Task Enterprises presentsNFL Intelligence

2015 · Week 1

Final

Saints

New Orleans

QB Drew Brees

19·31

Cardinals

Arizona

QB Carson Palmer

University of Phoenix Stadium · closed · grass

Closing spread

ARI -2

Total

48.5

Model margin

+4.8est.

ARI perspective

Push chance

2.1%est.

Win probability

  • Cardinals
  • Saints

How each play moved the game.

Cardinals winsSaints wins

Matchup

Where the edges are

Season-long league percentiles for both sides, mirrored. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge.

Saintsedge mapCardinals
  • +0.080EPA / play+0.133
  • 44.6%Success rate47.7%
  • +0.161EPA / dropback+0.260
  • -0.078EPA / rush-0.059
  • 10.0%Explosive rate10.8%
  • +2.78CPOE+4.51
  • 48.9%Third-down rate47.4%
  • 65.6%Red-zone TD rate61.1%
  • 2.09Points / drive2.34
  • 1.7%Turnover rate2.1%

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 6–5 since 1999

ARI have won 2 straight. Meetings average 51.4 points. ARI are 5-6 ATS in the series.

Previous meetings
SeasonMatchupScoreWinner
2025 · W1ARI @ NO2013ARI
2022 · W7NO @ ARI3442ARI
2019 · W8ARI @ NO931NO
2016 · W15NO @ ARI4841NO
2013 · W3ARI @ NO731NO
2010 · W5NO @ ARI2030ARI
2009 · playoffsARI @ NO1445NO
2007 · W15ARI @ NO2431NO

Box score

Individual performances

Saints

Passing

PlayerC/AttYdsTDINT
Drew Brees30/4835511

Rushing

PlayerCarYdsAvgTD
Mark Ingram9242.70
Khiry Robinson8192.40
Brandin Cooks144.00
Drew Brees133.00

Cardinals

Passing

PlayerC/AttYdsTDINT
Carson Palmer19/3230730

Rushing

PlayerCarYdsAvgTD
Andre Ellington12695.81
Chris Johnson10373.70
Carson Palmer3144.70

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.

line +23.5%6.5%7.5%3.2%4.9%3.2%3.0%

Positive margins favour Cardinals; negative favour Saints.

Half-point at risk

2.10%

outcomes that flip if the line moves 0.5

Model home win

62.0%

Expected total

46.5est.

Model

Where the number comes from

Each component is additive, in points of expected margin.

  • Team ratings (opponent-adjusted EPA)+2.35
  • Home-field advantage+2.49
  • Quarterback adjustment0.00
  • Rest differential0.00
  • Expected margin+4.84