Game story
In Week 12 of the 2004 NFL season on 2004-11-28, the Atlanta Falcons took care of business against the New Orleans Saints, pulling away with a 24–21 final that came down to the wire.
The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 16 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.
A. Brooks (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with +2.30 total EPA.
On the individual side, J. Horn (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.64 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.
The momentum swing (-29.6% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Atlanta Falcons changed the game: (3:11) 28-W.Dunn right end to NO 6 for no gain (50-J.Allen). FUMBLES (50-J.Allen), RECOVERED by NO-50-J.Allen at NO 6. 50-J.Allen to NO 6 for no gain (28-W.Dunn).
Line score
Final score and points by quarter.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | — | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Saints | 0 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 7 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
Stars of the game
Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.
- 1 J. Horn · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +9.64 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.96 EPA/play
- 2 A. Crumpler · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +8.41 total EPA · 4 snaps · +2.10 EPA/play
- 3 P. Price · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +6.64 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.66 EPA/play
- 4 J. Pathon · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +5.07 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.54 EPA/play
- 5 M. Vick · Atlanta Falcons · Rushing · +4.61 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
- 6 A. Brooks · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +3.23 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.08 EPA/play
- 7 A. Brooks · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +2.30 total EPA · 41 snaps · +0.06 EPA/play
- 8 D. Stallworth · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +2.21 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.21 EPA/play
Player of the game
FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.
J. Horn — NO · Receiving
J. Horn posted the highest total EPA (+9.64) in the game, making the biggest overall impact on New Orleans Saints's efficiency. Across 10 counted snaps, they averaged +0.96 EPA per play.
The signature play (-5.76 EPA) came from Atlanta Falcons: (:48) 7-M.Vick pass intended for 28-W.Dunn INTERCEPTED by 94-C.Grant at ATL 38. 94-C.Grant to ATL 30 for 8 yards (28-W.Dunn).
Who scored touchdowns and field goals
Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.
Touchdowns
- Atlanta Falcons — M. Vick
- Atlanta Falcons — S. Pritchett (M. Vick pass)
- New Orleans Saints — A. Brooks
- New Orleans Saints — J. Horn (A. Brooks pass)
- Atlanta Falcons — A. Crumpler (M. Vick pass)
Field goals
- New Orleans Saints — J. Carney
- New Orleans Saints — J. Carney
- Atlanta Falcons — J. Feely
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 NO 16 (Q1 52:43) — (7:43) 7-M.Vick up the middle for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q1 52:36) — 4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr..
The second quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 10–6. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NO 1 (Q2 42:31) — (12:31) 7-M.Vick pass to 46-S.Pritchett for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q2 42:26) — 4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the ATL 30 (Q2 39:26) — (9:26) 3-J.Carney 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the ATL 20 (Q2 36:26) — (6:26) 3-J.Carney 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NO 13 (Q2 30:03) — (:03) 4-J.Feely 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr..
The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 8–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 1 (Q3 17:24) — (2:24) 2-A.Brooks up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints registered a safety from the ATL 2 (Q3 17:18) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 2-A.Brooks pass to 87-J.Horn is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..
The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 7 (Q4 12:01) — (12:01) 2-A.Brooks pass to 87-J.Horn for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q4 11:56) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NO 20 (Q4 1:47) — (1:47) 7-M.Vick pass to 83-A.Crumpler for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q4 1:22) — 4-J.Feely extra point 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.
- Atlanta Falcons (Q4 3:11) — (3:11) 28-W.Dunn right end to NO 6 for no gain (50-J.Allen). FUMBLES (50-J.Allen), RECOVERED by NO-50-J.Allen at NO 6. 50-J.Allen to NO 6 for no gain (28-W.Dunn).
- Atlanta Falcons (Q4 1:47) — (1:47) 7-M.Vick pass to 83-A.Crumpler for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- Atlanta Falcons (Q3 15:48) — (:48) 7-M.Vick pass intended for 28-W.Dunn INTERCEPTED by 94-C.Grant at ATL 38. 94-C.Grant to ATL 30 for 8 yards (28-W.Dunn).
- Atlanta Falcons (Q4 4:39) — (4:39) (Shotgun) 7-M.Vick pass to 81-P.Price to NO 18 for 13 yards (43-M.McKenzie).
- Atlanta Falcons (Q4 1:56) — (1:56) 7-M.Vick pass to 83-A.Crumpler to NO 20 for 27 yards (40-M.Mitchell).
Impact plays
Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.
- Atlanta Falcons (Q3 15:48) — (:48) 7-M.Vick pass intended for 28-W.Dunn INTERCEPTED by 94-C.Grant at ATL 38. 94-C.Grant to ATL 30 for 8 yards (28-W.Dunn).
- Atlanta Falcons (Q4 3:11) — (3:11) 28-W.Dunn right end to NO 6 for no gain (50-J.Allen). FUMBLES (50-J.Allen), RECOVERED by NO-50-J.Allen at NO 6. 50-J.Allen to NO 6 for no gain (28-W.Dunn).
- New Orleans Saints (Q3 24:11) — (9:11) 3-J.Carney 37 yard field goal is BLOCKED (95-E.Jasper), Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman.
