Minnesota Vikings vs. Atlanta Falcons: 2005 Week 4 Recap

Game story

In Week 4 of the 2005 NFL season on 2005-10-02, the Atlanta Falcons took care of business against the Minnesota Vikings, pulling away with a 30–10 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Culpepper (Minnesota Vikings) paced the passing game, with -12.20 total EPA.

On the individual side, W. Dunn (Atlanta Falcons) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.75 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-5.2% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Minnesota Vikings changed the game: (8:19) 11-D.Culpepper pass intended for 18-K.Robinson INTERCEPTED by 21-D.Hall at ATL 14. 21-D.Hall to MIN 49 for 37 yards (89-T.Taylor).

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 W. Dunn · Atlanta Falcons · Rushing · +6.75 total EPA · 18 snaps · +0.38 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Williamson · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +6.64 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.66 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Moore · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +4.99 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.83 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Taylor · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +4.47 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.89 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Vick · Atlanta Falcons · Passing · +4.28 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.39 EPA/play
6. 6 M. Vick · Atlanta Falcons · Rushing · +4.26 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.42 EPA/play
7. 7 R. White · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +2.75 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.37 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Blakley · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.74 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.74 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 — A. Crumpler (M. Vick pass) (Q1 52:50)
• Atlanta Falcons — T. Duckett (Q2 42:58)
• Atlanta Falcons — W. Dunn (Q2 33:46)
• Minnesota Vikings — T. Williamson (D. Culpepper pass) (Q4 2:39)

Field goals

• Atlanta Falcons — T. Peterson (Q2 30:06)
• Atlanta Falcons — T. Peterson (Q3 15:09)
• Minnesota Vikings — P. Edinger (Q4 8:17)
• Atlanta Falcons — T. Peterson (Q4 5:28)

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 MIN 5 (Q1 52:50) — (7:50) 7-M.Vick pass to 83-A.Crumpler for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q1 52:44) — 2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub..

The second quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 17–0. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the MIN 1 (Q2 42:58) — (12:58) 45-T.Duckett up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q2 42:55) — 2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the MIN 37 (Q2 33:46) — (3:46) 28-W.Dunn left tackle for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q2 33:40) — 2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the MIN 20 (Q2 30:06) — (:06) 2-T.Peterson 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub..

The third quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 3–0. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the MIN 8 (Q3 15:09) — (:09) 2-T.Peterson 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub..

The fourth quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 10–3. Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the ATL 25 (Q4 8:17) — (8:17) 1-P.Edinger 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the MIN 21 (Q4 5:28) — (5:28) 2-T.Peterson 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the ATL 16 (Q4 2:39) — (2:39) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 19-T.Williamson for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q4 2:33) — 1-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson..

Turning points

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

• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 38:19) — (8:19) 11-D.Culpepper pass intended for 18-K.Robinson INTERCEPTED by 21-D.Hall at ATL 14. 21-D.Hall to MIN 49 for 37 yards (89-T.Taylor). [WPA -5.2% · EPA -5.59]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 54:43) — (9:43) 7-M.Vick left end to MIN 31 for 23 yards (26-A.Winfield). [WPA +5.1% · EPA +1.30]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 30:01) — 9-M.Koenen kicks 39 yards from ATL 30 to MIN 31. 54-D.Thomas to MIN 37 for 6 yards (44-F.McCrary). [WPA -4.9% · EPA -0.00]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 57:32) — (12:32) 5-C.Kluwe punts 49 yards to ATL 30, Center-46-C.Loeffler. 20-A.Rossum pushed ob at ATL 43 for 13 yards (54-D.Thomas). PENALTY on ATL-84-R.White, Illegal Block Above the Waist, 10 yards, enforc [WPA +4.3% · EPA +1.44]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 48:38) — (3:38) (Shotgun) 7-M.Vick pass to 85-D.Blakley to MIN 37 for 10 yards (21-C.Chavous). [WPA +4.3% · EPA +1.74]

Impact plays

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

• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 38:19) — (8:19) 11-D.Culpepper pass intended for 18-K.Robinson INTERCEPTED by 21-D.Hall at ATL 14. 21-D.Hall to MIN 49 for 37 yards (89-T.Taylor). [WPA -5.2% · EPA -5.59]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 2:39) — (2:39) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 19-T.Williamson for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +0.0% · EPA +4.94]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q3 20:39) — (5:39) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper sacked at ATL 46 for -3 yards (75-R.Coleman). FUMBLES (75-R.Coleman), RECOVERED by ATL-97-P.Kerney at ATL 47. Penalty on MIN-76-C.Liwienski, Offensive Holding, declined [WPA -0.5% · EPA -4.13]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 33:46) — (3:46) 28-W.Dunn left tackle for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +0.7% · EPA +4.09]

Quarterback report card

D.Culpepper led all passers in efficiency for Minnesota Vikings, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Culpepper (Minnesota Vikings) · 46 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -0.27 EPA/play · -12.20 total EPA
• M.Schaub (Atlanta Falcons) · 16 dropbacks · 31.2% completion · -0.18 EPA/play · -2.82 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 (+0.14 vs -0.10), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Atlanta Falcons: 11 drives, +11.15 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Minnesota Vikings: 11 drives, -8.10 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.
• W. Dunn (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 52:50 · MIN 5 · Score 0-6
   (7:50) 7-M.Vick pass to 83-A.Crumpler for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q1 52:44 · MIN 2 · Score 0-7
   2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.
3. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 42:58 · MIN 1 · Score 0-13
   (12:58) 45-T.Duckett up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q2 42:55 · MIN 2 · Score 0-14
   2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.
5. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 33:46 · MIN 37 · Score 0-20
   (3:46) 28-W.Dunn left tackle for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q2 33:40 · MIN 2 · Score 0-21
   2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.
7. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 30:06 · MIN 20 · Score 0-24
   (:06) 2-T.Peterson 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.
8. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q3 15:09 · MIN 8 · Score 0-27
   (:09) 2-T.Peterson 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.
9. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q4 8:17 · ATL 25 · Score 3-27
   (8:17) 1-P.Edinger 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson.
10. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q4 5:28 · MIN 21 · Score 3-30
    (5:28) 2-T.Peterson 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.
11. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q4 2:39 · ATL 16 · Score 9-30
    (2:39) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 19-T.Williamson for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q4 2:33 · ATL 2 · Score 10-30
    1-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson.