Arizona Cardinals vs. Atlanta Falcons: 2022 Week 17 Recap

Game story

In Week 17 of the 2022 NFL season on 2023-01-01, the Atlanta Falcons took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 20–19 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 24 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Blough (Arizona Cardinals) paced the passing game, with +4.46 total EPA, and -2.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. McBride (Arizona Cardinals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.32 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+27.0% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Atlanta Falcons changed the game: (:02) 7-Y.Koo 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 T. McBride · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +5.32 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.53 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Blough · Arizona Cardinals · Passing · +4.46 total EPA · 48 snaps · +0.09 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Brown · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +4.33 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.48 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Conner · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +2.38 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.79 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Pruitt · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +2.33 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.58 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Allgeier · Atlanta Falcons · Rushing · +1.97 total EPA · 20 snaps · +0.10 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Allgeier · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.53 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.53 EPA/play
8. 8 R. Anderson · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +1.33 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.33 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Atlanta Falcons — T. Allgeier (Q2 43:41)
• Arizona Cardinals — T. McBride (D. Blough pass) (Q2 40:06)
• Atlanta Falcons — C. Patterson (Q2 31:51)

Field goals

• Arizona Cardinals — M. Prater (Q1 53:28)
• Arizona Cardinals — M. Prater (Q2 30:06)
• Arizona Cardinals — M. Prater (Q3 24:04)
• Arizona Cardinals — M. Prater (Q3 24:00)
• Atlanta Falcons — Y. Koo (Q4 9:40)
• Arizona Cardinals — M. Prater (Q4 5:02)
• Atlanta Falcons — Y. Koo (Q4 0:02)
• Atlanta Falcons — unlisted player (Q4 0:00)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 3–0. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the ATL 20 (Q1 53:28) — (8:28) 5-M.Prater 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-H.Bradley, Holder-14-A.Lee..

The second quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 14–10. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the ARI 5 (Q2 43:41) — (13:41) (Shotgun) 25-T.Allgeier left tackle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q2 43:38) — 7-Y.Koo extra point is GOOD, Center-48-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the ATL 4 (Q2 40:06) — (10:06) (No Huddle) 17-D.Blough pass short right to 85-T.McBride for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the ATL 15 (Q2 40:00) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-H.Bradley, Holder-14-A.Lee.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the ARI 5 (Q2 31:51) — (1:51) (Shotgun) 84-C.Patterson right tackle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q2 31:47) — 7-Y.Koo extra point is GOOD, Center-48-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the ATL 18 (Q2 30:06) — (:06) 5-M.Prater 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-H.Bradley, Holder-14-A.Lee..

The third quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 6–0. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the ATL 18 (Q3 24:04) — (9:04) 5-M.Prater 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-H.Bradley, Holder-14-A.Lee.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the ARI 35 (Q3 24:00) — 5-M.Prater kicks 65 yards from ARI 35 to end zone, Touchback..

The fourth quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 9–3. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the ARI 9 (Q4 9:40) — (9:40) 7-Y.Koo 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the ATL 39 (Q4 5:02) — (5:02) 5-M.Prater 57 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-H.Bradley, Holder-14-A.Lee.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the ARI 3 (Q4 0:02) — (:02) 7-Y.Koo 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal (Q4 0:00) — END GAME.

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 0:02) — (:02) 7-Y.Koo 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion. [WPA +27.0% · EPA +0.04]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 40:46) — (10:46) 4-D.Ridder FUMBLES (Aborted) at ATL 11, touched at ATL 10, RECOVERED by ARI-95-L.Fotu at ATL 8. [WPA -18.8% · EPA -5.90]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 25:00) — (10:00) (Shotgun) 17-D.Blough pass incomplete deep right to 2-M.Brown. PENALTY on ATL-37-D.Alford, Defensive Pass Interference, 40 yards, enforced at ARI 40 - No Play. [WPA +17.6% · EPA +4.23]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 13:34) — (13:34) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 23-C.Clement left guard to ATL 44 for no gain (26-I.Oliver; 97-G.Jarrett). [WPA -17.2% · EPA -3.50]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 5:02) — (5:02) 5-M.Prater 57 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-H.Bradley, Holder-14-A.Lee. [WPA +14.7% · EPA +2.24]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 40:46) — (10:46) 4-D.Ridder FUMBLES (Aborted) at ATL 11, touched at ATL 10, RECOVERED by ARI-95-L.Fotu at ATL 8. [WPA -18.8% · EPA -5.90]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 25:00) — (10:00) (Shotgun) 17-D.Blough pass incomplete deep right to 2-M.Brown. PENALTY on ATL-37-D.Alford, Defensive Pass Interference, 40 yards, enforced at ARI 40 - No Play. [WPA +17.6% · EPA +4.23]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) 14-A.Lee punt is BLOCKED by 27-R.Grant, Center-48-H.Bradley, ball out of bounds at ARI 5. [WPA -11.2% · EPA -4.16]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 19:06) — (4:06) 5-M.Prater 43 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-48-H.Bradley, Holder-14-A.Lee. [WPA -11.4% · EPA -4.12]

Quarterback report card

D.Blough led all passers in efficiency for Arizona Cardinals, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Blough (Arizona Cardinals) · 48 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -2.3% CPOE · +0.09 EPA/play · +4.46 total EPA
• D.Ridder (Atlanta Falcons) · 30 dropbacks · 63.3% completion · +3.5% CPOE · -0.02 EPA/play · -0.52 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Arizona Cardinals -0.03, Atlanta Falcons -0.06) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Arizona Cardinals: 9 drives, -2.83 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Atlanta Falcons: 10 drives, -4.58 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Atlanta Falcons leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• T. McBride (Arizona Cardinals) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Ridder (ATL) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q1 53:28 · ATL 20 · Score 3-0
   (8:28) 5-M.Prater 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-H.Bradley, Holder-14-A.Lee.
2. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 43:41 · ARI 5 · Score 3-6
   (13:41) (Shotgun) 25-T.Allgeier left tackle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q2 43:38 · ARI 15 · Score 3-7
   7-Y.Koo extra point is GOOD, Center-48-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.
4. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 40:06 · ATL 4 · Score 9-7
   (10:06) (No Huddle) 17-D.Blough pass short right to 85-T.McBride for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 40:00 · ATL 15 · Score 10-7
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-H.Bradley, Holder-14-A.Lee.
6. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 31:51 · ARI 5 · Score 10-13
   (1:51) (Shotgun) 84-C.Patterson right tackle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q2 31:47 · ARI 15 · Score 10-14
   7-Y.Koo extra point is GOOD, Center-48-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.
8. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 30:06 · ATL 18 · Score 13-14
   (:06) 5-M.Prater 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-H.Bradley, Holder-14-A.Lee.
9. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q3 24:04 · ATL 18 · Score 16-14
   (9:04) 5-M.Prater 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-H.Bradley, Holder-14-A.Lee.
10. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q3 24:00 · ARI 35 · Score 16-14
    5-M.Prater kicks 65 yards from ARI 35 to end zone, Touchback.
11. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q4 9:40 · ARI 9 · Score 16-17
    (9:40) 7-Y.Koo 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.
12. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q4 5:02 · ATL 39 · Score 19-17
    (5:02) 5-M.Prater 57 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-H.Bradley, Holder-14-A.Lee.
13. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q4 0:02 · ARI 3 · Score 19-20
    (:02) 7-Y.Koo 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.
14. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q4 0:00 · Score 19-20
    END GAME