New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons: 2001 Week 8 Recap

Game story

In Week 8 of the 2001 NFL season on 2001-11-04, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Atlanta Falcons, pulling away with a 24–10 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Brady (New England Patriots) paced the passing game, with +8.69 total EPA.

On the individual side, T. Brady (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +8.69 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-16.1% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New England Patriots changed the game: (8:34) 32-A.Smith to ATL 14 for 1 yard (47-C.Hudson). FUMBLES (47-C.Hudson), RECOVERED by ATL-97-P.Kerney at ATL 14.

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 T. Brady · New England Patriots · Passing · +8.69 total EPA · 35 snaps · +0.25 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Brown · New England Patriots · Receiving · +6.60 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.10 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Edwards · New England Patriots · Receiving · +4.58 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.29 EPA/play
4. 4 K. Faulk · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.10 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.62 EPA/play
5. 5 C. Jackson · New England Patriots · Receiving · +1.55 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.55 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Crumpler · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.55 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.77 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Martin · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.47 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.29 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Wiggins · New England Patriots · Receiving · +0.66 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.66 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 — S. Jefferson (C. Chandler pass) (Q1 47:42)
• New England Patriots — K. Faulk (T. Brady pass) (Q2 39:05)
• New England Patriots — M. Edwards (T. Brady pass) (Q2 30:21)
• New England Patriots — T. Brown (T. Brady pass) (Q3 15:44)

Field goals

• New England Patriots — A. Vinatieri (Q2 34:31)
• New England Patriots — C. Chandler (Q2 34:07)
• Atlanta Falcons — J. Feely (Q4 11:32)

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 NE 19 (Q1 47:42); Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q1 47:35) — 4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr..

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 20–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the ATL 4 (Q2 39:05) — (9:05) 12-T.Brady pass to 33-K.Faulk for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q2 39:00) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the ATL 30 (Q2 34:31) — (4:31) 4-A.Vinatieri 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the NE 36 (Q2 34:07) — (4:07) 12-C.Chandler sacked at NE 42 for -6 yards (93-R.Seymour).; New England Patriots found the end zone from the ATL 15 (Q2 30:21) — (:21) 12-T.Brady pass to 44-M.Edwards for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q2 30:15) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter..

The third quarter: New England Patriots won the period 7–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the ATL 44 (Q3 15:44) — (:44) 12-T.Brady pass to 80-T.Brown for 44 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q3 15:34) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter..

The fourth quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 3–0. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NE 3 (Q4 11:32) — (11:32) 4-J.Feely 20 yard field goal 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.

• New England Patriots (Q1 53:34) — (8:34) 32-A.Smith to ATL 14 for 1 yard (47-C.Hudson). FUMBLES (47-C.Hudson), RECOVERED by ATL-97-P.Kerney at ATL 14. [WPA -16.1% · EPA -5.29]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 38:09) — (8:09) 12-C.Chandler pass intended for 84-S.Jefferson INTERCEPTED by 45-O.Smith at ATL 43. 45-O.Smith to ATL 26 for 17 yards (62-T.McClure, 71-T.Claridge). [WPA -15.8% · EPA -4.70]
• New England Patriots (Q1 54:13) — (9:13) 12-T.Brady pass to 80-T.Brown to ATL 15 for 28 yards (22-G.McBurrows). [WPA +14.2% · EPA +3.88]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 34:26) — 4-A.Vinatieri kicks 63 yards from NE 30 to ATL 7. 37-D.Vaughn pushed ob at NE 36 for 57 yards (4-A.Vinatieri). [WPA +11.0% · EPA +2.57]
• New England Patriots (Q3 19:36) — (4:36) 44-M.Edwards to ATL 49 for no gain (56-K.Brooking). FUMBLES (56-K.Brooking), touched at ATL 33, RECOVERED by ATL-33-A.Ambrose at 50. 33-A.Ambrose to 50 for no gain (80-T.Brown). [WPA -10.1% · EPA -5.00]

Impact plays

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

• New England Patriots (Q1 53:34) — (8:34) 32-A.Smith to ATL 14 for 1 yard (47-C.Hudson). FUMBLES (47-C.Hudson), RECOVERED by ATL-97-P.Kerney at ATL 14. [WPA -16.1% · EPA -5.29]
• New England Patriots (Q3 19:36) — (4:36) 44-M.Edwards to ATL 49 for no gain (56-K.Brooking). FUMBLES (56-K.Brooking), touched at ATL 33, RECOVERED by ATL-33-A.Ambrose at 50. 33-A.Ambrose to 50 for no gain (80-T.Brown). [WPA -10.1% · EPA -5.00]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 38:09) — (8:09) 12-C.Chandler pass intended for 84-S.Jefferson INTERCEPTED by 45-O.Smith at ATL 43. 45-O.Smith to ATL 26 for 17 yards (62-T.McClure, 71-T.Claridge). [WPA -15.8% · EPA -4.70]
• New England Patriots (Q3 15:44) — (:44) 12-T.Brady pass to 80-T.Brown for 44 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.3% · EPA +4.40]

Quarterback report card

T.Brady led all passers in efficiency for New England Patriots, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• T.Brady (New England Patriots) · 35 dropbacks · 60.0% completion · +0.25 EPA/play · +8.69 total EPA
• C.Chandler (Atlanta Falcons) · 28 dropbacks · 28.6% completion · -0.52 EPA/play · -14.65 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, New England Patriots generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.04 vs -0.26), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Atlanta Falcons: 13 drives, -20.27 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 13 drives, -3.49 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• New England Patriots leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• T. Brady (New England Patriots) 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 47:42 · NE 19 · Score 0-6
   (2:42) 12-C.Chandler pass to 84-S.Jefferson for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on NE-91-B.Hamilton, Defensive Offside, declined. Penalty on NE-34-T.Jones, Defensi
2. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q1 47:35 · NE 2 · Score 0-7
   4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
3. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 39:05 · ATL 4 · Score 6-7
   (9:05) 12-T.Brady pass to 33-K.Faulk for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 39:00 · ATL 2 · Score 7-7
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
5. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 34:31 · ATL 30 · Score 10-7
   (4:31) 4-A.Vinatieri 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
6. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 34:07 · NE 36 · Score 10-7
   (4:07) 12-C.Chandler sacked at NE 42 for -6 yards (93-R.Seymour).
7. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 30:21 · ATL 15 · Score 16-7
   (:21) 12-T.Brady pass to 44-M.Edwards for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 30:15 · ATL 2 · Score 17-7
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
9. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 15:44 · ATL 44 · Score 23-7
   (:44) 12-T.Brady pass to 80-T.Brown for 44 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 15:34 · ATL 2 · Score 24-7
    4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
11. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q4 11:32 · NE 3 · Score 24-10
    (11:32) 4-J.Feely 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.