Saints 17–14 Falcons: Score, Stats & Recap | Week 16, 2010

Quick answer

Winner: New Orleans Saints
Final score: New Orleans Saints 17–14 Atlanta Falcons
Halftime: New Orleans Saints 10–7 Atlanta Falcons at halftime
FantasyHQ MVP: R. Meachem
Top passer: D. Brees
Biggest EPA play: (14:22) 9-D.Brees pass short left INTERCEPTED by 92-C.Davis [95-J.Babineaux] at NO 26. 92-…
Game date: 2010-12-27

Game summary

The New Orleans Saints beat the Atlanta Falcons 17–14 on 2010-12-27. R. Meachem posted a game-high +3.94 total EPA in the receiving.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 14 combined points.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

	Q1	Q2	Q4	—	—	T
New Orleans Saints	3	7	7	0	0	17
Atlanta Falcons	0	7	7	0	0	14

Scoring Map

Each pin marks where a score occurred on the field — yard line from play-by-play.

NONew Orleans Saints

+3ATL 34

ATL 67

ATLAtlanta Falcons

FantasyHQ Analytics

Scoring timeline

9 scores

Chronological scoring plays — scroll to follow the game.

NONew Orleans Saints
Q1 1:06FG
GHG. Hartley
Points+3
Yard line
ATL 34
Score
3-0
(1:06) 5-G.Hartley 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
NONew Orleans Saints
Q2 11:19TD
PTP. Thomas
Points+6
Yard line
ATL 2
Score
9-0
(11:19) 23-P.Thomas up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
NONew Orleans Saints
Q2 11:18XP
GHG. Hartley
Points+1
Yard line
ATL 2
Score
10-0
5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
ATLAtlanta Falcons
Q2 7:31TD
Ricky White III
Points+6
Yard line
NO 7
Score
10-6
(7:31) 2-M.Ryan pass short middle to 84-R.White for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
ATLAtlanta Falcons
Q2 7:28XP
Myles Bryant
Points+1
Yard line
NO 2
Score
10-7
3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
ATLAtlanta Falcons
Q4 14:22TD
Carlton Davis III
Points+6
Yard line
ATL 67
Score
10-13
(14:22) 9-D.Brees pass short left INTERCEPTED by 92-C.Davis [95-J.Babineaux] at NO 26. 92-C.Davis for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
ATLAtlanta Falcons
Q4 14:14XP
Myles Bryant
Points+1
Yard line
NO 2
Score
10-14
3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
NONew Orleans Saints
Q4 3:28TD
Jimmy Graham
Points+6
Yard line
ATL 6
Score
16-14
(3:28) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 80-J.Graham for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
NONew Orleans Saints
Q4 3:24XP
GHG. Hartley
Points+1
Yard line
ATL 2
Score
17-14
5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA).

1R. Meachem · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.94 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
2Jimmy Graham · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.83 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.57 EPA/play
3Ricky White III · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +2.75 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.55 EPA/play
4J. Snelling · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +2.15 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.72 EPA/play
5Darrell Henderson · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.83 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.46 EPA/play
6Matt Ryan · Atlanta Falcons · Passing · +1.17 total EPA · 38 snaps · +0.03 EPA/play
7J. Shockey · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +0.77 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.77 EPA/play
8Darrell Henderson · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +0.70 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.70 EPA/play

FantasyHQ Game MVP

Highest total EPA with the player's top snap and the game's biggest single play when different.

FantasyHQ Game MVP

R. Meachem — NO · Receiving

R. Meachem posted the highest total EPA (+3.94) in the game, the strongest overall impact for New Orleans Saints. Across 13 counted snaps, they averaged +0.30 EPA per play.

Biggest single play (-8.28 EPA): D. Brees — (14:22) 9-D.Brees pass short left INTERCEPTED by 92-C.Davis [95-J.Babineaux] at NO 26. 92-C.Davis for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

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) · 50 dropbacks · 70.0% completion · +8.1% CPOE · -0.07 EPA/play · -3.42 total EPA
Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) · 38 dropbacks · 39.5% completion · -13.0% CPOE · +0.03 EPA/play · +1.17 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency.

