Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints: 2010 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2010 NFL season on 2010-09-26, the Atlanta Falcons took care of business against the New Orleans Saints, pulling away with a 27–24 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) paced the passing game, with +15.63 total EPA, and +5.7% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Gonzalez (Atlanta Falcons) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +16.24 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-46.2% win probability) landed in overtime when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (9:02) 5-G.Hartley 29 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-6-T.Morstead.

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. Gonzalez · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +16.24 total EPA · 9 snaps · +1.80 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Ryan · Atlanta Falcons · Passing · +15.63 total EPA · 40 snaps · +0.39 EPA/play
3. 3 L. Moore · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +13.09 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.87 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Brees · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +9.19 total EPA · 40 snaps · +0.23 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Shockey · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +7.43 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.93 EPA/play
6. 6 R. White · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +6.28 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.05 EPA/play
7. 7 O. Mughelli · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +2.76 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.92 EPA/play
8. 8 P. Thomas · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.80 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.30 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 — J. Shockey (D. Brees pass) (Q1 56:46)
• Atlanta Falcons — T. Gonzalez (M. Ryan pass) (Q1 51:58)
• New Orleans Saints — L. Moore (D. Brees pass) (Q1 48:42)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Turner (Q2 31:06)
• New Orleans Saints — L. Moore (D. Brees pass) (Q3 15:12)
• Atlanta Falcons — R. White (M. Ryan pass) (Q4 9:25)

Field goals

• Atlanta Falcons — M. Bryant (Q3 18:47)
• New Orleans Saints — G. Hartley (Q4 0:09)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Bryant (OT 2:00)

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 14–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 2 (Q1 56:46) — (11:46) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 88-J.Shockey for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 2, YAC 0; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q1 56:42) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NO 13 (Q1 51:58) — (6:58) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short middle to 88-T.Gonzalez for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN [51-J.Vilma]. Pass 13, YAC 0; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q1 51:53) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 80 (Q1 48:42) — (3:42) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 16-L.Moore for 80 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 30, YAC 50; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q1 48:31) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-6-T.Morstead..

The second quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 7–0. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NO 1 (Q2 31:06) — (1:06) 33-M.Turner left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q2 31:03) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–3. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NO 5 (Q3 18:47) — (3:47) 3-M.Bryant 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 16 (Q3 15:12) — (:12) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 16-L.Moore for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PAss 1, YAC 15; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q3 15:04) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-6-T.Morstead..

The fourth quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 7–3. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NO 22 (Q4 9:25) — (9:25) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass deep right to 84-R.White for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q4 9:20) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen. ATL-72-S.Baker was injured during the play. His return is Probable.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the ATL 15 (Q4 0:09) — (:09) 5-G.Hartley 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-6-T.Morstead..

Overtime: Atlanta Falcons won the period 3–0. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NO 28 (OT 2:00) — (2:00) 3-M.Bryant 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen..

Turning points

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

• New Orleans Saints (OT 9:02) — (9:02) 5-G.Hartley 29 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-6-T.Morstead. [WPA -46.2% · EPA -3.70]
• Atlanta Falcons (OT 2:00) — (2:00) (Field Goal formation) PENALTY on ATL-63-J.Blalock, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at NO 23 - No Play. [WPA +21.5% · EPA +0.33]
• Atlanta Falcons (OT 2:00) — (2:00) 3-M.Bryant 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen. [WPA +21.1% · EPA +0.85]
• Atlanta Falcons (OT 14:06) — (14:06) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan sacked at ATL 33 for -9 yards (91-W.Smith). [WPA -19.5% · EPA -1.96]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 17:42) — (2:42) 6-T.Morstead punts 39 yards to ATL 41, Center-57-J.Kyle, downed by NO-57-J.Kyle. New Orleans challenged the kick touched ruling, and the play was REVERSED. 6-T.Morstead punts 41 yards to ATL 39 [WPA +18.2% · EPA +4.67]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q1 48:42) — (3:42) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 16-L.Moore for 80 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 30, YAC 50 [WPA +16.3% · EPA +6.77]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 17:42) — (2:42) 6-T.Morstead punts 39 yards to ATL 41, Center-57-J.Kyle, downed by NO-57-J.Kyle. New Orleans challenged the kick touched ruling, and the play was REVERSED. 6-T.Morstead punts 41 yards to ATL 39 [WPA +18.2% · EPA +4.67]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 41:50) — (11:50) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right intended for 80-J.Graham INTERCEPTED by 28-T.DeCoud at ATL 28. 28-T.DeCoud to ATL 28 for no gain (80-J.Graham). [WPA -9.8% · EPA -4.53]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 51:47) — (6:47) 9-D.Brees pass deep middle intended for 19-D.Henderson INTERCEPTED by 20-B.Grimes at ATL 15. 20-B.Grimes to NO 49 for 36 yards (78-J.Stinchcomb). flea-flicker [WPA -11.9% · EPA -4.38]

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) · 40 dropbacks · 47.5% completion · +5.7% CPOE · +0.39 EPA/play · +15.63 total EPA
• D.Brees (New Orleans Saints) · 40 dropbacks · 75.0% completion · +13.8% CPOE · +0.23 EPA/play · +9.19 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 +0.07, New Orleans Saints +0.03) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Atlanta Falcons: 11 drives, +7.63 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 12 drives, +1.76 total EPA, 4 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.
• T. Gonzalez (Atlanta Falcons) 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.
• D. Brees (NO) 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 56:46 · ATL 2 · Score 0-6
   (11:46) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 88-J.Shockey for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 2, YAC 0
2. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 56:42 · ATL 2 · Score 0-7
   5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
3. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q1 51:58 · NO 13 · Score 6-7
   (6:58) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short middle to 88-T.Gonzalez for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN [51-J.Vilma]. Pass 13, YAC 0
4. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q1 51:53 · NO 2 · Score 7-7
   3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
5. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 48:42 · ATL 80 · Score 7-13
   (3:42) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 16-L.Moore for 80 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 30, YAC 50
6. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 48:31 · ATL 2 · Score 7-14
   5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
7. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 31:06 · NO 1 · Score 13-14
   (1:06) 33-M.Turner left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q2 31:03 · NO 2 · Score 14-14
   3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
9. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q3 18:47 · NO 5 · Score 17-14
   (3:47) 3-M.Bryant 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
10. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 15:12 · ATL 16 · Score 17-20
    (:12) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 16-L.Moore for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PAss 1, YAC 15
11. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 15:04 · ATL 2 · Score 17-21
    5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
12. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 9:25 · NO 22 · Score 23-21
    (9:25) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass deep right to 84-R.White for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q4 9:20 · NO 2 · Score 24-21
    3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen. ATL-72-S.Baker was injured during the play. His return is Probable.
14. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 0:09 · ATL 15 · Score 24-24
    (:09) 5-G.Hartley 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
15. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — OT 2:00 · NO 28 · Score 27-24
    (2:00) 3-M.Bryant 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen.