Colts vs Falcons Week 16 2023: Final Score 29

Final2023 Week 16

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GASun, Dec 24, 2023, 1:00 PM ET

Indianapolis Colts vs Atlanta Falcons, Week 16 2023

Indianapolis Colts

Away

Atlanta Falcons

HomeWon

Scoring by quarter
Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Colts	7	0	3	0	10
Falcons	7	6	7	9	29

IND 10ATL 29 Final

Passing leader
Taylor Heinicke
ATL · QB
14.2PPR pts
23/33, 229 YDS, 1 TD
Top fantasy scorer
Bijan Robinson
ATL · RB
19.2PPR pts
12 ATT, 72 YDS, 7 REC, 50 REC YDS
Colts leader
Kylen Granson
IND · TE
11.2PPR pts
5 REC, 62 YDS
Defensive playmaker
Jessie Bates III
ATL
1 INT, 6 TKL

Falcons 29, Colts 10: Atlanta pulls away from Indianapolis

Atlanta led 13–7 at halftime and outscored Indianapolis 16–3 after the break to win 29–10. The Falcons finished with a 406–262 edge in total offense and averaged 6.3 yards per play.

The gap showed up everywhere. The Colts went 5-for-14 on third down and committed one turnover, while the Falcons finished without a giveaway.

Key advantages

+2.4 yards/play ATL 6.3 · IND 3.9
+1 turnover margin ATL 0 turnovers
+144 total yards ATL 406 · IND 262

Game Highlights

Watch on YouTube: Indianapolis Colts vs. Atlanta Falcons Game Highlights | NFL 2023 Week 16

Official NFL highlights · Opens from YouTube

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Why the Falcons Won

Atlanta won the efficiency, turnover, and third-down battles.

Team stats comparison, Colts vs Falcons
Colts	Stat	Falcons
3.9	Yards per play	6.3

1	Turnovers	0

262	Total yards	406

Other team stats
68	Plays	64

36%	Third-down conversion	38%

30:36	Time of possession	29:24

Scoring Summary

The Falcons scored two touchdowns and five field goals; the Colts scored one touchdown and one field goal.

Scoring plays, Colts vs Falcons
Time	Team	Play	IND	ATL
1st quarter
9:24	IND	Jonathan Taylor 1-yard TD run Takes leadMatt Gay XP	7	0
7:42	ATL	Taylor Heinicke → Kyle Pitts, 24-yard TD Ties gameYounghoe Koo XP	7	7
2nd quarter
3:23	ATL	Younghoe Koo 23-yard FG Takes lead	7	10
0:05	ATL	Younghoe Koo 47-yard FG Extends lead	7	13
3rd quarter
11:13	ATL	Tyler Allgeier 31-yard TD run Extends leadYounghoe Koo XP	7	20
4:23	IND	Matt Gay 33-yard FG	10	20
4th quarter
14:06	ATL	Younghoe Koo 41-yard FG Extends lead	10	23
5:46	ATL	Younghoe Koo 35-yard FG Extends lead	10	26
1:57	ATL	Younghoe Koo 25-yard FG Extends lead	10	29

Fantasy Points: Colts vs Falcons, Week 16 2023

Fantasy leaders

Bijan RobinsonATLRB19.2 PTSRB10
Tyler AllgeierATLRB15.8 PTSRB13
Taylor HeinickeATLQB14.2 PTSQB24
Kyle PittsATLTE13.9 PTSTE10

Player Stats

Quarterbacks

Quarterback statistics
Player	FPTS	FIN	CMP/ATT	Pass YDS	TD	INT	Rush ATT	Rush YDS	Rush TD	Rate	Start/Sit
Taylor HeinickeATLQB	14.2	QB24	23/33	229	1	0	2	10	0	99.2
Gardner MinshewINDQB	10.1	QB28	20/37	201	0	1	4	31	0	58.5

