Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints: 2004 Week 16 Recap

Game story

In Week 16 of the 2004 NFL season on 2004-12-26, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Atlanta Falcons, pulling away with a 26–13 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Schaub (Atlanta Falcons) paced the passing game, with -10.67 total EPA.

On the individual side, W. Dunn (Atlanta Falcons) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.60 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-24.7% win probability) landed in the second quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (11:25) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 84-M.Lewis INTERCEPTED by 56-K.Brooking at NO 38. 56-K.Brooking to NO 11 for 27 yards (84-M.Lewis).

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 W. Dunn · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +6.60 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.10 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Stallworth · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +5.73 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.86 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Horn · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +5.08 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.02 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Pathon · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +4.11 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.37 EPA/play
5. 5 P. Price · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +3.70 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.62 EPA/play
6. 6 B. Williams · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.73 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.73 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Brooks · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +1.46 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.29 EPA/play
8. 8 E. Conwell · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.15 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.15 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 Orleans Saints — A. Brooks (Q2 33:33)
• New Orleans Saints — D. Stallworth (A. Brooks pass) (Q3 27:02)
• Atlanta Falcons — W. Dunn (Q3 20:51)
• New Orleans Saints — M. Lewis (Q3 20:45)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — J. Carney (Q1 45:15)
• Atlanta Falcons — J. Feely (Q2 43:22)
• Atlanta Falcons — J. Feely (Q2 39:43)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 5–0. New Orleans Saints registered a safety from the NO 97 (Q1 51:05) — (6:05) 8-M.Schaub sacked in End Zone for -3 yards, SAFETY (92-T.Bryant).; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the ATL 4 (Q1 45:15) — (:15) 3-J.Carney 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–6. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NO 7 (Q2 43:22) — (13:22) 4-J.Feely 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NO 3 (Q2 39:43) — (9:43) 4-J.Feely 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 1 (Q2 33:33) — (3:33) 2-A.Brooks up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q2 33:25) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 14–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 39 (Q3 27:02) — (12:02) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass to 83-D.Stallworth for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 2, Run 37; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q3 26:52) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NO 16 (Q3 20:51) — (5:51) 28-W.Dunn right guard for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q3 20:45) — 4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 30 (Q3 20:45) — 4-J.Feely kicks 66 yards from ATL 30 to NO 4. 84-M.Lewis for 96 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q3 20:32) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman..

Turning points

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q2 41:25) — (11:25) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 84-M.Lewis INTERCEPTED by 56-K.Brooking at NO 38. 56-K.Brooking to NO 11 for 27 yards (84-M.Lewis). [WPA -24.7% · EPA -6.13]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 20:45) — 4-J.Feely kicks 66 yards from ATL 30 to NO 4. 84-M.Lewis for 96 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.7% · EPA +6.00]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 8-M.Schaub pass to 28-W.Dunn to NO 8 for 59 yards (35-F.Brown, 34-T.Jones). Pass 0, Run 59 [WPA +11.8% · EPA +4.36]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 30:48) — (:48) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 87-J.Horn INTERCEPTED by 37-A.Beasley (23-K.Mathis) at ATL 0. Touchback. [WPA -10.6% · EPA -4.49]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 27:02) — (12:02) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass to 83-D.Stallworth for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 2, Run 37 [WPA +10.1% · EPA +4.45]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q2 41:25) — (11:25) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 84-M.Lewis INTERCEPTED by 56-K.Brooking at NO 38. 56-K.Brooking to NO 11 for 27 yards (84-M.Lewis). [WPA -24.7% · EPA -6.13]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 20:45) — 4-J.Feely kicks 66 yards from ATL 30 to NO 4. 84-M.Lewis for 96 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.7% · EPA +6.00]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 30:48) — (:48) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 87-J.Horn INTERCEPTED by 37-A.Beasley (23-K.Mathis) at ATL 0. Touchback. [WPA -10.6% · EPA -4.49]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 27:02) — (12:02) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass to 83-D.Stallworth for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 2, Run 37 [WPA +10.1% · EPA +4.45]

Quarterback report card

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

• M.Schaub (Atlanta Falcons) · 45 dropbacks · 37.8% completion · -0.24 EPA/play · -10.67 total EPA
• A.Brooks (New Orleans Saints) · 30 dropbacks · 40.0% completion · -0.15 EPA/play · -4.58 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 (-0.03 vs -0.13), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Atlanta Falcons: 14 drives, -11.54 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 14 drives, -2.46 total EPA, 4 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.
• W. Dunn (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. New Orleans Saints Safety (+2) — Q1 51:05 · NO 97 · Score 0-2
   (6:05) 8-M.Schaub sacked in End Zone for -3 yards, SAFETY (92-T.Bryant).
2. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q1 45:15 · ATL 4 · Score 0-5
   (:15) 3-J.Carney 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman.
3. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 43:22 · NO 7 · Score 3-5
   (13:22) 4-J.Feely 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
4. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 39:43 · NO 3 · Score 6-5
   (9:43) 4-J.Feely 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
5. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 33:33 · ATL 1 · Score 6-11
   (3:33) 2-A.Brooks up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
6. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 33:25 · ATL 2 · Score 6-12
   3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman.
7. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 27:02 · ATL 39 · Score 6-18
   (12:02) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass to 83-D.Stallworth for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 2, Run 37
8. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 26:52 · ATL 2 · Score 6-19
   3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman.
9. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q3 20:51 · NO 16 · Score 12-19
   (5:51) 28-W.Dunn right guard for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q3 20:45 · NO 2 · Score 13-19
    4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
11. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 20:45 · ATL 30 · Score 13-25
    4-J.Feely kicks 66 yards from ATL 30 to NO 4. 84-M.Lewis for 96 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 20:32 · ATL 2 · Score 13-26
    3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman.