New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons: 2001 Week 13 Recap

Game story

In Week 13 of the 2001 NFL season on 2001-12-09, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Atlanta Falcons, pulling away with a 28–10 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Chandler (Atlanta Falcons) paced the passing game, with -8.40 total EPA.

On the individual side, J. Horn (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +13.66 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+16.0% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Atlanta Falcons changed the game: (10:21) 13-C.Mohr punts 55 yards to NO 14, Center-48-D.Rackley. 89-W.McGarity to NO 22 for 8 yards (36-T.Jervey). FUMBLES (36-T.Jervey), RECOVERED by ATL-37-D.Vaughn at NO 20.

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 J. Horn · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +13.66 total EPA · 10 snaps · +1.37 EPA/play
2. 2 A. Brooks · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +9.99 total EPA · 34 snaps · +0.29 EPA/play
3. 3 D. McAllister · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +5.63 total EPA · 1 snaps · +5.63 EPA/play
4. 4 B. Finneran · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +5.55 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.79 EPA/play
5. 5 W. Jackson · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +4.81 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.80 EPA/play
6. 6 R. Wilson · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.10 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.55 EPA/play
7. 7 D. McAllister · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +2.51 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.51 EPA/play
8. 8 B. Christian · Atlanta Falcons · Rushing · +2.20 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.37 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 — M. Smith (Q1 53:50)
• New Orleans Saints — W. Jackson (D. McAllister pass) (Q1 47:49)
• New Orleans Saints — R. Williams (Q1 46:48)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Horn (A. Brooks pass) (Q4 12:28)
• New Orleans Saints — D. McAllister (Q4 8:26)

Field goals

• Atlanta Falcons — J. Feely (Q2 37:31)

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 14–7. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NO 1 (Q1 53:50) — (8:50) 43-M.Smith up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q1 53:44) — 4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 12 (Q1 47:49) — (2:49) 26-D.McAllister pass to 88-W.Jackson for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q1 47:43) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 1 (Q1 46:48) — (1:48) 34-R.Williams up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q1 46:45) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin..

The second quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 3–0. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NO 4 (Q2 37:31) — (7:31) 4-J.Feely 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 14–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 50 (Q4 12:28) — (12:28) 2-A.Brooks pass to 87-J.Horn for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q4 12:20) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 54 (Q4 8:26) — (8:26) 26-D.McAllister left end for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q4 8:16) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin..

Turning points

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 40:21) — (10:21) 13-C.Mohr punts 55 yards to NO 14, Center-48-D.Rackley. 89-W.McGarity to NO 22 for 8 yards (36-T.Jervey). FUMBLES (36-T.Jervey), RECOVERED by ATL-37-D.Vaughn at NO 20. [WPA +16.0% · EPA +5.21]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 47:43) — 4-T.Gowin kicks 71 yards from NO 30 to ATL -1. 37-D.Vaughn to ATL 22 for 23 yards. FUMBLES, touched at ATL 21, RECOVERED by NO-37-S.Gleason at ATL 20. 37-S.Gleason to ATL 20 for no gain (50-A.Ulmer). [WPA -15.8% · EPA -5.28]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 13:28) — (13:28) 2-A.Brooks pass to 81-L.Hall to ATL 10 for 6 yards (53-M.Simoneau). FUMBLES (53-M.Simoneau), RECOVERED by ATL-52-M.Stewart at ATL 10. 52-M.Stewart to ATL 10 for no gain (53-R.Knight). Play Cha [WPA -14.1% · EPA -4.14]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 12:28) — (12:28) 2-A.Brooks pass to 87-J.Horn for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +11.6% · EPA +4.98]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass to 87-J.Horn to ATL 23 for 29 yards (37-D.Vaughn). [WPA +11.0% · EPA +3.39]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q4 8:26) — (8:26) 26-D.McAllister left end for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +3.3% · EPA +5.63]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 47:43) — 4-T.Gowin kicks 71 yards from NO 30 to ATL -1. 37-D.Vaughn to ATL 22 for 23 yards. FUMBLES, touched at ATL 21, RECOVERED by NO-37-S.Gleason at ATL 20. 37-S.Gleason to ATL 20 for no gain (50-A.Ulmer). [WPA -15.8% · EPA -5.28]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 40:21) — (10:21) 13-C.Mohr punts 55 yards to NO 14, Center-48-D.Rackley. 89-W.McGarity to NO 22 for 8 yards (36-T.Jervey). FUMBLES (36-T.Jervey), RECOVERED by ATL-37-D.Vaughn at NO 20. [WPA +16.0% · EPA +5.21]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 12:28) — (12:28) 2-A.Brooks pass to 87-J.Horn for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +11.6% · EPA +4.98]

Quarterback report card

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

• C.Chandler (Atlanta Falcons) · 48 dropbacks · 37.5% completion · -0.18 EPA/play · -8.40 total EPA
• A.Brooks (New Orleans Saints) · 34 dropbacks · 58.8% completion · +0.29 EPA/play · +9.99 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, New Orleans Saints generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.17 vs -0.12), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Atlanta Falcons: 12 drives, -10.05 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 11 drives, +12.23 total EPA, 4 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.
• J. Horn (New Orleans Saints) 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 53:50 · NO 1 · Score 0-6
   (8:50) 43-M.Smith up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q1 53:44 · NO 2 · Score 0-7
   4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
3. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 47:49 · ATL 12 · Score 6-7
   (2:49) 26-D.McAllister pass to 88-W.Jackson for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 47:43 · ATL 2 · Score 7-7
   3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin.
5. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 46:48 · ATL 1 · Score 13-7
   (1:48) 34-R.Williams up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
6. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 46:45 · ATL 2 · Score 14-7
   3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin.
7. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 37:31 · NO 4 · Score 14-10
   (7:31) 4-J.Feely 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
8. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 12:28 · ATL 50 · Score 20-10
   (12:28) 2-A.Brooks pass to 87-J.Horn for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 12:20 · ATL 2 · Score 21-10
   3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin.
10. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 8:26 · ATL 54 · Score 27-10
    (8:26) 26-D.McAllister left end for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 8:16 · ATL 2 · Score 28-10
    3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Gowin.