WRs, RBs, & TEs

Receiver, running back and tight end statistics
Player	FPTS	FIN	POS	Rush ATT	Rush YDS	Rush TD	TGT	REC	Rec YDS	Rec TD	Start/Sit
Bijan RobinsonATLRB	19.2	RB10	RB	12	72	0	10	7	50	0	Start/Sit →
Tyler AllgeierATLRB	15.8	RB13	RB	9	69	1	1	1	19	0	Start/Sit →
Kyle PittsATLTE	13.9	TE10	TE	—	—	—	4	3	49	1
Kylen GransonINDTE	11.2	TE13	TE	—	—	—	7	5	62	0	Start/Sit →
Jonathan TaylorINDRB	10.3	RB30	RB	18	43	1	1	0	0	0	Start/Sit →
Josh DownsINDWR	9.9	WR43	WR	—	—	—	9	6	39	0	Start/Sit →
Will MalloryINDTE	8.7	TE22	TE	—	—	—	4	4	47	0
Jonnu SmithATLTE	7.2	TE27	TE	—	—	—	6	4	32	0	Start/Sit →
Drake LondonATLWR	6.9	WR64	WR	—	—	—	4	3	39	0	Start/Sit →
Alec PierceINDWR	6.0	WR70	WR	—	—	—	7	3	30	0
Cordarrelle PattersonATLRB	5.3	RB47	RB	7	26	0	2	2	7	0
Tyler GoodsonINDRB	4.0	RB53	RB	1	15	0	2	1	15	0	Start/Sit →
Scotty MillerATLWR	2.5	WR93	WR	—	—	—	1	1	15	0
Van JeffersonATLWR	2.3	WR98	WR	—	—	—	3	1	13	0
D.J. MontgomeryINDWR	1.8	WR105	WR	—	—	—	4	1	8	0
KhaDarel HodgeATLWR	1.5	WR115	WR	—	—	—	1	1	5	0
Trey SermonINDRB	0.3	RB71	RB	2	3	0	—	—	—	—
Mo Alie-CoxINDTE	0.0	—	TE	—	—	—	1	0	0	0	Start/Sit →

Fantasy Usage

Indianapolis Colts

Snap Share

Alec PierceWR71 snaps100%
Josh DownsWR66 snaps93%
D.J. MontgomeryWR61 snaps86%
Jonathan TaylorRB42 snaps59%
Kylen GransonTE28 snaps39%

Target Share35 targets

Josh Downs26%, 9 targets
Kylen Granson20%, 7 targets
Alec Pierce20%, 7 targets
D.J. Montgomery11%, 4 targets
Will Mallory11%, 4 targets
Other11%, 4 targets

Carry Share25 carries

Jonathan Taylor72%, 18 carries
Gardner Minshew16%, 4 carries
Trey Sermon8%, 2 carries
Tyler Goodson4%, 1 carries

Atlanta Falcons

Snap Share

Drake LondonWR49 snaps77%
Bijan RobinsonRB48 snaps75%
Kyle PittsTE46 snaps72%
Jonnu SmithTE44 snaps69%
Van JeffersonWR26 snaps41%

Target Share32 targets

Bijan Robinson31%, 10 targets
Jonnu Smith19%, 6 targets
Kyle Pitts13%, 4 targets
Drake London13%, 4 targets
Van Jefferson9%, 3 targets
Other16%, 5 targets

Carry Share30 carries

Bijan Robinson40%, 12 carries
Tyler Allgeier30%, 9 carries
Cordarrelle Patterson23%, 7 carries
Taylor Heinicke7%, 2 carries

View full usage tableHide full usage table

Offensive snaps and share for the skill positions
Player	SNAPS	SNAP %	TGT	TGT %	CAR
Alec PierceINDWR	71	100%	7	20%	0
Josh DownsINDWR	66	93%	9	26%	0
D.J. MontgomeryINDWR	61	86%	4	11%	0
Drake LondonATLWR	49	77%	4	13%	0
Bijan RobinsonATLRB	48	75%	10	31%	12
Kyle PittsATLTE	46	72%	4	13%	0
Jonnu SmithATLTE	44	69%	6	19%	0
Jonathan TaylorINDRB	42	59%	1	3%	18
Van JeffersonATLWR	26	41%	3	9%	0
Kylen GransonINDTE	28	39%	7	20%	0
Will MalloryINDTE	27	38%	4	11%	0
MyCole PruittATLTE	24	38%	0	0%	0
KhaDarel HodgeATLWR	20	31%	1	3%	0
Mo Alie-CoxINDTE	19	27%	1	3%	0
Mack HollinsATLWR	15	23%	0	0%	0
Tucker FiskATLTE	14	22%	0	0%	0
Cordarrelle PattersonATLRB	13	20%	2	6%	7
Tyler AllgeierATLRB	13	20%	1	3%	9
Trey SermonINDRB	14	20%	0	0%	2
Tyler GoodsonINDRB	14	20%	2	6%	1
Drew OgletreeINDTE	11	15%	0	0%	0
Scotty MillerATLWR	7	11%	1	3%	0
Ethan FerneaINDWR	2	3%	0	0%	0

Fantasy Points vs Expected

PPRHalf PPRStandard

Expected points (xFP) are what a player's pass attempts, carries and targets are worth at the league's average rates; the difference is what the player made of them.

