Atlanta Falcons vs. New England Patriots: 2017 Week 7 Recap

Game story

In Week 7 of the 2017 NFL season on 2017-10-22, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Atlanta Falcons, pulling away with a 23–7 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

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

M. Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) paced the passing game, with +7.11 total EPA, and +7.0% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Brady (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +16.52 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+10.6% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Atlanta Falcons changed the game: (3:56) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan scrambles right end ran ob at NE 39 for 9 yards.

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 T. Brady · New England Patriots · Passing · +16.52 total EPA · 35 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Ryan · Atlanta Falcons · Passing · +7.11 total EPA · 37 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play
3. 3 B. Cooks · New England Patriots · Receiving · +5.69 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.14 EPA/play
4. 4 C. Hogan · New England Patriots · Receiving · +5.06 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.84 EPA/play
5. 5 R. Gronkowski · New England Patriots · Receiving · +4.33 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.62 EPA/play
6. 6 Ju. Jones · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +3.18 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.24 EPA/play
7. 7 R. Burkhead · New England Patriots · Rushing · +1.58 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Freeman · Atlanta Falcons · Rushing · +1.41 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.11 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

• New England Patriots — B. Cooks (T. Brady pass) (Q2 42:36)
• New England Patriots — J. White (T. Brady pass) (Q2 30:26)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Ryan (Q4 4:13)

Field goals

• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q2 34:46)
• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q3 19:14)
• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q4 9:20)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 17–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the ATL 11 (Q2 42:36) — (12:36) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 14-B.Cooks for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the ATL 15 (Q2 42:26) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the ATL 10 (Q2 34:46) — (4:46) 3-S.Gostkowski 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the ATL 2 (Q2 30:26) — (:26) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 28-J.White for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the ATL 15 (Q2 30:21) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen..

The third quarter: New England Patriots won the period 3–0. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the ATL 3 (Q3 19:14) — (4:14) 3-S.Gostkowski 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen..

The fourth quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 7–3. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the ATL 20 (Q4 9:20) — (9:20) 3-S.Gostkowski 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NE 1 (Q4 4:13) — (4:13) 2-M.Ryan pass short right to 11-Ju.Jones for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q4 4:09) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher..

Turning points

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 48:56) — (3:56) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan scrambles right end ran ob at NE 39 for 9 yards. [WPA +10.6% · EPA +3.76]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 46:11) — (1:11) 3-M.Bryant 37 yard field goal is BLOCKED (55-C.Marsh), Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher, RECOVERED by NE-29-J.Bademosi at NE 26. 29-J.Bademosi to NE 26 for no gain (63-B.Garland). [WPA -9.5% · EPA -3.99]
• New England Patriots (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep middle to 15-C.Hogan to NE 40 for 20 yards (22-K.Neal). [WPA +8.5% · EPA +3.03]
• New England Patriots (Q1 58:20) — (13:20) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 87-R.Gronkowski to NE 36 for 11 yards (34-B.Poole). [WPA +8.2% · EPA +2.26]
• New England Patriots (Q2 37:45) — (7:45) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep left to 87-R.Gronkowski pushed ob at ATL 22 for 27 yards (59-D.Campbell). [WPA +7.3% · EPA +2.77]

Impact plays

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q3 25:39) — (10:39) 3-M.Bryant 36 yard field goal is No Good, Hit Left Upright, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher. [WPA -2.4% · EPA -4.16]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 14:36) — (14:36) 18-T.Gabriel right end to NE 6 for -5 yards (53-K.Van Noy). [WPA -1.5% · EPA -4.06]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 46:11) — (1:11) 3-M.Bryant 37 yard field goal is BLOCKED (55-C.Marsh), Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher, RECOVERED by NE-29-J.Bademosi at NE 26. 29-J.Bademosi to NE 26 for no gain (63-B.Garland). [WPA -9.5% · EPA -3.99]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 48:56) — (3:56) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan scrambles right end ran ob at NE 39 for 9 yards. [WPA +10.6% · EPA +3.76]

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) · 37 dropbacks · 62.2% completion · +7.0% CPOE · +0.19 EPA/play · +7.11 total EPA
• T.Brady (New England Patriots) · 35 dropbacks · 60.0% completion · +5.4% CPOE · +0.47 EPA/play · +16.52 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

New England Patriots held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.13 vs -0.09), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Atlanta Falcons: 8 drives, -6.37 total EPA, 1 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 8 drives, +11.45 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• New England Patriots leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• T. Brady (New England Patriots) 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.
• T. Brady (NE) 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. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 42:36 · ATL 11 · Score 0-6
   (12:36) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 14-B.Cooks for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 42:26 · ATL 15 · Score 0-7
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
3. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 34:46 · ATL 10 · Score 0-10
   (4:46) 3-S.Gostkowski 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
4. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 30:26 · ATL 2 · Score 0-16
   (:26) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 28-J.White for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 30:21 · ATL 15 · Score 0-17
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
6. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q3 19:14 · ATL 3 · Score 0-20
   (4:14) 3-S.Gostkowski 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
7. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q4 9:20 · ATL 20 · Score 0-23
   (9:20) 3-S.Gostkowski 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
8. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 4:13 · NE 1 · Score 6-23
   (4:13) 2-M.Ryan pass short right to 11-Ju.Jones for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q4 4:09 · NE 15 · Score 7-23
   3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.