Chicago Bears vs. Buffalo Bills: 2002 Week 4 Recap

Game story

In Week 4 of the 2002 NFL season on 2002-09-29, the Buffalo Bills took care of business against the Chicago Bears, pulling away with a 33–27 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

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

D. Bledsoe (Buffalo Bills) paced the passing game, with +17.79 total EPA.

On the individual side, D. Bledsoe (Buffalo Bills) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +17.79 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-26.0% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Buffalo Bills changed the game: (2:30) 20-T.Henry left tackle to CHI 29 for -1 yards (53-W.Holdman). FUMBLES (53-W.Holdman), RECOVERED by CHI-59-R.Colvin at CHI 30. 59-R.Colvin to CHI 38 for 8 yards. Lateral to 30-M.Brown for 62 yar

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. Bledsoe · Buffalo Bills · Passing · +17.79 total EPA · 39 snaps · +0.46 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Miller · Chicago Bears · Passing · +13.83 total EPA · 34 snaps · +0.41 EPA/play
3. 3 E. Moulds · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +10.47 total EPA · 9 snaps · +1.16 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Henry · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +4.31 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.44 EPA/play
5. 5 L. Centers · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +3.77 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.94 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Terrell · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +3.28 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.82 EPA/play
7. 7 M. Booker · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +2.71 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.27 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Moore · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +2.59 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.86 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

• Buffalo Bills — P. Price (D. Bledsoe pass) (Q1 55:52)
• Chicago Bears — T. Henry (Q1 47:30)
• Buffalo Bills — E. Moulds (D. Bledsoe pass) (Q2 34:41)
• Chicago Bears — D. Terrell (J. Miller pass) (Q2 30:34)
• Buffalo Bills — D. Moore (D. Bledsoe pass) (Q4 9:01)
• Chicago Bears — J. Davis (J. Miller pass) (Q4 2:52)
• Buffalo Bills — T. Henry (D. Bledsoe pass) (OT 13:12)

Field goals

• Buffalo Bills — M. Hollis (Q2 42:54)
• Buffalo Bills — M. Hollis (Q3 26:17)
• Chicago Bears — P. Edinger (Q3 21:55)
• Chicago Bears — P. Edinger (Q4 12:41)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the CHI 2 (Q1 55:52) — (10:52) 11-D.Bledsoe pass to 81-P.Price for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught 5 yds. into end zone, left sideline.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q1 55:48) — 1-M.Hollis extra point is GOOD, Center-70-T.Teague, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the CHI 28 (Q1 47:30); Chicago Bears added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q1 47:13) — 2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard..

The second quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 10–7. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the CHI 31 (Q2 42:54) — (12:54) 1-M.Hollis 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-70-T.Teague, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the CHI 4 (Q2 34:41) — (4:41) 11-D.Bledsoe pass to 80-E.Moulds for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught in front left corner of end zone.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q2 34:36) — 1-M.Hollis extra point is GOOD, Center-70-T.Teague, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the BUF 5 (Q2 30:34) — (:34) 15-J.Miller pass to 83-D.Terrell for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at goal line, left side.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q2 30:28) — 2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the CHI 31 (Q3 26:17) — (11:17) 1-M.Hollis 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-70-T.Teague, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the BUF 28 (Q3 21:55) — (6:55) 2-P.Edinger 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard..

The fourth quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 10–7. Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the BUF 6 (Q4 12:41) — (12:41) 2-P.Edinger 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the CHI 1 (Q4 9:01) — (9:01) 11-D.Bledsoe pass to 83-D.Moore for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Caught 8 yds. into end zone, right side.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q4 8:55) — 1-M.Hollis extra point is GOOD, Center-83-D.Moore, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the BUF 3 (Q4 2:52) — (2:52) 15-J.Miller pass to 82-J.Davis for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Screen pass right, caught at BUF 5.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q4 2:46) — 2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard..

Overtime: Buffalo Bills won the period 6–0. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the CHI 26 (OT 13:12) — (13:12) 11-D.Bledsoe pass to 20-T.Henry for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Dump pass right, caught at CHI 26..

Turning points

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

• Buffalo Bills (Q1 47:30) — (2:30) 20-T.Henry left tackle to CHI 29 for -1 yards (53-W.Holdman). FUMBLES (53-W.Holdman), RECOVERED by CHI-59-R.Colvin at CHI 30. 59-R.Colvin to CHI 38 for 8 yards. Lateral to 30-M.Brown for 62 yar [WPA -26.0% · EPA -10.93]
• Buffalo Bills (Q4 0:32) — (:32) 1-M.Hollis 39 yard field goal is BLOCKED (71-J.Williams), Center-83-D.Moore, Holder-8-B.Moorman. [WPA -25.6% · EPA -2.30]
• Buffalo Bills (OT 13:55) — (13:55) 11-D.Bledsoe pass to 80-E.Moulds to CHI 26 for 30 yards (26-T.McMillon). Caught along left sideline at CHI 26. [WPA +21.0% · EPA +1.81]
• Chicago Bears (Q4 3:37) — (3:37) 15-J.Miller pass incomplete to 83-D.Terrell. Pressure on QB: A.Schobel. PENALTY on BUF-22-N.Clements, Defensive Pass Interference, 31 yards, enforced at BUF 35 - No Play. [WPA +16.7% · EPA +3.27]
• Buffalo Bills (OT 13:12) — (13:12) 11-D.Bledsoe pass to 20-T.Henry for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Dump pass right, caught at CHI 26. [WPA +12.5% · EPA +2.99]