Biggest overperformer+8.6Tyler Allgeier15.8 PTS vs 7.2 xFP
Biggest underperformer−7.9Gardner Minshew II10.1 PTS vs 18.0 xFP
Highest expected volume24.1 xFPBijan Robinson19.2 PTS scored

Usage and expected fantasy points
Player	PTS	xFP	vs xFP	Snap%	Usage	Rte%	Pass att	Car	Car%	Tgt	Tgt%
Bijan RobinsonATL · RB	19.2	24.1	−4.9	75%	40% car	—	0	12	40%	10	31%
Gardner Minshew IIIND · QB	10.1	18.0	−7.9	100%	37 att	—	37	4	16%	0	0%
Taylor HeinickeATL · QB	14.2	15.1	−0.9	100%	33 att	—	33	2	7%	0	0%
Josh DownsIND · WR	9.9	15.0	−5.1	93%	26% tgt	—	0	0	0%	9	26%
Jonathan TaylorIND · RB	10.3	12.7	−2.4	59%	72% car	—	0	18	72%	1	3%
Alec PierceIND · WR	6.0	11.7	−5.7	100%	20% tgt	—	0	0	0%	7	20%
Kylen GransonIND · TE	11.2	11.7	−0.5	39%	20% tgt	—	0	0	0%	7	20%
Jonnu SmithATL · TE	7.2	10.0	−2.8	69%	19% tgt	—	0	0	0%	6	19%
Cordarrelle PattersonATL · RB	5.3	7.6	−2.3	20%	23% car	—	0	7	23%	2	6%
Tyler AllgeierATL · RB	15.8	7.2	+8.6	20%	30% car	—	0	9	30%	1	3%
D.J. MontgomeryIND · WR	1.8	6.7	−4.9	86%	11% tgt	—	0	0	0%	4	11%
Drake LondonATL · WR	6.9	6.7	+0.2	77%	13% tgt	—	0	0	0%	4	13%
Kyle Pitts Sr.ATL · TE	13.9	6.7	+7.2	72%	13% tgt	—	0	0	0%	4	13%
Will MalloryIND · TE	8.7	6.7	+2.0	38%	11% tgt	—	0	0	0%	4	11%
Van JeffersonATL · WR	2.3	5.0	−2.7	41%	9% tgt	—	0	0	0%	3	9%
Tyler GoodsonIND · RB	4.0	4.0	0.0	20%	6% tgt	—	0	1	4%	2	6%
KhaDarel HodgeATL · WR	1.5	1.7	−0.2	31%	3% tgt	—	0	0	0%	1	3%
Mo Alie-CoxIND · TE	0.0	1.7	−1.7	27%	3% tgt	—	0	0	0%	1	3%
Scotty MillerATL · WR	2.5	1.7	+0.8	11%	3% tgt	—	0	0	0%	1	3%
Trey SermonIND · RB	0.3	1.2	−0.9	20%	8% car	—	0	2	8%	0	0%

Team totals: Colts 35 targets and 25 carries; Falcons 32 targets and 30 carries. Shares are from the box score. Snap counts are from the weekly player logs (Sleeper), and include plays wiped out by penalties. Route counts, air yards and red-zone touches appear when the tracking feed is connected. League-average rates from the 2023 season: 1.67 PPR points per target (67% catch rate), 0.61 per carry and 0.42 per pass attempt. They don't adjust for field position or target depth.

Fantasy Verdicts

Gardner Minshew II Unlucky

IND · QB · 10.1 pts on 18.0 expected

20 of 37 passing for 201 yards, 1 interception; 4 carries for 31 yards.

Verdict: The role was there, worth 18.0 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.

Fewest points since Week 10.

Taylor Heinicke

ATL · QB · 14.2 pts on 15.1 expected

23 of 33 passing for 229 yards, 1 touchdown; 2 carries for 10 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 15.1 expected.

Josh Downs Unlucky

IND · WR · 9.9 pts on 15.0 expected

9 targets (26% of the team's), 6 catches for 39 yards.

Verdict: The role was there, worth 15.0 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.

Best score since Week 8.

Start/Sit: Josh Downs →

Jonathan Taylor Volume, no payoff

IND · RB · 10.3 pts on 12.7 expected

1 target (3% of the team's), 0 catches for 0 yards; 18 carries (72% of the team's) for 43 yards and 1 touchdown.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 12.7 expected.

Fewest points since Week 5. A touchdown in 5 of the last 8 games.

Start/Sit: Jonathan Taylor →

Bijan Robinson Volume, no payoff

ATL · RB · 19.2 pts on 24.1 expected

10 targets (31% of the team's), 7 catches for 50 yards; 12 carries (40% of the team's) for 72 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 24.1 expected.

