Arizona Cardinals vs. Chicago Bears: 2001 Week 5 Recap

Game story

In Week 5 of the 2001 NFL season on 2001-10-14, the Chicago Bears took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 20–13 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 16 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Plummer (Arizona Cardinals) paced the passing game, with +3.66 total EPA.

On the individual side, F. Sanders (Arizona Cardinals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.02 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-22.6% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Arizona Cardinals changed the game: (7:58) 32-M.Pittman left guard to CHI 31 for -1 yards (30-M.Brown). FUMBLES (30-M.Brown), RECOVERED by CHI-21-R.McQuarters at CHI 31. 21-R.McQuarters for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 F. Sanders · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +6.02 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.00 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Plummer · Arizona Cardinals · Passing · +3.66 total EPA · 39 snaps · +0.09 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Allen · Chicago Bears · Rushing · +3.09 total EPA · 18 snaps · +0.17 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Davis · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +2.34 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.58 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Boston · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +2.32 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.21 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Jones · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +1.62 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.81 EPA/play
7. 7 D. White · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +1.08 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.54 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Boston · Arizona Cardinals · Rushing · +0.66 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.66 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Chicago Bears — J. Allen (Q2 37:52)
• Chicago Bears — M. Pittman (Q3 22:58)
• Arizona Cardinals — F. Sanders (J. Plummer pass) (Q4 2:56)

Field goals

• Chicago Bears — P. Edinger (Q1 47:46)
• Arizona Cardinals — B. Gramatica (Q2 43:28)
• Arizona Cardinals — B. Gramatica (Q2 33:22)
• Chicago Bears — P. Edinger (Q2 30:04)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 3–0. Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the ARI 28 (Q1 47:46) — (2:46) 2-P.Edinger 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-63-R.Benjamin, Holder-4-B.Maynard..

The second quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 10–6. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the CHI 22 (Q2 43:28) — (13:28) 7-B.Gramatica 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-T.Junkin, Holder-10-S.Player.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the ARI 1 (Q2 37:52) — (7:52) 20-J.Allen right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q2 37:49) — 2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-63-R.Benjamin, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the CHI 29 (Q2 33:22) — (3:22) 7-B.Gramatica 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-T.Junkin, Holder-10-S.Player.; Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the ARI 25 (Q2 30:04) — (:04) 2-P.Edinger 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-63-R.Benjamin, Holder-4-B.Maynard..

The third quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 7–0. Chicago Bears found the end zone from the CHI 30 (Q3 22:58); Chicago Bears added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q3 22:33) — 2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-63-R.Benjamin, Holder-4-B.Maynard..

The fourth quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 7–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the CHI 7 (Q4 2:56) — (2:56) 16-J.Plummer pass to 81-F.Sanders for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q4 2:52) — 7-B.Gramatica extra point is GOOD, Center-86-T.Junkin, Holder-10-S.Player..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 22:58) — (7:58) 32-M.Pittman left guard to CHI 31 for -1 yards (30-M.Brown). FUMBLES (30-M.Brown), RECOVERED by CHI-21-R.McQuarters at CHI 31. 21-R.McQuarters for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -22.6% · EPA -10.41]
• Chicago Bears (Q3 30:00) — 7-B.Gramatica kicks 63 yards from ARI 30 to CHI 7. 24-G.Milburn to CHI 25 for 18 yards (23-J.Rhinehart). FUMBLES (23-J.Rhinehart), RECOVERED by ARI-52-Z.Walz at CHI 30. 52-Z.Walz to CHI 30 for no gain [WPA -9.6% · EPA -4.06]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 34:41) — (4:41) 15-J.Miller pass intended for 88-M.Robinson INTERCEPTED by 36-D.Barrett at CHI 43. 36-D.Barrett to CHI 36 for 7 yards (31-D.Shelton). [WPA -7.5% · EPA -2.81]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 57:35) — (12:35) (Shotgun) 16-J.Plummer pass to 81-F.Sanders pushed ob at CHI 47 for 9 yards (23-J.Azumah). [WPA +6.8% · EPA +1.96]
• Chicago Bears (Q4 1:13) — (1:13) 4-B.Maynard punts 44 yards to ARI 22, Center-63-R.Benjamin. 84-A.Jackson pushed ob at ARI 37 for 15 yards (55-G.Jones). [WPA -6.0% · EPA -0.38]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 22:58) — (7:58) 32-M.Pittman left guard to CHI 31 for -1 yards (30-M.Brown). FUMBLES (30-M.Brown), RECOVERED by CHI-21-R.McQuarters at CHI 31. 21-R.McQuarters for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -22.6% · EPA -10.41]
• Chicago Bears (Q3 30:00) — 7-B.Gramatica kicks 63 yards from ARI 30 to CHI 7. 24-G.Milburn to CHI 25 for 18 yards (23-J.Rhinehart). FUMBLES (23-J.Rhinehart), RECOVERED by ARI-52-Z.Walz at CHI 30. 52-Z.Walz to CHI 30 for no gain [WPA -9.6% · EPA -4.06]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 21:44) — (6:44) (Shotgun) 16-J.Plummer pass to 81-F.Sanders to CHI 36 for 31 yards (37-T.Parrish). [WPA +2.6% · EPA +3.36]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 34:41) — (4:41) 15-J.Miller pass intended for 88-M.Robinson INTERCEPTED by 36-D.Barrett at CHI 43. 36-D.Barrett to CHI 36 for 7 yards (31-D.Shelton). [WPA -7.5% · EPA -2.81]

Quarterback report card

J.Plummer led all passers in efficiency for Arizona Cardinals, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Plummer (Arizona Cardinals) · 39 dropbacks · 51.3% completion · +0.09 EPA/play · +3.66 total EPA
• J.Miller (Chicago Bears) · 23 dropbacks · 65.2% completion · -0.11 EPA/play · -2.62 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Chicago Bears held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.01 vs -0.07), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Arizona Cardinals: 11 drives, -5.88 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Chicago Bears: 11 drives, -0.73 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Chicago Bears leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• F. Sanders (Arizona Cardinals) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q1 47:46 · ARI 28 · Score 0-3
   (2:46) 2-P.Edinger 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-63-R.Benjamin, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
2. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 43:28 · CHI 22 · Score 3-3
   (13:28) 7-B.Gramatica 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-T.Junkin, Holder-10-S.Player.
3. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q2 37:52 · ARI 1 · Score 3-9
   (7:52) 20-J.Allen right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q2 37:49 · ARI 2 · Score 3-10
   2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-63-R.Benjamin, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
5. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 33:22 · CHI 29 · Score 6-10
   (3:22) 7-B.Gramatica 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-T.Junkin, Holder-10-S.Player.
6. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q2 30:04 · ARI 25 · Score 6-13
   (:04) 2-P.Edinger 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-63-R.Benjamin, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
7. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q3 22:58 · CHI 30 · Score 6-19
   (7:58) 32-M.Pittman left guard to CHI 31 for -1 yards (30-M.Brown). FUMBLES (30-M.Brown), RECOVERED by CHI-21-R.McQuarters at CHI 31. 21-R.McQuarters for 69 yar
8. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q3 22:33 · ARI 2 · Score 6-20
   2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-63-R.Benjamin, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
9. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 2:56 · CHI 7 · Score 12-20
   (2:56) 16-J.Plummer pass to 81-F.Sanders for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q4 2:52 · CHI 2 · Score 13-20
    7-B.Gramatica extra point is GOOD, Center-86-T.Junkin, Holder-10-S.Player.