Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers: 2010 Week 14 Recap

Game story

In Week 14 of the 2010 NFL season on 2010-12-12, the Atlanta Falcons took care of business against the Carolina Panthers, pulling away with a 31–10 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) paced the passing game, with +4.97 total EPA, and +3.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.97 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-8.6% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Carolina Panthers changed the game: (14:53) 28-J.Stewart up the middle to CAR 28 for 2 yards (55-J.Abraham). FUMBLES (55-J.Abraham), RECOVERED by ATL-23-D.Robinson at CAR 29. 23-D.Robinson to CAR 29 for no gain (65-G.Williams).

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. Ryan · Atlanta Falcons · Passing · +4.97 total EPA · 40 snaps · +0.12 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Turner · Atlanta Falcons · Rushing · +4.87 total EPA · 28 snaps · +0.17 EPA/play
3. 3 H. Douglas · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +4.01 total EPA · 1 snaps · +4.01 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Goodson · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +3.65 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.41 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Jenkins · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.91 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.38 EPA/play
6. 6 E. Weems · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.72 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.72 EPA/play
7. 7 S. Smith · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +1.27 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.27 EPA/play
8. 8 B. Finneran · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.13 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.57 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. Gonzalez (M. Ryan pass) (Q1 58:41)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Turner (Q1 51:54)
• Carolina Panthers — M. Goodson (Q3 25:36)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Turner (Q3 19:46)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Turner (Q4 4:17)

Field goals

• Atlanta Falcons — M. Bryant (Q2 32:38)
• Carolina Panthers — J. Kasay (Q4 9:48)

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 14–0. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the CAR 4 (Q1 58:41) — (13:41) 2-M.Ryan pass short middle to 88-T.Gonzalez for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q1 58:35) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the CAR 1 (Q1 51:54) — (6:54) 33-M.Turner left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q1 51:51) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen..

The second quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 3–0. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the CAR 21 (Q2 32:38) — (2:38) 3-M.Bryant 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the ATL 13 (Q3 25:36) — (10:36) 33-M.Goodson right end for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q3 25:29) — 4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-7-J.Baker.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the CAR 3 (Q3 19:46) — (4:46) 33-M.Turner left end for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q3 19:41) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen..

The fourth quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 7–3. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the ATL 18 (Q4 9:48) — (9:48) 4-J.Kasay 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-7-J.Baker.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the CAR 4 (Q4 4:17) — (4:17) 33-M.Turner up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q4 4:12) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen..

Turning points

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

• Carolina Panthers (Q1 59:53) — (14:53) 28-J.Stewart up the middle to CAR 28 for 2 yards (55-J.Abraham). FUMBLES (55-J.Abraham), RECOVERED by ATL-23-D.Robinson at CAR 29. 23-D.Robinson to CAR 29 for no gain (65-G.Williams). [WPA -8.6% · EPA -5.13]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 59:38) — (14:38) 2-M.Ryan pass short left to 84-R.White to CAR 20 for 9 yards (52-J.Beason). [WPA +8.3% · EPA +0.68]
• Carolina Panthers (Q3 21:24) — (6:24) (Shotgun) 2-J.Clausen sacked at 50 for -12 yards (92-C.Davis). [WPA -7.1% · EPA -3.07]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 55:50) — (10:50) 33-M.Turner right guard to ATL 38 for 10 yards (30-C.Godfrey; 61-D.Landri). [WPA +6.9% · EPA +1.22]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 53:54) — (8:54) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass deep left to 83-H.Douglas to CAR 9 for 46 yards (36-R.McClain). [WPA +6.5% · EPA +4.01]

Impact plays

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

• Carolina Panthers (Q1 59:53) — (14:53) 28-J.Stewart up the middle to CAR 28 for 2 yards (55-J.Abraham). FUMBLES (55-J.Abraham), RECOVERED by ATL-23-D.Robinson at CAR 29. 23-D.Robinson to CAR 29 for no gain (65-G.Williams). [WPA -8.6% · EPA -5.13]
• Carolina Panthers (Q4 6:14) — (6:14) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 2-J.Clausen pass short middle intended for 11-B.LaFell INTERCEPTED by 53-M.Peterson (54-S.Nicholas) at CAR 33. 53-M.Peterson to CAR 16 for 17 yards (73-M.Bernadeau). [WPA -2.5% · EPA -4.38]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 53:54) — (8:54) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass deep left to 83-H.Douglas to CAR 9 for 46 yards (36-R.McClain). [WPA +6.5% · EPA +4.01]
• Carolina Panthers (Q3 18:51) — (3:51) (Shotgun) 2-J.Clausen pass deep right to 12-D.Gettis to CAR 44 for 22 yards (25-W.Moore). [WPA +3.0% · EPA +3.21]

Quarterback report card

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

• M.Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) · 40 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · +3.3% CPOE · +0.12 EPA/play · +4.97 total EPA
• J.Clausen (Carolina Panthers) · 29 dropbacks · 48.3% completion · -7.5% CPOE · -0.56 EPA/play · -16.27 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 (+0.10 vs -0.20), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Atlanta Falcons: 13 drives, +9.75 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Carolina Panthers: 13 drives, -15.12 total EPA, 2 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. Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• M. Ryan (ATL) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• J. Clausen (CAR) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

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

1. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q1 58:41 · CAR 4 · Score 6-0
   (13:41) 2-M.Ryan pass short middle to 88-T.Gonzalez for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q1 58:35 · CAR 2 · Score 7-0
   3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
3. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q1 51:54 · CAR 1 · Score 13-0
   (6:54) 33-M.Turner left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q1 51:51 · CAR 2 · Score 14-0
   3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
5. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 32:38 · CAR 21 · Score 17-0
   (2:38) 3-M.Bryant 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
6. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q3 25:36 · ATL 13 · Score 17-6
   (10:36) 33-M.Goodson right end for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q3 25:29 · ATL 2 · Score 17-7
   4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-7-J.Baker.
8. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q3 19:46 · CAR 3 · Score 23-7
   (4:46) 33-M.Turner left end for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q3 19:41 · CAR 2 · Score 24-7
   3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
10. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q4 9:48 · ATL 18 · Score 24-10
    (9:48) 4-J.Kasay 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-7-J.Baker.
11. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 4:17 · CAR 4 · Score 30-10
    (4:17) 33-M.Turner up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q4 4:12 · CAR 2 · Score 31-10
    3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen.