Kansas City Chiefs vs. Atlanta Falcons: 2000 Week 17 Recap

Game story

In Week 17 of the 2000 NFL season on 2000-12-24, the Atlanta Falcons took care of business against the Kansas City Chiefs, pulling away with a 29–13 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 16 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

E. Grbac (Kansas City Chiefs) paced the passing game, with -4.92 total EPA.

On the individual side, S. Jefferson (Atlanta Falcons) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.18 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+54.6% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Atlanta Falcons changed the game: T.Sauerbrun kicks 60 yards from KC 30 to ATL 10. T.Dwight to ATL 25 for 15 yards (M.Cloud).

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 S. Jefferson · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +4.18 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.04 EPA/play
2. 2 K. Lockett · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +3.79 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.63 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Gonzalez · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +3.76 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.54 EPA/play
4. 4 C. Chandler · Atlanta Falcons · Passing · +2.39 total EPA · 35 snaps · +0.07 EPA/play
5. 5 F. Moreau · Kansas City Chiefs · Rushing · +2.26 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.13 EPA/play
6. 6 B. Kozlowski · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.82 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.61 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Mathis · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.61 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.27 EPA/play
8. 8 R. Kelly · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.09 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.22 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 — unlisted player (Q1 51:55)
• Kansas City Chiefs — unlisted player (Q1 45:28)
• Atlanta Falcons — unlisted player (Q4 7:02)
• Kansas City Chiefs — unlisted player (Q4 0:13)

Field goals

• Atlanta Falcons — unlisted player (Q2 36:41)
• Atlanta Falcons — unlisted player (Q2 34:59)
• Atlanta Falcons — unlisted player (Q3 19:45)
• Atlanta Falcons — unlisted player (Q3 15:18)
• Atlanta Falcons — unlisted player (Q4 2:00)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the KC 17 (Q1 51:55) — (6:55) C.Chandler pass to S.Jefferson for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q1 51:48) — M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-D.Rackley, Holder-D.Stryzinski.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the ATL 21 (Q1 45:28) — (:28) E.Grbac pass to T.Gonzalez for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q1 45:19) — T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-K.Gammon, Holder-T.Sauerbrun..

The second quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 6–0. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the KC 6 (Q2 36:41) — (6:41) M.Andersen 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-D.Rackley, Holder-D.Stryzinski.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the KC 30 (Q2 34:59) — (4:59) M.Andersen 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-D.Rackley, Holder-D.Stryzinski..

The third quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 6–0. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the KC 24 (Q3 19:45) — (4:45) M.Andersen 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-D.Rackley, Holder-D.Stryzinski.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the KC 5 (Q3 15:18) — (:18) M.Andersen 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-D.Rackley, Holder-D.Stryzinski..

The fourth quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 10–6. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the KC 6 (Q4 7:02) — (7:02) C.Chandler pass to B.Kozlowski for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q4 6:56) — M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-D.Rackley, Holder-D.Stryzinski.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the KC 18 (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) M.Andersen 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-D.Rackley, Holder-D.Stryzinski.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the ATL 1 (Q4 0:13) — (:13) F.Moreau up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN..

Turning points

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 60:00) — T.Sauerbrun kicks 60 yards from KC 30 to ATL 10. T.Dwight to ATL 25 for 15 yards (M.Cloud). [WPA +54.6% · EPA +0.42]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 54:20) — (9:20) M.Andersen 50 yard field goal is BLOCKED (W.Bartee), Center-D.Rackley, Holder-D.Stryzinski, RECOVERED by KC-G.Wesley at ATL 45. G.Wesley to ATL 30 for 15 yards (D.Rackley). PENALTY on KC-M.Patt [WPA +10.4% · EPA +2.84]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 45:28) — (:28) E.Grbac pass to T.Gonzalez for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +8.0% · EPA +2.75]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 51:55) — (6:55) C.Chandler pass to S.Jefferson for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.7% · EPA +3.38]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 34:59) — (4:59) M.Andersen 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-D.Rackley, Holder-D.Stryzinski. [WPA +7.5% · EPA +1.65]

Impact plays

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

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 7:52) — (7:52) E.Grbac sacked at KC 7 for -8 yards (M.Carter). FUMBLES (M.Carter), touched at KC 8, RECOVERED by ATL-D.Vaughn at KC 8. [WPA -2.1% · EPA -5.14]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 13:16) — (13:16) T.Peterson 43 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-K.Gammon, Holder-T.Sauerbrun. [WPA -1.7% · EPA -3.66]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 51:55) — (6:55) C.Chandler pass to S.Jefferson for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.7% · EPA +3.38]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 54:20) — (9:20) M.Andersen 50 yard field goal is BLOCKED (W.Bartee), Center-D.Rackley, Holder-D.Stryzinski, RECOVERED by KC-G.Wesley at ATL 45. G.Wesley to ATL 30 for 15 yards (D.Rackley). PENALTY on KC-M.Patt [WPA +10.4% · EPA +2.84]

Quarterback report card

E.Grbac led all passers in efficiency for Kansas City Chiefs, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• E.Grbac (Kansas City Chiefs) · 38 dropbacks · 47.4% completion · -0.13 EPA/play · -4.92 total EPA
• C.Chandler (Atlanta Falcons) · 35 dropbacks · 57.1% completion · +0.07 EPA/play · +2.39 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 (+0.09 vs -0.13), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Atlanta Falcons: 11 drives, +7.90 total EPA, 7 scoring drives
• Kansas City Chiefs: 10 drives, -9.07 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.
• S. Jefferson (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 TD (+6) — Q1 51:55 · KC 17 · Score 0-6
   (6:55) C.Chandler pass to S.Jefferson for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q1 51:48 · KC 2 · Score 0-7
   M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-D.Rackley, Holder-D.Stryzinski.
3. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q1 45:28 · ATL 21 · Score 6-7
   (:28) E.Grbac pass to T.Gonzalez for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q1 45:19 · ATL 2 · Score 7-7
   T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-K.Gammon, Holder-T.Sauerbrun.
5. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 36:41 · KC 6 · Score 7-10
   (6:41) M.Andersen 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-D.Rackley, Holder-D.Stryzinski.
6. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 34:59 · KC 30 · Score 7-13
   (4:59) M.Andersen 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-D.Rackley, Holder-D.Stryzinski.
7. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q3 19:45 · KC 24 · Score 7-16
   (4:45) M.Andersen 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-D.Rackley, Holder-D.Stryzinski.
8. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q3 15:18 · KC 5 · Score 7-19
   (:18) M.Andersen 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-D.Rackley, Holder-D.Stryzinski.
9. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 7:02 · KC 6 · Score 7-25
   (7:02) C.Chandler pass to B.Kozlowski for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q4 6:56 · KC 2 · Score 7-26
    M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-D.Rackley, Holder-D.Stryzinski.
11. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q4 2:00 · KC 18 · Score 7-29
    (2:00) M.Andersen 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-D.Rackley, Holder-D.Stryzinski.
12. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q4 0:13 · ATL 1 · Score 13-29
    (:13) F.Moreau up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.