Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints: 2024 Week 10 Recap

Game story

In Week 10 of the 2024 NFL season on 2024-11-10, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Atlanta Falcons, pulling away with a 20–17 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 24 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

K. Cousins (Atlanta Falcons) paced the passing game, with +1.52 total EPA, and -2.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Valdes-Scantling (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +11.14 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-31.5% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Atlanta Falcons changed the game: (2:07) (Shotgun) 18-K.Cousins pass short middle intended for 5-D.London INTERCEPTED by 32-T.Mathieu [93-N.Shepherd] at NO 32. 32-T.Mathieu to NO 38 for 6 yards (5-D.London).

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. Valdes-Scantling · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +11.14 total EPA · 3 snaps · +3.71 EPA/play
2. 2 B. Robinson · Atlanta Falcons · Rushing · +6.19 total EPA · 21 snaps · +0.29 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Carr · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +6.05 total EPA · 27 snaps · +0.22 EPA/play
4. 4 K. Austin · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +4.09 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.05 EPA/play
5. 5 K. Pitts · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +2.90 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.48 EPA/play
6. 6 R. McCloud · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.60 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Mooney · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.53 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.17 EPA/play
8. 8 K. Cousins · Atlanta Falcons · Passing · +1.52 total EPA · 44 snaps · +0.03 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 — M. Valdes-Scantling (D. Carr pass) (Q2 40:57)
• Atlanta Falcons — B. Robinson (Q2 35:48)
• New Orleans Saints — M. Valdes-Scantling (D. Carr pass) (Q2 33:51)
• Atlanta Falcons — B. Robinson (Q3 16:10)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — B. Grupe (Q2 44:55)
• Atlanta Falcons — Y. Koo (Q3 20:46)
• New Orleans Saints — B. Grupe (Q3 17:48)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 17–7. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the ATL 20 (Q2 44:55) — (14:55) 19-B.Grupe 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-43-M.Hayball.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 40 (Q2 40:57) — (10:57) (Shotgun) 4-D.Carr pass deep right to 10-M.Valdes-Scantling for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 15 (Q2 40:48) — 19-B.Grupe extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-43-M.Hayball.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NO 1 (Q2 35:48) — (5:48) 7-B.Robinson left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q2 35:45) — 6-Y.Koo extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 2 (Q2 33:51) — (3:51) (Shotgun) 4-D.Carr pass short middle to 10-M.Valdes-Scantling for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 15 (Q2 33:47) — 19-B.Grupe extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-43-M.Hayball..

The third quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 10–3. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NO 8 (Q3 20:46); New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the ATL 8 (Q3 17:48) — (2:48) 19-B.Grupe 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-43-M.Hayball.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NO 37 (Q3 16:10) — (1:10) 7-B.Robinson right end for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q3 16:01) — 6-Y.Koo extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion..

Turning points

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 2:07) — (2:07) (Shotgun) 18-K.Cousins pass short middle intended for 5-D.London INTERCEPTED by 32-T.Mathieu [93-N.Shepherd] at NO 32. 32-T.Mathieu to NO 38 for 6 yards (5-D.London). [WPA -31.5% · EPA -4.13]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 6:43) — (6:43) 6-Y.Koo 46 yard field goal is No Good, Hit Right Upright, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion. [WPA -22.6% · EPA -3.79]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 0:07) — (:07) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 18-K.Cousins pass short left to 34-R.McCloud pushed ob at NO 44 for -1 yards (0-U.Amadi). [WPA -16.2% · EPA -0.48]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 0:41) — (:41) (Shotgun) 18-K.Cousins sacked at ATL 42 for -9 yards (99-C.Young). FUMBLES (99-C.Young) [99-C.Young], touched at ATL 42, recovered by ATL-70-Ja.Matthews at ATL 32. [WPA -12.9% · EPA -1.77]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 3:27) — (3:27) (Shotgun) 25-T.Allgeier right end to NO 46 for 24 yards (5-W.Harris). [WPA +10.8% · EPA +1.29]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q2 40:57) — (10:57) (Shotgun) 4-D.Carr pass deep right to 10-M.Valdes-Scantling for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.8% · EPA +4.67]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 35:45) — (5:45) 4-D.Carr pass deep left to 10-M.Valdes-Scantling pushed ob at ATL 3 for 67 yards (22-C.Phillips) [90-D.Onyemata]. [WPA +8.3% · EPA +4.54]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 2:07) — (2:07) (Shotgun) 18-K.Cousins pass short middle intended for 5-D.London INTERCEPTED by 32-T.Mathieu [93-N.Shepherd] at NO 32. 32-T.Mathieu to NO 38 for 6 yards (5-D.London). [WPA -31.5% · EPA -4.13]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 42:11) — (12:11) 6-Y.Koo 53 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion. [WPA -9.9% · EPA -3.86]

Quarterback report card

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

• K.Cousins (Atlanta Falcons) · 44 dropbacks · 52.3% completion · -2.9% CPOE · +0.03 EPA/play · +1.52 total EPA
• D.Carr (New Orleans Saints) · 27 dropbacks · 59.3% completion · +5.7% CPOE · +0.22 EPA/play · +6.05 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 -0.04, New Orleans Saints -0.02) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Atlanta Falcons: 11 drives, -3.44 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 12 drives, -1.17 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• M. Valdes-Scantling (New Orleans Saints) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Carr (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 FG (+3) — Q2 44:55 · ATL 20 · Score 0-3
   (14:55) 19-B.Grupe 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-43-M.Hayball.
2. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 40:57 · ATL 40 · Score 0-9
   (10:57) (Shotgun) 4-D.Carr pass deep right to 10-M.Valdes-Scantling for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 40:48 · ATL 15 · Score 0-10
   19-B.Grupe extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-43-M.Hayball.
4. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 35:48 · NO 1 · Score 6-10
   (5:48) 7-B.Robinson left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q2 35:45 · NO 15 · Score 7-10
   6-Y.Koo extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.
6. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 33:51 · ATL 2 · Score 7-16
   (3:51) (Shotgun) 4-D.Carr pass short middle to 10-M.Valdes-Scantling for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 33:47 · ATL 15 · Score 7-17
   19-B.Grupe extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-43-M.Hayball.
8. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q3 20:46 · NO 8 · Score 10-17
   (5:46) 6-Y.Koo 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion. ** Injury Update: NO-31-J.Howden has returned to the game.
9. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q3 17:48 · ATL 8 · Score 10-20
   (2:48) 19-B.Grupe 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-43-M.Hayball.
10. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q3 16:10 · NO 37 · Score 16-20
    (1:10) 7-B.Robinson right end for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q3 16:01 · NO 15 · Score 17-20
    6-Y.Koo extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.