Atlanta Falcons vs. Detroit Lions: 2023 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-09-24, the Detroit Lions took care of business against the Atlanta Falcons, pulling away with a 20–6 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 13 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Ridder (Atlanta Falcons) paced the passing game, with -12.36 total EPA, and -14.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, K. Raymond (Detroit Lions) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +2.58 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+11.6% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Detroit Lions changed the game: (10:12) 16-J.Goff pass deep right to 87-S.LaPorta for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN [93-C.Campbell].

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 K. Raymond · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +2.58 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.43 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Goff · Detroit Lions · Passing · +2.22 total EPA · 37 snaps · +0.06 EPA/play
3. 3 K. Hodge · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.90 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.90 EPA/play
4. 4 A.St. Brown · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +1.54 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.13 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Pruitt · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.13 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.13 EPA/play
6. 6 C. Reynolds · Detroit Lions · Rushing · +0.58 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.12 EPA/play
7. 7 S. LaPorta · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +0.13 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.01 EPA/play
8. 8 B. Robinson · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · -0.19 total EPA · 6 snaps · -0.03 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

• Detroit Lions — S. LaPorta (J. Goff pass) (Q2 40:12)
• Detroit Lions — J. Goff (Q4 9:54)

Field goals

• Detroit Lions — R. Patterson (Q1 46:50)
• Atlanta Falcons — Y. Koo (Q2 41:37)
• Detroit Lions — R. Patterson (Q2 31:56)
• Atlanta Falcons — Y. Koo (Q4 4:22)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 3–0. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the ATL 18 (Q1 46:50) — (1:50) 36-R.Patterson 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox..

The second quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 10–3. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the DET 30 (Q2 41:37) — (11:37) 6-Y.Koo 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the ATL 45 (Q2 40:12) — (10:12) 16-J.Goff pass deep right to 87-S.LaPorta for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN [93-C.Campbell].; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the ATL 15 (Q2 40:05) — 36-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the ATL 6 (Q2 31:56) — (1:56) 36-R.Patterson 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox..

The fourth quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 7–3. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the ATL 3 (Q4 9:54) — (9:54) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff left end for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the ATL 15 (Q4 9:50) — 36-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the DET 6 (Q4 4:22) — (4:22) 6-Y.Koo 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion..

Turning points

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

• Detroit Lions (Q2 40:12) — (10:12) 16-J.Goff pass deep right to 87-S.LaPorta for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN [93-C.Campbell]. [WPA +11.6% · EPA +3.76]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 44:21) — (14:21) (Shotgun) 9-D.Ridder pass short middle to 8-K.Pitts to DET 38 for 16 yards (21-T.Walker). [WPA +10.7% · EPA +1.90]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 56:07) — (11:07) (Shotgun) 9-D.Ridder pass deep left to 5-D.London to ATL 43 for 28 yards (1-C.Sutton). [WPA +7.6% · EPA +3.16]
• Detroit Lions (Q2 40:45) — (10:45) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass short right to 14-A.St. Brown pushed ob at DET 46 for 19 yards (3-J.Bates). [WPA +7.6% · EPA +2.41]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 41:37) — (11:37) 6-Y.Koo 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion. [WPA +7.3% · EPA +1.24]

Impact plays

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 2:07) — (2:07) (Shotgun) 9-D.Ridder sacked at ATL 17 for -9 yards (97-A.Hutchinson). FUMBLES (97-A.Hutchinson), RECOVERED by DET-97-A.Hutchinson at ATL 11. [WPA -0.3% · EPA -5.25]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q3 23:30) — (8:30) 6-Y.Koo 47 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion. DET-79-J.Cominsky was injured during the play. [WPA -5.7% · EPA -4.25]
• Detroit Lions (Q2 40:12) — (10:12) 16-J.Goff pass deep right to 87-S.LaPorta for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN [93-C.Campbell]. [WPA +11.6% · EPA +3.76]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 9:02) — (9:02) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-D.Ridder pass deep right to 18-M.Hollins to ATL 37 for 23 yards (23-J.Jacobs). [WPA +1.1% · EPA +3.30]

Quarterback report card

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

• D.Ridder (Atlanta Falcons) · 48 dropbacks · 43.8% completion · -14.2% CPOE · -0.26 EPA/play · -12.36 total EPA
• J.Goff (Detroit Lions) · 37 dropbacks · 59.5% completion · +3.3% CPOE · +0.06 EPA/play · +2.22 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Detroit Lions held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.10 vs -0.28), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Atlanta Falcons: 12 drives, -23.86 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• Detroit Lions: 12 drives, -8.61 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Detroit Lions leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• K. Raymond (Detroit Lions) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Ridder (ATL) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• J. Goff (DET) 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. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q1 46:50 · ATL 18 · Score 0-3
   (1:50) 36-R.Patterson 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
2. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 41:37 · DET 30 · Score 3-3
   (11:37) 6-Y.Koo 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.
3. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 40:12 · ATL 45 · Score 3-9
   (10:12) 16-J.Goff pass deep right to 87-S.LaPorta for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN [93-C.Campbell].
4. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 40:05 · ATL 15 · Score 3-10
   36-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
5. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 31:56 · ATL 6 · Score 3-13
   (1:56) 36-R.Patterson 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
6. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q4 9:54 · ATL 3 · Score 3-19
   (9:54) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff left end for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q4 9:50 · ATL 15 · Score 3-20
   36-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
8. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q4 4:22 · DET 6 · Score 6-20
   (4:22) 6-Y.Koo 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.