Atlanta Falcons vs. Philadelphia Eagles: 2017 Wild Card Recap

Game story

In the Wild Card of the 2017 NFL season on 2018-01-13, the Philadelphia Eagles took care of business against the Atlanta Falcons, pulling away with a 15–10 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 23 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) paced the passing game, with -0.67 total EPA, and +0.8% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, N. Foles (Philadelphia Eagles) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +13.77 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-33.3% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Atlanta Falcons changed the game: (1:05) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass incomplete short right to 11-Ju.Jones.

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 N. Foles · Philadelphia Eagles · Passing · +13.77 total EPA · 33 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
2. 2 A. Jeffery · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +5.91 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.18 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Coleman · Atlanta Falcons · Rushing · +4.11 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.41 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Sanu · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +2.56 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.51 EPA/play
5. 5 Z. Ertz · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +2.06 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.41 EPA/play
6. 6 Ju. Jones · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.82 total EPA · 16 snaps · +0.11 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Ajayi · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +1.76 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.35 EPA/play
8. 8 N. Agholor · Philadelphia Eagles · Rushing · +1.51 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.75 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

• Philadelphia Eagles — L. Blount (Q2 40:32)
• Atlanta Falcons — D. Freeman (M. Ryan pass) (Q2 35:46)

Field goals

• Atlanta Falcons — M. Bryant (Q1 54:08)
• Philadelphia Eagles — J. Elliott (Q2 30:01)
• Philadelphia Eagles — D. Freeman (Q3 29:52)
• Philadelphia Eagles — J. Elliott (Q3 15:15)
• Philadelphia Eagles — J. Elliott (Q4 6:05)

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 3–0. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the PHI 15 (Q1 54:08) — (9:08) 3-M.Bryant 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher..

The second quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 14–9. Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the ATL 1 (Q2 40:32) — (10:32) 29-L.Blount right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the PHI 6 (Q2 35:46) — (5:46) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short left to 24-D.Freeman for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN [91-F.Cox].; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the PHI 15 (Q2 35:41) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the ATL 70 (Q2 35:36) — (5:36) 29-L.Blount left end to PHI 26 for -4 yards (99-A.Clayborn).; Philadelphia Eagles connected on a field goal from the ATL 35 (Q2 30:01) — (:01) 4-J.Elliott 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-R.Lovato, Holder-8-D.Jones..

The third quarter: Philadelphia Eagles won the period 6–0. Philadelphia Eagles connected on a field goal from the PHI 80 (Q3 29:52) — (14:52) 24-D.Freeman left end to ATL 22 for 2 yards (91-F.Cox).; Philadelphia Eagles connected on a field goal from the ATL 19 (Q3 15:15) — (:15) 4-J.Elliott 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-R.Lovato, Holder-8-D.Jones..

The fourth quarter: Philadelphia Eagles won the period 3–0. Philadelphia Eagles connected on a field goal from the ATL 3 (Q4 6:05) — (6:05) 4-J.Elliott 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-R.Lovato, Holder-8-D.Jones..

Turning points

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 1:05) — (1:05) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass incomplete short right to 11-Ju.Jones. [WPA -33.3% · EPA -2.71]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 3:30) — (3:30) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass deep right to 11-Ju.Jones to PHI 38 for 20 yards (23-R.McLeod). [WPA +16.1% · EPA +3.27]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 37:41) — (7:41) 5-M.Bosher punts 30 yards to PHI 18, Center-47-J.Harris. 50-B.Braman MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by ATL-53-L.Reynolds at PHI 18. 53-L.Reynolds to PHI 18 for no gain (38-K.Barner). The Replay Officia [WPA +14.6% · EPA +4.46]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 59:36) — (14:36) 2-M.Ryan pass short left to 80-L.Toilolo to ATL 38 for 12 yards (41-R.Darby). [WPA +10.2% · EPA +0.78]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 2:14) — (2:14) 2-M.Ryan pass short right to 11-Ju.Jones to PHI 26 for 12 yards (31-J.Mills). [WPA +10.1% · EPA +1.12]

Impact plays

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

• Philadelphia Eagles (Q1 59:46) — (14:46) (Shotgun) 36-J.Ajayi up the middle to ATL 27 for 6 yards (37-R.Allen). FUMBLES (37-R.Allen), RECOVERED by ATL-22-K.Neal at ATL 26. 22-K.Neal to ATL 26 for no gain (61-S.Wisniewski). [WPA -5.3% · EPA -4.65]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 37:41) — (7:41) 5-M.Bosher punts 30 yards to PHI 18, Center-47-J.Harris. 50-B.Braman MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by ATL-53-L.Reynolds at PHI 18. 53-L.Reynolds to PHI 18 for no gain (38-K.Barner). The Replay Officia [WPA +14.6% · EPA +4.46]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 3:30) — (3:30) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass deep right to 11-Ju.Jones to PHI 38 for 20 yards (23-R.McLeod). [WPA +16.1% · EPA +3.27]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q4 13:16) — (13:16) (Shotgun) 9-N.Foles pass short left to 36-J.Ajayi to ATL 48 for 32 yards (23-R.Alford). [WPA +8.9% · EPA +3.13]

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) · 41 dropbacks · 53.7% completion · +0.8% CPOE · -0.02 EPA/play · -0.67 total EPA
• N.Foles (Philadelphia Eagles) · 33 dropbacks · 69.7% completion · +9.2% CPOE · +0.42 EPA/play · +13.77 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Philadelphia Eagles held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.07 vs +0.02), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Atlanta Falcons: 9 drives, +1.56 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• Philadelphia Eagles: 9 drives, +5.68 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Philadelphia Eagles 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.
• N. Foles (Philadelphia Eagles) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• N. Foles (PHI) 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 54:08 · PHI 15 · Score 3-0
   (9:08) 3-M.Bryant 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.
2. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q2 40:32 · ATL 1 · Score 3-6
   (10:32) 29-L.Blount right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 35:46 · PHI 6 · Score 9-6
   (5:46) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short left to 24-D.Freeman for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN [91-F.Cox].
4. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q2 35:41 · PHI 15 · Score 10-6
   3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.
5. Atlanta Falcons TD (+7) — Q2 35:36 · ATL 70 · Score 10-6
   (5:36) 29-L.Blount left end to PHI 26 for -4 yards (99-A.Clayborn).
6. Philadelphia Eagles FG (+3) — Q2 30:01 · ATL 35 · Score 10-9
   (:01) 4-J.Elliott 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-R.Lovato, Holder-8-D.Jones.
7. Philadelphia Eagles FG (+3) — Q3 29:52 · PHI 80 · Score 10-9
   (14:52) 24-D.Freeman left end to ATL 22 for 2 yards (91-F.Cox).
8. Philadelphia Eagles FG (+3) — Q3 15:15 · ATL 19 · Score 10-12
   (:15) 4-J.Elliott 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-R.Lovato, Holder-8-D.Jones.
9. Philadelphia Eagles FG (+3) — Q4 6:05 · ATL 3 · Score 10-15
   (6:05) 4-J.Elliott 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-R.Lovato, Holder-8-D.Jones.