Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons: 2007 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2007 NFL season on 2007-09-23, the Carolina Panthers took care of business against the Atlanta Falcons, pulling away with a 27–20 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

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

J. Harrington (Atlanta Falcons) paced the passing game, with +13.70 total EPA, and +3.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Harrington (Atlanta Falcons) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +13.70 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+20.0% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Atlanta Falcons changed the game: (9:30) 13-J.Harrington pass short left to 84-R.White for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

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. Harrington · Atlanta Falcons · Passing · +13.70 total EPA · 46 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
2. 2 R. White · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +9.29 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.33 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Jenkins · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +7.87 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.31 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Foster · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +6.67 total EPA · 20 snaps · +0.33 EPA/play
5. 5 A. Crumpler · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +6.25 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.04 EPA/play
6. 6 J. King · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +4.78 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.20 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Carr · Carolina Panthers · Passing · +3.68 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.74 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Norwood · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +3.63 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.21 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

• Atlanta Falcons — R. White (J. Harrington pass) (Q2 39:30)
• Carolina Panthers — D. Foster (J. Delhomme pass) (Q2 34:38)
• Atlanta Falcons — A. Crumpler (J. Harrington pass) (Q3 24:17)
• Carolina Panthers — J. King (J. Delhomme pass) (Q3 22:19)
• Carolina Panthers — D. Foster (Q3 15:50)

Field goals

• Carolina Panthers — J. Kasay (Q2 40:57)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Andersen (Q2 30:14)
• Carolina Panthers — J. Kasay (Q4 7:41)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Andersen (Q4 3:06)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The second quarter: The quarter finished even at 10–10. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the ATL 27 (Q2 40:57) — (10:57) 4-J.Kasay 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Holder-7-J.Baker.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the CAR 69 (Q2 39:30) — (9:30) 13-J.Harrington pass short left to 84-R.White for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q2 39:19) — 5-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-47-B.Stutz, Holder-9-M.Koenen.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the ATL 13 (Q2 34:38) — (4:38) 17-J.Delhomme pass short right to 26-D.Foster for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by ATL and Upheld. (Timeout #1 at 04:32.); Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q2 34:32) — 4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Holder-7-J.Baker.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the CAR 6 (Q2 30:14) — (:14) 5-M.Andersen 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-B.Stutz, Holder-9-M.Koenen..

The third quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 14–7. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the CAR 13 (Q3 24:17) — (9:17) 13-J.Harrington pass short left to 83-A.Crumpler for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q3 24:09) — 5-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-47-B.Stutz, Holder-9-M.Koenen.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the ATL 5 (Q3 22:19) — (7:19) 17-J.Delhomme pass short left to 87-J.King for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q3 22:13) — 4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Holder-7-J.Baker.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the ATL 10 (Q3 15:50) — (:50) 26-D.Foster up the middle for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the ATL 17 (Q3 15:47) — 4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Holder-7-J.Baker..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the ATL 31 (Q4 7:41) — (7:41) 4-J.Kasay 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Holder-7-J.Baker.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the CAR 6 (Q4 3:06) — (3:06) 5-M.Andersen 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-B.Stutz, Holder-9-M.Koenen..

Turning points

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 39:30) — (9:30) 13-J.Harrington pass short left to 84-R.White for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +20.0% · EPA +5.81]
• Carolina Panthers (Q3 15:50) — (:50) 26-D.Foster up the middle for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +12.9% · EPA +2.02]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 32:42) — (2:42) 13-J.Harrington pass short left to 12-M.Jenkins pushed ob at CAR 38 for 16 yards (31-R.Marshall). [WPA +11.9% · EPA +2.01]
• Carolina Panthers (Q3 16:18) — (1:18) 8-D.Carr pass short right to 86-C.Fauria to ATL 19 for 8 yards (25-C.Crocker). PENALTY on ATL-98-J.Anderson, Roughing the Passer, 9 yards, enforced at ATL 19. [WPA +10.5% · EPA +1.93]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 50:50) — (5:50) (Shotgun) 13-J.Harrington pass short left to 12-M.Jenkins to CAR 29 for 13 yards (55-D.Morgan, 31-R.Marshall). [WPA +10.3% · EPA +2.55]

Impact plays

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 39:30) — (9:30) 13-J.Harrington pass short left to 84-R.White for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +20.0% · EPA +5.81]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 55:36) — (10:36) 28-W.Dunn up the middle to CAR 34 for 17 yards (43-C.Harris). FUMBLES (43-C.Harris), RECOVERED by CAR-43-C.Harris at CAR 33. [WPA -9.1% · EPA -4.09]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 34:38) — (4:38) 17-J.Delhomme pass short right to 26-D.Foster for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by ATL and Upheld. (Timeout #1 at 04:32.) [WPA +8.2% · EPA +3.01]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 47:50) — (2:50) 9-M.Koenen FUMBLES (Aborted) at CAR 17, RECOVERED by CAR-93-M.Rucker at CAR 18. Penalty on ATL-5-M.Andersen, Illegal Kick, declined. [WPA -8.4% · EPA -2.96]

Quarterback report card

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

• J.Harrington (Atlanta Falcons) · 46 dropbacks · 67.4% completion · +3.2% CPOE · +0.30 EPA/play · +13.70 total EPA
• J.Delhomme (Carolina Panthers) · 21 dropbacks · 47.6% completion · -11.5% CPOE · +0.17 EPA/play · +3.57 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 (+0.20 vs +0.05), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Atlanta Falcons: 10 drives, +4.16 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Carolina Panthers: 11 drives, +15.51 total EPA, 5 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• J. Harrington (Atlanta Falcons) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Harrington (ATL) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• J. Delhomme (CAR) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q2 40:57 · ATL 27 · Score 3-0
   (10:57) 4-J.Kasay 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Holder-7-J.Baker.
2. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 39:30 · CAR 69 · Score 3-6
   (9:30) 13-J.Harrington pass short left to 84-R.White for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q2 39:19 · CAR 2 · Score 3-7
   5-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-47-B.Stutz, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
4. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q2 34:38 · ATL 13 · Score 9-7
   (4:38) 17-J.Delhomme pass short right to 26-D.Foster for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by ATL and Upheld. (Timeout #1 at 04:32.)
5. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q2 34:32 · ATL 2 · Score 10-7
   4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Holder-7-J.Baker.
6. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 30:14 · CAR 6 · Score 10-10
   (:14) 5-M.Andersen 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-B.Stutz, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
7. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q3 24:17 · CAR 13 · Score 10-16
   (9:17) 13-J.Harrington pass short left to 83-A.Crumpler for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q3 24:09 · CAR 2 · Score 10-17
   5-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-47-B.Stutz, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
9. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q3 22:19 · ATL 5 · Score 16-17
   (7:19) 17-J.Delhomme pass short left to 87-J.King for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q3 22:13 · ATL 2 · Score 17-17
    4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Holder-7-J.Baker.
11. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q3 15:50 · ATL 10 · Score 23-17
    (:50) 26-D.Foster up the middle for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q3 15:47 · ATL 17 · Score 24-17
    4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Holder-7-J.Baker.
13. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q4 7:41 · ATL 31 · Score 27-17
    (7:41) 4-J.Kasay 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Holder-7-J.Baker.
14. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q4 3:06 · CAR 6 · Score 27-20
    (3:06) 5-M.Andersen 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-B.Stutz, Holder-9-M.Koenen.