New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons: 2017 Week 14 Recap

Game story

In Week 14 of the 2017 NFL season on 2017-12-07, the Atlanta Falcons took care of business against the New Orleans Saints, pulling away with a 20–17 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with +1.38 total EPA, and +6.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Thomas (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.23 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-51.1% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (1:30) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep middle intended for 89-J.Hill INTERCEPTED by 45-D.Jones at ATL -5. Touchback.

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. Thomas · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +6.23 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.44 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Sanu · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +4.08 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.51 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Lewis · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.34 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.17 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Ingram · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.02 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Brees · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +1.52 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.52 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Brees · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +1.38 total EPA · 37 snaps · +0.04 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Gabriel · Atlanta Falcons · Rushing · +1.34 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.34 EPA/play
8. 8 B. Coleman · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.32 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.44 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 — D. Freeman (Q2 34:35)
• New Orleans Saints — T. Lewis (D. Brees pass) (Q2 32:00)
• New Orleans Saints — M. Thomas (D. Brees pass) (Q3 28:15)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Sanu (M. Ryan pass) (Q4 10:01)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — W. Lutz (Q1 54:52)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Bryant (Q1 50:37)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Bryant (Q4 3:54)

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. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the ATL 16 (Q1 54:52) — (9:52) 3-W.Lutz 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NO 10 (Q1 50:37) — (5:37) 3-M.Bryant 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher..

The second quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NO 1 (Q2 34:35) — (4:35) 74-T.Sambrailo reported in as eligible. 24-D.Freeman left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q2 34:29) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 26 (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 11-T.Lewis for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 15 (Q2 31:53) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 1 (Q3 28:15) — (13:15) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 13-M.Thomas for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 15 (Q3 28:10) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead..

The fourth quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 10–0. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NO 8 (Q4 10:01) — (10:01) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short middle to 12-M.Sanu for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q4 9:55) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NO 34 (Q4 3:54) — (3:54) 3-M.Bryant 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher..

Turning points

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q4 1:30) — (1:30) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep middle intended for 89-J.Hill INTERCEPTED by 45-D.Jones at ATL -5. Touchback. [WPA -51.1% · EPA -5.04]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 30:14) — (:14) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short left intended for 11-Ju.Jones INTERCEPTED by 23-M.Lattimore at NO 38. 23-M.Lattimore to ATL 29 for 33 yards (11-Ju.Jones). [WPA -21.4% · EPA -3.31]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 10:01) — (10:01) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short middle to 12-M.Sanu for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +17.8% · EPA +2.53]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 3:54) — (3:54) 3-M.Bryant 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher. [WPA +15.0% · EPA +1.55]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q3 29:53) — (14:53) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short right intended for 81-A.Hooper INTERCEPTED by 31-C.Banjo at ATL 29. 31-C.Banjo to ATL 29 for no gain (81-A.Hooper). [WPA -13.8% · EPA -5.23]

Impact plays

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q3 29:53) — (14:53) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short right intended for 81-A.Hooper INTERCEPTED by 31-C.Banjo at ATL 29. 31-C.Banjo to ATL 29 for no gain (81-A.Hooper). [WPA -13.8% · EPA -5.23]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 1:30) — (1:30) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep middle intended for 89-J.Hill INTERCEPTED by 45-D.Jones at ATL -5. Touchback. [WPA -51.1% · EPA -5.04]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q3 25:37) — (10:37) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass deep left intended for 11-Ju.Jones INTERCEPTED by 43-M.Williams at NO -7. 43-M.Williams pushed ob at NO 5 for 12 yards (26-T.Coleman). [WPA -12.7% · EPA -3.55]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 52:27) — (7:27) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short right to 11-Ju.Jones pushed ob at NO 15 for 38 yards (43-M.Williams). [WPA +12.3% · EPA +3.43]

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) · 37 dropbacks · 70.3% completion · +6.2% CPOE · +0.04 EPA/play · +1.38 total EPA
• M.Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) · 36 dropbacks · 41.7% completion · -4.6% CPOE · +0.01 EPA/play · +0.35 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (New Orleans Saints -0.03, Atlanta Falcons +0.01) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Atlanta Falcons: 10 drives, +0.64 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 10 drives, -1.71 total EPA, 3 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.
• M. Thomas (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.
• M. Ryan (ATL) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

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

1. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q1 54:52 · ATL 16 · Score 3-0
   (9:52) 3-W.Lutz 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
2. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q1 50:37 · NO 10 · Score 3-3
   (5:37) 3-M.Bryant 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.
3. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 34:35 · NO 1 · Score 3-9
   (4:35) 74-T.Sambrailo reported in as eligible. 24-D.Freeman left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q2 34:29 · NO 15 · Score 3-10
   3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.
5. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 32:00 · ATL 26 · Score 9-10
   (2:00) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 11-T.Lewis for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 31:53 · ATL 15 · Score 10-10
   3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
7. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 28:15 · ATL 1 · Score 16-10
   (13:15) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 13-M.Thomas for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
8. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 28:10 · ATL 15 · Score 17-10
   3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
9. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 10:01 · NO 8 · Score 17-16
   (10:01) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short middle to 12-M.Sanu for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q4 9:55 · NO 15 · Score 17-17
    3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.
11. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q4 3:54 · NO 34 · Score 17-20
    (3:54) 3-M.Bryant 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.