- New Orleans Saints (Q2 30:38) — (:38) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 82-B.Williams INTERCEPTED by 20-A.Rossum at NO 40. 20-A.Rossum to NO 26 for 14 yards (83-D.Stallworth).
Quarterback report card
A.Brooks led all passers in efficiency for New Orleans Saints, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.
- A.Brooks (New Orleans Saints) · 41 dropbacks · 46.3% completion · +0.06 EPA/play · +2.30 total EPA
- M.Vick (Atlanta Falcons) · 32 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -0.00 EPA/play · -0.10 total EPA
Team stats comparison
Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.
| Stat | New Orleans Saints | Atlanta Falcons |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive EPA/play | +0.016 | +0.006 |
| Offensive success rate | 44.3% | 43.9% |
| Pass EPA/play | +0.059 | +0.144 |
| Rush EPA/play | +0.082 | -0.180 |
| Defensive EPA/play | -0.006 | -0.016 |
| Defensive success rate | 56.1% | 55.7% |
By the numbers
Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (New Orleans Saints +0.02, Atlanta Falcons +0.01) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.
- Atlanta Falcons: 13 drives, +0.45 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
- New Orleans Saints: 12 drives, +1.41 total EPA, 4 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.
- One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
- 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.
- Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q1 52:43 · NO 16 · Score 0-6
(7:43) 7-M.Vick up the middle for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q1 52:36 · NO 2 · Score 0-7
4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr. - Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 42:31 · NO 1 · Score 0-13
(12:31) 7-M.Vick pass to 46-S.Pritchett for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. - Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q2 42:26 · NO 2 · Score 0-14
4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr. - New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 39:26 · ATL 30 · Score 3-14
(9:26) 3-J.Carney 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman. - New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 36:26 · ATL 20 · Score 6-14
(6:26) 3-J.Carney 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman. - Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 30:03 · NO 13 · Score 6-17
(:03) 4-J.Feely 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr. - New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 17:24 · ATL 1 · Score 12-17
(2:24) 2-A.Brooks up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. - New Orleans Saints Safety (+2) — Q3 17:18 · ATL 2 · Score 14-17
TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 2-A.Brooks pass to 87-J.Horn is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS. - New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 12:01 · ATL 7 · Score 20-17
(12:01) 2-A.Brooks pass to 87-J.Horn for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 11:56 · ATL 2 · Score 21-17
3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman. - Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 1:47 · NO 20 · Score 21-23
(1:47) 7-M.Vick pass to 83-A.Crumpler for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q4 1:22 · NO 2 · Score 21-24
4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
Frequently asked questions
Who won New Orleans Saints vs Atlanta Falcons?
The Atlanta Falcons beat the New Orleans Saints 24-21 in Week 12, 2004 on 2004-11-28.
What was the final score of New Orleans Saints vs Atlanta Falcons?
The final score was New Orleans Saints 21, Atlanta Falcons 24 (NO 21-24 ATL) in Week 12, 2004 on 2004-11-28.
What was the score by quarter in New Orleans Saints vs Atlanta Falcons?
Q1: New Orleans Saints 0, Atlanta Falcons 7; Q2: New Orleans Saints 6, Atlanta Falcons 10; Q3: New Orleans Saints 8, Atlanta Falcons 0; Q4: New Orleans Saints 7, Atlanta Falcons 7; Final: New Orleans Saints 21, Atlanta Falcons 24.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals in New Orleans Saints vs Atlanta Falcons?
Atlanta Falcons touchdown — M. Vick (Q1 52:43) Atlanta Falcons touchdown — S. Pritchett (M. Vick pass) (Q2 42:31) New Orleans Saints touchdown — A. Brooks (Q3 17:24) New Orleans Saints touchdown — J. Horn (A. Brooks pass) (Q4 12:01) Atlanta Falcons touchdown — A. Crumpler (M. Vick pass) (Q4 1:47) New Orleans Saints field goal — J. Carney (Q2 39:26, 3 pts) New Orleans Saints field goal — J. Carney (Q2 36:26, 3 pts) Atlanta Falcons field goal — J. Feely (Q2 30:03, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.
How did the quarterbacks play in New Orleans Saints vs Atlanta Falcons?
A. Brooks (New Orleans Saints), 46.3% completion, +0.06 EPA per dropback, +2.30 total passing EPA. M. Vick (Atlanta Falcons), 50.0% completion, -0.00 EPA per dropback, -0.10 total passing EPA.
Who was the most impactful player in New Orleans Saints vs Atlanta Falcons?
J. Horn (New Orleans Saints) led the game in total EPA with +9.64 on receiving plays. across 10 snaps. The top single-play swing was (-5.76 EPA): (:48) 7-M.Vick pass intended for 28-W.Dunn INTERCEPTED by 94-C.Grant at ATL 38. 94-C.Grant to ATL 30 for 8 yards (28-W.Dunn).. The biggest win-probability swing was -29.6%.
Was New Orleans Saints vs Atlanta Falcons a close game?
Yes — the margin was 3 points. Atlanta Falcons won 24-21 in a game that came down to the wire.
Season records after this game
New Orleans Saints
Entered 4-6 Now 4-7 L
Atlanta Falcons
Entered 8-2 Now 9-2 W
Fantasy · fantasyhq.co