Season high in targets (10).

Start/Sit: Bijan Robinson →

Jonnu Smith

ATL · TE · 7.2 pts on 10.0 expected

6 targets (19% of the team's), 4 catches for 32 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 10.0 expected.

Start/Sit: Jonnu Smith →

Alec Pierce Unlucky

IND · WR · 6.0 pts on 11.7 expected

7 targets (20% of the team's), 3 catches for 30 yards.

Verdict: The role was there, worth 11.7 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.

Tyler Allgeier Ran hot

ATL · RB · 15.8 pts on 7.2 expected

1 target (3% of the team's), 1 catch for 19 yards; 9 carries (30% of the team's) for 69 yards and 1 touchdown.

Verdict: The opportunities were worth 7.2 points; the touchdowns supplied the rest, and they are the part least likely to repeat.

Best score since Week 1.

Start/Sit: Tyler Allgeier →

Stock Up, Stock Down

Indianapolis Colts

Stock up: Josh Downs played 93% of the snaps, up from a 66% season average.
Stock up: D.J. Montgomery played 86% of the snaps, up from a 20% season average.
Stock up: Will Mallory played 38% of the snaps, up from a 20% season average.

Fantasy Matchups

Fantasy points allowed per game by position, 2023 through Week 18.

Fantasy points allowed per game by position, Colts defense and Falcons defense
Points allowed to	Colts D	Falcons D
QBs	15.9	17.7
RBs	26.1	18.3
WRs	31.6	28.8
TEs	12.9	13.8

Regular season, summed from each game's box score and scored with this page's rules.

How the Game Swung

Atlanta opened at 50% win probability and passed 98% in the fourth quarter on the way to the win.

Falcons win probability

Key Swings

−21Taylor 1-yd TD run50% → 29%Q1 9:24
+21Heinicke → Pitts, 24-yd TD29% → 50%Q1 7:42
+12Koo 23-yd FG50% → 62%Q2 3:23
+11Koo 47-yd FG62% → 73%Q2 0:05
+18Allgeier 31-yd TD run75% → 93%Q3 11:13

Swing in Falcons win probability, in points

Play Calling and Possessions

Play calling, Colts vs Falcons
Indianapolis Colts	Measure	Atlanta Falcons
68	Plays	64
63%	Pass rate	53%
4.0	Yds / dropback	6.7
3.7	Yds / carry	5.9
5/14	Third downs	5/13

Efficiency edge Atlanta ran 4 fewer plays but gained 2.7 more yards per dropback.

Top targets
IND Downs 26% · Pierce 20% · Granson 20%
ATL Robinson 31% · Smith 19% · London 13%

Possession Results

How each possession ended, Colts vs Falcons
Result	IND	ATL
Touchdowns	1	2
Field goals	1	5
Punts	4	3
Turnovers	1	0
Turnovers on downs	2	0

ATL turnover edge: +1

The Colts opened the scoring on their first possession, a 13-play, 75-yard drive that ended in a touchdown.

All 21 possessions, drive by drive

Drive chart
Team	Start	Plays	Yards	Time	Result
IND	Q1 15:00	13	75	5:36	Touchdown
ATL	Q1 9:24	5	75	1:42	Touchdown
IND	Q1 7:42	9	34	5:32	Punt
ATL	Q1 2:10	4	28	2:17	Punt
IND	Q2 14:53	5	15	2:47	Punt
ATL	Q2 12:06	3	7	1:55	Punt
IND	Q2 10:11	4	12	0:35	Punt
ATL	Q2 9:36	14	82	6:13	Field goal
IND	Q2 3:23	3	-2	1:37	Punt
ATL	Q2 1:46	8	46	1:41	Field goal
IND	Q2 0:05	1	-1	0:05	End of half
ATL	Q3 15:00	8	75	3:47	Touchdown
IND	Q3 11:13	12	60	6:50	Field goal
ATL	Q3 4:23	12	52	5:17	Field goal
IND	Q4 14:06	9	37	4:04	Downs
ATL	Q4 10:02	3	7	1:29	Punt
IND	Q4 8:33	3	0	0:36	Interception
ATL	Q4 7:57	6	33	2:11	Field goal
IND	Q4 5:46	4	-7	0:57	Downs
ATL	Q4 4:49	6	11	2:52	Field goal
IND	Q4 1:57	6	59	1:57	End of game

About these numbers

Possessions that ended with the clock running out at the half or the end of the game aren't counted.

Personnel groupings, average depth of target and pass rate over expected appear when the tracking feed is connected.

