Atlanta Falcons vs. Arizona Cardinals: 2001 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2001 NFL season on 2001-09-30, the Atlanta Falcons took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 34–14 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Plummer (Arizona Cardinals) paced the passing game, with -1.37 total EPA.

On the individual side, C. Chandler (Atlanta Falcons) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +18.09 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-12.2% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Arizona Cardinals changed the game: (9:24) 16-J.Plummer FUMBLES (Aborted) at ARI 38, RECOVERED by ATL-56-K.Brooking at ARI 39.

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 C. Chandler · Atlanta Falcons · Passing · +18.09 total EPA · 31 snaps · +0.58 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Smith · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +11.33 total EPA · 2 snaps · +5.66 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Mathis · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +5.81 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.97 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Jones · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +5.05 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.26 EPA/play
5. 5 F. Sanders · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +4.07 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.81 EPA/play
6. 6 B. Finneran · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +3.06 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.77 EPA/play
7. 7 M. Pittman · Arizona Cardinals · Rushing · +3.03 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.43 EPA/play
8. 8 B. Christian · Atlanta Falcons · Rushing · +2.55 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.28 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. Mathis (C. Chandler pass) (Q1 51:19)
• Arizona Cardinals — M. Pittman (Q3 27:32)
• Atlanta Falcons — T. Mathis (C. Chandler pass) (Q3 19:59)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Smith (Q4 14:19)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Smith (C. Chandler pass) (Q4 11:38)
• Arizona Cardinals — T. Hardy (J. Plummer pass) (Q4 8:05)

Field goals

• Atlanta Falcons — J. Feely (Q1 48:41)
• Atlanta Falcons — J. Feely (Q2 30:10)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 10–0. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the ARI 17 (Q1 51:19); Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q1 51:10) — 4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the ARI 16 (Q1 48:41) — (3:41) 4-J.Feely 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr..

The second quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 3–0. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the ARI 37 (Q2 30:10) — (:10) 4-J.Feely 55 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the ATL 24 (Q3 27:32) — (12:32) 32-M.Pittman up the middle for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on ATL-97-P.Kerney, Defensive Offside, declined.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q3 27:25) — 7-B.Gramatica extra point is GOOD, Center-86-T.Junkin, Holder-10-S.Player.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the ARI 10 (Q3 19:59) — (4:59) 12-C.Chandler pass to 81-T.Mathis for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q3 19:51) — 4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr..

The fourth quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 14–7. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the ARI 1 (Q4 14:19) — (14:19) 43-M.Smith up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q4 14:15) — 4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the ARI 79 (Q4 11:38) — (11:38) 12-C.Chandler pass to 43-M.Smith for 79 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q4 11:27) — 4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the ATL 12 (Q4 8:05) — (8:05) (Shotgun) 16-J.Plummer pass to 80-T.Hardy for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q4 7:59) — 7-B.Gramatica extra point is GOOD, Center-86-T.Junkin, Holder-10-S.Player..

Turning points

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 24:24) — (9:24) 16-J.Plummer FUMBLES (Aborted) at ARI 38, RECOVERED by ATL-56-K.Brooking at ARI 39. [WPA -12.2% · EPA -4.71]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 50:26) — (5:26) 10-S.Player punts 30 yards to ATL 38, Center-86-T.Junkin. 47-C.Hudson to ARI 40 for 22 yards (82-M.Jenkins). [WPA -8.3% · EPA -1.91]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 40:34) — (10:34) 12-C.Chandler pass to 86-B.Finneran to ATL 41 for 11 yards. [WPA +7.9% · EPA +1.71]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 57:59) — (12:59) 12-C.Chandler pass to 86-B.Finneran to ATL 41 for 22 yards (36-D.Barrett). [WPA +7.9% · EPA +2.78]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 54:30) — (9:30) 12-C.Chandler pass to 84-S.Jefferson to ARI 37 for 7 yards (36-D.Barrett). [WPA +6.3% · EPA +0.90]

Impact plays

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 11:38) — (11:38) 12-C.Chandler pass to 43-M.Smith for 79 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +0.5% · EPA +7.93]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 24:24) — (9:24) 16-J.Plummer FUMBLES (Aborted) at ARI 38, RECOVERED by ATL-56-K.Brooking at ARI 39. [WPA -12.2% · EPA -4.71]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 3:49) — (3:49) (Shotgun) 16-J.Plummer pass intended for 82-M.Jenkins INTERCEPTED by 56-K.Brooking at ATL 31. 56-K.Brooking to ATL 40 for 9 yards (82-M.Jenkins). [WPA -0.1% · EPA -3.80]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 13:04) — (13:04) 16-J.Plummer pass intended for 89-D.Boston INTERCEPTED by 37-D.Vaughn at ATL 20. 37-D.Vaughn to ATL 20 for no gain. [WPA -1.8% · EPA -3.51]

Quarterback report card

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

• J.Plummer (Arizona Cardinals) · 43 dropbacks · 53.5% completion · -0.03 EPA/play · -1.37 total EPA
• C.Chandler (Atlanta Falcons) · 31 dropbacks · 64.5% completion · +0.58 EPA/play · +18.09 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Atlanta Falcons generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.24 vs -0.05), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Arizona Cardinals: 11 drives, -3.33 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• Atlanta Falcons: 11 drives, +20.14 total EPA, 6 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.
• C. Chandler (Atlanta Falcons) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

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

1. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q1 51:19 · ARI 17 · Score 6-0
   (6:19) 12-C.Chandler pass to 81-T.Mathis for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Chandler handed off to Smith who fell, fumbled, recovered and pitched back to Chandler who thr
2. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q1 51:10 · ARI 2 · Score 7-0
   4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
3. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q1 48:41 · ARI 16 · Score 10-0
   (3:41) 4-J.Feely 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
4. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 30:10 · ARI 37 · Score 13-0
   (:10) 4-J.Feely 55 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
5. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q3 27:32 · ATL 24 · Score 13-6
   (12:32) 32-M.Pittman up the middle for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on ATL-97-P.Kerney, Defensive Offside, declined.
6. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q3 27:25 · ATL 2 · Score 13-7
   7-B.Gramatica extra point is GOOD, Center-86-T.Junkin, Holder-10-S.Player.
7. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q3 19:59 · ARI 10 · Score 19-7
   (4:59) 12-C.Chandler pass to 81-T.Mathis for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q3 19:51 · ARI 2 · Score 20-7
   4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
9. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 14:19 · ARI 1 · Score 26-7
   (14:19) 43-M.Smith up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q4 14:15 · ARI 2 · Score 27-7
    4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
11. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 11:38 · ARI 79 · Score 33-7
    (11:38) 12-C.Chandler pass to 43-M.Smith for 79 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q4 11:27 · ARI 2 · Score 34-7
    4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
13. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 8:05 · ATL 12 · Score 34-13
    (8:05) (Shotgun) 16-J.Plummer pass to 80-T.Hardy for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q4 7:59 · ATL 2 · Score 34-14
    7-B.Gramatica extra point is GOOD, Center-86-T.Junkin, Holder-10-S.Player.