Chicago Bears vs. Atlanta Falcons: 2001 Week 4 Recap

Game story

In Week 4 of the 2001 NFL season on 2001-10-07, the Chicago Bears took care of business against the Atlanta Falcons, pulling away with a 31–3 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 24 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Miller (Chicago Bears) paced the passing game, with +0.47 total EPA.

On the individual side, M. Robinson (Chicago Bears) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.26 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-18.8% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Atlanta Falcons changed the game: (7:33) 12-C.Chandler pass intended for 89-R.Kelly INTERCEPTED by 30-M.Brown at CHI 42. 30-M.Brown to ATL 26 for 32 yards (44-B.Christian).

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 M. Robinson · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +5.26 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.53 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Booker · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +4.52 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.13 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Booker · Chicago Bears · Passing · +4.49 total EPA · 1 snaps · +4.49 EPA/play
4. 4 Q. McCord · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +3.07 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.02 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Terrell · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +2.25 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.25 EPA/play
6. 6 B. Christian · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +2.07 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.69 EPA/play
7. 7 B. Finneran · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.80 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.80 EPA/play
8. 8 S. Jefferson · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.26 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.21 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 — M. Robinson (M. Booker pass) (Q2 32:00)
• Chicago Bears — M. Booker (J. Miller pass) (Q4 15:00)
• Chicago Bears — B. Urlacher (Q4 9:19)
• Chicago Bears — A. Thomas (Q4 4:04)

Field goals

• Chicago Bears — P. Edinger (Q2 30:01)
• Atlanta Falcons — J. Feely (Q4 4:14)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The second quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 10–0. Chicago Bears found the end zone from the ATL 34 (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) 86-M.Booker pass to 88-M.Robinson for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q2 31:54) — 2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the ATL 24 (Q2 30:01) — (:01) 2-P.Edinger 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard..

The fourth quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 21–3. Chicago Bears found the end zone from the ATL 63 (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) 15-J.Miller pass to 86-M.Booker for 63 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q4 14:51) — 2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the CHI 3 (Q4 9:19); Chicago Bears added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q4 8:56) — 2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the CHI 26 (Q4 4:14) — (4:14) 4-J.Feely 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the ATL 32 (Q4 4:04) — (4:04) 35-A.Thomas right tackle for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q4 3:58) — 2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard..

Turning points

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 52:33) — (7:33) 12-C.Chandler pass intended for 89-R.Kelly INTERCEPTED by 30-M.Brown at CHI 42. 30-M.Brown to ATL 26 for 32 yards (44-B.Christian). [WPA -18.8% · EPA -6.15]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 31:26) — (1:26) 12-C.Chandler pass intended for 84-S.Jefferson INTERCEPTED by 54-B.Urlacher at CHI 40. 54-B.Urlacher to 50 for 10 yards (62-T.McClure). [WPA -13.9% · EPA -3.61]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 31:08) — (1:08) 12-C.Chandler pass intended for 81-T.Mathis INTERCEPTED by 37-T.Parrish at CHI 48. 37-T.Parrish to ATL 26 for 26 yards (86-B.Finneran). [WPA -13.1% · EPA -3.82]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) 86-M.Booker pass to 88-M.Robinson for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +12.9% · EPA +4.49]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 34:14) — (4:14) 15-J.Miller pass to 88-M.Robinson pushed ob at CHI 49 for 31 yards (23-R.Bradford). [WPA +8.8% · EPA +2.28]

Impact plays

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 9:19) — (9:19) 7-M.Vick sacked at CHI 12 for -9 yards (93-P.Daniels). FUMBLES (93-P.Daniels), touched at CHI 10, RECOVERED by CHI-54-B.Urlacher at CHI 10. 54-B.Urlacher for 90 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -4.9% · EPA -12.84]
• Chicago Bears (Q3 16:48) — (1:48) 15-J.Miller pass intended for 88-M.Robinson INTERCEPTED by 94-H.Crockett at ATL 19. 94-H.Crockett to ATL 26 for 7 yards (15-J.Miller). [WPA -8.4% · EPA -6.42]
• Chicago Bears (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) 15-J.Miller pass to 86-M.Booker for 63 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.5% · EPA +6.25]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 52:33) — (7:33) 12-C.Chandler pass intended for 89-R.Kelly INTERCEPTED by 30-M.Brown at CHI 42. 30-M.Brown to ATL 26 for 32 yards (44-B.Christian). [WPA -18.8% · EPA -6.15]

Quarterback report card

J.Miller led all passers in efficiency for Chicago Bears, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Miller (Chicago Bears) · 30 dropbacks · 56.7% completion · +0.02 EPA/play · +0.47 total EPA
• M.Vick (Atlanta Falcons) · 26 dropbacks · 46.2% completion · -0.41 EPA/play · -10.76 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Chicago Bears generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.05 vs -0.36), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Atlanta Falcons: 12 drives, -28.02 total EPA, 1 scoring drives
• Chicago Bears: 12 drives, +3.76 total EPA, 4 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.
• M. Robinson (Chicago Bears) 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 TD (+6) — Q2 32:00 · ATL 34 · Score 6-0
   (2:00) 86-M.Booker pass to 88-M.Robinson for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q2 31:54 · ATL 2 · Score 7-0
   2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
3. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q2 30:01 · ATL 24 · Score 10-0
   (:01) 2-P.Edinger 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
4. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q4 15:00 · ATL 63 · Score 16-0
   (15:00) 15-J.Miller pass to 86-M.Booker for 63 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q4 14:51 · ATL 2 · Score 17-0
   2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
6. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q4 9:19 · CHI 3 · Score 23-0
   (9:19) 7-M.Vick sacked at CHI 12 for -9 yards (93-P.Daniels). FUMBLES (93-P.Daniels), touched at CHI 10, RECOVERED by CHI-54-B.Urlacher at CHI 10. 54-B.Urlacher
7. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q4 8:56 · ATL 2 · Score 24-0
   2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
8. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q4 4:14 · CHI 26 · Score 24-3
   (4:14) 4-J.Feely 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
9. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q4 4:04 · ATL 32 · Score 30-3
   (4:04) 35-A.Thomas right tackle for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q4 3:58 · ATL 2 · Score 31-3
    2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.