Final2021 Week 12

Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA

Buffalo Bills vs New Orleans Saints, Week 12 2021

Buffalo Bills

AwayWon

31

New Orleans Saints

Home

6

Scoring by quarter
TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Bills7314731
Saints00066

BUF 31NO 6 Final

  • Passing leader

    Josh Allen

    BUF · QB

    28.7PPR pts

    23/28, 260 YDS, 4 TD, 2 INT

  • Top fantasy scorer

    Stefon Diggs

    BUF · WR

    20.4PPR pts

    7 REC, 74 YDS, 1 TD

  • Saints leader

    Trevor Siemian

    NO · QB

    9.8PPR pts

    17/29, 163 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT

  • Defensive playmaker

    Bradley Roby

    NO

    1 INT, 8 TKL

Bills 31, Saints 6: Buffalo leads from start to finish

Buffalo led 10–0 at halftime and outscored New Orleans 21–6 after the break to win 31–6. The Bills finished with a 361–190 edge in total offense and averaged 5.8 yards per play.

New Orleans didn't get on the board until the fourth quarter.

The Saints went 5-for-14 on third down and committed one turnover, while the Bills kept the ball for 34:38.

Key advantages

  • +2.5 yards/play BUF 5.8 · NO 3.3
  • +171 total yards BUF 361 · NO 190
  • +26% third-down rate BUF 62% · NO 36%

Game Highlights

Official NFL highlights · Opens from YouTube

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Why the Bills Won

Buffalo won the efficiency, third-down, and time of possession battles.

Team stats comparison, Bills vs Saints
BillsStatSaints
5.8Yards per play3.3
361Total yards190
62%Third-down conversion36%
Other team stats
62Plays57
2Turnovers1
34:38Time of possession25:22

Scoring Summary

The Bills scored four touchdowns and one field goal; the Saints scored one touchdown.

Scoring plays, Bills vs Saints
TimeTeamPlayBUFNO
1st quarter
7:09BUFJosh Allen → Dawson Knox, 7-yard TD Takes leadTyler Bass XP70
2nd quarter
8:46BUFTyler Bass 34-yard FG Extends lead100
3rd quarter
8:48BUFJosh Allen → Stefon Diggs, 5-yard TD Extends leadTyler Bass XP170
4:19BUFJosh Allen → Dawson Knox, 24-yard TD Extends leadTyler Bass XP240
4th quarter
14:54NOTrevor Siemian → Nick Vannett, 11-yard TD2-pt try failed246
8:17BUFJosh Allen → Matt Breida, 23-yard TD Extends leadTyler Bass XP316

Fantasy Points: Bills vs Saints, Week 12 2021

Fantasy leaders

  1. Josh AllenBUFQB28.7 PTSQB1
  2. Stefon DiggsBUFWR20.4 PTSWR7
  3. Dawson KnoxBUFTE18.2 PTSTE3
  4. Matt BreidaBUFRB13.5 PTSRB17

Player Stats

Quarterbacks

Quarterback statistics
PlayerFPTSFINCMP/ATTPass YDSTDINTRush ATTRush YDSRush TDRateStart/Sit
Josh AllenBUFQB28.7QB123/28260428430115.2Start/Sit →
Trevor SiemianNOQB9.8QB2717/291631133071.5

WRs, RBs, & TEs

Receiver, running back and tight end statistics
PlayerFPTSFINPOSRush ATTRush YDSRush TDTGTRECRec YDSRec TDStart/Sit
Stefon DiggsBUFWR20.4WR7WR———97741Start/Sit →
Dawson KnoxBUFTE18.2TE3TE———33322Start/Sit →
Matt BreidaBUFRB13.5RB17RB926022291
Cole BeasleyBUFWR9.6WR38WR———55460
Ty MontgomeryNORB9.5RB28RB614075310
Nick VannettNOTE8.1TE17TE———11111
Lil'Jordan HumphreyNOWR7.7WR49WR———53470Start/Sit →
Tre'Quan SmithNOWR7.1WR51WR———54310
Gabe DavisBUFWR6.7WR56WR———32470
Devin SingletaryBUFRB5.8RB43RB154401140Start/Sit →
Emmanuel SandersBUFWR5.8WR58WR———33280
Marquez CallawayNOWR4.4WR74WR———42240
Tony JonesNORB2.7RB58RB16270————
Deonte HartyNOWR1.9WR97WR———5190

