New York Giants vs. Atlanta Falcons: 2024 Week 16 Recap

Game story

In Week 16 of the 2024 NFL season on 2024-12-22, the Atlanta Falcons took care of business against the New York Giants, pulling away with a 34–7 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 30 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Lock (New York Giants) paced the passing game, with -22.85 total EPA, and -8.8% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Penix (Atlanta Falcons) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +8.07 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-29.6% win probability) landed in the second quarter when New York Giants changed the game: (8:05) (Shotgun) 2-D.Lock pass short left intended for 17-W.Robinson INTERCEPTED by 3-J.Bates [55-K.Elliss] at ATL 45. 3-J.Bates for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on NYG-1-M.Nabers, Illegal Shift, decl

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. Penix · Atlanta Falcons · Passing · +8.07 total EPA · 30 snaps · +0.27 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Tracy · New York Giants · Receiving · +5.95 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.49 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Mooney · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +4.72 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.79 EPA/play
4. 4 D. London · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +3.99 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.50 EPA/play
5. 5 B. Robinson · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.07 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.54 EPA/play
6. 6 C. Blair · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +0.98 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.98 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Bellinger · New York Giants · Receiving · +0.87 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.43 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Allgeier · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +0.65 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.65 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 York Giants — T. Tracy (D. Lock pass) (Q2 45:00)
• Atlanta Falcons — J. Bates (Q2 38:05)
• Atlanta Falcons — B. Robinson (Q2 31:48)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Judon (Q3 29:27)
• Atlanta Falcons — B. Robinson (Q3 22:19)

Field goals

• Atlanta Falcons — R. Patterson (Q2 40:41)
• Atlanta Falcons — R. Patterson (Q4 10:50)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The second quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 23–7. New York Giants found the end zone from the ATL 2 (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 2-D.Lock pass short left to 29-T.Tracy for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Giants added 1 points from the ATL 15 (Q2 44:53) — 9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-59-C.Kreiter, Holder-6-J.Gillan.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NYG 34 (Q2 40:41) — (10:41) 37-R.Patterson 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the ATL 48 (Q2 38:05); Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NYG 15 (Q2 37:56) — 37-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NYG 4 (Q2 31:48) — (1:48) (Shotgun) 7-B.Robinson left tackle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NYG 15 (Q2 31:43) — 37-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion..

The third quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 14–0. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the ATL 67 (Q3 29:27); Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NYG 15 (Q3 29:20) — 37-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NYG 2 (Q3 22:19) — (7:19) (Shotgun) 7-B.Robinson left end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NYG 15 (Q3 22:14) — 37-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion..

The fourth quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 3–0. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the NYG 18 (Q4 10:50) — (10:50) 37-R.Patterson 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion..

Turning points

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

• New York Giants (Q2 38:05) — (8:05) (Shotgun) 2-D.Lock pass short left intended for 17-W.Robinson INTERCEPTED by 3-J.Bates [55-K.Elliss] at ATL 45. 3-J.Bates for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on NYG-1-M.Nabers, Illegal Shift, decl [WPA -29.6% · EPA -9.37]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 30:16) — (:16) (Shotgun) 9-M.Penix pass short right intended for 8-K.Pitts INTERCEPTED by 28-C.Flott (24-D.Belton) at NYG -1. 28-C.Flott to NYG 25 for 26 yards (5-D.London). PENALTY on ATL-5-D.London, Unnecess [WPA -11.1% · EPA -3.87]
• New York Giants (Q3 29:27) — (14:27) (Shotgun) 2-D.Lock pass short middle intended for 1-M.Nabers INTERCEPTED by 15-M.Judon (96-Z.Harrison) at NYG 27. 15-M.Judon for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -9.2% · EPA -7.95]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 33:46) — (3:46) (Shotgun) 9-M.Penix pass incomplete deep left to 1-D.Mooney [90-E.Garcia]. PENALTY on NYG-3-D.Banks, Defensive Pass Interference, 30 yards, enforced at ATL 31 - No Play. [WPA +9.0% · EPA +2.97]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 56:48) — (11:48) 37-R.Patterson 43 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion. [WPA -8.7% · EPA -3.62]

