Atlanta Falcons vs. Detroit Lions: 2011 Week 7 Recap

Game story

In Week 7 of the 2011 NFL season on 2011-10-23, the Atlanta Falcons took care of business against the Detroit Lions, pulling away with a 23–16 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 13 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) paced the passing game, with +3.63 total EPA, and -7.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, C. Johnson (Detroit Lions) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.51 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-14.9% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Detroit Lions changed the game: 5-M.Bosher kicks 73 yards from ATL 30 to DET -3. 11-S.Logan to DET 27 for 30 yards (52-A.Dent). FUMBLES (52-A.Dent), RECOVERED by ATL-44-J.Snelling at DET 28. 44-J.Snelling to DET 28 for no gain (11-S

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. Johnson · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +4.51 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.41 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Ryan · Atlanta Falcons · Passing · +3.63 total EPA · 43 snaps · +0.08 EPA/play
3. 3 B. Pettigrew · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +2.66 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.44 EPA/play
4. 4 H. Douglas · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.29 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.18 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Snelling · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.01 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.01 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Rodgers · Atlanta Falcons · Rushing · +0.67 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.67 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Gonzalez · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +0.40 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.05 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Palmer · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +0.29 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.29 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 — M. Ryan (Q1 45:15)
• Atlanta Falcons — R. White (M. Ryan pass) (Q2 30:31)
• Detroit Lions — C. Johnson (M. Stafford pass) (Q3 17:08)

Field goals

• Detroit Lions — J. Hanson (Q1 55:30)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Bryant (Q1 48:04)
• Detroit Lions — J. Hanson (Q2 40:56)
• Detroit Lions — J. Hanson (Q3 22:41)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Bryant (Q3 20:09)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Bryant (Q4 8:45)

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 10–3. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the ATL 25 (Q1 55:30) — (10:30) 4-J.Hanson 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-R.Donahue.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the DET 5 (Q1 48:04) — (3:04) 3-M.Bryant 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-5-M.Bosher.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the DET 1 (Q1 45:15); Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q1 45:04) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-5-M.Bosher..

The second quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 7–3. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the ATL 20 (Q2 40:56) — (10:56) 4-J.Hanson 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-R.Donahue.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the DET 18 (Q2 30:31) — (:31) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass deep right to 84-R.White for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q2 30:25) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-5-M.Bosher..

The third quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 10–3. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the ATL 11 (Q3 22:41) — (7:41) 4-J.Hanson 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-R.Donahue.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the DET 29 (Q3 20:09) — (5:09) 3-M.Bryant 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-5-M.Bosher.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the ATL 57 (Q3 17:08) — (2:08) 9-M.Stafford pass deep middle to 81-C.Johnson for 57 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q3 16:57) — 4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-R.Donahue..

The fourth quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 3–0. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the DET 22 (Q4 8:45) — (8:45) 3-M.Bryant 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-5-M.Bosher..

Turning points

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

• Detroit Lions (Q1 47:57) — 5-M.Bosher kicks 73 yards from ATL 30 to DET -3. 11-S.Logan to DET 27 for 30 yards (52-A.Dent). FUMBLES (52-A.Dent), RECOVERED by ATL-44-J.Snelling at DET 28. 44-J.Snelling to DET 28 for no gain (11-S [WPA -14.9% · EPA -5.13]
• Detroit Lions (Q3 17:08) — (2:08) 9-M.Stafford pass deep middle to 81-C.Johnson for 57 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +14.1% · EPA +4.51]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) 2-M.Ryan pass deep middle intended for 88-T.Gonzalez INTERCEPTED by 42-A.Spievey at DET 2. 42-A.Spievey to DET 4 for 2 yards (88-T.Gonzalez). [WPA -12.6% · EPA -4.17]
• Detroit Lions (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short middle to 87-B.Pettigrew to DET 44 for 7 yards (50-C.Lofton). PENALTY on ATL-26-K.Hayden, Personal Foul, 15 yards, enforced at DET 44. [WPA +11.8% · EPA +3.03]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 57:24) — (12:24) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short middle intended for 84-R.White INTERCEPTED by 21-E.Wright at ATL 37. 21-E.Wright to ATL 15 for 22 yards (75-G.Reynolds). Penalty on ATL-83-H.Douglas, Personal Fou [WPA -10.9% · EPA -4.28]

Impact plays

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

• Detroit Lions (Q1 47:57) — 5-M.Bosher kicks 73 yards from ATL 30 to DET -3. 11-S.Logan to DET 27 for 30 yards (52-A.Dent). FUMBLES (52-A.Dent), RECOVERED by ATL-44-J.Snelling at DET 28. 44-J.Snelling to DET 28 for no gain (11-S [WPA -14.9% · EPA -5.13]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q3 21:45) — (6:45) ATL #2-M.Ryan back in at QB. (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass deep middle to 83-H.Douglas to DET 29 for 49 yards (42-A.Spievey) [93-K.Vanden Bosch]. [WPA +7.4% · EPA +4.82]
• Detroit Lions (Q3 17:08) — (2:08) 9-M.Stafford pass deep middle to 81-C.Johnson for 57 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +14.1% · EPA +4.51]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 57:24) — (12:24) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short middle intended for 84-R.White INTERCEPTED by 21-E.Wright at ATL 37. 21-E.Wright to ATL 15 for 22 yards (75-G.Reynolds). Penalty on ATL-83-H.Douglas, Personal Fou [WPA -10.9% · EPA -4.28]

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) · 43 dropbacks · 46.5% completion · -7.6% CPOE · +0.08 EPA/play · +3.63 total EPA
• M.Stafford (Detroit Lions) · 37 dropbacks · 40.5% completion · -16.5% CPOE · -0.21 EPA/play · -7.83 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 (-0.06 vs -0.22), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Atlanta Falcons: 13 drives, -5.86 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Detroit Lions: 14 drives, -16.68 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.
• C. Johnson (Detroit Lions) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• M. Ryan (ATL) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• M. Stafford (DET) 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. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q1 55:30 · ATL 25 · Score 0-3
   (10:30) 4-J.Hanson 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-R.Donahue.
2. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q1 48:04 · DET 5 · Score 3-3
   (3:04) 3-M.Bryant 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-5-M.Bosher.
3. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q1 45:15 · DET 1 · Score 9-3
   (:15) 2-M.Ryan up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Assistant challenged the runner broke the plane ruling, and the play was Upheld.
4. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q1 45:04 · DET 2 · Score 10-3
   3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-5-M.Bosher.
5. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 40:56 · ATL 20 · Score 10-6
   (10:56) 4-J.Hanson 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-R.Donahue.
6. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 30:31 · DET 18 · Score 16-6
   (:31) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass deep right to 84-R.White for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q2 30:25 · DET 2 · Score 17-6
   3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-5-M.Bosher.
8. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q3 22:41 · ATL 11 · Score 17-9
   (7:41) 4-J.Hanson 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-R.Donahue.
9. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q3 20:09 · DET 29 · Score 20-9
   (5:09) 3-M.Bryant 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-5-M.Bosher.
10. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q3 17:08 · ATL 57 · Score 20-15
    (2:08) 9-M.Stafford pass deep middle to 81-C.Johnson for 57 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q3 16:57 · ATL 2 · Score 20-16
    4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-R.Donahue.
12. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q4 8:45 · DET 22 · Score 23-16
    (8:45) 3-M.Bryant 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-5-M.Bosher.