Fantasy Usage

Buffalo Bills

Snap Share

  1. Dawson KnoxTE60 snaps91%
  2. Stefon DiggsWR54 snaps82%
  3. Emmanuel SandersWR51 snaps77%
  4. Cole BeasleyWR46 snaps70%
  5. Devin SingletaryRB45 snaps68%

Target Share26 targets

  1. Stefon Diggs35%, 9 targets
  2. Cole Beasley19%, 5 targets
  3. Emmanuel Sanders12%, 3 targets
  4. Dawson Knox12%, 3 targets
  5. Gabe Davis12%, 3 targets
  6. Other12%, 3 targets

Carry Share32 carries

  1. Devin Singletary47%, 15 carries
  2. Matt Breida28%, 9 carries
  3. Josh Allen25%, 8 carries

New Orleans Saints

Snap Share

  1. Tre'Quan SmithWR45 snaps79%
  2. Marquez CallawayWR34 snaps60%
  3. Ty MontgomeryRB29 snaps51%
  4. Lil'Jordan HumphreyWR27 snaps47%
  5. Juwan JohnsonTE24 snaps42%

Target Share27 targets

  1. Ty Montgomery26%, 7 targets
  2. Tre'Quan Smith19%, 5 targets
  3. Lil'Jordan Humphrey19%, 5 targets
  4. Deonte Harty19%, 5 targets
  5. Marquez Callaway15%, 4 targets
  6. Other4%, 1 targets

Carry Share25 carries

  1. Tony Jones64%, 16 carries
  2. Ty Montgomery24%, 6 carries
  3. Trevor Siemian12%, 3 carries
View full usage tableHide full usage table
Offensive snaps and share for the skill positions
PlayerSNAPSSNAP %TGTTGT %CAR
Dawson KnoxBUFTE6091%312%0
Stefon DiggsBUFWR5482%935%0
Tre'Quan SmithNOWR4579%519%0
Emmanuel SandersBUFWR5177%312%0
Cole BeasleyBUFWR4670%519%0
Devin SingletaryBUFRB4568%14%15
Marquez CallawayNOWR3460%415%0
Ty MontgomeryNORB2951%726%6
Lil'Jordan HumphreyNOWR2747%519%0
Gabe DavisBUFWR2842%312%0
Juwan JohnsonNOTE2442%00%0
Deonte HartyNOWR2340%519%0
Kenny StillsNOWR2137%00%0
Nick VannettNOTE2137%14%0
Tony JonesNORB2137%00%16
Matt BreidaBUFRB2132%28%9
Garrett GriffinNOTE1832%00%0
Tommy SweeneyBUFTE1421%00%0
Jake KumerowBUFWR58%00%0
Reggie GilliamBUFRB35%00%0
Kevin WhiteNOWR12%00%0
Marquez StevensonBUFWR12%00%0

Fantasy Points vs Expected

Expected points (xFP) are what a player's pass attempts, carries and targets are worth at the league's average rates; the difference is what the player made of them.

  • Biggest overperformer+13.1Dawson Knox18.2 PTS vs 5.1 xFP
  • Biggest underperformer−7.6Tony Jones Jr.2.7 PTS vs 10.3 xFP
  • Highest expected volume17.4 xFPJosh Allen28.7 PTS scored
Usage and expected fantasy points
PlayerPTSxFPvs xFPSnap%UsageRte%Pass attCarCar%TgtTgt%
Josh AllenBUF · QB28.717.4+11.395%28 att—28825%00%
Ty Montgomery IINO · RB9.515.6−6.151%25% tgt—0624%725%
Stefon DiggsBUF · WR20.415.2+5.282%35% tgt—000%935%
Trevor SiemianNO · QB9.814.7−4.9100%29 att—29312%00%
Devin SingletaryBUF · RB5.811.3−5.568%47% car—01547%14%
Tony Jones Jr.NO · —2.710.3−7.637%64% car—01664%00%
Matt BreidaBUF · RB13.59.1+4.432%28% car—0928%28%
Cole BeasleyBUF · WR9.68.4+1.270%19% tgt—000%519%
Deonte HartyNO · WR1.98.4−6.540%18% tgt—000%518%
Lil'Jordan HumphreyNO · WR7.78.4−0.747%18% tgt—000%518%
Tre'Quan SmithNO · WR7.18.4−1.379%18% tgt—000%518%
Marquez CallawayNO · WR4.46.7−2.360%14% tgt—000%414%
Dawson KnoxBUF · TE18.25.1+13.191%12% tgt—000%312%
Emmanuel SandersBUF · WR5.85.1+0.777%12% tgt—000%312%
Gabe DavisBUF · WR6.75.1+1.642%12% tgt—000%312%
Adam PrenticeNO · RB2.01.7+0.3—4% tgt—000%14%
Nick VannettNO · TE8.11.7+6.437%4% tgt—000%14%

