Atlanta Falcons vs. Miami Dolphins: 2005 Week 9 Recap

Game story

In Week 9 of the 2005 NFL season on 2005-11-06, the Atlanta Falcons took care of business against the Miami Dolphins, pulling away with a 17–10 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Vick (Atlanta Falcons) paced the passing game, with +13.59 total EPA.

On the individual side, M. Vick (Atlanta Falcons) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +13.59 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-23.1% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Miami Dolphins changed the game: (2:47) 11-G.Frerotte pass intended for 84-C.Chambers INTERCEPTED by 29-K.Carpenter at ATL 5. 29-K.Carpenter to ATL 6 for 1 yard (77-D.McIntosh).

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 · +13.59 total EPA · 39 snaps · +0.35 EPA/play
2. 2 B. Finneran · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +11.55 total EPA · 8 snaps · +1.44 EPA/play
3. 3 A. Crumpler · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +7.63 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.27 EPA/play
4. 4 R. White · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +5.39 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.80 EPA/play
5. 5 C. Chambers · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +3.10 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.03 EPA/play
6. 6 M. Vick · Atlanta Falcons · Rushing · +2.84 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.57 EPA/play
7. 7 R. Brown · Miami Dolphins · Rushing · +2.53 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.21 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Booker · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +1.14 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 — W. Dunn (Q1 55:28)
• Miami Dolphins — R. Williams (Q2 40:57)
• Atlanta Falcons — B. Finneran (M. Vick pass) (Q2 34:44)

Field goals

• Miami Dolphins — O. Mare (Q2 32:00)
• Atlanta Falcons — T. Peterson (Q3 19:20)

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 MIA 1 (Q1 55:28) — (10:28) 28-W.Dunn right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q1 55:24) — 2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub..

The second quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 10–7. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the ATL 23 (Q2 40:57) — (10:57) 34-R.Williams left guard for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q2 40:50) — 10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-97-J.Denney, Holder-5-D.Jones.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the MIA 11 (Q2 34:44) — (4:44) (Shotgun) 7-M.Vick pass to 86-B.Finneran for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on MIA-30-L.Schulters, Defensive Offside, declined.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q2 34:40) — 2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the ATL 9 (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) 10-O.Mare 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-97-J.Denney, Holder-5-D.Jones..

The third quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 3–0. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the MIA 3 (Q3 19:20) — (4:20) 2-T.Peterson 21 yard field goal 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.

• Miami Dolphins (Q4 2:47) — (2:47) 11-G.Frerotte pass intended for 84-C.Chambers INTERCEPTED by 29-K.Carpenter at ATL 5. 29-K.Carpenter to ATL 6 for 1 yard (77-D.McIntosh). [WPA -23.1% · EPA -4.31]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 33:28) — (3:28) 5-D.Jones punts 50 yards to ATL 31, Center-97-J.Denney. 20-A.Rossum MUFFS catch, touched at ATL 31, RECOVERED by MIA-37-Y.Bell at ATL 14. [WPA +18.3% · EPA +6.09]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 48:08) — (3:08) 7-M.Vick pass to 33-J.Griffith to MIA 5 for 3 yards (52-C.Crowder). FUMBLES (52-C.Crowder), RECOVERED by MIA-21-T.Daniels at MIA 10. [WPA -12.7% · EPA -4.81]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 9:26) — (9:26) 28-W.Dunn right guard to MIA 35 for -4 yards (94-K.Traylor; 54-Z.Thomas). [WPA -10.9% · EPA -3.19]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 34:44) — (4:44) (Shotgun) 7-M.Vick pass to 86-B.Finneran for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on MIA-30-L.Schulters, Defensive Offside, declined. [WPA +10.1% · EPA +3.64]

Impact plays

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

• Miami Dolphins (Q2 33:28) — (3:28) 5-D.Jones punts 50 yards to ATL 31, Center-97-J.Denney. 20-A.Rossum MUFFS catch, touched at ATL 31, RECOVERED by MIA-37-Y.Bell at ATL 14. [WPA +18.3% · EPA +6.09]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 48:08) — (3:08) 7-M.Vick pass to 33-J.Griffith to MIA 5 for 3 yards (52-C.Crowder). FUMBLES (52-C.Crowder), RECOVERED by MIA-21-T.Daniels at MIA 10. [WPA -12.7% · EPA -4.81]
• Miami Dolphins (Q4 2:47) — (2:47) 11-G.Frerotte pass intended for 84-C.Chambers INTERCEPTED by 29-K.Carpenter at ATL 5. 29-K.Carpenter to ATL 6 for 1 yard (77-D.McIntosh). [WPA -23.1% · EPA -4.31]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 34:44) — (4:44) (Shotgun) 7-M.Vick pass to 86-B.Finneran for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on MIA-30-L.Schulters, Defensive Offside, declined. [WPA +10.1% · EPA +3.64]

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) · 39 dropbacks · 56.4% completion · +0.35 EPA/play · +13.59 total EPA
• G.Frerotte (Miami Dolphins) · 23 dropbacks · 56.5% completion · -0.29 EPA/play · -6.65 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 (+0.14 vs +0.05), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Atlanta Falcons: 9 drives, +12.55 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Miami Dolphins: 10 drives, +2.92 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• 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. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q1 55:28 · MIA 1 · Score 6-0
   (10:28) 28-W.Dunn right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q1 55:24 · MIA 2 · Score 7-0
   2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.
3. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 40:57 · ATL 23 · Score 7-6
   (10:57) 34-R.Williams left guard for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q2 40:50 · ATL 2 · Score 7-7
   10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-97-J.Denney, Holder-5-D.Jones.
5. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 34:44 · MIA 11 · Score 13-7
   (4:44) (Shotgun) 7-M.Vick pass to 86-B.Finneran for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on MIA-30-L.Schulters, Defensive Offside, declined.
6. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q2 34:40 · MIA 2 · Score 14-7
   2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.
7. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q2 32:00 · ATL 9 · Score 14-10
   (2:00) 10-O.Mare 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-97-J.Denney, Holder-5-D.Jones.
8. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q3 19:20 · MIA 3 · Score 17-10
   (4:20) 2-T.Peterson 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.