Closing spread
CAR -7
Total
46
Model margin
+4.1est.
CAR perspective
Push chance
4.9%est.
the line sits on a key number
Win probability
- Panthers
- Saints
How each play moved the game.
Matchup
Where the edges are
Season-long league percentiles for both sides, mirrored. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge.
- -0.028EPA / play+0.025
- 40.2%Success rate42.1%
- +0.052EPA / dropback+0.129
- -0.169EPA / rush-0.127
- 9.3%Explosive rate8.9%
- 33.4%Third-down rate39.2%
- 60.5%Red-zone TD rate66.2%
- 1.72Points / drive1.65
- 2.4%Turnover rate2.2%
- +0.061EPA / play allowed-0.010
Bar length is league percentile, already oriented so longer is better. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge; rows within ~12 points are washed as even.
The rivalry
NO lead 31–24 since 1999
NO have won 2 straight. Meetings average 44.3 points. CAR are 28-26-1 ATS in the series.
Possession by possession
How it unfolded
Every drive: who had the ball, how far it went, how it ended, and the score as it settled.
| Ball | Start | Plays | Yards | Result | NO–CAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NO | Q1 15:00 | 4 | 4 | Punt | 0–0 |
| CAR | Q1 12:16 | 6 | 12 | Field goal | 0–3 |
| NO | Q1 9:24 | 6 | 51 | Punt | 0–3 |
| CAR | Q1 6:01 | 4 | 14 | Punt | 0–3 |
| NO | Q1 4:04 | 3 | -7 | Punt | 0–3 |
| CAR | Q1 2:34 | 3 | 8 | Punt | 0–3 |
| NO | Q1 0:52 | 2 | 78 | Touchdown | 7–3 |
| CAR | Q1 0:26 | 6 | 41 | Punt | 7–3 |
| NO | Q2 12:17 | 3 | 5 | Punt | 7–3 |
| CAR | Q2 11:11 | 9 | 39 | Turnover | 7–3 |
| NO | Q2 7:53 | 14 | 83 | Touchdown | 14–3 |
| CAR | Q2 1:06 | 3 | 0 | Punt | 14–3 |
| NO | Q2 0:32 | 0 | 0 | End of half | 14–3 |
| CAR | Q3 15:00 | 5 | 18 | Punt | 14–3 |
| NO | Q3 13:19 | 6 | 28 | Punt | 14–3 |
| CAR | Q3 10:32 | 3 | 8 | Punt | 14–3 |
| NO | Q3 9:30 | 4 | 1 | Punt | 14–3 |
| CAR | Q3 7:32 | 8 | 49 | Touchdown | 14–10 |
| NO | Q3 4:33 | 3 | 68 | Touchdown | 21–10 |
| CAR | Q3 3:10 | 2 | 15 | Turnover | 21–10 |
| NO | Q3 2:05 | 3 | 7 | Punt | 21–10 |
| CAR | Q3 0:05 | 6 | 7 | Punt | 21–10 |
| NO | Q4 13:45 | 3 | 5 | Punt | 21–10 |
| CAR | Q4 11:25 | 2 | -11 | Turnover | 21–10 |
| NO | Q4 10:45 | 5 | 8 | Missed field goal | 21–10 |
| CAR | Q4 7:35 | 8 | 72 | Touchdown | 21–18 |
| NO | Q4 5:08 | 3 | 2 | Punt | 21–18 |
| CAR | Q4 4:05 | 3 | -8 | Punt | 21–18 |
| NO | Q4 3:13 | 6 | 28 | Punt | 21–18 |
| CAR | Q4 0:50 | 5 | 56 | Missed field goal | 21–18 |
Box score
Individual performances
Saints
Passing
| Player | C/Att | Yds | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Brooks | 14/24 | 216 | 1 | 0 |
Rushing
| Player | Car | Yds | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deuce McAllister | 28 | 140 | 5.0 | 1 |
| Aaron Brooks | 5 | 11 | 2.2 | 0 |
| Aaron Stecker | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 1 |
| Donte' Stallworth | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
Panthers
Passing
| Player | C/Att | Yds | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jake Delhomme | 24/50 | 307 | 2 | 0 |
Rushing
| Player | Car | Yds | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Goings | 13 | 46 | 3.5 | 0 |
Where this game is likely to land
- Model
- Smooth (normal)
- Betting line
Probability of each final margin. Football scoring clusters — the spikes at 3 and 7 are real, and a smooth model misses them.
Positive margins favour Panthers; negative favour Saints.
Half-point at risk
4.88%
outcomes that flip if the line moves 0.5
Model home win
59.9%
Expected total
44.5est.
Model
Where the number comes from
Each component is additive, in points of expected margin.
- Team ratings (opponent-adjusted EPA)+1.50
- Home-field advantage+2.56
- Quarterback adjustment0.00
- Rest differential0.00
- Expected margin+4.06