Task Enterprises presentsNFL Intelligence

2002 · Week 11 · Division

Final

Saints

New Orleans

QB Aaron Brooks

17·24

Falcons

Atlanta

QB Michael Vick

Georgia Dome · dome · astroturf

Closing spread

ATL -1.5

Total

51

Model margin

+4.1est.

ATL perspective

Push chance

None

half-point line — cannot push

Win probability

  • Falcons
  • Saints

How each play moved the game.

Falcons winsSaints wins

Matchup

Where the edges are

Season-long league percentiles for both sides, mirrored. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge.

Saintsedge mapFalcons
  • -0.006EPA / play+0.036
  • 39.0%Success rate42.3%
  • +0.038EPA / dropback+0.092
  • -0.078EPA / rush-0.038
  • 8.2%Explosive rate9.3%
  • 40.9%Third-down rate42.9%
  • 59.3%Red-zone TD rate53.8%
  • 1.94Points / drive1.94
  • 2.7%Turnover rate2.3%
  • -0.005EPA / play allowed-0.049

Bar length is league percentile, already oriented so longer is better. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge; rows within ~12 points are washed as even.

The rivalry

NO lead 32–22 since 1999

ATL have won 2 straight. Meetings average 46.9 points. ATL are 24-30 ATS in the series.

Previous meetings
SeasonMatchupScoreWinner
2025 · W18NO @ ATL1719ATL
2025 · W12ATL @ NO2410ATL
2024 · W10ATL @ NO1720NO
2024 · W4NO @ ATL2426ATL
2023 · W18ATL @ NO1748NO
2023 · W12NO @ ATL1524ATL
2022 · W15ATL @ NO1821NO
2022 · W1NO @ ATL2726NO

Box score

Individual performances

Saints

Passing

PlayerC/AttYdsTDINT
Aaron Brooks20/3127921

Rushing

PlayerCarYdsAvgTD
Deuce McAllister13433.30
Aaron Brooks5265.20
James Fenderson2136.50
Donte' Stallworth1-2-2.00

Falcons

Passing

PlayerC/AttYdsTDINT
Mike Vick11/2316021

Rushing

PlayerCarYdsAvgTD
Warrick Dunn26903.50
Mike Vick7557.91

Receiving

PlayerRecTgtYdsTD
Trevor Gaylor341001
Warrick Dunn44290
Alge Crumpler34211
Brian Kozlowski11100
Brian Finneran0200
Reggie Kelly0200

Where this game is likely to land

  • Model
  • Smooth (normal)
  • Betting line

Probability of each final margin. Football scoring clusters — the spikes at 3 and 7 are real, and a smooth model misses them.

line +1.53.7%6.7%7.5%3.2%4.9%3.2%2.9%

Positive margins favour Falcons; negative favour Saints.

Half-point at risk

2.12%

outcomes that flip if the line moves 0.5

Model home win

59.9%

Expected total

44.1est.

Model

Where the number comes from

Each component is additive, in points of expected margin.

  • Team ratings (opponent-adjusted EPA)+1.50
  • Home-field advantage+2.56
  • Quarterback adjustment0.00
  • Rest differential0.00
  • Expected margin+4.07