Chicago Bears vs. New Orleans Saints: 2003 Week 6 Recap

Game story

In Week 6 of the 2003 NFL season on 2003-10-12, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Chicago Bears, pulling away with a 20–13 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

A. Brooks (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with +8.89 total EPA.

On the individual side, D. White (Chicago Bears) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +11.61 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-13.5% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Chicago Bears changed the game: (1:34) 10-K.Stewart sacked at CHI 23 for -5 yards (94-C.Grant). FUMBLES (94-C.Grant), RECOVERED by NO-98-W.Whitehead at CHI 23. 98-W.Whitehead to CHI 23 for no gain (57-O.Kreutz).

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. White · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +11.61 total EPA · 5 snaps · +2.32 EPA/play
2. 2 A. Brooks · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +8.89 total EPA · 31 snaps · +0.29 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Pathon · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +5.79 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.45 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Horn · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +4.22 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.41 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Clark · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +2.88 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.44 EPA/play
6. 6 B. Williams · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.57 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.29 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Stallworth · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.25 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.25 EPA/play
8. 8 A. Thomas · Chicago Bears · Rushing · +2.24 total EPA · 22 snaps · +0.10 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

• New Orleans Saints — E. Conwell (A. Brooks pass) (Q3 27:09)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Horn (A. Brooks pass) (Q4 7:23)
• Chicago Bears — D. White (K. Stewart pass) (Q4 2:16)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — J. Carney (Q1 52:58)
• Chicago Bears — P. Edinger (Q2 37:40)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Carney (Q2 30:01)
• Chicago Bears — P. Edinger (Q4 13:23)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 3–0. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CHI 32 (Q1 52:58) — (7:58) 3-J.Carney 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-17-M.Berger..

The second quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the NO 10 (Q2 37:40) — (7:40) 2-P.Edinger 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CHI 12 (Q2 30:01) — (:01) 3-J.Carney 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-17-M.Berger..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CHI 9 (Q3 27:09) — (12:09) 2-A.Brooks pass to 85-E.Conwell for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 9, Run 0; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q3 27:01) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-17-M.Berger..

The fourth quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 10–7. Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the NO 13 (Q4 13:23) — (13:23) 2-P.Edinger 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CHI 6 (Q4 7:23) — (7:23) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass to 87-J.Horn for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 6, Run 0; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q4 7:18) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-17-M.Berger.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the NO 4 (Q4 2:16) — (2:16) 10-K.Stewart pass to 80-D.White for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 4, Run 0; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q4 2:10) — 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.

• Chicago Bears (Q2 31:34) — (1:34) 10-K.Stewart sacked at CHI 23 for -5 yards (94-C.Grant). FUMBLES (94-C.Grant), RECOVERED by NO-98-W.Whitehead at CHI 23. 98-W.Whitehead to CHI 23 for no gain (57-O.Kreutz). [WPA -13.5% · EPA -4.15]
• Chicago Bears (Q1 48:45) — (3:45) (Shotgun) 10-K.Stewart FUMBLES (Aborted) at CHI 42, and recovers at CHI 42. 10-K.Stewart to CHI 42 for no gain (59-D.Rodgers). [WPA -12.3% · EPA -2.88]
• Chicago Bears (Q3 28:34) — (13:34) (Shotgun) 10-K.Stewart sacked at CHI 14 for -13 yards (22-F.Thomas). FUMBLES (22-F.Thomas), RECOVERED by NO-96-M.Williams at CHI 14. 96-M.Williams to CHI 12 for 2 yards (88-D.Clark). [WPA -11.4% · EPA -4.50]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 57:16) — (12:16) 3-J.Carney 38 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-17-M.Berger. [WPA -10.1% · EPA -3.15]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 41:07) — (11:07) 10-K.Stewart pass to 80-D.White pushed ob at NO 42 for 36 yards (22-F.Thomas, 34-T.Jones). Pass 31, Run 5 [WPA +9.5% · EPA +2.21]

Impact plays

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

• Chicago Bears (Q3 28:34) — (13:34) (Shotgun) 10-K.Stewart sacked at CHI 14 for -13 yards (22-F.Thomas). FUMBLES (22-F.Thomas), RECOVERED by NO-96-M.Williams at CHI 14. 96-M.Williams to CHI 12 for 2 yards (88-D.Clark). [WPA -11.4% · EPA -4.50]
• Chicago Bears (Q4 2:16) — (2:16) 10-K.Stewart pass to 80-D.White for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 4, Run 0 [WPA +2.0% · EPA +4.36]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 31:34) — (1:34) 10-K.Stewart sacked at CHI 23 for -5 yards (94-C.Grant). FUMBLES (94-C.Grant), RECOVERED by NO-98-W.Whitehead at CHI 23. 98-W.Whitehead to CHI 23 for no gain (57-O.Kreutz). [WPA -13.5% · EPA -4.15]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 57:16) — (12:16) 3-J.Carney 38 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-17-M.Berger. [WPA -10.1% · EPA -3.15]

Quarterback report card

A.Brooks led all passers in efficiency for New Orleans Saints, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• A.Brooks (New Orleans Saints) · 31 dropbacks · 45.2% completion · +0.29 EPA/play · +8.89 total EPA
• K.Stewart (Chicago Bears) · 25 dropbacks · 40.0% completion · -0.09 EPA/play · -2.33 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

New Orleans Saints held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.01 vs -0.05), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Chicago Bears: 9 drives, -3.81 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 10 drives, +0.57 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• New Orleans Saints 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. White (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. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q1 52:58 · CHI 32 · Score 0-3
   (7:58) 3-J.Carney 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-17-M.Berger.
2. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q2 37:40 · NO 10 · Score 3-3
   (7:40) 2-P.Edinger 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
3. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 30:01 · CHI 12 · Score 3-6
   (:01) 3-J.Carney 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-17-M.Berger.
4. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 27:09 · CHI 9 · Score 3-12
   (12:09) 2-A.Brooks pass to 85-E.Conwell for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 9, Run 0
5. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 27:01 · CHI 2 · Score 3-13
   3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-17-M.Berger.
6. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q4 13:23 · NO 13 · Score 6-13
   (13:23) 2-P.Edinger 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
7. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 7:23 · CHI 6 · Score 6-19
   (7:23) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass to 87-J.Horn for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 6, Run 0
8. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 7:18 · CHI 2 · Score 6-20
   3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-17-M.Berger.
9. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q4 2:16 · NO 4 · Score 12-20
   (2:16) 10-K.Stewart pass to 80-D.White for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 4, Run 0
10. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q4 2:10 · NO 2 · Score 13-20
    2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.