2014 · Week 1 · Division

Final / OT

Saints

New Orleans

QB Drew Brees

34·37

Falcons

Atlanta

QB Matt Ryan

Georgia Dome · dome · fieldturf

Closing spread

NO -3

Total

51

Model margin

+1.3est.

ATL perspective

Push chance

7.2%est.

the line sits on a key number

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
  • +0.067EPA / play+0.007
  • 47.9%Success rate44.0%
  • +0.126EPA / dropback+0.089
  • -0.043EPA / rush-0.161
  • 8.7%Explosive rate8.4%
  • +3.60CPOE+1.47
  • 48.2%Third-down rate44.6%
  • 62.9%Red-zone TD rate69.1%
  • 2.11Points / drive1.87
  • 2.6%Turnover rate2.1%

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
Drew Brees29/4233311

Rushing

PlayerCarYdsAvgTD
Mark Ingram13604.62
Pierre Thomas7314.40
Khiry Robinson6284.71
Brandin Cooks11818.00
Drew Brees122.00

Falcons

Passing

PlayerC/AttYdsTDINT
Matt Ryan31/4344830

Rushing

PlayerCarYdsAvgTD
Steven Jackson12524.30
Jacquizz Rodgers6345.71
Matt Ryan3155.00
Devonta Freeman2157.50
Antone Smith273.50

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 -34.2%2.8%7.2%7.5%3.0%4.6%2.9%

Positive margins favour Falcons; negative favour Saints.

Half-point at risk

7.19%

outcomes that flip if the line moves 0.5

Model home win

52.4%

Expected total

45.8est.

Model

Where the number comes from

Each component is additive, in points of expected margin.

  • Team ratings (opponent-adjusted EPA)-1.24
  • Home-field advantage+2.49
  • Quarterback adjustment0.00
  • Rest differential0.00
  • Expected margin+1.25