New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons: 2005 Week 5 Recap

Game story

In Week 5 of the 2005 NFL season on 2005-10-09, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Atlanta Falcons, pulling away with a 31–28 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 18 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Schaub (Atlanta Falcons) paced the passing game, with +4.50 total EPA.

On the individual side, T. Brady (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +18.90 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+17.8% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Atlanta Falcons changed the game: (3:57) 8-M.Schaub pass to 89-D.White for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

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 · +18.90 total EPA · 34 snaps · +0.56 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Graham · New England Patriots · Receiving · +10.44 total EPA · 5 snaps · +2.09 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Branch · New England Patriots · Receiving · +8.73 total EPA · 8 snaps · +1.09 EPA/play
4. 4 B. Johnson · New England Patriots · Receiving · +6.18 total EPA · 1 snaps · +6.18 EPA/play
5. 5 A. Crumpler · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +5.82 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.97 EPA/play
6. 6 B. Finneran · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +4.97 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.83 EPA/play
7. 7 M. Schaub · Atlanta Falcons · Passing · +4.50 total EPA · 42 snaps · +0.11 EPA/play
8. 8 B. Watson · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.61 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.61 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

• New England Patriots — P. Pass (Q1 50:10)
• New England Patriots — D. Graham (T. Brady pass) (Q1 46:16)
• Atlanta Falcons — J. Griffith (M. Schaub pass) (Q2 43:28)
• New England Patriots — B. Watson (T. Brady pass) (Q3 29:06)
• New England Patriots — B. Johnson (T. Brady pass) (Q3 20:58)
• Atlanta Falcons — A. Crumpler (M. Schaub pass) (Q4 14:29)
• Atlanta Falcons — D. White (M. Schaub pass) (Q4 3:57)

Field goals

• Atlanta Falcons — T. Peterson (Q2 31:29)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Koenen (Q2 30:06)
• New England Patriots — A. Vinatieri (Q4 0:20)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: New England Patriots won the period 14–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the ATL 6 (Q1 50:10) — (5:10) 35-P.Pass left tackle for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q1 50:05) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the ATL 45 (Q1 46:16) — (1:16) 12-T.Brady pass to 82-D.Graham for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q1 46:03) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller..

The second quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 13–0. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NE 2 (Q2 43:28) — (13:28) 8-M.Schaub pass to 33-J.Griffith for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q2 43:24) — 2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NE 15 (Q2 31:29) — (1:29) 2-T.Peterson 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NE 40 (Q2 30:06) — (:06) 9-M.Koenen 58 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub..

The third quarter: New England Patriots won the period 14–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the ATL 33 (Q3 29:06) — (14:06) 12-T.Brady pass to 84-B.Watson for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q3 28:59) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the ATL 55 (Q3 20:58) — (5:58) 12-T.Brady pass to 81-B.Johnson for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q3 20:50) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller..

The fourth quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 15–3. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NE 25 (Q4 14:29) — (14:29) 8-M.Schaub pass to 83-A.Crumpler for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q4 14:23) — 2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NE 14 (Q4 3:57) — (3:57) 8-M.Schaub pass to 89-D.White for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons registered a safety from the NE 2 (Q4 3:52) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 8-M.Schaub pass to 86-B.Finneran is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the ATL 11 (Q4 0:20) — (:20) 4-A.Vinatieri 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller..

Turning points

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 3:57) — (3:57) 8-M.Schaub pass to 89-D.White for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +17.8% · EPA +2.54]
• New England Patriots (Q4 0:20) — (:20) 4-A.Vinatieri 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller. [WPA +17.0% · EPA +0.18]
• New England Patriots (Q1 52:33) — (7:33) 12-T.Brady pass to 83-D.Branch pushed ob at ATL 23 for 51 yards (21-D.Hall). [WPA +15.0% · EPA +4.28]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 3:52) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 8-M.Schaub pass to 86-B.Finneran is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS. [WPA +14.8% · EPA +1.05]
• New England Patriots (Q3 29:06) — (14:06) 12-T.Brady pass to 84-B.Watson for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +14.4% · EPA +3.61]

Impact plays

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

• New England Patriots (Q3 20:58) — (5:58) 12-T.Brady pass to 81-B.Johnson for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.3% · EPA +6.18]
• New England Patriots (Q1 46:16) — (1:16) 12-T.Brady pass to 82-D.Graham for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.2% · EPA +5.05]
• New England Patriots (Q3 15:41) — (:41) 12-T.Brady pass intended for 28-C.Dillon INTERCEPTED by 51-D.Williams (98-I.Reese) at ATL 47. 51-D.Williams to ATL 47 for no gain. [WPA -6.0% · EPA -4.94]
• New England Patriots (Q1 52:33) — (7:33) 12-T.Brady pass to 83-D.Branch pushed ob at ATL 23 for 51 yards (21-D.Hall). [WPA +15.0% · EPA +4.28]

Quarterback report card

M.Schaub led all passers in efficiency for Atlanta Falcons, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• M.Schaub (Atlanta Falcons) · 42 dropbacks · 42.9% completion · +0.11 EPA/play · +4.50 total EPA
• T.Brady (New England Patriots) · 34 dropbacks · 64.7% completion · +0.56 EPA/play · +18.90 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 (+0.22 vs +0.13), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Atlanta Falcons: 13 drives, +11.53 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 13 drives, +18.48 total EPA, 5 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• 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. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q1 50:10 · ATL 6 · Score 6-0
   (5:10) 35-P.Pass left tackle for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q1 50:05 · ATL 2 · Score 7-0
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.
3. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q1 46:16 · ATL 45 · Score 13-0
   (1:16) 12-T.Brady pass to 82-D.Graham for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q1 46:03 · ATL 2 · Score 14-0
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.
5. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 43:28 · NE 2 · Score 14-6
   (13:28) 8-M.Schaub pass to 33-J.Griffith for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q2 43:24 · NE 2 · Score 14-7
   2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.
7. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 31:29 · NE 15 · Score 14-10
   (1:29) 2-T.Peterson 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.
8. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 30:06 · NE 40 · Score 14-13
   (:06) 9-M.Koenen 58 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.
9. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 29:06 · ATL 33 · Score 20-13
   (14:06) 12-T.Brady pass to 84-B.Watson for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 28:59 · ATL 2 · Score 21-13
    4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.
11. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 20:58 · ATL 55 · Score 27-13
    (5:58) 12-T.Brady pass to 81-B.Johnson for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 20:50 · ATL 2 · Score 28-13
    4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.
13. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 14:29 · NE 25 · Score 28-19
    (14:29) 8-M.Schaub pass to 83-A.Crumpler for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q4 14:23 · NE 2 · Score 28-20
    2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-8-M.Schaub.
15. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 3:57 · NE 14 · Score 28-26
    (3:57) 8-M.Schaub pass to 89-D.White for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
16. Atlanta Falcons Safety (+2) — Q4 3:52 · NE 2 · Score 28-28
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 8-M.Schaub pass to 86-B.Finneran is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
17. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q4 0:20 · ATL 11 · Score 31-28
    (:20) 4-A.Vinatieri 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.