Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints: 2007 Week 7 Recap

Game story

In Week 7 of the 2007 NFL season on 2007-10-21, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Atlanta Falcons, pulling away with a 22–16 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 11 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with +3.19 total EPA, and +3.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, R. White (Atlanta Falcons) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +15.01 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+17.5% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Atlanta Falcons changed the game: (12:07) (Shotgun) 13-J.Harrington pass deep left to 84-R.White pushed ob at NO 7 for 32 yards (22-F.Thomas).

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 R. White · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +15.01 total EPA · 8 snaps · +1.88 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Jenkins · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +6.34 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.06 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Colston · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +4.43 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.48 EPA/play
4. 4 L. Robinson · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +4.05 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.35 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Harrington · Atlanta Falcons · Passing · +3.68 total EPA · 21 snaps · +0.18 EPA/play
6. 6 B. Leftwich · Atlanta Falcons · Passing · +3.38 total EPA · 25 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Henderson · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.28 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.28 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Brees · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +3.19 total EPA · 35 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

• New Orleans Saints — D. Henderson (D. Brees pass) (Q1 52:23)
• Atlanta Falcons — R. White (B. Leftwich pass) (Q2 33:36)
• New Orleans Saints — P. Thomas (Q3 25:24)
• New Orleans Saints — R. Bush (D. Brees pass) (Q4 5:11)

Field goals

• Atlanta Falcons — M. Andersen (Q1 47:30)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Andersen (Q2 40:25)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Andersen (Q4 10:22)

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 7–3. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 37 (Q1 52:23); New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q1 52:16) — 2-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NO 20 (Q1 47:30) — (2:30) 5-M.Andersen 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen..

The second quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 10–0. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NO 15 (Q2 40:25) — (10:25) 5-M.Andersen 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NO 9 (Q2 33:36) — (3:36) 4-B.Leftwich pass short left to 84-R.White for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q2 33:31) — 5-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 24 (Q3 25:24) — (10:24) 23-P.Thomas up the middle for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q3 25:15) — 2-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 8–3. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NO 3 (Q4 10:22) — (10:22) 5-M.Andersen 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 4 (Q4 5:11) — (5:11) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 25-R.Bush for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints registered a safety from the ATL 2 (Q4 5:04) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 25-R.Bush rushes right end. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..

Turning points

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 12:07) — (12:07) (Shotgun) 13-J.Harrington pass deep left to 84-R.White pushed ob at NO 7 for 32 yards (22-F.Thomas). [WPA +17.5% · EPA +4.12]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 9:31) — (9:31) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 12-M.Colston pushed ob at ATL 31 for 33 yards (23-C.Houston). [WPA +14.0% · EPA +2.99]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 35:38) — (5:38) (Shotgun) 4-B.Leftwich pass short middle to 12-M.Jenkins to NO 29 for 20 yards (38-U.Young, 29-J.Bullocks). [WPA +13.8% · EPA +2.78]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 25:24) — (10:24) 23-P.Thomas up the middle for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +10.9% · EPA +2.44]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 5:11) — (5:11) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 25-R.Bush for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +10.7% · EPA +2.62]

Impact plays

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 12:07) — (12:07) (Shotgun) 13-J.Harrington pass deep left to 84-R.White pushed ob at NO 7 for 32 yards (22-F.Thomas). [WPA +17.5% · EPA +4.12]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 52:23) — (7:23) 9-D.Brees pass deep middle to 19-D.Henderson for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on NO-19-D.Henderson, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs. [WPA +5.8% · EPA +3.28]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 40:21) — 9-M.Koenen kicks onside 12 yards from ATL 30 to ATL 42. RECOVERED by ATL-81-A.Jennings. [WPA -8.2% · EPA -3.01]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 9:31) — (9:31) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 12-M.Colston pushed ob at ATL 31 for 33 yards (23-C.Houston). [WPA +14.0% · EPA +2.99]

Quarterback report card

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

• D.Brees (New Orleans Saints) · 35 dropbacks · 62.9% completion · +3.2% CPOE · +0.09 EPA/play · +3.19 total EPA
• B.Leftwich (Atlanta Falcons) · 25 dropbacks · 60.0% completion · +12.2% CPOE · +0.14 EPA/play · +3.38 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Atlanta Falcons -0.05, New Orleans Saints -0.02) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Atlanta Falcons: 11 drives, -4.11 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 11 drives, -1.63 total EPA, 3 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.
• R. White (Atlanta Falcons) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Brees (NO) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• B. Leftwich (ATL) 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 Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 52:23 · ATL 37 · Score 0-6
   (7:23) 9-D.Brees pass deep middle to 19-D.Henderson for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on NO-19-D.Henderson, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between d
2. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 52:16 · ATL 2 · Score 0-7
   2-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.
3. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q1 47:30 · NO 20 · Score 3-7
   (2:30) 5-M.Andersen 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
4. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 40:25 · NO 15 · Score 6-7
   (10:25) 5-M.Andersen 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
5. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 33:36 · NO 9 · Score 12-7
   (3:36) 4-B.Leftwich pass short left to 84-R.White for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q2 33:31 · NO 2 · Score 13-7
   5-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
7. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 25:24 · ATL 24 · Score 13-13
   (10:24) 23-P.Thomas up the middle for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 25:15 · ATL 2 · Score 13-14
   2-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.
9. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q4 10:22 · NO 3 · Score 16-14
   (10:22) 5-M.Andersen 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
10. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 5:11 · ATL 4 · Score 16-20
    (5:11) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 25-R.Bush for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. New Orleans Saints Safety (+2) — Q4 5:04 · ATL 2 · Score 16-22
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 25-R.Bush rushes right end. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.