Game story
In Week 17 of the 2017 NFL season on 2017-12-31, the Atlanta Falcons took care of business against the Carolina Panthers, pulling away with a 22–10 final that built a comfortable lead.
The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 12 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.
M. Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) paced the passing game, with +7.18 total EPA, and -2.4% completion percentage over expected.
On the individual side, M. Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.18 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.
The momentum swing (-13.3% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Carolina Panthers changed the game: (5:51) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short middle intended for 11-B.Bersin INTERCEPTED by 37-R.Allen at CAR 43. 37-R.Allen to CAR 39 for 4 yards (12-K.Clay).
Line score
Final score and points by quarter.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | — | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Panthers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 7 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 22 |
Stars of the game
Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.
- 1 M. Ryan · Atlanta Falcons · Passing · +7.18 total EPA · 47 snaps · +0.15 EPA/play
- 2 Ju. Jones · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +5.23 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.48 EPA/play
- 3 D. Freeman · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.68 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.15 EPA/play
- 4 T. Coleman · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.34 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.67 EPA/play
- 5 J. Hardy · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.07 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.36 EPA/play
- 6 F. Whittaker · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +0.61 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.61 EPA/play
- 7 K. Clay · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +0.40 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.20 EPA/play
- 8 D. Funchess · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +0.36 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.06 EPA/play
Player of the game
FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.
M. Ryan — ATL · Passing
M. Ryan posted the highest total EPA (+7.18) in the game, making the biggest overall impact on Atlanta Falcons's efficiency. Across 47 counted snaps, they averaged +0.15 EPA per play.
The signature play (-5.19 EPA) came from Carolina Panthers: (4:20) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep middle intended for 88-G.Olsen INTERCEPTED by 22-K.Neal [97-G.Jarrett] at CAR 42. 22-K.Neal to CAR 23 for 19 yards (17-D.Funchess).
Who scored touchdowns and field goals
Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.
Touchdowns
- Atlanta Falcons — D. Freeman (M. Ryan pass)
- Carolina Panthers — D. Funchess (C. Newton pass)
Field goals
- Atlanta Falcons — M. Bryant
- Atlanta Falcons — M. Bryant
- Atlanta Falcons — M. Bryant
- Carolina Panthers — G. Gano
- Atlanta Falcons — M. Bryant
- Atlanta Falcons — M. Bryant
How it unfolded, quarter by quarter
A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.
The opening quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 7–0. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the CAR 19 (Q1 55:39) — (10:39) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short left to 24-D.Freeman for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN [92-V.Butler].; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q1 55:32) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher..
The second quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 7–0. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the ATL 4 (Q2 30:55) — (:55) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left to 17-D.Funchess for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the ATL 15 (Q2 30:50) — 9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy..
The third quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 6–0. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the CAR 12 (Q3 21:35) — (6:35) 3-M.Bryant 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the CAR 24 (Q3 18:49) — (3:49) 3-M.Bryant 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher..
The fourth quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 9–3. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the CAR 12 (Q4 14:15) — (14:15) 3-M.Bryant 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the ATL 24 (Q4 10:38) — (10:38) 9-G.Gano 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the CAR 38 (Q4 6:43) — (6:43) 3-M.Bryant 56 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the CAR 15 (Q4 2:31) — (2:31) 3-M.Bryant 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher..
Turning points
Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.
- Carolina Panthers (Q3 20:51) — (5:51) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short middle intended for 11-B.Bersin INTERCEPTED by 37-R.Allen at CAR 43. 37-R.Allen to CAR 39 for 4 yards (12-K.Clay).
- Atlanta Falcons (Q2 30:13) — (:13) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short middle to 81-A.Hooper to CAR 36 for 24 yards (29-M.Adams) [99-K.Short].
- Carolina Panthers (Q2 31:02) — (1:02) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep left to 11-B.Bersin pushed ob at ATL 4 for 27 yards (23-R.Alford).
- Carolina Panthers (Q4 12:45) — (12:45) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep right to 17-D.Funchess to ATL 28 for 44 yards (21-D.Trufant).
- Atlanta Falcons (Q2 30:01) — (:01) 2-M.Ryan spiked the ball to stop the clock.
Impact plays
Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.
- Carolina Panthers (Q4 4:20) — (4:20) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep middle intended for 88-G.Olsen INTERCEPTED by 22-K.Neal [97-G.Jarrett] at CAR 42. 22-K.Neal to CAR 23 for 19 yards (17-D.Funchess).
- Carolina Panthers (Q3 20:51) — (5:51) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short middle intended for 11-B.Bersin INTERCEPTED by 37-R.Allen at CAR 43. 37-R.Allen to CAR 39 for 4 yards (12-K.Clay).
- Carolina Panthers (Q4 12:45) — (12:45) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep right to 17-D.Funchess to ATL 28 for 44 yards (21-D.Trufant).
