New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons: 2008 Week 10 Recap

Game story

In Week 10 of the 2008 NFL season on 2008-11-09, the Atlanta Falcons took care of business against the New Orleans Saints, pulling away with a 34–20 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 28 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with -5.88 total EPA, and -5.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +12.81 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-6.6% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (14:56) 9-D.Brees pass deep left intended for 19-D.Henderson INTERCEPTED by 26-E.Coleman at ATL 35. 26-E.Coleman to NO 33 for 32 yards (68-M.Lehr).

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 M. Ryan · Atlanta Falcons · Passing · +12.81 total EPA · 24 snaps · +0.53 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Colston · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +10.34 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.48 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Norwood · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +8.07 total EPA · 2 snaps · +4.04 EPA/play
4. 4 R. White · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +7.97 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.59 EPA/play
5. 5 L. Moore · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +7.46 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.24 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Patten · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +5.08 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.54 EPA/play
7. 7 D. McAllister · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.92 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.96 EPA/play
8. 8 B. Miller · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.37 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.67 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 — R. White (M. Ryan pass) (Q1 54:12)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Turner (Q2 42:08)
• Atlanta Falcons — J. Norwood (M. Ryan pass) (Q4 14:53)
• New Orleans Saints — D. McAllister (D. Brees pass) (Q4 10:01)
• Atlanta Falcons — C. Jackson (Q4 1:30)
• New Orleans Saints — L. Moore (D. Brees pass) (Q4 0:06)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — G. Hartley (Q1 47:18)
• New Orleans Saints — G. Hartley (Q2 38:37)
• Atlanta Falcons — J. Elam (Q2 33:09)
• Atlanta Falcons — J. Elam (Q3 17:09)

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 7–3. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NO 16 (Q1 54:12) — (9:12) 2-M.Ryan pass deep middle to 84-R.White for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q1 54:07) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the ATL 6 (Q1 47:18) — (2:18) 5-G.Hartley 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-G.Pakulak..

The second quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 10–3. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NO 2 (Q2 42:08) — (12:08) 33-M.Turner left tackle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q2 42:04) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the ATL 26 (Q2 38:37) — (8:37) 5-G.Hartley 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-G.Pakulak.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NO 4 (Q2 33:09) — (3:09) 1-J.Elam 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen..

The third quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 3–0. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NO 9 (Q3 17:09) — (2:09) 1-J.Elam 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 14–14. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NO 67 (Q4 14:53) — (14:53) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short right to 32-J.Norwood for 67 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q4 14:40) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 15 (Q4 10:01) — (10:01) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 26-D.McAllister for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q4 9:54) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-G.Pakulak.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the ATL 8 (Q4 1:30); Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q4 1:17) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 32 (Q4 0:06) — (:06) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 16-L.Moore for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q4 0:00) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-G.Pakulak..

Turning points

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q1 59:56) — (14:56) 9-D.Brees pass deep left intended for 19-D.Henderson INTERCEPTED by 26-E.Coleman at ATL 35. 26-E.Coleman to NO 33 for 32 yards (68-M.Lehr). [WPA -6.6% · EPA -4.40]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 51:18) — (6:18) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 12-M.Colston to ATL 23 for 19 yards (23-C.Houston). [WPA +6.4% · EPA +1.99]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 55:29) — (10:29) 2-M.Ryan pass short left to 84-R.White pushed ob at NO 34 for 14 yards (43-K.Kaesviharn). [WPA +6.2% · EPA +1.34]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 59:39) — (14:39) 33-M.Turner up the middle to NO 35 for -2 yards (93-B.McCray). [WPA +5.3% · EPA -0.88]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 44:21) — (14:21) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short right to 84-R.White ran ob at 50 for 15 yards (34-M.McKenzie). [WPA +5.2% · EPA +1.99]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q4 1:30) — (1:30) 9-D.Brees pass short left intended for 19-D.Henderson INTERCEPTED by 22-C.Jackson (50-C.Lofton) at ATL 5. 22-C.Jackson for 95 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on NO-83-B.Miller, Offensive Pass Interfe [WPA -0.4% · EPA -11.81]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 14:53) — (14:53) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short right to 32-J.Norwood for 67 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +2.5% · EPA +5.69]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 0:06) — (:06) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 16-L.Moore for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -0.0% · EPA +5.23]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 59:56) — (14:56) 9-D.Brees pass deep left intended for 19-D.Henderson INTERCEPTED by 26-E.Coleman at ATL 35. 26-E.Coleman to NO 33 for 32 yards (68-M.Lehr). [WPA -6.6% · EPA -4.40]

Quarterback report card

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

• D.Brees (New Orleans Saints) · 62 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -5.6% CPOE · -0.09 EPA/play · -5.88 total EPA
• M.Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) · 24 dropbacks · 66.7% completion · +8.7% CPOE · +0.53 EPA/play · +12.81 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Atlanta Falcons held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.14 vs -0.03), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Atlanta Falcons: 12 drives, +10.70 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 11 drives, -2.32 total EPA, 5 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.
• M. Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Brees (NO) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• M. Ryan (ATL) 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. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q1 54:12 · NO 16 · Score 0-6
   (9:12) 2-M.Ryan pass deep middle to 84-R.White for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q1 54:07 · NO 2 · Score 0-7
   1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
3. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q1 47:18 · ATL 6 · Score 3-7
   (2:18) 5-G.Hartley 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-G.Pakulak.
4. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 42:08 · NO 2 · Score 3-13
   (12:08) 33-M.Turner left tackle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q2 42:04 · NO 2 · Score 3-14
   1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
6. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 38:37 · ATL 26 · Score 6-14
   (8:37) 5-G.Hartley 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-G.Pakulak.
7. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 33:09 · NO 4 · Score 6-17
   (3:09) 1-J.Elam 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
8. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q3 17:09 · NO 9 · Score 6-20
   (2:09) 1-J.Elam 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
9. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 14:53 · NO 67 · Score 6-26
   (14:53) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short right to 32-J.Norwood for 67 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q4 14:40 · NO 2 · Score 6-27
    1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
11. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 10:01 · ATL 15 · Score 12-27
    (10:01) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 26-D.McAllister for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 9:54 · ATL 2 · Score 13-27
    5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-G.Pakulak.
13. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 1:30 · ATL 8 · Score 13-33
    (1:30) 9-D.Brees pass short left intended for 19-D.Henderson INTERCEPTED by 22-C.Jackson (50-C.Lofton) at ATL 5. 22-C.Jackson for 95 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty o
14. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q4 1:17 · NO 2 · Score 13-34
    1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
15. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 0:06 · ATL 32 · Score 19-34
    (:06) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 16-L.Moore for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
16. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 0:00 · ATL 2 · Score 20-34
    5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-G.Pakulak.