Colts vs Falcons Head-to-Head

The Colts and Falcons first met in 1966 and have played 19 times since.

All-time series: 16–3Colts lead, 19 meetings since 1966
Postseason: 0No playoff meetings
Largest Colts win: 44–01968
Largest Falcons win: 31–72011

Since 2021

1–1 Series tied

2 meetings since the 2021 season, regular season and playoffs.

Oldest to newest. C = Colts win, F = Falcons win, outlined = this game.

Recent Meetings

2025 Wk 10 Falcons vs Colts, 2025 Wk 10 recap Sun, Nov 9, 2025 IND 31 ATL 25 IND W
2023 Wk 16 Colts at Falcons Sun, Dec 24, 2023 ATL 29 IND 10 ATL W

Season to Date (Through Week 18)

The 2023 regular season, from each game's box score.

Season to date, Colts vs Falcons
Colts	Stat	Falcons
9-8	Record	7-10

23.3	Points per game	18.9

336.8	Yards per game	334.3

5.2	Yards per play	5.2

24.4	Points allowed per game	21.9

349.8	Yards allowed per game	321.1

Colts and Falcons in Fantasy

The two teams don't meet again this season. If you roster a Colt or a Falcon, these answer the week-to-week question.

Keep Exploring

2023 Game Logs for Players in This Game

Colts vs Falcons Game FAQ

Who won the 2023 Colts vs Falcons Week 16 game?

The Atlanta Falcons beat the Indianapolis Colts 29–10 in Week 16 of the 2023 season. The game was played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA, on December 24, 2023. See the Falcons' 2023 schedule.

What was the final score of Colts vs Falcons?

The final score was Falcons 29, Colts 10. The Falcons led 13–7 at halftime, and the second half went Colts 3, Falcons 16.

What happened in the Colts vs Falcons game?

Atlanta led 13–7 at halftime and outscored Indianapolis 16–3 after the break to win 29–10. The Falcons finished with a 406–262 edge in total offense and averaged 6.3 yards per play. Bijan Robinson led all players with 7 catches for 50 yards, plus 12 carries for 72 rushing yards. The Colts committed 1 turnover, the Falcons none.

Who scored the most fantasy points in Colts vs Falcons?

Bijan Robinson led the game with 19.2 PPR fantasy points, the RB10 of Week 16, on 7 catches for 50 yards, plus 12 carries for 72 rushing yards. Tyler Allgeier was next with 15.8 (RB13). See Bijan Robinson's 2023 game log.

Who led Colts vs Falcons in passing, rushing and receiving?

Taylor Heinicke (ATL) led all passers with 23 of 33 for 229 yards and a touchdown. Bijan Robinson (ATL) led in rushing with 12 carries for 72 yards. Kylen Granson (IND) led in receiving with 5 catches for 62 yards.

How many fantasy points did Bijan Robinson score against the Colts?

Bijan Robinson scored 19.2 points in PPR leagues, 15.7 in half-PPR and 12.2 in standard scoring against the Colts in Week 16 of the 2023 season, on 7 catches for 50 yards, plus 12 carries for 72 rushing yards. He drew 31% of his team's targets.

Who outperformed and underperformed expected fantasy points in Colts vs Falcons?

Tyler Allgeier outperformed his expected fantasy points the most, scoring 15.8 PPR points on 7.2 xFP (+8.6). Gardner Minshew II fell furthest short, with 10.1 points on 18.0 xFP (−7.9). A gap either way reflects efficiency and touchdowns in one game; it is not a forecast. For matchups ahead, see fantasy points allowed by position.

Who had the highest expected fantasy points in Colts vs Falcons?

Bijan Robinson had the most fantasy opportunity in the game, worth 24.1 expected PPR points (xFP) at league-average rates, and scored 19.2. Expected points measure the volume of a player's pass attempts, carries and targets, not how well he used them.

How did the Falcons beat the Colts?

The Falcons beat the Colts 29–10 because they averaged 6.3 yards per play to 3.9, won the turnover battle 1–0, and outgained them 406–262.

Which team won the turnover battle in Colts vs Falcons?

The Falcons won the turnover battle 1–0: the Colts gave the ball away 1 time and the Falcons not at all. The Falcons won the game.

What is the all-time Colts vs Falcons record?

The Colts lead the all-time series 16–3 across 19 meetings since 1966.

When did the Colts and Falcons last play before this game?

Before Week 16 of 2023, they last met in the 2019 season on September 22, 2019, when the Colts beat the Falcons 27–24.

What is the Colts vs Falcons record since 2021?

The series is tied 1–1 across 2 meetings since the 2021 season, including this game.