Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings: 2006 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2006 NFL season on 2006-09-24, the Chicago Bears took care of business against the Minnesota Vikings, pulling away with a 19–16 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

R. Grossman (Chicago Bears) paced the passing game, with -4.46 total EPA, and +0.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Muhammad (Chicago Bears) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +8.14 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-31.5% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Chicago Bears changed the game: (15:00) 8-R.Grossman pass short right intended for 20-T.Jones INTERCEPTED by 26-A.Winfield at CHI 7. 26-A.Winfield for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on CHI-74-R.Brown, Offensive Holding, declined.

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. Muhammad · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +8.14 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.90 EPA/play
2. 2 B. Berrian · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +5.72 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.95 EPA/play
3. 3 R. Davis · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +5.15 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.72 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Moore · Minnesota Vikings · Rushing · +3.11 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.04 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Williamson · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +2.58 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.65 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Clark · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +1.83 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.92 EPA/play
7. 7 B. McMullen · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +1.75 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.88 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Richardson · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +1.30 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.30 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

• Minnesota Vikings — A. Winfield (Q4 15:00)
• Chicago Bears — R. Davis (R. Grossman pass) (Q4 1:58)

Field goals

• Minnesota Vikings — R. Longwell (Q1 55:52)
• Chicago Bears — R. Gould (Q1 51:24)
• Minnesota Vikings — R. Longwell (Q2 31:12)
• Chicago Bears — R. Gould (Q3 25:55)
• Chicago Bears — R. Gould (Q3 18:22)
• Chicago Bears — R. Gould (Q4 10:42)
• Minnesota Vikings — R. Longwell (Q4 7:31)

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 3–3. Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the CHI 13 (Q1 55:52) — (10:52) 8-R.Longwell 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe.; Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the MIN 24 (Q1 51:24) — (6:24) 9-R.Gould 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard..

The second quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 3–0. Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the CHI 8 (Q2 31:12) — (1:12) 8-R.Longwell 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe..

The third quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 6–0. Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the MIN 6 (Q3 25:55) — (10:55) 9-R.Gould 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the MIN 13 (Q3 18:22) — (3:22) 9-R.Gould 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 10–10. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the MIN 88 (Q4 15:00); Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q4 14:53) — 8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe.; Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the MIN 31 (Q4 10:42) — (10:42) 9-R.Gould 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the CHI 23 (Q4 7:31) — (7:31) 8-R.Longwell 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the MIN 24 (Q4 1:58) — (1:58) 8-R.Grossman pass deep middle to 81-R.Davis for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q4 1:53) — 9-R.Gould 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.

• Chicago Bears (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) 8-R.Grossman pass short right intended for 20-T.Jones INTERCEPTED by 26-A.Winfield at CHI 7. 26-A.Winfield for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on CHI-74-R.Brown, Offensive Holding, declined. [WPA -31.5% · EPA -6.92]
• Chicago Bears (Q4 1:58) — (1:58) 8-R.Grossman pass deep middle to 81-R.Davis for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +18.9% · EPA +3.54]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 1:10) — (1:10) 14-B.Johnson pass incomplete to 82-T.Williamson. [WPA -18.4% · EPA -2.35]
• Chicago Bears (Q4 2:34) — (2:34) 8-R.Grossman pass to 87-M.Muhammad to MIN 24 for 11 yards (21-F.Smoot). [WPA +17.6% · EPA +1.77]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 3:31) — (3:31) 14-B.Johnson FUMBLES (Aborted) at MIN 43, RECOVERED by CHI-93-A.Ogunleye at MIN 37. [WPA -16.9% · EPA -3.47]

Impact plays

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

• Chicago Bears (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) 8-R.Grossman pass short right intended for 20-T.Jones INTERCEPTED by 26-A.Winfield at CHI 7. 26-A.Winfield for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on CHI-74-R.Brown, Offensive Holding, declined. [WPA -31.5% · EPA -6.92]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 34:44) — (4:44) 8-R.Grossman pass deep middle intended for 80-B.Berrian INTERCEPTED by 24-D.Smith at MIN 38. 24-D.Smith ran ob at CHI 32 for 30 yards. [WPA -12.7% · EPA -4.48]
• Chicago Bears (Q4 1:58) — (1:58) 8-R.Grossman pass deep middle to 81-R.Davis for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +18.9% · EPA +3.54]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 3:31) — (3:31) 14-B.Johnson FUMBLES (Aborted) at MIN 43, RECOVERED by CHI-93-A.Ogunleye at MIN 37. [WPA -16.9% · EPA -3.47]

Quarterback report card

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

• R.Grossman (Chicago Bears) · 44 dropbacks · 52.3% completion · +0.4% CPOE · -0.10 EPA/play · -4.46 total EPA
• B.Johnson (Minnesota Vikings) · 34 dropbacks · 61.8% completion · +12.2% CPOE · -0.30 EPA/play · -10.29 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 (-0.07 vs -0.17), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Chicago Bears: 12 drives, -6.08 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Minnesota Vikings: 11 drives, -12.95 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.
• M. Muhammad (Chicago Bears) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• B. Johnson (MIN) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

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

1. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q1 55:52 · CHI 13 · Score 0-3
   (10:52) 8-R.Longwell 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe.
2. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q1 51:24 · MIN 24 · Score 3-3
   (6:24) 9-R.Gould 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
3. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q2 31:12 · CHI 8 · Score 3-6
   (1:12) 8-R.Longwell 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe.
4. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q3 25:55 · MIN 6 · Score 6-6
   (10:55) 9-R.Gould 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
5. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q3 18:22 · MIN 13 · Score 9-6
   (3:22) 9-R.Gould 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
6. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q4 15:00 · MIN 88 · Score 9-12
   (15:00) 8-R.Grossman pass short right intended for 20-T.Jones INTERCEPTED by 26-A.Winfield at CHI 7. 26-A.Winfield for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on CHI-74-R.B
7. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q4 14:53 · CHI 2 · Score 9-13
   8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe.
8. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q4 10:42 · MIN 31 · Score 12-13
   (10:42) 9-R.Gould 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
9. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q4 7:31 · CHI 23 · Score 12-16
   (7:31) 8-R.Longwell 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe.
10. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q4 1:58 · MIN 24 · Score 18-16
    (1:58) 8-R.Grossman pass deep middle to 81-R.Davis for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q4 1:53 · MIN 2 · Score 19-16
    9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.