New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons: 2009 Week 14 Recap

Game story

In Week 14 of the 2009 NFL season on 2009-12-13, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Atlanta Falcons, pulling away with a 26–23 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.

D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with +24.23 total EPA, and +11.5% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +24.23 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-21.2% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Atlanta Falcons changed the game: (1:18) (Shotgun) 8-C.Redman pass short middle to 44-J.Snelling to NO 45 for 1 yard (51-J.Vilma).

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 · +24.23 total EPA · 43 snaps · +0.56 EPA/play
2. 2 C. Redman · Atlanta Falcons · Passing · +8.99 total EPA · 35 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
3. 3 R. Bush · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +7.44 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.24 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Colston · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +6.08 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.87 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Jenkins · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +6.05 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.21 EPA/play
6. 6 R. Meachem · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.28 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.66 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Snelling · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +3.00 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.60 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Gonzalez · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +2.00 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.29 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 — R. Bush (D. Brees pass) (Q2 39:53)
• New Orleans Saints — M. Colston (D. Brees pass) (Q2 30:56)
• New Orleans Saints — R. Bush (D. Brees pass) (Q3 24:19)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Jenkins (C. Redman pass) (Q3 21:19)
• Atlanta Falcons — J. Snelling (Q4 13:01)

Field goals

• Atlanta Falcons — M. Bryant (Q1 55:31)
• New Orleans Saints — G. Hartley (Q1 51:03)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Bryant (Q1 45:36)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Bryant (Q2 30:04)
• New Orleans Saints — G. Hartley (Q4 4:46)

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 6–3. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NO 18 (Q1 55:31) — (10:31) 3-M.Bryant 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the ATL 15 (Q1 51:03) — (6:03) 5-G.Hartley 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-11-M.Brunell.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NO 12 (Q1 45:36) — (:36) 3-M.Bryant 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 13–3. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 6 (Q2 39:53) — (9:53) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 25-R.Bush for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q2 39:43) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-11-M.Brunell.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 3 (Q2 30:56) — (:56) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 12-M.Colston for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NO 8 (Q2 30:04) — (:04) 3-M.Bryant 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 21 (Q3 24:19) — (9:19) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 25-R.Bush for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q3 24:11) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-11-M.Brunell.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NO 50 (Q3 21:19) — (6:19) 8-C.Redman pass short middle to 12-M.Jenkins for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q3 21:11) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen..

The fourth quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 7–3. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NO 4 (Q4 13:01) — (13:01) 44-J.Snelling up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q4 12:56) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the ATL 20 (Q4 4:46) — (4:46) 5-G.Hartley 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-11-M.Brunell..

Turning points

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 1:18) — (1:18) (Shotgun) 8-C.Redman pass short middle to 44-J.Snelling to NO 45 for 1 yard (51-J.Vilma). [WPA -21.2% · EPA -0.88]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 2:11) — (2:11) (Field Goal formation) 11-M.Brunell pass incomplete short left to 80-D.Dinkins. [WPA -19.8% · EPA -3.12]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 3:55) — (3:55) 8-C.Redman pass deep middle intended for 84-R.White INTERCEPTED by 51-J.Vilma at ATL 43. 51-J.Vilma to ATL 32 for 11 yards (32-J.Norwood). [WPA -14.8% · EPA -3.60]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 13:01) — (13:01) 44-J.Snelling up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +14.5% · EPA +1.09]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 41:57) — (11:57) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 17-R.Meachem to ATL 11 for 42 yards (21-C.Owens). [WPA +13.5% · EPA +3.73]

Impact plays

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q3 21:19) — (6:19) 8-C.Redman pass short middle to 12-M.Jenkins for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +9.7% · EPA +4.85]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 24:19) — (9:19) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 25-R.Bush for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +10.5% · EPA +4.03]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 41:57) — (11:57) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 17-R.Meachem to ATL 11 for 42 yards (21-C.Owens). [WPA +13.5% · EPA +3.73]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 3:55) — (3:55) 8-C.Redman pass deep middle intended for 84-R.White INTERCEPTED by 51-J.Vilma at ATL 43. 51-J.Vilma to ATL 32 for 11 yards (32-J.Norwood). [WPA -14.8% · EPA -3.60]

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) · 43 dropbacks · 72.1% completion · +11.5% CPOE · +0.56 EPA/play · +24.23 total EPA
• C.Redman (Atlanta Falcons) · 35 dropbacks · 65.7% completion · -0.3% CPOE · +0.26 EPA/play · +8.99 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 (+0.20 vs +0.15), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Atlanta Falcons: 8 drives, +10.36 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 8 drives, +17.16 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• 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. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q1 55:31 · NO 18 · Score 0-3
   (10:31) 3-M.Bryant 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
2. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q1 51:03 · ATL 15 · Score 3-3
   (6:03) 5-G.Hartley 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-11-M.Brunell.
3. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q1 45:36 · NO 12 · Score 3-6
   (:36) 3-M.Bryant 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
4. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 39:53 · ATL 6 · Score 9-6
   (9:53) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 25-R.Bush for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 39:43 · ATL 2 · Score 10-6
   5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-11-M.Brunell.
6. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 30:56 · ATL 3 · Score 16-6
   (:56) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 12-M.Colston for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 30:04 · NO 8 · Score 16-9
   (:04) 3-M.Bryant 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
8. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 24:19 · ATL 21 · Score 22-9
   (9:19) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 25-R.Bush for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 24:11 · ATL 2 · Score 23-9
   5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-11-M.Brunell.
10. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q3 21:19 · NO 50 · Score 23-15
    (6:19) 8-C.Redman pass short middle to 12-M.Jenkins for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q3 21:11 · NO 2 · Score 23-16
    3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
12. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 13:01 · NO 4 · Score 23-22
    (13:01) 44-J.Snelling up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q4 12:56 · NO 2 · Score 23-23
    3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
14. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 4:46 · ATL 20 · Score 26-23
    (4:46) 5-G.Hartley 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-J.Kyle, Holder-11-M.Brunell.