Closing spread
NO -3.5
Total
50
Model margin
+2.3est.
NO perspective
Push chance
None
half-point line — cannot push
Availability
The injury report
The official league filing for this week — game designations first, then who missed or was limited in practice.
49ers
- OutQuinton PattonWRFoot· Out (Definitely Will Not Play)
- OutRay McDonaldDTAnkle· DNP
- DoubtfulGarrett CelekTEHamstring· DNP
- QuestionableBruce MillerRBHamstring· Limited
- QuestionableDan SkutaLBFoot· Limited
- QuestionableEric ReidSConcussion· Limited
- QuestionableMario ManninghamWRKnee· Limited
- QuestionableVernon DavisTEConcussion· Limited
- ProbableAndy LeePNeck· Full
- ProbableFrank GoreRBAnkle· Full
- ProbableJustin SmithDTShoulder· Full
- ProbableMike IupatiGKnee· Full
- ProbableQuinton DialDTAnkle· Full
- ProbableTarell BrownCBKnee· Full
Saints
- OutBenjamin WatsonTEConcussion· DNP
- OutKenny VaccaroSConcussion· DNP
- ProbableAkiem HicksDEBack· Limited
- ProbableCurtis LoftonLBHamstring· Limited
- ProbableJimmy GrahamTEElbow· Limited
- ProbableCameron JordanDEAnkle· Full
- ProbableMalcolm JenkinsSKnee· Full
- ProbableRoman HarperSKnee· Full
- ProbableTyrunn WalkerDTKnee· Full
Win probability
- Saints
- 49ers
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.
- +0.034EPA / play+0.115
- 41.8%Success rate47.2%
- +0.156EPA / dropback+0.209
- -0.110EPA / rush-0.077
- 10.6%Explosive rate9.5%
- -1.63CPOE+5.36
- 37.8%Third-down rate45.1%
- 57.4%Red-zone TD rate64.9%
- 1.99Points / drive2.21
- 1.7%Turnover rate1.4%
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 12–9 since 1999
SF have won 2 straight. Meetings average 49.9 points. NO are 11-10 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 | SF–NO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SF | Q1 15:00 | 3 | 6 | Punt | 0–0 |
| NO | Q1 13:32 | 5 | 18 | Punt | 0–0 |
| SF | Q1 10:46 | 3 | 6 | Punt | 0–0 |
| NO | Q1 9:25 | 3 | 8 | Punt | 0–0 |
| SF | Q1 7:55 | 3 | 0 | Punt | 0–0 |
| NO | Q1 7:28 | 12 | 92 | Touchdown | 0–7 |
| SF | Q1 0:44 | 9 | 32 | Punt | 0–7 |
| SF | Q2 10:26 | 2 | 11 | Touchdown | 7–7 |
| NO | Q2 10:16 | 3 | 5 | Punt | 7–7 |
| SF | Q2 9:22 | 5 | 14 | Turnover | 7–7 |
| SF | Q2 6:25 | 6 | 31 | Field goal | 10–7 |
| NO | Q2 3:34 | 3 | 21 | Touchdown | 10–14 |
| SF | Q2 1:58 | 5 | 17 | Punt | 10–14 |
| NO | Q2 0:02 | 0 | 0 | End of half | 10–14 |
| NO | Q3 15:00 | 6 | 26 | Turnover | 10–14 |
| SF | Q3 12:07 | 3 | 22 | Touchdown | 17–14 |
| NO | Q3 10:52 | 12 | 50 | Turnover on downs | 17–14 |
| SF | Q3 4:34 | 12 | 49 | Field goal | 20–14 |
| NO | Q4 13:23 | 8 | 77 | Field goal | 20–17 |
| SF | Q4 7:50 | 3 | 1 | Punt | 20–17 |
| NO | Q4 6:48 | 9 | 41 | Field goal | 20–17 |
| NO | Q4 2:27 | 2 | 3 | Field goal | 20–20 |
| SF | Q4 2:06 | 3 | 7 | Punt | 20–20 |
| NO | Q4 1:41 | 5 | 47 | Field goal | 20–23 |
Box score
Individual performances
49ers
Passing
| Player | C/Att | Yds | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colin Kaepernick | 17/31 | 127 | 2 | 1 |
Rushing
| Player | Car | Yds | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Gore | 13 | 48 | 3.7 | 0 |
| Colin Kaepernick | 3 | 25 | 8.3 | 0 |
| LaMichael James | 2 | 7 | 3.5 | 0 |
| Kendall Hunter | 4 | 1 | 0.3 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Rec | Tgt | Yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anquan Boldin | 6 | 9 | 56 | 1 |
| Vernon Davis | 4 | 5 | 33 | 1 |
| Vance McDonald | 1 | 2 | 10 | 0 |
| Frank Gore | 2 | 3 | 8 | 0 |
| Mario Manningham | 1 | 4 | 8 | 0 |
| LaMichael James | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Jon Baldwin | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Saints
Passing
| Player | C/Att | Yds | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drew Brees | 30/43 | 305 | 1 | 1 |
Rushing
| Player | Car | Yds | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pierre Thomas | 11 | 49 | 4.5 | 0 |
| Mark Ingram | 6 | 25 | 4.2 | 0 |
| Darren Sproles | 3 | 16 | 5.3 | 0 |
| Drew Brees | 1 | -1 | -1.0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Rec | Tgt | Yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marques Colston | 5 | 7 | 80 | 0 |
| Robert Meachem | 2 | 2 | 78 | 0 |
| Jimmy Graham | 6 | 12 | 41 | 0 |
| Pierre Thomas | 5 | 5 | 35 | 0 |
| Lance Moore | 3 | 4 | 23 | 0 |
| Darren Sproles | 4 | 4 | 19 | 0 |
| Kenny Stills | 1 | 2 | 11 | 0 |
| Nick Toon | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 |
| Mark Ingram | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| Josh Hill | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
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 Saints; negative favour 49ers.
Half-point at risk
2.53%
outcomes that flip if the line moves 0.5
Model home win
55.3%
Expected total
44.4est.
Model
Where the number comes from
Each component is additive, in points of expected margin.
- Team ratings (opponent-adjusted EPA)-0.16
- Home-field advantage+2.49
- Quarterback adjustment0.00
- Rest differential0.00
- Expected margin+2.33



