Detroit Lions vs. Atlanta Falcons: 2002 Week 16 Recap

Game story

In Week 16 of the 2002 NFL season on 2002-12-22, the Atlanta Falcons took care of business against the Detroit Lions, pulling away with a 36–15 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 32 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Vick (Atlanta Falcons) paced the passing game, with +14.00 total EPA.

On the individual side, Q. McCord (Atlanta Falcons) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +16.42 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+15.4% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Detroit Lions changed the game: (6:41) (Shotgun) 8-M.McMahon pass to 84-B.Schroeder ran ob at ATL 42 for 46 yards.

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 Q. McCord · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +16.42 total EPA · 9 snaps · +1.82 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Vick · Atlanta Falcons · Passing · +14.00 total EPA · 44 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
3. 3 B. Schroeder · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +5.60 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.12 EPA/play
4. 4 C. Schlesinger · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +4.04 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.35 EPA/play
5. 5 B. Finneran · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +3.42 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.49 EPA/play
6. 6 W. Dunn · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.90 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Cason · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +1.83 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.92 EPA/play
8. 8 R. Kelly · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.64 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.64 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 — Q. McCord (M. Vick pass) (Q2 30:23)
• Detroit Lions — J. Stewart (M. McMahon pass) (Q4 10:01)
• Detroit Lions — A. Cason (M. McMahon pass) (Q4 9:37)
• Atlanta Falcons — W. Dunn (Q4 3:53)
• Atlanta Falcons — B. Finneran (M. Vick pass) (Q4 2:00)

Field goals

• Atlanta Falcons — J. Feely (Q1 52:54)
• Atlanta Falcons — J. Feely (Q2 36:10)
• Atlanta Falcons — J. Feely (Q3 26:01)
• Atlanta Falcons — J. Feely (Q3 22:24)
• Atlanta Falcons — J. Feely (Q4 13:36)

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 3–0. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the DET 5 (Q1 52:54) — (7:54) 4-J.Feely 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr..

The second quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 10–0. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the DET 5 (Q2 36:10) — (6:10) 4-J.Feely 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the DET 20 (Q2 30:23) — (:23) 7-M.Vick pass to 88-Q.McCord for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q2 30:17) — 4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr..

The third quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 6–0. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the DET 18 (Q3 26:01) — (11:01) 4-J.Feely 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the DET 2 (Q3 22:24) — (7:24) 4-J.Feely 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr..

The fourth quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 17–15. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the DET 21 (Q4 13:36) — (13:36) 4-J.Feely 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the ATL 1 (Q4 10:01) — (10:01) 8-M.McMahon pass to 34-J.Stewart for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions registered a safety from the ATL 2 (Q4 9:53); Detroit Lions found the end zone from the ATL 15 (Q4 9:37) — (9:37) 8-M.McMahon pass to 31-A.Cason for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q4 9:31) — 4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-19-J.Jett.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the DET 3 (Q4 3:53) — (3:53) 28-W.Dunn up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q4 3:49) — 4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the DET 34 (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) 7-M.Vick pass to 86-B.Finneran for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q4 1:51) — 4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr..

Turning points

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

• Detroit Lions (Q1 51:41) — (6:41) (Shotgun) 8-M.McMahon pass to 84-B.Schroeder ran ob at ATL 42 for 46 yards. [WPA +15.4% · EPA +4.61]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 49:55) — (4:55) 4-J.Hanson 44 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-19-J.Jett. [WPA -12.3% · EPA -3.88]
• Detroit Lions (Q2 31:24) — (1:24) 8-M.McMahon pass INTERCEPTED by 33-A.Ambrose (61-E.Johnson) at ATL 36. 33-A.Ambrose to ATL 37 for 1 yard (51-D.Raiola). [WPA -10.5% · EPA -3.56]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 47:11) — (2:11) 7-M.Vick pass intended for 86-B.Finneran INTERCEPTED by 59-J.Gooch (24-T.Lyght) at DET 27. 59-J.Gooch to DET 30 for 3 yards (74-T.Weiner). [WPA -9.7% · EPA -4.17]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 45:55) — (:55) 8-M.McMahon pass to 30-C.Schlesinger to ATL 41 for 21 yards (29-K.Carpenter). [WPA +8.9% · EPA +2.18]

Impact plays

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) 7-M.Vick pass to 86-B.Finneran for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +0.1% · EPA +6.00]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 9:53) — (9:53) 7-M.Vick pass to 44-B.Christian to ATL 34 for 14 yards (54-B.Green). FUMBLES (54-B.Green), RECOVERED by DET-35-A.Goodman at ATL 35. 35-A.Goodman to ATL 15 for 20 yards (81-T.Gaylor). [WPA -6.3% · EPA -5.70]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 51:41) — (6:41) (Shotgun) 8-M.McMahon pass to 84-B.Schroeder ran ob at ATL 42 for 46 yards. [WPA +15.4% · EPA +4.61]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q3 27:59) — (12:59) (Shotgun) 7-M.Vick pass to 88-Q.McCord to DET 7 for 60 yards (45-Brian Walker). PENALTY on DET-45-Brian Walker, Face Mask (15 Yards), 4 yards, enforced at DET 7. [WPA +3.3% · EPA +4.52]

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) · 44 dropbacks · 45.5% completion · +0.32 EPA/play · +14.00 total EPA
• M.McMahon (Detroit Lions) · 39 dropbacks · 28.2% completion · -0.27 EPA/play · -10.37 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Atlanta Falcons held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.07 vs -0.17), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Atlanta Falcons: 13 drives, +7.32 total EPA, 8 scoring drives
• Detroit Lions: 13 drives, -13.24 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.
• Q. McCord (Atlanta Falcons) 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. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q1 52:54 · DET 5 · Score 0-3
   (7:54) 4-J.Feely 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
2. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 36:10 · DET 5 · Score 0-6
   (6:10) 4-J.Feely 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
3. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 30:23 · DET 20 · Score 0-12
   (:23) 7-M.Vick pass to 88-Q.McCord for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q2 30:17 · DET 2 · Score 0-13
   4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
5. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q3 26:01 · DET 18 · Score 0-16
   (11:01) 4-J.Feely 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
6. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q3 22:24 · DET 2 · Score 0-19
   (7:24) 4-J.Feely 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
7. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q4 13:36 · DET 21 · Score 0-22
   (13:36) 4-J.Feely 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
8. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q4 10:01 · ATL 1 · Score 6-22
   (10:01) 8-M.McMahon pass to 34-J.Stewart for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Detroit Lions Safety (+2) — Q4 9:53 · ATL 2 · Score 8-22
   TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 8-M.McMahon pass to 84-B.Schroeder is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS. PENALTY on ATL, Defensive 12 On-field, 5 yards, enforced between
10. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q4 9:37 · ATL 15 · Score 14-22
    (9:37) 8-M.McMahon pass to 31-A.Cason for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q4 9:31 · ATL 2 · Score 15-22
    4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-19-J.Jett.
12. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 3:53 · DET 3 · Score 15-28
    (3:53) 28-W.Dunn up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q4 3:49 · DET 2 · Score 15-29
    4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
14. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 2:00 · DET 34 · Score 15-35
    (2:00) 7-M.Vick pass to 86-B.Finneran for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q4 1:51 · DET 2 · Score 15-36
    4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.