Atlanta Falcons vs. Buffalo Bills: 2005 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2005 NFL season on 2005-09-25, the Atlanta Falcons took care of business against the Buffalo Bills, pulling away with a 24–16 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Vick (Atlanta Falcons) paced the passing game, with +15.69 total EPA.

On the individual side, M. Vick (Atlanta Falcons) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +15.69 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-31.7% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Atlanta Falcons changed the game: (:02) 2-T.Peterson 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.

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 M. Vick · Atlanta Falcons · Passing · +15.69 total EPA · 34 snaps · +0.46 EPA/play
2. 2 B. Finneran · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +6.75 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.69 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Jenkins · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +5.46 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.36 EPA/play
4. 4 W. McGahee · Buffalo Bills · Rushing · +4.47 total EPA · 27 snaps · +0.17 EPA/play
5. 5 A. Crumpler · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +2.89 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.96 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Reed · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +2.35 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.17 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Blakley · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.76 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.88 EPA/play
8. 8 S. Aiken · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +1.65 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.65 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 — D. Blakley (M. Vick pass) (Q1 48:50)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Jenkins (M. Vick pass) (Q2 40:14)
• Buffalo Bills — W. McGahee (Q2 34:00)
• Atlanta Falcons — T. Duckett (Q4 12:14)

Field goals

• Buffalo Bills — R. Lindell (Q1 54:38)
• Buffalo Bills — R. Lindell (Q2 44:49)
• Atlanta Falcons — T. Peterson (Q2 30:02)
• Buffalo Bills — R. Lindell (Q3 25:14)

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 7–3. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the ATL 18 (Q1 54:38) — (9:38) 9-R.Lindell 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the BUF 9 (Q1 48:50) — (3:50) 7-M.Vick pass to 85-D.Blakley for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at BUF 5, left side.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q1 48:44) — 2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub..

The second quarter: The quarter finished even at 10–10. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the ATL 23 (Q2 44:49) — (14:49) 9-R.Lindell 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the BUF 15 (Q2 40:14) — (10:14) 7-M.Vick pass to 12-M.Jenkins for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught 5 yds. into end zone, left side.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q2 40:07) — 2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the ATL 8 (Q2 34:00) — (4:00) 21-W.McGahee up the middle for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Key block: D.Shelton.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q2 33:55) — 9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the BUF 9 (Q2 30:02) — (:02) 2-T.Peterson 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub..

The third quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 3–0. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the ATL 12 (Q3 25:14) — (10:14) 9-R.Lindell 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman..

The fourth quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 7–0. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the BUF 12 (Q4 12:14) — (12:14) 45-T.Duckett up the middle for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q4 12:07) — 2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub..

Turning points

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 30:02) — (:02) 2-T.Peterson 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub. [WPA -31.7% · EPA +0.21]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2) — End of half - 2:36 pm [WPA -20.6% · EPA +0.28]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q3 29:28) — (14:28) 7-M.Vick pass intended for 83-A.Crumpler INTERCEPTED by 90-C.Kelsay at BUF 48. 90-C.Kelsay to ATL 35 for 17 yards (83-A.Crumpler). Coverage on right side. [WPA -13.9% · EPA -5.14]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 30:33) — (:33) 28-W.Dunn left guard pushed ob at BUF 19 for 59 yards (24-T.McGee). [WPA +12.6% · EPA +3.03]
• Buffalo Bills (Q1 45:49) — (:49) 7-J.Losman pass incomplete to 80-E.Moulds (24-B.Scott). Receiver and coverage at ATL 13, left side. PENALTY on ATL-30-C.Morton, Defensive Pass Interference, 30 yards, enforced at BUF 47 - No Pla [WPA +12.0% · EPA +2.29]

Impact plays

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q3 29:28) — (14:28) 7-M.Vick pass intended for 83-A.Crumpler INTERCEPTED by 90-C.Kelsay at BUF 48. 90-C.Kelsay to ATL 35 for 17 yards (83-A.Crumpler). Coverage on right side. [WPA -13.9% · EPA -5.14]
• Buffalo Bills (Q4 5:10) — (5:10) 8-B.Moorman punts 44 yards to ATL 46, Center-54-M.Schneck. 21-D.Hall to BUF 44 for 10 yards (55-A.Crowell). FUMBLES (55-A.Crowell), RECOVERED by BUF-92-R.Denney at BUF 44. [WPA +7.4% · EPA +3.65]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 12:48) — (12:48) 7-M.Vick right tackle pushed ob at BUF 12 for 27 yards (36-L.Milloy). [WPA +10.9% · EPA +3.37]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 40:14) — (10:14) 7-M.Vick pass to 12-M.Jenkins for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught 5 yds. into end zone, left side. [WPA +8.2% · EPA +3.20]

Quarterback report card

M.Vick led all passers in efficiency for Atlanta Falcons, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• M.Vick (Atlanta Falcons) · 34 dropbacks · 44.1% completion · +0.46 EPA/play · +15.69 total EPA
• J.Losman (Buffalo Bills) · 33 dropbacks · 30.3% completion · -0.20 EPA/play · -6.70 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 (+0.15 vs +0.02), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Atlanta Falcons: 10 drives, +12.45 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Buffalo Bills: 11 drives, +1.92 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.
• M. Vick (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. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q1 54:38 · ATL 18 · Score 0-3
   (9:38) 9-R.Lindell 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
2. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q1 48:50 · BUF 9 · Score 6-3
   (3:50) 7-M.Vick pass to 85-D.Blakley for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at BUF 5, left side.
3. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q1 48:44 · BUF 2 · Score 7-3
   2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.
4. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q2 44:49 · ATL 23 · Score 7-6
   (14:49) 9-R.Lindell 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
5. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 40:14 · BUF 15 · Score 13-6
   (10:14) 7-M.Vick pass to 12-M.Jenkins for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught 5 yds. into end zone, left side.
6. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q2 40:07 · BUF 2 · Score 14-6
   2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.
7. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q2 34:00 · ATL 8 · Score 14-12
   (4:00) 21-W.McGahee up the middle for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Key block: D.Shelton.
8. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q2 33:55 · ATL 2 · Score 14-13
   9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
9. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 30:02 · BUF 9 · Score 17-13
   (:02) 2-T.Peterson 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.
10. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q3 25:14 · ATL 12 · Score 17-16
    (10:14) 9-R.Lindell 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
11. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 12:14 · BUF 12 · Score 23-16
    (12:14) 45-T.Duckett up the middle for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q4 12:07 · BUF 2 · Score 24-16
    2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.