Atlanta Falcons vs. Las Vegas Raiders: 2024 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 2024 NFL season on 2024-12-16, the Atlanta Falcons took care of business against the Las Vegas Raiders, pulling away with a 15–9 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 9 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Ridder (Las Vegas Raiders) paced the passing game, with -6.38 total EPA, and -2.8% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. London (Atlanta Falcons) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.08 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-15.1% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Atlanta Falcons changed the game: (14:52) (Shotgun) 18-K.Cousins pass short middle intended for 89-C.Woerner INTERCEPTED by 41-R.Spillane (69-A.Butler) at LV 46. 41-R.Spillane to LV 46 for no gain (89-C.Woerner).

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 D. London · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +7.08 total EPA · 3 snaps · +2.36 EPA/play
2. 2 A. Abdullah · Las Vegas Raiders · Receiving · +5.16 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.74 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Ridder · Las Vegas Raiders · Rushing · +1.25 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.62 EPA/play
4. 4 B. Robinson · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +0.47 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.24 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Marshall · Las Vegas Raiders · Receiving · +0.40 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
6. 6 K. Pitts · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +0.31 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.08 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Tucker · Las Vegas Raiders · Receiving · +0.28 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.09 EPA/play
8. 8 S. McCormick · Las Vegas Raiders · Receiving · +0.18 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.09 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. London (K. Cousins pass) (Q1 45:19)
• Las Vegas Raiders — A. Abdullah (D. Ridder pass) (Q4 2:59)

Field goals

• Las Vegas Raiders — D. Carlson (Q2 41:49)
• Atlanta Falcons — Y. Koo (Q3 24:29)
• Atlanta Falcons — Y. Koo (Q4 13:31)

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 7–0. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the LV 30 (Q1 45:19) — (:19) (Shotgun) 18-K.Cousins pass deep right to 5-D.London for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the LV 15 (Q1 45:14) — 6-Y.Koo extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion..

The second quarter: Las Vegas Raiders won the period 3–2. Las Vegas Raiders connected on a field goal from the ATL 33 (Q2 41:49) — (11:49) 2-D.Carlson 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-50-J.Bobenmoyer, Holder-6-A.Cole.; Atlanta Falcons registered a safety from the ATL 99 (Q2 35:39) — (5:39) (Shotgun) 22-A.Mattison up the middle tackled in End Zone for -1 yards, SAFETY (96-Z.Harrison)..

The third quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 3–0. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the LV 22 (Q3 24:29) — (9:29) 6-Y.Koo 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion..

The fourth quarter: Las Vegas Raiders won the period 6–3. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the LV 30 (Q4 13:31) — (13:31) 6-Y.Koo 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.; Las Vegas Raiders found the end zone from the ATL 5 (Q4 2:59) — (2:59) (Shotgun) 10-D.Ridder pass short right to 8-A.Abdullah for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

Turning points

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q3 29:52) — (14:52) (Shotgun) 18-K.Cousins pass short middle intended for 89-C.Woerner INTERCEPTED by 41-R.Spillane (69-A.Butler) at LV 46. 41-R.Spillane to LV 46 for no gain (89-C.Woerner). [WPA -15.1% · EPA -5.37]
• Las Vegas Raiders (Q4 0:02) — (:02) (Shotgun) 10-D.Ridder pass deep right INTERCEPTED by 3-J.Bates at ATL -7. Touchback. [WPA -11.9% · EPA -1.56]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 1:56) — (1:56) 13-B.Pinion punts 45 yards to end zone, Center-49-L.McCullough, Touchback. [WPA -10.6% · EPA -0.84]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 45:19) — (:19) (Shotgun) 18-K.Cousins pass deep right to 5-D.London for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +9.4% · EPA +3.44]
• Las Vegas Raiders (Q4 2:59) — (2:59) (Shotgun) 10-D.Ridder pass short right to 8-A.Abdullah for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +8.0% · EPA +1.23]

Impact plays

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q3 29:52) — (14:52) (Shotgun) 18-K.Cousins pass short middle intended for 89-C.Woerner INTERCEPTED by 41-R.Spillane (69-A.Butler) at LV 46. 41-R.Spillane to LV 46 for no gain (89-C.Woerner). [WPA -15.1% · EPA -5.37]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 5:31) — (5:31) 6-Y.Koo 42 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion. [WPA -3.1% · EPA -3.73]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 51:24) — (6:24) (Shotgun) 18-K.Cousins sacked at LV 38 for -10 yards (96-J.Laulu). [WPA -6.0% · EPA -3.57]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 45:19) — (:19) (Shotgun) 18-K.Cousins pass deep right to 5-D.London for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +9.4% · EPA +3.44]

Quarterback report card

D.Ridder led all passers in efficiency for Las Vegas Raiders, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Ridder (Las Vegas Raiders) · 46 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -2.8% CPOE · -0.14 EPA/play · -6.38 total EPA
• K.Cousins (Atlanta Falcons) · 22 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -2.5% CPOE · -0.30 EPA/play · -6.56 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 (-0.20 vs -0.29), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Atlanta Falcons: 11 drives, -15.49 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Las Vegas Raiders: 12 drives, -23.87 total EPA, 3 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.
• D. London (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 45:19 · LV 30 · Score 6-0
   (:19) (Shotgun) 18-K.Cousins pass deep right to 5-D.London for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q1 45:14 · LV 15 · Score 7-0
   6-Y.Koo extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.
3. Las Vegas Raiders FG (+3) — Q2 41:49 · ATL 33 · Score 7-3
   (11:49) 2-D.Carlson 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-50-J.Bobenmoyer, Holder-6-A.Cole.
4. Atlanta Falcons Safety (+2) — Q2 35:39 · ATL 99 · Score 9-3
   (5:39) (Shotgun) 22-A.Mattison up the middle tackled in End Zone for -1 yards, SAFETY (96-Z.Harrison).
5. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q3 24:29 · LV 22 · Score 12-3
   (9:29) 6-Y.Koo 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.
6. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q4 13:31 · LV 30 · Score 15-3
   (13:31) 6-Y.Koo 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.
7. Las Vegas Raiders TD (+6) — Q4 2:59 · ATL 5 · Score 15-9
   (2:59) (Shotgun) 10-D.Ridder pass short right to 8-A.Abdullah for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.