Stat	New Orleans Saints	Atlanta Falcons
Offensive EPA/play	-0.088	-0.183
Offensive success rate	46.7%	35.6%
Pass EPA/play	-0.068	+0.031
Rush EPA/play	-0.246	-0.776
Defensive EPA/play	+0.183	+0.088
Defensive success rate	64.4%	53.3%

Drive & efficiency notes

Despite the final score, New Orleans Saints generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.09 vs -0.18), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

Season benchmark context (offensive EPA per play):

New Orleans Saints: -0.09 EPA/play (29th percentile vs. 2010 team-game averages)
Atlanta Falcons: -0.18 EPA/play (13th percentile vs. 2010 team-game averages)

Atlanta Falcons: 13 drives, -13.35 total EPA, 1 scoring drives
New Orleans Saints: 13 drives, -7.95 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal from official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

New Orleans Saints — P. Thomas (Q2 11:19)
Atlanta Falcons — Ricky White III (Matt Ryan pass) (Q2 7:31)
Atlanta Falcons — Carlton Davis III (Q4 14:22)
New Orleans Saints — Jimmy Graham (D. Brees pass) (Q4 3:28)

Field goals

New Orleans Saints — G. Hartley (Q1 1:06)

Quarter by quarter

Quarter-by-quarter recap from live scoring plays.

The opening quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 3–0. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the ATL 34 (Q1 1:06) — (1:06) 5-G.Hartley 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel..

The second quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 2 (Q2 11:19) — (11:19) 23-P.Thomas up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q2 11:18) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the NO 7 (Q2 7:31) — (7:31) 2-M.Ryan pass short middle to 84-R.White for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q2 7:28) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the ATL 67 (Q4 14:22) — (14:22) 9-D.Brees pass short left INTERCEPTED by 92-C.Davis [95-J.Babineaux] at NO 26. 92-C.Davis for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q4 14:14) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the ATL 6 (Q4 3:28) — (3:28) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 80-J.Graham for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q4 3:24) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most.

New Orleans Saints (Q4 14:22) — (14:22) 9-D.Brees pass short left INTERCEPTED by 92-C.Davis [95-J.Babineaux] at NO 26. 92-C.Davis for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -36.4% · EPA -8.28]
Atlanta Falcons (Q3 11:05) — (11:05) 33-M.Turner up the middle to NO 1 for no gain (97-J.Charleston, 50-M.Mitchell). FUMBLES (97-J.Charleston), RECOVERED by NO-50-M.Mitchell at NO 2. [WPA -20.3% · EPA -5.04]
New Orleans Saints (Q4 12:05) — (12:05) 9-D.Brees pass short left intended for 16-L.Moore INTERCEPTED by 55-J.Abraham at ATL 41. 55-J.Abraham to ATL 47 for 6 yards (9-D.Brees). [WPA -16.4% · EPA -5.26]
New Orleans Saints (Q4 5:30) — (5:30) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 23-P.Thomas to ATL 13 for 22 yards (54-S.Nicholas; 28-T.DeCoud). [WPA +12.8% · EPA +1.42]
Atlanta Falcons (Q2 13:43) — (13:43) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan Aborted. 62-T.McClure FUMBLES at ATL 38, RECOVERED by NO-51-J.Vilma at ATL 34. 51-J.Vilma to ATL 34 for no gain (44-J.Snelling). [WPA -10.1% · EPA -4.19]

Impact plays

Highest EPA snaps that flipped field position.

