New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons: 2011 Week 10 Recap

Game story

In Week 10 of the 2011 NFL season on 2011-11-13, 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 Q4 with 16 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) paced the passing game, with +4.38 total EPA, and -3.1% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Colston (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +12.52 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-26.0% win probability) landed in overtime when Atlanta Falcons changed the game: (10:52) 33-M.Turner up the middle to ATL 29 for no gain (92-S.Rogers; 91-W.Smith).

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. Colston · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +12.52 total EPA · 9 snaps · +1.39 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Brees · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +11.24 total EPA · 45 snaps · +0.25 EPA/play
3. 3 R. Meachem · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +6.67 total EPA · 2 snaps · +3.33 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Ryan · Atlanta Falcons · Passing · +4.38 total EPA · 57 snaps · +0.08 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Gonzalez · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +3.36 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.34 EPA/play
6. 6 E. Weems · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +2.78 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.56 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Snelling · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +2.08 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.04 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Graham · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.70 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.14 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 — J. Graham (D. Brees pass) (Q2 32:40)
• Atlanta Falcons — J. Snelling (M. Ryan pass) (Q3 20:18)
• New Orleans Saints — R. Meachem (D. Brees pass) (Q3 16:39)
• Atlanta Falcons — T. Gonzalez (M. Ryan pass) (Q4 4:18)

Field goals

• Atlanta Falcons — M. Bryant (Q1 51:24)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Kasay (Q1 47:53)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Bryant (Q2 39:29)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Kasay (Q4 12:02)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Kasay (Q4 7:18)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Bryant (Q4 0:04)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Kasay (OT 8:29)

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 3–3. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NO 19 (Q1 51:24) — (6:24) 3-M.Bryant 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-5-M.Bosher.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the ATL 35 (Q1 47:53) — (2:53) 2-J.Kasay 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–3. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NO 11 (Q2 39:29) — (9:29) 3-M.Bryant 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-5-M.Bosher.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 21 (Q2 32:40) — (2:40) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 80-J.Graham for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q2 32:34) — 2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NO 21 (Q3 20:18) — (5:18) 2-M.Ryan pass short middle to 44-J.Snelling for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q3 20:08) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-5-M.Bosher.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 33 (Q3 16:39) — (1:39) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 17-R.Meachem for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q3 16:31) — 2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel..

The fourth quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 10–6. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the ATL 30 (Q4 12:02) — (12:02) 2-J.Kasay 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the ATL 26 (Q4 7:18) — (7:18) 2-J.Kasay 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NO 20 (Q4 4:18) — (4:18) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass deep middle to 88-T.Gonzalez for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q4 4:13) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-5-M.Bosher.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NO 9 (Q4 0:04) — (:04) 3-M.Bryant 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-5-M.Bosher..

Overtime: New Orleans Saints won the period 3–0. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the ATL 8 (OT 8:29) — (8:29) 2-J.Kasay 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel..

Turning points

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

• Atlanta Falcons (OT 10:52) — (10:52) 33-M.Turner up the middle to ATL 29 for no gain (92-S.Rogers; 91-W.Smith). [WPA -26.0% · EPA -3.39]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 0:04) — (:04) 3-M.Bryant 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-5-M.Bosher. [WPA +18.7% · EPA +0.11]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 16:39) — (1:39) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 17-R.Meachem for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +17.1% · EPA +3.74]
• Atlanta Falcons (OT 14:12) — (14:12) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass incomplete short left to 83-H.Douglas. [WPA -15.4% · EPA -1.61]
• Atlanta Falcons (OT 11:16) — (11:16) 2-M.Ryan pass short right to 42-M.Cox to ATL 31 for 2 yards (56-J.Dunbar). The Replay Assistant challenged the first down ruling, and the play was REVERSED. 2-M.Ryan pass short right to 42-M.C [WPA -14.9% · EPA -1.63]

Impact plays

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) 2-M.Ryan pass short right intended for 84-R.White INTERCEPTED by 58-S.Shanle at ATL 38. 58-S.Shanle to ATL 26 for 12 yards (61-J.Hawley). [WPA -11.2% · EPA -4.91]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 26:17) — (11:17) 2-J.Kasay 40 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel. [WPA -7.8% · EPA -4.18]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 16:39) — (1:39) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 17-R.Meachem for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +17.1% · EPA +3.74]
• Atlanta Falcons (OT 10:52) — (10:52) 33-M.Turner up the middle to ATL 29 for no gain (92-S.Rogers; 91-W.Smith). [WPA -26.0% · EPA -3.39]

Quarterback report card

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

• M.Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) · 57 dropbacks · 50.9% completion · -3.1% CPOE · +0.08 EPA/play · +4.38 total EPA
• D.Brees (New Orleans Saints) · 45 dropbacks · 66.7% completion · +5.7% CPOE · +0.25 EPA/play · +11.24 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 (+0.06 vs -0.03), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Atlanta Falcons: 14 drives, -3.24 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 12 drives, +4.61 total EPA, 6 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.
• M. Colston (New Orleans Saints) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• M. Ryan (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. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q1 51:24 · NO 19 · Score 0-3
   (6:24) 3-M.Bryant 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-5-M.Bosher.
2. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q1 47:53 · ATL 35 · Score 3-3
   (2:53) 2-J.Kasay 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
3. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 39:29 · NO 11 · Score 3-6
   (9:29) 3-M.Bryant 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-5-M.Bosher.
4. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 32:40 · ATL 21 · Score 9-6
   (2:40) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 80-J.Graham for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 32:34 · ATL 2 · Score 10-6
   2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
6. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q3 20:18 · NO 21 · Score 10-12
   (5:18) 2-M.Ryan pass short middle to 44-J.Snelling for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q3 20:08 · NO 2 · Score 10-13
   3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-5-M.Bosher.
8. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 16:39 · ATL 33 · Score 16-13
   (1:39) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 17-R.Meachem for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 16:31 · ATL 2 · Score 17-13
   2-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
10. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 12:02 · ATL 30 · Score 20-13
    (12:02) 2-J.Kasay 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
11. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 7:18 · ATL 26 · Score 23-13
    (7:18) 2-J.Kasay 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
12. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 4:18 · NO 20 · Score 23-19
    (4:18) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass deep middle to 88-T.Gonzalez for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q4 4:13 · NO 2 · Score 23-20
    3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-5-M.Bosher.
14. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q4 0:04 · NO 9 · Score 23-23
    (:04) 3-M.Bryant 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-5-M.Bosher.
15. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — OT 8:29 · ATL 8 · Score 26-23
    (8:29) 2-J.Kasay 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.