Impact plays

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

• New York Giants (Q2 38:05) — (8:05) (Shotgun) 2-D.Lock pass short left intended for 17-W.Robinson INTERCEPTED by 3-J.Bates [55-K.Elliss] at ATL 45. 3-J.Bates for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on NYG-1-M.Nabers, Illegal Shift, decl [WPA -29.6% · EPA -9.37]
• New York Giants (Q3 29:27) — (14:27) (Shotgun) 2-D.Lock pass short middle intended for 1-M.Nabers INTERCEPTED by 15-M.Judon (96-Z.Harrison) at NYG 27. 15-M.Judon for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -9.2% · EPA -7.95]
• New York Giants (Q2 31:35) — (1:35) (Shotgun) 2-D.Lock sacked at NYG 31 for -10 yards (55-K.Elliss). FUMBLES (55-K.Elliss) [55-K.Elliss], RECOVERED by ATL-17-A.Ebiketie at NYG 31. [WPA -7.9% · EPA -5.41]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 30:16) — (:16) (Shotgun) 9-M.Penix pass short right intended for 8-K.Pitts INTERCEPTED by 28-C.Flott (24-D.Belton) at NYG -1. 28-C.Flott to NYG 25 for 26 yards (5-D.London). PENALTY on ATL-5-D.London, Unnecess [WPA -11.1% · EPA -3.87]

Quarterback report card

D.Lock led all passers in efficiency for New York Giants, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Lock (New York Giants) · 44 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -8.8% CPOE · -0.52 EPA/play · -22.85 total EPA
• M.Penix (Atlanta Falcons) · 30 dropbacks · 60.0% completion · -3.1% CPOE · +0.27 EPA/play · +8.07 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 (+0.07 vs -0.34), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Atlanta Falcons: 11 drives, +5.24 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New York Giants: 11 drives, -26.83 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.
• M. Penix (Atlanta Falcons) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Lock (NYG) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• M. Penix (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 York Giants TD (+6) — Q2 45:00 · ATL 2 · Score 6-0
   (15:00) (Shotgun) 2-D.Lock pass short left to 29-T.Tracy for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New York Giants XP (+1) — Q2 44:53 · ATL 15 · Score 7-0
   9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-59-C.Kreiter, Holder-6-J.Gillan.
3. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 40:41 · NYG 34 · Score 7-3
   (10:41) 37-R.Patterson 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.
4. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 38:05 · ATL 48 · Score 7-9
   (8:05) (Shotgun) 2-D.Lock pass short left intended for 17-W.Robinson INTERCEPTED by 3-J.Bates [55-K.Elliss] at ATL 45. 3-J.Bates for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalt
5. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q2 37:56 · NYG 15 · Score 7-10
   37-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.
6. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 31:48 · NYG 4 · Score 7-16
   (1:48) (Shotgun) 7-B.Robinson left tackle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Atlanta Falcons TD (+7) — Q2 31:43 · NYG 15 · Score 7-17
   37-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.
8. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q3 29:27 · ATL 67 · Score 7-23
   (14:27) (Shotgun) 2-D.Lock pass short middle intended for 1-M.Nabers INTERCEPTED by 15-M.Judon (96-Z.Harrison) at NYG 27. 15-M.Judon for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q3 29:20 · NYG 15 · Score 7-24
   37-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.
10. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q3 22:19 · NYG 2 · Score 7-30
    (7:19) (Shotgun) 7-B.Robinson left end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q3 22:14 · NYG 15 · Score 7-31
    37-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.
12. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q4 10:50 · NYG 18 · Score 7-34
    (10:50) 37-R.Patterson 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.