New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons: 2000 Week 8 Recap

Game story

In Week 8 of the 2000 NFL season on 2000-10-22, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Atlanta Falcons, pulling away with a 21–19 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 13 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Blake (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with +1.54 total EPA.

On the individual side, T. Dwight (Atlanta Falcons) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.27 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+56.6% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Atlanta Falcons changed the game: T.Gowin kicks 71 yards from NO 30 to ATL -1. D.Vaughn ran ob at ATL 34 for 35 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 T. Dwight · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +7.27 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.82 EPA/play
2. 2 R. Williams · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +4.25 total EPA · 30 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
3. 3 W. Jackson · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.64 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.88 EPA/play
4. 4 S. Jefferson · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +2.15 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.08 EPA/play
5. 5 L. Hall · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.14 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.07 EPA/play
6. 6 K. Poole · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.95 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.33 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Smith · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +1.58 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.53 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Blake · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +1.54 total EPA · 33 snaps · +0.05 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 Orleans Saints — unlisted player (Q1 50:49)
• Atlanta Falcons — unlisted player (Q2 31:30)
• New Orleans Saints — unlisted player (Q3 20:53)
• New Orleans Saints — unlisted player (Q4 4:14)
• Atlanta Falcons — unlisted player (Q4 3:04)

Field goals

• Atlanta Falcons — unlisted player (Q1 59:50)
• Atlanta Falcons — unlisted player (Q2 35:36)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–3. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NO 32 (Q1 59:50) — (14:50) M.Andersen 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-D.Rackley, Holder-D.Stryzinski.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 12 (Q1 50:49) — (5:49) R.Williams for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q1 49:20) — D.Brien extra point is GOOD, Center-K.Houser, Holder-T.Gowin..

The second quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 10–0. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NO 26 (Q2 35:36) — (5:36) M.Andersen 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-D.Rackley, Holder-D.Stryzinski.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NO 52 (Q2 31:30) — (1:30) C.Chandler pass to T.Dwight for 52 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q2 31:22) — M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-D.Rackley, Holder-D.Stryzinski..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 26 (Q3 20:53) — (5:53) R.Williams left end for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q3 20:45) — D.Brien extra point is GOOD, Center-K.Houser, Holder-T.Gowin..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–6. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 1 (Q4 4:14) — (4:14) R.Williams right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q4 4:10) — D.Brien extra point is GOOD, Center-K.Houser, Holder-T.Gowin.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NO 33 (Q4 3:04) — (3:04) C.Chandler pass to T.Mathis for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

Turning points

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 60:00) — T.Gowin kicks 71 yards from NO 30 to ATL -1. D.Vaughn ran ob at ATL 34 for 35 yards. [WPA +56.6% · EPA +0.85]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 3:04) — (3:04) C.Chandler pass to T.Mathis for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +26.3% · EPA +3.88]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 37:00) — (7:00) J.Blake pass intended for J.Horn INTERCEPTED by R.Bradford at NO 33. R.Bradford to NO 20 for 13 yards (J.Horn). [WPA -16.3% · EPA -4.45]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 31:30) — (1:30) C.Chandler pass to T.Dwight for 52 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.8% · EPA +4.92]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 2:45) — (2:45) J.Blake pass to L.Hall to NO 31 for 7 yards (C.Atkins). [WPA +13.3% · EPA +0.64]

Impact plays

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 31:30) — (1:30) C.Chandler pass to T.Dwight for 52 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.8% · EPA +4.92]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 37:00) — (7:00) J.Blake pass intended for J.Horn INTERCEPTED by R.Bradford at NO 33. R.Bradford to NO 20 for 13 yards (J.Horn). [WPA -16.3% · EPA -4.45]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 3:04) — (3:04) C.Chandler pass to T.Mathis for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +26.3% · EPA +3.88]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 38:23) — (8:23) M.Andersen 33 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-D.Rackley, Holder-D.Stryzinski. [WPA -12.0% · EPA -3.19]

Quarterback report card

J.Blake led all passers in efficiency for New Orleans Saints, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Blake (New Orleans Saints) · 33 dropbacks · 57.6% completion · +0.05 EPA/play · +1.54 total EPA
• C.Chandler (Atlanta Falcons) · 30 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · +0.02 EPA/play · +0.51 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (New Orleans Saints +0.06, Atlanta Falcons +0.03) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Atlanta Falcons: 9 drives, +1.84 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 10 drives, +5.69 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• New Orleans Saints 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. Dwight (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 59:50 · NO 32 · Score 0-3
   (14:50) M.Andersen 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-D.Rackley, Holder-D.Stryzinski.
2. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 50:49 · ATL 12 · Score 6-3
   (5:49) R.Williams for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 49:20 · ATL 2 · Score 7-3
   D.Brien extra point is GOOD, Center-K.Houser, Holder-T.Gowin.
4. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 35:36 · NO 26 · Score 7-6
   (5:36) M.Andersen 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-D.Rackley, Holder-D.Stryzinski.
5. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 31:30 · NO 52 · Score 7-12
   (1:30) C.Chandler pass to T.Dwight for 52 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q2 31:22 · NO 2 · Score 7-13
   M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-D.Rackley, Holder-D.Stryzinski.
7. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 20:53 · ATL 26 · Score 13-13
   (5:53) R.Williams left end for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 20:45 · ATL 2 · Score 14-13
   D.Brien extra point is GOOD, Center-K.Houser, Holder-T.Gowin.
9. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 4:14 · ATL 1 · Score 20-13
   (4:14) R.Williams right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
10. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 4:10 · ATL 2 · Score 21-13
    D.Brien extra point is GOOD, Center-K.Houser, Holder-T.Gowin.
11. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 3:04 · NO 33 · Score 21-19
    (3:04) C.Chandler pass to T.Mathis for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN.