Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons: 2005 Week 17 Recap

Game story

In Week 17 of the 2005 NFL season on 2006-01-01, the Carolina Panthers took care of business against the Atlanta Falcons, pulling away with a 44–11 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Vick (Atlanta Falcons) paced the passing game, with -7.33 total EPA.

On the individual side, J. Delhomme (Carolina Panthers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +18.17 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+17.7% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Carolina Panthers changed the game: (1:40) 26-D.Foster up the middle for 70 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Taugting Car 26 Pn Foster, DeShaun accesed on KO 15 yard

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 J. Delhomme · Carolina Panthers · Passing · +18.17 total EPA · 23 snaps · +0.79 EPA/play
2. 2 S. Smith · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +14.62 total EPA · 9 snaps · +1.62 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Foster · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +7.98 total EPA · 18 snaps · +0.44 EPA/play
4. 4 R. White · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +7.23 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.81 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Schaub · Atlanta Falcons · Passing · +5.44 total EPA · 16 snaps · +0.34 EPA/play
6. 6 R. Proehl · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +5.42 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.81 EPA/play
7. 7 B. Finneran · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +5.10 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.02 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Jenkins · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +4.09 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.82 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

• Carolina Panthers — R. Proehl (J. Delhomme pass) (Q1 55:56)
• Carolina Panthers — D. Foster (Q1 46:40)
• Carolina Panthers — S. Smith (J. Delhomme pass) (Q2 32:00)
• Carolina Panthers — J. Robertson (Q3 22:19)
• Carolina Panthers — T. Duckett (Q4 4:32)
• Atlanta Falcons — R. White (M. Schaub pass) (Q4 1:24)

Field goals

• Atlanta Falcons — T. Peterson (Q1 47:35)
• Carolina Panthers — J. Kasay (Q2 33:48)
• Carolina Panthers — J. Kasay (Q2 30:05)
• Carolina Panthers — J. Kasay (Q3 15:50)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 14–3. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the ATL 12 (Q1 55:56) — (10:56) 17-J.Delhomme pass to 81-R.Proehl for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q1 55:51) — 4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the CAR 11 (Q1 47:35) — (2:35) 2-T.Peterson 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the ATL 70 (Q1 46:40) — (1:40) 26-D.Foster up the middle for 70 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Taugting Car 26 Pn Foster, DeShaun accesed on KO 15 yard; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q1 46:28) — 4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker..

The second quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 13–0. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the ATL 1 (Q2 33:48) — (3:48) 4-J.Kasay 19 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the ATL 42 (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) 17-J.Delhomme pass to 89-S.Smith for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q2 31:54) — 4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the ATL 23 (Q2 30:05) — (:05) 4-J.Kasay 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker..

The third quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 10–0. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the ATL 1 (Q3 22:19) — (7:19) 22-J.Robertson left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q3 22:16) — 4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the ATL 16 (Q3 15:50) — (:50) 4-J.Kasay 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker..

The fourth quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 8–7. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the CAR 85 (Q4 4:32); Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q4 4:19) — 4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the CAR 14 (Q4 1:24) — (1:24) 8-M.Schaub pass to 84-R.White for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons registered a safety from the CAR 2 (Q4 1:18) — (Pass formation) TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 8-M.Schaub pass to 86-B.Finneran is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..

Turning points

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

• Carolina Panthers (Q1 46:40) — (1:40) 26-D.Foster up the middle for 70 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Taugting Car 26 Pn Foster, DeShaun accesed on KO 15 yard [WPA +17.7% · EPA +6.60]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 56:41) — (11:41) 17-J.Delhomme pass incomplete to 18-D.Carter. PENALTY on ATL-26-O.Lowe, Defensive Pass Interference, 39 yards, enforced at CAR 50 - No Play. [WPA +15.4% · EPA +4.59]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 55:56) — (10:56) 17-J.Delhomme pass to 81-R.Proehl for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +9.9% · EPA +3.47]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 57:51) — (12:51) 17-J.Delhomme sacked at CAR 45 for -6 yards (56-K.Brooking). [WPA -6.1% · EPA -1.43]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 51:12) — (6:12) (Shotgun) 7-M.Vick pass to 12-M.Jenkins pushed ob at CAR 21 for 10 yards (21-D.Wesley). [WPA +5.2% · EPA +1.69]