New Orleans Saints (Q4 14:22) — (14:22) 9-D.Brees pass short left INTERCEPTED by 92-C.Davis [95-J.Babineaux] at NO 26. 92-C.Davis for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -36.4% · EPA -8.28]
New Orleans Saints (Q4 12:05) — (12:05) 9-D.Brees pass short left intended for 16-L.Moore INTERCEPTED by 55-J.Abraham at ATL 41. 55-J.Abraham to ATL 47 for 6 yards (9-D.Brees). [WPA -16.4% · EPA -5.26]
Atlanta Falcons (Q3 11:05) — (11:05) 33-M.Turner up the middle to NO 1 for no gain (97-J.Charleston, 50-M.Mitchell). FUMBLES (97-J.Charleston), RECOVERED by NO-50-M.Mitchell at NO 2. [WPA -20.3% · EPA -5.04]
Atlanta Falcons (Q2 13:43) — (13:43) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan Aborted. 62-T.McClure FUMBLES at ATL 38, RECOVERED by NO-51-J.Vilma at ATL 34. 51-J.Vilma to ATL 34 for no gain (44-J.Snelling). [WPA -10.1% · EPA -4.19]

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with play-by-play context.

New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q1 1:06 · ATL 34 · Score 3-0
(1:06) 5-G.Hartley 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 11:19 · ATL 2 · Score 9-0
(11:19) 23-P.Thomas up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 11:18 · ATL 2 · Score 10-0
5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 7:31 · NO 7 · Score 10-6
(7:31) 2-M.Ryan pass short middle to 84-R.White for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q2 7:28 · NO 2 · Score 10-7
3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 14:22 · ATL 67 · Score 10-13
(14:22) 9-D.Brees pass short left INTERCEPTED by 92-C.Davis [95-J.Babineaux] at NO 26. 92-C.Davis for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q4 14:14 · NO 2 · Score 10-14
3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-82-J.Zelenka, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 3:28 · ATL 6 · Score 16-14
(3:28) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 80-J.Graham for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 3:24 · ATL 2 · Score 17-14
5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.

Key takeaways

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

New Orleans Saints earned the result — use the box score for snap-level context.
One-score margin — verify garbage-time stats before drawing fantasy conclusions.
R. Meachem (New Orleans Saints) led total EPA — start here for highlight and prop research.
D. Brees (NO) finished above expected through the air (positive CPOE).

Frequently asked questions

Who won New Orleans Saints vs Atlanta Falcons on 2010-12-27?

The New Orleans Saints beat the Atlanta Falcons 17-14 in Week 16, 2010.

What was the score by quarter in New Orleans Saints vs Atlanta Falcons?

Q1: New Orleans Saints 3, Atlanta Falcons 0; Q2: New Orleans Saints 7, Atlanta Falcons 7; Q4: New Orleans Saints 7, Atlanta Falcons 7; Final: New Orleans Saints 17, Atlanta Falcons 14.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals in New Orleans Saints vs Atlanta Falcons?

New Orleans Saints touchdown — P. Thomas (Q2 11:19) Atlanta Falcons touchdown — R. White (M. Ryan pass) (Q2 7:31) Atlanta Falcons touchdown — C. Davis (Q4 14:22) New Orleans Saints touchdown — J. Graham (D. Brees pass) (Q4 3:28) New Orleans Saints field goal — G. Hartley (Q1 1:06, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.

How did the quarterbacks play in New Orleans Saints vs Atlanta Falcons?

D. Brees (New Orleans Saints), 70.0% completion, +8.1% CPOE, -0.07 EPA per dropback, -3.42 total passing EPA. Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons), 39.5% completion, -13.0% CPOE, +0.03 EPA per dropback, +1.17 total passing EPA.

Who was FantasyHQ's player of the game in New Orleans Saints vs Atlanta Falcons?

R. Meachem (New Orleans Saints) was FantasyHQ's Game MVP with +3.94 total EPA on Receiving plays. across 13 snaps.

Was New Orleans Saints vs Atlanta Falcons a close game?

Yes — the margin was 3 points. New Orleans Saints won 17-14 in a game that came down to the wire.

Season records after this game

New Orleans Saints

Entered 10-4 Now 11-4 W

Atlanta Falcons

Entered 12-2 Now 12-3 L

New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons: 2010 Week 16 Recap

Top fantasy performers · Saints

Top fantasy performers · Falcons

Quick answer

Game summary