Team totals: Bills 26 targets and 32 carries; Saints 28 targets and 25 carries. Shares are from the box score. Snap counts are from the weekly player logs (Sleeper), and include plays wiped out by penalties. Route counts, air yards and red-zone touches appear when the tracking feed is connected. League-average rates from the 2021 season: 1.68 PPR points per target (67% catch rate), 0.64 per carry and 0.44 per pass attempt. They don't adjust for field position or target depth.

Fantasy Verdicts

Josh Allen Ran hot

BUF · QB · 28.7 pts on 17.4 expected

23 of 28 passing for 260 yards, 4 touchdowns, 2 interceptions; 8 carries for 43 yards.

Verdict: The opportunities were worth 17.4 points; the touchdowns supplied the rest, and they are the part least likely to repeat.

Start/Sit: Josh Allen →

Trevor Siemian

NO · QB · 9.8 pts on 14.7 expected

17 of 29 passing for 163 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception; 3 carries for 3 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 14.7 expected.

Stefon Diggs Ran hot

BUF · WR · 20.4 pts on 15.2 expected

9 targets (35% of the team's), 7 catches for 74 yards and 1 touchdown.

Verdict: The opportunities were worth 15.2 points; the touchdowns supplied the rest, and they are the part least likely to repeat.

Start/Sit: Stefon Diggs →

Devin Singletary Unlucky

BUF · RB · 5.8 pts on 11.3 expected

1 target (4% of the team's), 1 catch for 4 yards; 15 carries (47% of the team's) for 44 yards.

Verdict: The role was there, worth 11.3 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.

Start/Sit: Devin Singletary →

Ty Montgomery II Unlucky

NO · RB · 9.5 pts on 15.6 expected

7 targets (25% of the team's), 5 catches for 31 yards; 6 carries (24% of the team's) for 14 yards.

Verdict: The role was there, worth 15.6 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.

Tony Jones Jr. Volume, no payoff

NO · — · 2.7 pts on 10.3 expected

16 carries (64% of the team's) for 27 yards.

Verdict: The role was there, worth 10.3 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.

Deonte Harty Unlucky

NO · WR · 1.9 pts on 8.4 expected

5 targets (18% of the team's), 1 catch for 9 yards.

Verdict: The role was there, worth 8.4 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.

Dawson Knox Ran hot

BUF · TE · 18.2 pts on 5.1 expected

3 targets (12% of the team's), 3 catches for 32 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Verdict: The opportunities were worth 5.1 points; the touchdowns supplied the rest, and they are the part least likely to repeat.

Start/Sit: Dawson Knox →

Stock Up, Stock Down

Buffalo Bills

  • Stock up: Devin Singletary played 68% of the snaps, up from a 48% season average.
  • Stock up: Matt Breida played 32% of the snaps, up from a 15% season average.

New Orleans Saints

  • Stock up: Ty Montgomery II played 51% of the snaps, up from a 30% season average.
  • Stock up: Lil'Jordan Humphrey played 47% of the snaps, up from a 31% season average.
  • Stock down: Marquez Callaway played 60% of the snaps, down from a 79% season average.

Fantasy Matchups

Fantasy points allowed per game by position, 2021 through Week 18.

