NFL Week 16 Game Recap: Atlanta Falcons 29, Indianapolis Colts 10

2W9637Y Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (8) runs into the end zone for a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Alex Slitz)

The Atlanta Falcons kept themselves alive in the race for the playoffs with a 29-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 16.

Both teams scored on their opening possession, with the Colts capping a long drive with a one-yard touchdown run from Jonathan Taylor before Taylor Heinicke found Kyle Pitts for a 24-yard touchdown for the Falcons.

Younghoe Koo put the Falcons up 10-7 with a 23-yard field goal, then added another from 47 yards out with 10 seconds left in the second quarter to make it 13-7 at halftime.

Atlanta added to its lead on the second half's opening drive, with Tyler Allgeier scoring on a 31-yard rushing touchdown before Matt Gay and Koo traded field goals early in the fourth quarter.

A 35-yard field goal from Koo made it 26-10, and his 25-yard field goal with two minutes left in the game wrapped up the scoring.

Offensive spotlight: The move back to Taylor Heinicke at quarterback produced the desired result for the Falcons. He delivered a composed performance in the win, going 23-of-33 for 229 yards and the touchdown to Pitts while avoiding any interceptions.

The Falcons' running game was again dominant, with Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier averaging 6.0-plus yards per carry.

Defensive spotlight: Atlanta’s pass rush registered six sacks on Gardner Minshew. Zach Harrison led the way with two, while Calais Campbell notched one and a half. Kaden Elliss and Richie Grant added a pair each, and Arnold Ebiketie got the half-sack shared with Campbell.

Rookie spotlight: Robinson had a huge game for the Falcons, rushing 12 times for 72 yards and picking up 50 yards as a receiver. He led the team in targets, receptions and yards, although he didn’t find the end zone.


Box Score

Passing
Indianapolis Colts
Player Fantasy Comp/Att Yds YPA TD Int Long Sacks Rtg
Gardner Minshew 10.14 20 / 37 201 5.4 0 1 18 6 58.5
Atlanta Falcons
Player Fantasy Comp/Att Yds YPA TD Int Long Sacks Rtg
Taylor Heinicke 14.16 23 / 33 229 6.9 1 0 24 1 99.2
Rushing
Indianapolis Colts
Player Fantasy Car Yds YPC TD Long Fum Lost
Jonathan Taylor 10.3 18 43 2.4 1 13 0
Gardner Minshew 10.14 4 31 7.8 0 23 0
Tyler Goodson 4 1 15 15 0 15 0
Trey Sermon 0.3 2 3 1.5 0 4 0
Atlanta Falcons
Player Fantasy Car Yds YPC TD Long Fum Lost
Bijan Robinson 19.2 12 72 6 0 32 0
Tyler Allgeier 15.8 9 69 7.7 1 31 0
Taylor Heinicke 14.16 2 10 5 0 10 0
Cordarrelle Patterson 5.3 7 26 3.7 0 11 0
Receiving
Indianapolis Colts
Player Fantasy Tgt Rec Yds YPT YPR TD Long
Kylen Granson 11.2 7 5 62 8.9 12.4 0 16
Jonathan Taylor 10.3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Josh Downs 9.9 9 6 39 4.3 6.5 0 14
Will Mallory 8.7 4 4 47 11.8 11.8 0 18
Alec Pierce 6 7 3 30 4.3 10 0 16
Tyler Goodson 4 2 1 15 7.5 15 0 15
D.J. Montgomery 1.8 4 1 8 2 8 0 8
Mo Alie-Cox 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Atlanta Falcons
Player Fantasy Tgt Rec Yds YPT YPR TD Long
Bijan Robinson 19.2 10 7 50 5 7.1 0 14
Tyler Allgeier 15.8 1 1 19 19 19 0 19
Kyle Pitts 13.9 4 3 49 12.2 16.3 1 24
Jonnu Smith 7.2 6 4 32 5.3 8 0 15
Drake London 6.9 4 3 39 9.8 13 0 19
Cordarrelle Patterson 5.3 2 2 7 3.5 3.5 0 11
Scotty Miller 2.5 1 1 15 15 15 0 15
Van Jefferson 2.3 3 1 13 4.3 13 0 13
KhaDarel Hodge 1.5 1 1 5 5 5 0 5
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