Impact plays

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

• Buffalo Bills (Q1 47:30) — (2:30) 20-T.Henry left tackle to CHI 29 for -1 yards (53-W.Holdman). FUMBLES (53-W.Holdman), RECOVERED by CHI-59-R.Colvin at CHI 30. 59-R.Colvin to CHI 38 for 8 yards. Lateral to 30-M.Brown for 62 yar [WPA -26.0% · EPA -10.93]
• Chicago Bears (Q4 3:37) — (3:37) 15-J.Miller pass incomplete to 83-D.Terrell. Pressure on QB: A.Schobel. PENALTY on BUF-22-N.Clements, Defensive Pass Interference, 31 yards, enforced at BUF 35 - No Play. [WPA +16.7% · EPA +3.27]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 30:34) — (:34) 15-J.Miller pass to 83-D.Terrell for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at goal line, left side. [WPA +8.7% · EPA +3.10]
• Buffalo Bills (OT 13:12) — (13:12) 11-D.Bledsoe pass to 20-T.Henry for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Dump pass right, caught at CHI 26. [WPA +12.5% · EPA +2.99]

Quarterback report card

D.Bledsoe led all passers in efficiency for Buffalo Bills, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Bledsoe (Buffalo Bills) · 39 dropbacks · 71.8% completion · +0.46 EPA/play · +17.79 total EPA
• J.Miller (Chicago Bears) · 34 dropbacks · 55.9% completion · +0.41 EPA/play · +13.83 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Buffalo Bills held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.15 vs +0.10), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Buffalo Bills: 12 drives, +11.98 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Chicago Bears: 12 drives, +7.83 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Buffalo Bills 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. Bledsoe (Buffalo Bills) 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. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q1 55:52 · CHI 2 · Score 0-6
   (10:52) 11-D.Bledsoe pass to 81-P.Price for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught 5 yds. into end zone, left sideline.
2. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q1 55:48 · CHI 2 · Score 0-7
   1-M.Hollis extra point is GOOD, Center-70-T.Teague, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
3. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q1 47:30 · CHI 28 · Score 6-7
   (2:30) 20-T.Henry left tackle to CHI 29 for -1 yards (53-W.Holdman). FUMBLES (53-W.Holdman), RECOVERED by CHI-59-R.Colvin at CHI 30. 59-R.Colvin to CHI 38 for 8
4. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q1 47:13 · BUF 2 · Score 7-7
   2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
5. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q2 42:54 · CHI 31 · Score 7-10
   (12:54) 1-M.Hollis 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-70-T.Teague, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
6. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q2 34:41 · CHI 4 · Score 7-16
   (4:41) 11-D.Bledsoe pass to 80-E.Moulds for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught in front left corner of end zone.
7. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q2 34:36 · CHI 2 · Score 7-17
   1-M.Hollis extra point is GOOD, Center-70-T.Teague, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
8. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q2 30:34 · BUF 5 · Score 13-17
   (:34) 15-J.Miller pass to 83-D.Terrell for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at goal line, left side.
9. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q2 30:28 · BUF 2 · Score 14-17
   2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
10. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q3 26:17 · CHI 31 · Score 14-20
    (11:17) 1-M.Hollis 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-70-T.Teague, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
11. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q3 21:55 · BUF 28 · Score 17-20
    (6:55) 2-P.Edinger 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
12. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q4 12:41 · BUF 6 · Score 20-20
    (12:41) 2-P.Edinger 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
13. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q4 9:01 · CHI 1 · Score 20-26
    (9:01) 11-D.Bledsoe pass to 83-D.Moore for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Caught 8 yds. into end zone, right side.
14. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q4 8:55 · CHI 2 · Score 20-27
    1-M.Hollis extra point is GOOD, Center-83-D.Moore, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
15. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q4 2:52 · BUF 3 · Score 26-27
    (2:52) 15-J.Miller pass to 82-J.Davis for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Screen pass right, caught at BUF 5.
16. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q4 2:46 · BUF 2 · Score 27-27
    2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
17. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — OT 13:12 · CHI 26 · Score 27-33
    (13:12) 11-D.Bledsoe pass to 20-T.Henry for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Dump pass right, caught at CHI 26.