Fantasy points allowed per game by position, Bills defense and Saints defense
Points allowed toBills DSaints D
QBs12.216.3
RBs20.417.7
WRs23.834.8
TEs7.69.4

Regular season, summed from each game's box score and scored with this page's rules.

How the Game Swung

New Orleans opened at 30% win probability and fell below 2% in the third quarter.

Saints win probability

Saints win probability by game minuteSaints started at 30%, stood at 8% at halftime and finished at 0%, across 6 scoring plays.Q1Q2Q3Q4100%50%0%

Key Swings

  1. −17Allen → Knox, 7-yd TD31% → 15%Q1 7:09
  2. −5Bass 34-yd FG14% → 9%Q2 8:46
  3. −6Allen → Diggs, 5-yd TD7% → 1%Q3 8:48

Swing in Saints win probability, in points

Play Calling and Possessions

Play calling, Bills vs Saints
Buffalo BillsMeasureNew Orleans Saints
62Plays57
48%Pass rate56%
8.3Yds / dropback4.6
3.5Yds / carry1.8
8/13Third downs5/14

Efficiency edge Buffalo ran 5 more plays and gained 3.7 more yards per dropback.

  • Top targets
  • BUF Diggs 35% · Beasley 19% · Knox 12%
  • NO Montgomery 25% · Harty 18% · Humphrey 18%

Possession Results

How each possession ended, Bills vs Saints
ResultBUFNO
Touchdowns41
Field goals10
Punts35
Turnovers21
Turnovers on downs02

NO turnover edge: +1

  • The Bills opened the scoring on their first possession, a 10-play, 65-yard drive that ended in a touchdown.
All 21 possessions, drive by drive
Drive chart
TeamStartPlaysYardsTimeResult
NOQ1 15:00371:57Punt
BUFQ1 13:0310655:54Touchdown
NOQ1 7:096243:48Punt
BUFQ1 3:216-13:30Punt
NOQ2 14:516162:05Downs
BUFQ2 12:467384:00Field goal
NOQ2 8:467112:38Punt
BUFQ2 6:085152:55Interception
NOQ2 3:13421:26Downs
BUFQ2 1:477391:39Interception
NOQ2 0:081-10:08End of half
BUFQ3 15:0011756:12Touchdown
NOQ3 8:48341:38Punt
BUFQ3 7:105532:51Touchdown
NOQ3 4:1910754:25Touchdown
BUFQ4 14:545202:52Punt
NOQ4 12:02341:20Punt
BUFQ4 10:424512:25Touchdown
NOQ4 8:175161:18Interception
BUFQ4 6:59302:20Punt
NOQ4 4:399374:39End of game
About these numbers

Possessions that ended with the clock running out at the half or the end of the game aren't counted.

Personnel groupings, average depth of target and pass rate over expected appear when the tracking feed is connected.

Bills vs Saints Head-to-Head

The Bills and Saints first met in 1973 and have played 13 times since.

All-time series
7–6Saints lead, 13 meetings since 1973
Postseason
0No playoff meetings
Largest Bills win
31–62021
Largest Saints win
47–102017

Since 2021

2–0 Bills lead

2 meetings since the 2021 season, regular season and playoffs.

Oldest to newest. B = Bills win, S = Saints win, outlined = this game.

Recent Meetings

Season to Date (Through Week 18)

The 2021 regular season, from each game's box score.

Season to date, Bills vs Saints
BillsStatSaints
11-6Record9-8
28.4Points per game21.4
381.9Yards per game304.5
5.7Yards per play4.9
17.0Points allowed per game19.7
272.8Yards allowed per game318.2

Bills vs Saints Odds and Results

How this game finished against the betting lines.

Spread
BUF −7Bills covered by 18
Total
45Under: 37 points scored (by 8)

Expected vs Actual Scoring

Implied team totals against the actual score
TeamImpliedActualDifference
Bills26.031+5.0
Saints19.06−13.0

The Bills beat their implied total and the Saints fell short of theirs; the Fantasy tab has the player lines behind it.

Betting Trends

Each team's 2021 season through this game. Over/under is overs first.

