Chicago Bears vs. Miami Dolphins: 2002 Week 14 Recap

Game story

In Week 14 of the 2002 NFL season on 2002-12-09, the Miami Dolphins took care of business against the Chicago Bears, pulling away with a 27–9 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 12 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Fiedler (Miami Dolphins) paced the passing game, with -2.20 total EPA.

On the individual side, J. McKnight (Miami Dolphins) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +3.17 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-9.9% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Chicago Bears changed the game: (9:38) 15-J.Miller pass intended for 80-D.White INTERCEPTED by 31-B.Marion at CHI 38. 31-B.Marion ran ob at CHI 38 for no gain.

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 J. McKnight · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +3.17 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.63 EPA/play
2. 2 H. Burris · Chicago Bears · Passing · +2.25 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.45 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Weaver · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +1.68 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.56 EPA/play
4. 4 H. Burris · Chicago Bears · Rushing · +1.10 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
5. 5 R. Williams · Miami Dolphins · Rushing · +0.62 total EPA · 32 snaps · +0.02 EPA/play
6. 6 R. McMichael · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +0.46 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.23 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Peterson · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +0.37 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.37 EPA/play
8. 8 L. Johnson · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +0.36 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.18 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

• Miami Dolphins — J. Weaver (J. Fiedler pass) (Q1 52:35)
• Miami Dolphins — R. Williams (Q2 34:22)
• Miami Dolphins — R. Williams (Q3 24:28)
• Chicago Bears — M. Booker (H. Burris pass) (Q4 0:49)

Field goals

• Chicago Bears — P. Edinger (Q3 25:20)
• Miami Dolphins — O. Mare (Q4 7:30)
• Miami Dolphins — O. Mare (Q4 5:44)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 7–0. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the CHI 5 (Q1 52:35) — (7:35) 9-J.Fiedler pass to 82-J.Weaver for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q1 52:30) — 10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-89-E.Perry, Holder-3-M.Royals..

The second quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 7–0. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the CHI 15 (Q2 34:22) — (4:22) 34-R.Williams right tackle for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q2 34:12) — 10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-89-E.Perry, Holder-3-M.Royals..

The third quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 7–3. Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the MIA 34 (Q3 25:20) — (10:20) 2-P.Edinger 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the CHI 63 (Q3 24:28) — (9:28) 34-R.Williams right tackle for 63 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q3 24:16) — 10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-89-E.Perry, Holder-3-M.Royals..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 6–6. Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the CHI 5 (Q4 7:30) — (7:30) 10-O.Mare 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-E.Perry, Holder-3-M.Royals.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the CHI 11 (Q4 5:44) — (5:44) 10-O.Mare 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-E.Perry, Holder-3-M.Royals.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the MIA 6 (Q4 0:49) — (:49) 10-H.Burris pass to 86-M.Booker for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

Turning points

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

• Chicago Bears (Q1 54:38) — (9:38) 15-J.Miller pass intended for 80-D.White INTERCEPTED by 31-B.Marion at CHI 38. 31-B.Marion ran ob at CHI 38 for no gain. [WPA -9.9% · EPA -2.57]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 54:50) — (9:50) (Shotgun) 9-J.Fiedler pass to 80-J.McKnight to CHI 8 for 8 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by CHI-43-M.Green at CHI 8. 43-M.Green to CHI 7 for -1 yards (80-J.McKnight). [WPA -8.8% · EPA -2.30]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 43:35) — (13:35) 34-R.Williams right guard to CHI 12 for 18 yards (54-B.Urlacher). FUMBLES (54-B.Urlacher), RECOVERED by CHI-21-R.McQuarters at CHI -3. Touchback. [WPA -8.5% · EPA -3.75]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 57:52) — (12:52) 9-J.Fiedler pass to 80-J.McKnight ran ob at CHI 34 for 34 yards (37-D.Moore; 21-R.McQuarters). [WPA +7.2% · EPA +1.86]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 48:04) — (3:04) 9-J.Fiedler sacked at MIA 10 for -8 yards (96-A.Brown). [WPA -6.1% · EPA -2.03]

Impact plays

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

• Miami Dolphins (Q3 24:28) — (9:28) 34-R.Williams right tackle for 63 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +5.6% · EPA +5.48]
• Chicago Bears (Q4 9:16) — (9:16) 12-C.Chandler pass intended for 86-M.Booker INTERCEPTED by 21-J.Fletcher at CHI 40. 21-J.Fletcher to CHI 10 for 30 yards (86-M.Booker; 57-O.Kreutz). [WPA -1.1% · EPA -5.28]
• Chicago Bears (Q4 7:20) — (7:20) 12-C.Chandler sacked at CHI 18 for -6 yards (93-A.Ogunleye). FUMBLES (93-A.Ogunleye), RECOVERED by MIA-93-A.Ogunleye at CHI 18. [WPA -0.1% · EPA -5.16]
• Miami Dolphins (Q3 26:24) — (11:24) 9-J.Fiedler pass intended for 34-R.Williams INTERCEPTED by 52-B.Howard at MIA 48. 52-B.Howard to MIA 39 for 9 yards. Lateral to 23-J.Azumah to MIA 21 for 18 yards (71-T.Wade). PENALTY on CHI-9 [WPA -5.4% · EPA -5.05]

Quarterback report card

J.Fiedler led all passers in efficiency for Miami Dolphins, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Fiedler (Miami Dolphins) · 32 dropbacks · 46.9% completion · -0.07 EPA/play · -2.20 total EPA
• C.Chandler (Chicago Bears) · 20 dropbacks · 35.0% completion · -0.94 EPA/play · -18.73 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Miami Dolphins held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.08 vs -0.30), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Chicago Bears: 15 drives, -24.12 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• Miami Dolphins: 16 drives, -6.96 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Miami Dolphins leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• J. McKnight (Miami Dolphins) 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. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q1 52:35 · CHI 5 · Score 0-6
   (7:35) 9-J.Fiedler pass to 82-J.Weaver for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q1 52:30 · CHI 2 · Score 0-7
   10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-89-E.Perry, Holder-3-M.Royals.
3. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 34:22 · CHI 15 · Score 0-13
   (4:22) 34-R.Williams right tackle for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q2 34:12 · CHI 2 · Score 0-14
   10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-89-E.Perry, Holder-3-M.Royals.
5. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q3 25:20 · MIA 34 · Score 3-14
   (10:20) 2-P.Edinger 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
6. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q3 24:28 · CHI 63 · Score 3-20
   (9:28) 34-R.Williams right tackle for 63 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q3 24:16 · CHI 2 · Score 3-21
   10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-89-E.Perry, Holder-3-M.Royals.
8. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q4 7:30 · CHI 5 · Score 3-24
   (7:30) 10-O.Mare 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-E.Perry, Holder-3-M.Royals.
9. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q4 5:44 · CHI 11 · Score 3-27
   (5:44) 10-O.Mare 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-E.Perry, Holder-3-M.Royals.
10. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q4 0:49 · MIA 6 · Score 9-27
    (:49) 10-H.Burris pass to 86-M.Booker for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.