Chicago Bears vs. Atlanta Falcons: 2002 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2002 NFL season on 2002-09-15, the Chicago Bears took care of business against the Atlanta Falcons, pulling away with a 14–13 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Vick (Atlanta Falcons) paced the passing game, with -6.34 total EPA.

On the individual side, D. Terrell (Chicago Bears) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +3.33 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-44.2% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Atlanta Falcons changed the game: (1:01) (Field Goal formation) 4-J.Feely 45 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.

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 D. Terrell · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +3.33 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.33 EPA/play
2. 2 W. Dunn · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +3.01 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.60 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Davis · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +2.75 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.75 EPA/play
4. 4 B. Finneran · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +2.07 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.23 EPA/play
5. 5 A. Thomas · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +1.94 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.97 EPA/play
6. 6 F. Baxter · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +1.67 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.67 EPA/play
7. 7 D. White · Chicago Bears · Rushing · +1.66 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.66 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Duckett · Atlanta Falcons · Rushing · +1.60 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.32 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

• Atlanta Falcons — W. Dunn (M. Vick pass) (Q2 41:39)
• Chicago Bears — A. Thomas (Q2 31:13)
• Chicago Bears — D. Terrell (J. Miller pass) (Q3 24:33)

Field goals

• Atlanta Falcons — J. Feely (Q2 30:05)
• Atlanta Falcons — J. Feely (Q3 21:13)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The second quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 10–7. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the CHI 10 (Q2 41:39) — (11:39) (Shotgun) 7-M.Vick pass to 28-W.Dunn for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q2 41:33) — (Kick formation) 4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the ATL 3 (Q2 31:13) — (1:13) 35-A.Thomas up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q2 31:10) — (Kick formation) 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 19 (Q2 30:05) — (:05) (Field Goal formation) 4-J.Feely 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr..

The third quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 7–3. Chicago Bears found the end zone from the ATL 14 (Q3 24:33) — (9:33) 15-J.Miller pass to 83-D.Terrell for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q3 24:27) — (Kick formation) 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 9 (Q3 21:13) — (6:13) 4-J.Feely 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr..

Turning points

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 1:01) — (1:01) (Field Goal formation) 4-J.Feely 45 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr. [WPA -44.2% · EPA -2.40]
• Chicago Bears (Q3 16:59) — (1:59) 35-A.Thomas right end to ATL 17 for -1 yards (52-M.Stewart). FUMBLES (52-M.Stewart), RECOVERED by ATL-54-C.Draft at ATL 21. [WPA -21.3% · EPA -5.43]
• Chicago Bears (Q3 25:35) — (10:35) (Punt formation) 4-B.Maynard punts 49 yards to ATL 14, Center-65-P.Mannelly. 87-K.Hill to ATL 20 for 6 yards (33-L.Whigham). FUMBLES (33-L.Whigham), RECOVERED by CHI-27-R.Abdullah at ATL 16. [WPA +19.4% · EPA +5.87]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q3 29:21) — (14:21) 28-W.Dunn left tackle to ATL 45 for 1 yard (30-M.Brown). FUMBLES (30-M.Brown), RECOVERED by CHI-30-M.Brown at ATL 45. 30-M.Brown to ATL 36 for 9 yards (89-R.Kelly). [WPA -17.5% · EPA -5.23]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q3 24:27) — 2-P.Edinger kicks 60 yards from CHI 30 to ATL 10. 36-T.Jervey pushed ob at CHI 23 for 67 yards (43-M.Green, 30-M.Brown). [WPA +16.2% · EPA +3.38]

Impact plays

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

• Chicago Bears (Q3 25:35) — (10:35) (Punt formation) 4-B.Maynard punts 49 yards to ATL 14, Center-65-P.Mannelly. 87-K.Hill to ATL 20 for 6 yards (33-L.Whigham). FUMBLES (33-L.Whigham), RECOVERED by CHI-27-R.Abdullah at ATL 16. [WPA +19.4% · EPA +5.87]
• Chicago Bears (Q3 16:59) — (1:59) 35-A.Thomas right end to ATL 17 for -1 yards (52-M.Stewart). FUMBLES (52-M.Stewart), RECOVERED by ATL-54-C.Draft at ATL 21. [WPA -21.3% · EPA -5.43]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q3 29:21) — (14:21) 28-W.Dunn left tackle to ATL 45 for 1 yard (30-M.Brown). FUMBLES (30-M.Brown), RECOVERED by CHI-30-M.Brown at ATL 45. 30-M.Brown to ATL 36 for 9 yards (89-R.Kelly). [WPA -17.5% · EPA -5.23]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q3 27:35) — (12:35) 7-M.Vick scrambles up the middle to CHI 20 for 4 yards (70-A.Boone). FUMBLES (70-A.Boone), RECOVERED by CHI-54-B.Urlacher at CHI 21. [WPA -12.4% · EPA -4.70]

Quarterback report card

M.Vick led all passers in efficiency for Atlanta Falcons, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• M.Vick (Atlanta Falcons) · 38 dropbacks · 44.7% completion · -0.17 EPA/play · -6.34 total EPA
• J.Miller (Chicago Bears) · 25 dropbacks · 48.0% completion · -0.03 EPA/play · -0.73 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Chicago Bears -0.11, Atlanta Falcons -0.14) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Atlanta Falcons: 12 drives, -11.32 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Chicago Bears: 13 drives, -8.08 total EPA, 2 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.
• D. Terrell (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. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 41:39 · CHI 10 · Score 0-6
   (11:39) (Shotgun) 7-M.Vick pass to 28-W.Dunn for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q2 41:33 · CHI 2 · Score 0-7
   (Kick formation) 4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
3. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q2 31:13 · ATL 3 · Score 6-7
   (1:13) 35-A.Thomas up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q2 31:10 · ATL 2 · Score 7-7
   (Kick formation) 2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
5. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 30:05 · CHI 19 · Score 7-10
   (:05) (Field Goal formation) 4-J.Feely 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
6. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q3 24:33 · ATL 14 · Score 13-10
   (9:33) 15-J.Miller pass to 83-D.Terrell for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q3 24:27 · ATL 2 · Score 14-10
   (Kick formation) 2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
8. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q3 21:13 · CHI 9 · Score 14-13
   (6:13) 4-J.Feely 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.