Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints: 2003 Week 11 Recap

Game story

In Week 11 of the 2003 NFL season on 2003-11-16, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Atlanta Falcons, pulling away with a 23–20 final that came down to the wire.

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

A. Brooks (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with -18.60 total EPA.

On the individual side, M. Lewis (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.64 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-37.1% win probability) landed in overtime when Atlanta Falcons changed the game: (12:07) 4-J.Feely 54 yard field goal is No Good, Short, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.

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. Lewis · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +6.64 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.66 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Pathon · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +4.79 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.60 EPA/play
3. 3 A. Brooks · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +4.10 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.51 EPA/play
4. 4 D. McAllister · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.87 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.43 EPA/play
5. 5 W. Dunn · Atlanta Falcons · Rushing · +2.55 total EPA · 23 snaps · +0.11 EPA/play
6. 6 Q. McCord · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.84 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.92 EPA/play
7. 7 W. Dunn · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.30 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.65 EPA/play
8. 8 A. Crumpler · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +0.94 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.94 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 — T. McBride (Q1 51:43)
• Atlanta Falcons — T. Duckett (Q2 42:56)
• New Orleans Saints — D. McAllister (Q3 21:16)
• New Orleans Saints — D. McAllister (Q4 12:28)

Field goals

• Atlanta Falcons — J. Feely (Q1 45:51)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Carney (Q2 34:11)
• Atlanta Falcons — J. Feely (Q2 30:11)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Carney (Q4 0:09)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Carney (OT 11:05)

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 10–0. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the ATL 88 (Q1 51:43) — (6:43) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 84-M.Lewis INTERCEPTED by 32-T.McBride at NO 15. 32-T.McBride for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q1 51:38) — 4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NO 20 (Q1 45:51) — (:51) 4-J.Feely 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr..

The second quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 10–3. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NO 4 (Q2 42:56) — (12:56) 45-T.Duckett right guard for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q2 42:52) — 4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the ATL 10 (Q2 34:11) — (4:11) 3-J.Carney 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-17-M.Berger.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NO 9 (Q2 30:11) — (:11) 4-J.Feely 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 5 (Q3 21:16) — (6:16) 26-D.McAllister right guard for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q3 21:13) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-17-M.Berger..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 10–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 7 (Q4 12:28) — (12:28) 26-D.McAllister right end for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q4 12:22) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-17-M.Berger.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the ATL 8 (Q4 0:09) — (:09) 3-J.Carney 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-17-M.Berger..

Overtime: New Orleans Saints won the period 3–0. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the ATL 18 (OT 11:05) — (11:05) 3-J.Carney 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-17-M.Berger. Penalty on ATL, Leverage, declined..

Turning points

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

• Atlanta Falcons (OT 12:07) — (12:07) 4-J.Feely 54 yard field goal is No Good, Short, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr. [WPA -37.1% · EPA -3.30]
• Atlanta Falcons (OT 14:05) — (14:05) 28-W.Dunn left end ran ob at NO 39 for 41 yards (22-F.Thomas). [WPA +26.8% · EPA +2.56]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 6:14) — (6:14) 15-K.Kittner pass intended for 85-B.Kozlowski INTERCEPTED by 20-J.Bellamy at NO 5. 20-J.Bellamy to NO 13 for 8 yards (63-R.Garza). [WPA -23.1% · EPA -3.59]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 51:43) — (6:43) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 84-M.Lewis INTERCEPTED by 32-T.McBride at NO 15. 32-T.McBride for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -20.2% · EPA -6.38]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 4:07) — (4:07) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass to 80-J.Pathon to ATL 37 for 16 yards (24-B.Scott). Pass 16, Run 0 [WPA +18.3% · EPA +2.12]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q1 51:43) — (6:43) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 84-M.Lewis INTERCEPTED by 32-T.McBride at NO 15. 32-T.McBride for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -20.2% · EPA -6.38]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 43:50) — (13:50) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 80-J.Pathon INTERCEPTED by 21-J.Bolden at NO 25. 21-J.Bolden pushed ob at NO 5 for 20 yards (2-A.Brooks). [WPA -8.2% · EPA -6.20]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 6:14) — (6:14) 15-K.Kittner pass intended for 85-B.Kozlowski INTERCEPTED by 20-J.Bellamy at NO 5. 20-J.Bellamy to NO 13 for 8 yards (63-R.Garza). [WPA -23.1% · EPA -3.59]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q3 22:48) — (7:48) 15-K.Kittner pass intended for 83-A.Crumpler INTERCEPTED by 22-F.Thomas at ATL 31. 22-F.Thomas to ATL 16 for 15 yards (28-W.Dunn). [WPA -6.3% · EPA -3.58]

Quarterback report card

A.Brooks led all passers in efficiency for New Orleans Saints, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• A.Brooks (New Orleans Saints) · 47 dropbacks · 44.7% completion · -0.40 EPA/play · -18.60 total EPA
• K.Kittner (Atlanta Falcons) · 28 dropbacks · 28.6% completion · -0.69 EPA/play · -19.23 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

New Orleans Saints held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.20 vs -0.28), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Atlanta Falcons: 16 drives, -21.34 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 18 drives, -22.28 total EPA, 6 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• New Orleans Saints 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. Lewis (New Orleans Saints) 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 51:43 · ATL 88 · Score 6-0
   (6:43) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 84-M.Lewis INTERCEPTED by 32-T.McBride at NO 15. 32-T.McBride for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q1 51:38 · NO 2 · Score 7-0
   4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
3. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q1 45:51 · NO 20 · Score 10-0
   (:51) 4-J.Feely 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
4. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 42:56 · NO 4 · Score 16-0
   (12:56) 45-T.Duckett right guard for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q2 42:52 · NO 2 · Score 17-0
   4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
6. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 34:11 · ATL 10 · Score 17-3
   (4:11) 3-J.Carney 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-17-M.Berger.
7. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 30:11 · NO 9 · Score 20-3
   (:11) 4-J.Feely 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
8. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 21:16 · ATL 5 · Score 20-9
   (6:16) 26-D.McAllister right guard for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 21:13 · ATL 2 · Score 20-10
   3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-17-M.Berger.
10. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 12:28 · ATL 7 · Score 20-16
    (12:28) 26-D.McAllister right end for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 12:22 · ATL 2 · Score 20-17
    3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-17-M.Berger.
12. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 0:09 · ATL 8 · Score 20-20
    (:09) 3-J.Carney 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-17-M.Berger.
13. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — OT 11:05 · ATL 18 · Score 20-23
    (11:05) 3-J.Carney 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-17-M.Berger. Penalty on ATL, Leverage, declined.