New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons: 2007 Week 14 Recap

Game story

In Week 14 of the 2007 NFL season on 2007-12-10, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Atlanta Falcons, pulling away with a 34–14 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Redman (Atlanta Falcons) paced the passing game, with -11.29 total EPA, and -5.1% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +18.69 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+15.0% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Atlanta Falcons changed the game: (1:30) 8-C.Redman pass deep left to 84-R.White for 33 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 D. Brees · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +18.69 total EPA · 41 snaps · +0.46 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Patten · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +14.57 total EPA · 9 snaps · +1.62 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Colston · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +8.87 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.99 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Jenkins · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +4.18 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.46 EPA/play
5. 5 R. White · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +4.06 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.35 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Norwood · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +3.88 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.94 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Stecker · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +2.79 total EPA · 20 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Henderson · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.78 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.78 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 — D. Patten (D. Brees pass) (Q1 48:24)
• Atlanta Falcons — R. White (C. Redman pass) (Q1 46:30)
• New Orleans Saints — M. Colston (D. Brees pass) (Q2 31:11)
• New Orleans Saints — M. Colston (D. Brees pass) (Q3 24:16)
• New Orleans Saints — R. Harper (Q3 23:39)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Jenkins (C. Redman pass) (Q4 8:54)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — O. Mare (Q2 40:45)
• New Orleans Saints — O. Mare (Q4 2:53)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 25 (Q1 48:24) — (3:24) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 81-D.Patten for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q1 48:18) — 2-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NO 33 (Q1 46:30) — (1:30) 8-C.Redman pass deep left to 84-R.White for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q1 46:22) — 5-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 10–0. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the ATL 5 (Q2 40:45) — (10:45) 2-O.Mare 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 15 (Q2 31:11) — (1:11) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 12-M.Colston for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q2 31:06) — 2-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 14–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 2 (Q3 24:16) — (9:16) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 12-M.Colston for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q3 24:13) — 2-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the NO 76 (Q3 23:39); New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q3 23:30) — 2-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford..

The fourth quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 7–3. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NO 13 (Q4 8:54) — (8:54) 8-C.Redman pass short middle to 12-M.Jenkins for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q4 8:52) — 5-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the ATL 18 (Q4 2:53) — (2:53) 2-O.Mare 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford..

Turning points

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 46:30) — (1:30) 8-C.Redman pass deep left to 84-R.White for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +15.0% · EPA +3.60]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 55:03) — (10:03) 9-D.Brees up the middle to NO 33 for no gain (55-J.Abraham, 21-D.Hall). [WPA -9.8% · EPA -3.06]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 49:12) — (4:12) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 83-B.Miller to ATL 25 for 36 yards (39-D.Stone). [WPA +9.3% · EPA +2.50]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 45:40) — (:40) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 12-M.Colston to NO 49 for 25 yards (51-D.Williams). [WPA +8.3% · EPA +2.71]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 47:37) — (2:37) (Shotgun) 8-C.Redman pass deep right to 19-L.Robinson pushed ob at NO 35 for 41 yards (42-J.David). [WPA +7.7% · EPA +3.67]

Impact plays

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q3 23:39) — (8:39) (Shotgun) 8-C.Redman pass short left intended for 12-M.Jenkins INTERCEPTED by 41-R.Harper at ATL 31. 41-R.Harper for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -6.4% · EPA -7.88]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 9:56) — (9:56) 9-M.Koenen punts 53 yards to NO 20, Center-46-M.Schneck. 16-L.Moore to NO 21 for 1 yard (59-M.Boley). FUMBLES (59-M.Boley), RECOVERED by ATL-30-D.Irons at NO 20. 30-D.Irons to NO 16 for 4 yards [WPA +0.0% · EPA +5.93]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 47:37) — (2:37) (Shotgun) 8-C.Redman pass deep right to 19-L.Robinson pushed ob at NO 35 for 41 yards (42-J.David). [WPA +7.7% · EPA +3.67]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 46:30) — (1:30) 8-C.Redman pass deep left to 84-R.White for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +15.0% · EPA +3.60]

Quarterback report card

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

• C.Redman (Atlanta Falcons) · 43 dropbacks · 53.5% completion · -5.1% CPOE · -0.26 EPA/play · -11.29 total EPA
• D.Brees (New Orleans Saints) · 41 dropbacks · 68.3% completion · +4.7% CPOE · +0.46 EPA/play · +18.69 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 (+0.16 vs -0.16), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Atlanta Falcons: 12 drives, -11.84 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 11 drives, +13.55 total EPA, 5 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.
• D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• C. Redman (ATL) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• D. Brees (NO) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 48:24 · ATL 25 · Score 6-0
   (3:24) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 81-D.Patten for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 48:18 · ATL 2 · Score 7-0
   2-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.
3. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q1 46:30 · NO 33 · Score 7-6
   (1:30) 8-C.Redman pass deep left to 84-R.White for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q1 46:22 · NO 2 · Score 7-7
   5-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
5. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 40:45 · ATL 5 · Score 10-7
   (10:45) 2-O.Mare 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.
6. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 31:11 · ATL 15 · Score 16-7
   (1:11) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 12-M.Colston for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 31:06 · ATL 2 · Score 17-7
   2-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.
8. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 24:16 · ATL 2 · Score 23-7
   (9:16) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 12-M.Colston for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 24:13 · ATL 2 · Score 24-7
   2-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.
10. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 23:39 · NO 76 · Score 30-7
    (8:39) (Shotgun) 8-C.Redman pass short left intended for 12-M.Jenkins INTERCEPTED by 41-R.Harper at ATL 31. 41-R.Harper for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 23:30 · ATL 2 · Score 31-7
    2-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.
12. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 8:54 · NO 13 · Score 31-13
    (8:54) 8-C.Redman pass short middle to 12-M.Jenkins for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q4 8:52 · NO 2 · Score 31-14
    5-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
14. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 2:53 · ATL 18 · Score 34-14
    (2:53) 2-O.Mare 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.