.Sanders for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 0:05 · CAR 15 · Score 16-7
(:05) 3-W.Lutz 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead. - New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q3 11:54 · CAR 29 · Score 19-7
(11:54) 3-W.Lutz 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead. - New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 5:00 · CAR 3 · Score 25-7
(5:00) (Shotgun) 7-T.Hill right tackle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 4:56 · CAR 15 · Score 26-7
3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead. - New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 15:00 · CAR 11 · Score 32-7
(15:00) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 80-A.Carr for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 14:55 · CAR 15 · Score 33-7
3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
Key takeaways
What to remember for fantasy research and follow-up box score digging.
- New Orleans Saints earned the result — use the box score for snap-level context.
- D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) led total EPA — start here for highlight and prop research.
- D. Brees (NO) finished above expected through the air (positive CPOE).
- Teddy Bridgewater (CAR) finished below expected efficiency despite volume.
Frequently asked questions
Who won New Orleans Saints vs Carolina Panthers on 2021-01-03?
The New Orleans Saints beat the Carolina Panthers 33-7 in Week 17, 2020.
What was the score by quarter in New Orleans Saints vs Carolina Panthers?
Q1: New Orleans Saints 7, Carolina Panthers 7; Q2: New Orleans Saints 9, Carolina Panthers 0; Q3: New Orleans Saints 10, Carolina Panthers 0; Q4: New Orleans Saints 7, Carolina Panthers 0; Final: New Orleans Saints 33, Carolina Panthers 7.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals in New Orleans Saints vs Carolina Panthers?
New Orleans Saints touchdown — J. Cook (D. Brees pass) (Q1 9:09) Carolina Panthers touchdown — R. Smith (Q1 1:44) New Orleans Saints touchdown — E. Sanders (D. Brees pass) (Q2 8:17) New Orleans Saints touchdown — T. Hill (Q3 5:00) New Orleans Saints touchdown — A. Carr (D. Brees pass) (Q4 15:00) New Orleans Saints field goal — W. Lutz (Q2 0:05, 3 pts) New Orleans Saints field goal — W. Lutz (Q3 11:54, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.
How did the quarterbacks play in New Orleans Saints vs Carolina Panthers?
D. Brees (New Orleans Saints), 64.7% completion, +8.2% CPOE, +0.15 EPA per dropback, +5.19 total passing EPA. Teddy Bridgewater (Carolina Panthers), 48.1% completion, -3.9% CPOE, -0.30 EPA per dropback, -8.00 total passing EPA.
Who was FantasyHQ's player of the game in New Orleans Saints vs Carolina Panthers?
D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) was FantasyHQ's Game MVP with +5.19 total EPA on Passing plays. across 34 snaps. Their top snap (+2.61 EPA): (8:55) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 12-M.Callaway to NO 41 for 18 yards (24-R.Douglas). NO-12-M.Callaway was injured during the play. His return is Probable..
Season records after this game
New Orleans Saints
Entered 11-4 Now 12-4 W
Carolina Panthers
Entered 5-10 Now 5-11 L
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