- Carolina Panthers (Q2 31:02) — (1:02) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep left to 11-B.Bersin pushed ob at ATL 4 for 27 yards (23-R.Alford).
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) · 47 dropbacks · 59.6% completion · -2.4% CPOE · +0.15 EPA/play · +7.18 total EPA
- C.Newton (Carolina Panthers) · 39 dropbacks · 35.9% completion · -18.5% CPOE · -0.32 EPA/play · -12.50 total EPA
Team stats comparison
Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.
| Stat | Carolina Panthers | Atlanta Falcons |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive EPA/play | -0.197 | -0.009 |
| Offensive success rate | 34.6% | 36.7% |
| Pass EPA/play | -0.320 | +0.153 |
| Rush EPA/play | -0.233 | -0.375 |
| Defensive EPA/play | +0.009 | +0.197 |
| Defensive success rate | 63.3% | 65.4% |
By the numbers
Atlanta Falcons held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.01 vs -0.20), even if the scoreboard told a different story.
- Atlanta Falcons: 13 drives, -0.82 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
- Carolina Panthers: 12 drives, -15.96 total EPA, 2 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.
- M. Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
- C. Newton (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.
- Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q1 55:39 · CAR 19 · Score 0-6
(10:39) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short left to 24-D.Freeman for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN [92-V.Butler]. - Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q1 55:32 · CAR 15 · Score 0-7
3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher. - Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q2 30:55 · ATL 4 · Score 6-7
(:55) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left to 17-D.Funchess for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q2 30:50 · ATL 15 · Score 7-7
9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy. - Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q3 21:35 · CAR 12 · Score 7-10
(6:35) 3-M.Bryant 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher. - Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q3 18:49 · CAR 24 · Score 7-13
(3:49) 3-M.Bryant 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher. - Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q4 14:15 · CAR 12 · Score 7-16
(14:15) 3-M.Bryant 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher. - Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q4 10:38 · ATL 24 · Score 10-16
(10:38) 9-G.Gano 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy. - Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q4 6:43 · CAR 38 · Score 10-19
(6:43) 3-M.Bryant 56 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher. - Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q4 2:31 · CAR 15 · Score 10-22
(2:31) 3-M.Bryant 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Carolina Panthers vs Atlanta Falcons?
The Atlanta Falcons beat the Carolina Panthers 22-10 in Week 17, 2017 on 2017-12-31.
What was the final score of Carolina Panthers vs Atlanta Falcons?
The final score was Carolina Panthers 10, Atlanta Falcons 22 (CAR 10-22 ATL) in Week 17, 2017 on 2017-12-31.
What was the score by quarter in Carolina Panthers vs Atlanta Falcons?
Q1: Carolina Panthers 0, Atlanta Falcons 7; Q2: Carolina Panthers 7, Atlanta Falcons 0; Q3: Carolina Panthers 0, Atlanta Falcons 6; Q4: Carolina Panthers 3, Atlanta Falcons 9; Final: Carolina Panthers 10, Atlanta Falcons 22.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals in Carolina Panthers vs Atlanta Falcons?
Atlanta Falcons touchdown — D. Freeman (M. Ryan pass) (Q1 55:39) Carolina Panthers touchdown — D. Funchess (C. Newton pass) (Q2 30:55) Atlanta Falcons field goal — M. Bryant (Q3 21:35, 3 pts) Atlanta Falcons field goal — M. Bryant (Q3 18:49, 3 pts) Atlanta Falcons field goal — M. Bryant (Q4 14:15, 3 pts) Carolina Panthers field goal — G. Gano (Q4 10:38, 3 pts) Atlanta Falcons field goal — M. Bryant (Q4 6:43, 3 pts) Atlanta Falcons field goal — M. Bryant (Q4 2:31, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.
How did the quarterbacks play in Carolina Panthers vs Atlanta Falcons?
M. Ryan (Atlanta Falcons), 59.6% completion, -2.4% CPOE, +0.15 EPA per dropback, +7.18 total passing EPA. C. Newton (Carolina Panthers), 35.9% completion, -18.5% CPOE, -0.32 EPA per dropback, -12.50 total passing EPA.
Who was the most impactful player in Carolina Panthers vs Atlanta Falcons?
M. Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) led the game in total EPA with +7.18 on passing plays. across 47 snaps. The top single-play swing was (-5.19 EPA): (4:20) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep middle intended for 88-G.Olsen INTERCEPTED by 22-K.Neal [97-G.Jarrett] at CAR 42. 22-K.Neal to CAR 23 for 19 yards (17-D.Funchess).. The biggest win-probability swing was -13.3%.
Season records after this game
Carolina Panthers
Entered 11-4 Now 11-5 L
Atlanta Falcons
Entered 9-6 Now 10-6 W
Fantasy · fantasyhq.co