Impact plays

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 4:32) — (4:32) 45-T.Duckett left end to ATL 16 for 1 yard (21-D.Wesley). FUMBLES (21-D.Wesley), RECOVERED by CAR-24-R.Manning at ATL 8. 24-R.Manning for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -0.0% · EPA -7.36]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 46:40) — (1:40) 26-D.Foster up the middle for 70 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Taugting Car 26 Pn Foster, DeShaun accesed on KO 15 yard [WPA +17.7% · EPA +6.60]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) 17-J.Delhomme pass to 89-S.Smith for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +2.7% · EPA +5.53]
• Carolina Panthers (Q3 18:08) — (3:08) 7-J.Baker punts 29 yards to ATL 13, Center-56-J.Kyle. 12-M.Jenkins MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by CAR-52-C.Draft at ATL 17. 52-C.Draft, dead ball declared at ATL 17 for no gain. Penalty on ATL-54-A. [WPA +0.0% · EPA +5.14]

Quarterback report card

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

• M.Vick (Atlanta Falcons) · 27 dropbacks · 55.6% completion · -0.27 EPA/play · -7.33 total EPA
• J.Delhomme (Carolina Panthers) · 23 dropbacks · 60.9% completion · +0.79 EPA/play · +18.17 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Carolina Panthers generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.32 vs -0.18), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Atlanta Falcons: 10 drives, -13.34 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Carolina Panthers: 12 drives, +26.77 total EPA, 7 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Carolina Panthers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• J. Delhomme (Carolina Panthers) 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. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q1 55:56 · ATL 12 · Score 6-0
   (10:56) 17-J.Delhomme pass to 81-R.Proehl for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q1 55:51 · ATL 2 · Score 7-0
   4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.
3. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q1 47:35 · CAR 11 · Score 7-3
   (2:35) 2-T.Peterson 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.
4. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q1 46:40 · ATL 70 · Score 13-3
   (1:40) 26-D.Foster up the middle for 70 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Taugting Car 26 Pn Foster, DeShaun accesed on KO 15 yard
5. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q1 46:28 · ATL 2 · Score 14-3
   4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.
6. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q2 33:48 · ATL 1 · Score 17-3
   (3:48) 4-J.Kasay 19 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.
7. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q2 32:00 · ATL 42 · Score 23-3
   (2:00) 17-J.Delhomme pass to 89-S.Smith for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q2 31:54 · ATL 2 · Score 24-3
   4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.
9. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q2 30:05 · ATL 23 · Score 27-3
   (:05) 4-J.Kasay 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.
10. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q3 22:19 · ATL 1 · Score 33-3
    (7:19) 22-J.Robertson left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q3 22:16 · ATL 2 · Score 34-3
    4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.
12. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q3 15:50 · ATL 16 · Score 37-3
    (:50) 4-J.Kasay 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.
13. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q4 4:32 · CAR 85 · Score 43-3
    (4:32) 45-T.Duckett left end to ATL 16 for 1 yard (21-D.Wesley). FUMBLES (21-D.Wesley), RECOVERED by CAR-24-R.Manning at ATL 8. 24-R.Manning for 8 yards, TOUCHD
14. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q4 4:19 · ATL 2 · Score 44-3
    4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.
15. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 1:24 · CAR 14 · Score 44-9
    (1:24) 8-M.Schaub pass to 84-R.White for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
16. Atlanta Falcons Safety (+2) — Q4 1:18 · CAR 2 · Score 44-11
    (Pass formation) TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 8-M.Schaub pass to 86-B.Finneran is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.