Win Probability
Confidence: <strong>strong edge</strong> Bands are honesty-checked against held-out seasons, not a feeling about this game — see the <a href="/track-record">full track record</a>.
Key Insights
- CLE offense: -0.166 EPA/play over its last 8 games (29th in the league)
- QB edge to NO: Drew Brees (NO) +0.242 vs Tyrod Taylor (CLE) -0.073 EPA/dropback
- NO offense: +0.085 EPA/play over its last 8 games (6th in the league)
- NO defense: +0.081 EPA/play allowed over its last 8 games (30th in the league)
- Indoors — weather neutralised
Predicted Final Score
Typical error on unseen games: ±10.2 pts on margin, ±10.7 pts on total (held-out 2025). Treat this as a range, not a prediction to the point — see the <a href="/track-record">full track record</a>.
Injury Report — Week 2
CLE
NO
Pulled fresh for 2018 week 2 specifically, not a cached snapshot — this changes every week as new reports come in.
Actual Result
Prediction missed by 5 pts on margin, 7 pts on total.
Scoring Summary
- Q1 08:35 FG CLE (8:35) 2-Z.Gonzalez 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-4-B.Colquitt. CLE 3 – NO 0
- Q1 02:52 FG NO (2:52) 3-W.Lutz 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead. CLE 3 – NO 3
- Q2 02:00 FG CLE (2:00) 2-Z.Gonzalez 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-4-B.Colquitt. CLE 6 – NO 3
- Q3 06:48 TD CLE (6:48) 34-C.Hyde left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. CLE 12 – NO 3
- Q4 08:45 TD NO (8:45) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 13-M.Thomas for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 2, YAC 4 CLE 12 – NO 9
- Q4 02:44 TD NO (2:44) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 13-M.Thomas for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 5, YAC 0 CLE 12 – NO 16
- Q4 01:24 TD CLE (1:24) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor pass deep middle to 11-A.Callaway for 47 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 47, YAC 0 CLE 18 – NO 18
- Q4 00:26 FG NO (:26) 3-W.Lutz 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead. CLE 18 – NO 21
Fourth-Down Decisions
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Q1 CLE 4th & 1 at the 59Chose PUNT Model wanted GO instead — cost +1.43 EPp(convert) 69%
(13:06) 4-B.Colquitt punts 29 yards to NO 30, Center-47-C.Hughlett, fair catch by 11-T.Lewis.
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Q1 CLE 4th & 7 at the 21Chose KICK ✓ matched the modelp(convert) 32% p(FG) 90%
(8:35) 2-Z.Gonzalez 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
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Q1 NO 4th & 12 at the 12Chose KICK ✓ matched the modelp(convert) 27% p(FG) 96%
(2:52) 3-W.Lutz 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
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Q2 CLE 4th & 6 at the 65Chose PUNT ✓ matched the modelp(convert) 40%
(14:30) 4-B.Colquitt punts 46 yards to NO 19, Center-47-C.Hughlett. 11-T.Lewis to NO 19 for no gain (20-B.Boddy-Calhoun).
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Q2 CLE 4th & 1 at the 37Chose GO ✓ matched the modelp(convert) 66% p(FG) 64%
(9:17) 29-D.Johnson right guard to NO 38 for -1 yards (20-K.Crawley).
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Q2 NO 4th & 18 at the 26Chose KICK ✓ matched the modelp(convert) 23% p(FG) 84%
(4:21) 3-W.Lutz 44 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
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Q2 CLE 4th & 10 at the 21Chose KICK ✓ matched the modelp(convert) 27% p(FG) 90%
(2:00) 2-Z.Gonzalez 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
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Q2 NO 4th & 8 at the 73Chose PUNT ✓ matched the modelp(convert) 40%
(:48) 6-T.Morstead punts 56 yards to CLE 17, Center-49-Z.Wood. 22-J.Peppers to CLE 17 for no gain (34-J.Hardee). PENALTY on CLE-20-B.Boddy-Calhoun, Illegal Block Above the Waist, 8 yards, enforced at CLE 17.
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Q3 NO 4th & 1 at the 66Chose PUNT Model wanted GO instead — cost +1.23 EPp(convert) 73%
(13:18) 6-T.Morstead punts 45 yards to CLE 21, Center-49-Z.Wood, fair catch by 22-J.Peppers.
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Q3 NO 4th & 11 at the 50Chose PUNT ✓ matched the modelp(convert) 32% p(FG) 32%
(3:22) 6-T.Morstead punts 32 yards to CLE 18, Center-49-Z.Wood, fair catch by 22-J.Peppers.
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Q4 CLE 4th & 6 at the 26Chose KICK ✓ matched the modelp(convert) 35% p(FG) 84%
(14:21) 2-Z.Gonzalez 44 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
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Q4 CLE 4th & 13 at the 78Chose PUNT ✓ matched the modelp(convert) 30%
(7:27) 4-B.Colquitt punts 43 yards to NO 35, Center-47-C.Hughlett, out of bounds.
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Q4 NO 4th & 15 at the 70Chose PUNT ✓ matched the modelp(convert) 30%
(6:00) 6-T.Morstead punts 46 yards to CLE 24, Center-49-Z.Wood, fair catch by 22-J.Peppers.
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Q4 CLE 4th & 5 at the 47 late-gameChose GO ✓ matched the modelp(convert) 41% p(FG) 39%
(1:24) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor pass deep middle to 11-A.Callaway for 47 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 47, YAC 0
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Q4 NO 4th & 11 at the 26 late-gameChose KICK ✓ matched the modelp(convert) 30% p(FG) 84%
(:26) 3-W.Lutz 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.