Buffalo Bills

Against the spread
6–4–1
Over/under
5–6
ATS as favorite
5–4–1
ATS as underdog
1–0
ATS on the road
4–2

New Orleans Saints

Against the spread
5–6
Over/under
6–5
ATS as favorite
1–4
ATS as underdog
4–2
ATS at home
2–3

Lines: ESPN's consensus, captured at kickoff. Individual sportsbooks varied.

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Betting availability depends on your state.

Bills and Saints in Fantasy

The two teams don't meet again this season. If you roster a Bill or a Saint, these answer the week-to-week question.

Keep Exploring

2021 Game Logs for Players in This Game

Bills vs Saints Game FAQ

Who won the 2021 Bills vs Saints Week 12 game?

The Buffalo Bills beat the New Orleans Saints 31–6 in Week 12 of the 2021 season. The game was played at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, LA, on November 25, 2021. See the Bills' 2021 schedule.

What was the final score of Bills vs Saints?

The final score was Bills 31, Saints 6. The Bills led 10–0 at halftime, and the second half went Bills 21, Saints 6.

What happened in the Bills vs Saints game?

Buffalo led 10–0 at halftime and outscored New Orleans 21–6 after the break to win 31–6. The Bills finished with a 361–190 edge in total offense and averaged 5.8 yards per play. Josh Allen led all players with 23 of 28 passing for 260 yards and 4 touchdowns, plus 8 carries for 43 rushing yards. The Bills committed 2 turnovers, the Saints 1.

Who scored the most fantasy points in Bills vs Saints?

Josh Allen led the game with 28.7 PPR fantasy points, the QB1 of Week 12, on 23 of 28 passing for 260 yards and 4 touchdowns, plus 8 carries for 43 rushing yards. Stefon Diggs was next with 20.4 (WR7). See Josh Allen's 2021 game log.

Who led Bills vs Saints in passing, rushing and receiving?

Josh Allen (BUF) led all passers with 23 of 28 for 260 yards, 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Devin Singletary (BUF) led in rushing with 15 carries for 44 yards. Stefon Diggs (BUF) led in receiving with 7 catches for 74 yards and a touchdown.

How many fantasy points did Josh Allen score against the Saints?

Josh Allen scored 28.7 fantasy points against the Saints in Week 12 of the 2021 season, the same in PPR, half-PPR and standard scoring because he had no catches, on 23 of 28 passing for 260 yards and 4 touchdowns, plus 8 carries for 43 rushing yards.

Who outperformed and underperformed expected fantasy points in Bills vs Saints?

Dawson Knox outperformed his expected fantasy points the most, scoring 18.2 PPR points on 5.1 xFP (+13.1). Tony Jones Jr. fell furthest short, with 2.7 points on 10.3 xFP (−7.6). A gap either way reflects efficiency and touchdowns in one game; it is not a forecast. For matchups ahead, see fantasy points allowed by position.

Who had the highest expected fantasy points in Bills vs Saints?

Josh Allen had the most fantasy opportunity in the game, worth 17.4 expected PPR points (xFP) at league-average rates, and scored 28.7. Expected points measure the volume of a player's pass attempts, carries and targets, not how well he used them.

How did the Bills beat the Saints?

The Bills beat the Saints 31–6 because they averaged 5.8 yards per play to 3.3 and outgained them 361–190.

Which team won the turnover battle in Bills vs Saints?

The Saints won the turnover battle 2–1: the Bills gave the ball away 2 times and the Saints 1 time. The Bills won the game anyway.

What is the all-time Bills vs Saints record?

The Saints lead the all-time series 7–6 across 13 meetings since 1973.

When did the Bills and Saints last play before this game?

Before Week 12 of 2021, they last met in the 2017 season on November 12, 2017, when the Saints beat the Bills 47–10.

What was the closing spread for Bills vs Saints?

The consensus closing spread at kickoff was Bills −7, making the Buffalo Bills 7-point favorites, with a closing total of 45. That implied about 26.0 points for the Bills and 19.0 for the Saints.

Did Bills vs Saints go over or under the total?

The game went under. The consensus closing total was 45, and the teams combined for 37 points, 8 under the number.

Who covered the spread in Bills vs Saints?

The Bills covered by 18 against the closing line of Bills −7. The final margin was 25 points.