Chicago Bears vs. Seattle Seahawks: 2009 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2009 NFL season on 2009-09-27, the Chicago Bears took care of business against the Seattle Seahawks, pulling away with a 25–19 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

S. Wallace (Seattle Seahawks) paced the passing game, with -0.36 total EPA, and -3.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Cutler (Chicago Bears) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +11.57 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+26.2% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Chicago Bears changed the game: (2:00) 6-J.Cutler pass short left to 23-D.Hester for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN [97-P.Kerney]. PENALTY on SEA-97-P.Kerney, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced between downs.

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. Cutler · Chicago Bears · Passing · +11.57 total EPA · 30 snaps · +0.39 EPA/play
2. 2 E. Bennett · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +8.48 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.70 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Hester · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +5.37 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.67 EPA/play
4. 4 N. Burleson · Seattle Seahawks · Receiving · +5.23 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.44 EPA/play
5. 5 G. Olsen · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +4.91 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.82 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Jones · Seattle Seahawks · Receiving · +2.45 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.61 EPA/play
7. 7 B. Obomanu · Seattle Seahawks · Receiving · +1.90 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.90 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Forte · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +1.81 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.30 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

• Seattle Seahawks — J. Jones (S. Wallace pass) (Q1 55:35)
• Chicago Bears — G. Olsen (J. Cutler pass) (Q2 32:00)
• Chicago Bears — J. Knox (J. Cutler pass) (Q3 26:36)
• Chicago Bears — D. Hester (J. Cutler pass) (Q4 2:00)

Field goals

• Seattle Seahawks — O. Mare (Q1 45:45)
• Seattle Seahawks — O. Mare (Q2 42:06)
• Chicago Bears — R. Gould (Q3 20:36)
• Seattle Seahawks — O. Mare (Q4 14:52)
• Seattle Seahawks — O. Mare (Q4 5:17)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Seattle Seahawks won the period 10–0. Seattle Seahawks found the end zone from the CHI 39 (Q1 55:35) — (10:35) (Shotgun) 15-S.Wallace pass short right to 22-J.Jones for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Seattle Seahawks added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q1 55:24) — 10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-45-K.Houser, Holder-9-J.Ryan.; Seattle Seahawks connected on a field goal from the CHI 28 (Q1 45:45) — (:45) 10-O.Mare 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-K.Houser, Holder-9-J.Ryan..

The second quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 7–3. Seattle Seahawks connected on a field goal from the CHI 19 (Q2 42:06) — (12:06) 10-O.Mare 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-K.Houser, Holder-9-J.Ryan.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the SEA 1 (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 82-G.Olsen for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN [24-D.Grant].; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the SEA 2 (Q2 31:56) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard..

The third quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 10–0. Chicago Bears found the end zone from the SEA 7 (Q3 26:36); Chicago Bears added 1 points from the SEA 2 (Q3 26:28) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the SEA 19 (Q3 20:36) — (5:36) 9-R.Gould 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard..

The fourth quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 8–6. Seattle Seahawks connected on a field goal from the CHI 21 (Q4 14:52) — (14:52) 10-O.Mare 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-K.Houser, Holder-9-J.Ryan.; Seattle Seahawks connected on a field goal from the CHI 28 (Q4 5:17) — (5:17) 10-O.Mare 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-K.Houser, Holder-9-J.Ryan.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the SEA 36 (Q4 2:00); Chicago Bears registered a safety from the SEA 2 (Q4 1:52) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 6-J.Cutler pass to 80-E.Bennett is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..

Turning points

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

• Chicago Bears (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) 6-J.Cutler pass short left to 23-D.Hester for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN [97-P.Kerney]. PENALTY on SEA-97-P.Kerney, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced between downs. [WPA +26.2% · EPA +4.61]
• Seattle Seahawks (Q3 22:38) — (7:38) 15-S.Wallace pass short right intended for 89-J.Carlson INTERCEPTED by 55-L.Briggs at SEA 14. 55-L.Briggs to SEA 14 for no gain (89-J.Carlson). [WPA -18.2% · EPA -4.51]
• Chicago Bears (Q4 8:20) — (8:20) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler sacked at CHI 42 for -3 yards (59-A.Curry). FUMBLES (59-A.Curry), RECOVERED by SEA-94-C.Redding at CHI 42. 94-C.Redding to CHI 39 for 3 yards (22-M.Forte). [WPA -18.0% · EPA -3.89]
• Seattle Seahawks (Q4 0:30) — (:30) (Shotgun) 15-S.Wallace pass incomplete short right to 22-J.Jones. [WPA -15.8% · EPA -1.95]
• Seattle Seahawks (Q3 17:23) — (2:23) (Shotgun) 15-S.Wallace pass short middle to 84-T.Houshmandzadeh to CHI 33 for 13 yards (53-N.Roach). [WPA +12.7% · EPA +2.34]

Impact plays

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

• Seattle Seahawks (Q1 55:35) — (10:35) (Shotgun) 15-S.Wallace pass short right to 22-J.Jones for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +11.4% · EPA +5.37]
• Chicago Bears (Q1 50:35) — (5:35) 6-J.Cutler pass short right intended for 13-J.Knox INTERCEPTED by 57-D.Hawthorne [55-D.Tapp] at SEA 12. 57-D.Hawthorne to SEA 15 for 3 yards (13-J.Knox). [WPA -11.5% · EPA -5.03]
• Chicago Bears (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) 6-J.Cutler pass short left to 23-D.Hester for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN [97-P.Kerney]. PENALTY on SEA-97-P.Kerney, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced between downs. [WPA +26.2% · EPA +4.61]
• Seattle Seahawks (Q3 22:38) — (7:38) 15-S.Wallace pass short right intended for 89-J.Carlson INTERCEPTED by 55-L.Briggs at SEA 14. 55-L.Briggs to SEA 14 for no gain (89-J.Carlson). [WPA -18.2% · EPA -4.51]

Quarterback report card

S.Wallace led all passers in efficiency for Seattle Seahawks, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• S.Wallace (Seattle Seahawks) · 47 dropbacks · 55.3% completion · -3.6% CPOE · -0.01 EPA/play · -0.36 total EPA
• J.Cutler (Chicago Bears) · 30 dropbacks · 70.0% completion · +16.3% CPOE · +0.39 EPA/play · +11.57 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 (+0.04 vs -0.06), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Chicago Bears: 13 drives, +3.09 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Seattle Seahawks: 12 drives, -5.01 total EPA, 5 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.
• J. Cutler (Chicago Bears) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• S. Wallace (SEA) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• J. Cutler (CHI) 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. Seattle Seahawks TD (+6) — Q1 55:35 · CHI 39 · Score 0-6
   (10:35) (Shotgun) 15-S.Wallace pass short right to 22-J.Jones for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Seattle Seahawks XP (+1) — Q1 55:24 · CHI 2 · Score 0-7
   10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-45-K.Houser, Holder-9-J.Ryan.
3. Seattle Seahawks FG (+3) — Q1 45:45 · CHI 28 · Score 0-10
   (:45) 10-O.Mare 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-K.Houser, Holder-9-J.Ryan.
4. Seattle Seahawks FG (+3) — Q2 42:06 · CHI 19 · Score 0-13
   (12:06) 10-O.Mare 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-K.Houser, Holder-9-J.Ryan.
5. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q2 32:00 · SEA 1 · Score 6-13
   (2:00) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 82-G.Olsen for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN [24-D.Grant].
6. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q2 31:56 · SEA 2 · Score 7-13
   9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
7. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q3 26:36 · SEA 7 · Score 13-13
   (11:36) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 13-J.Knox for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Seattle challenged the runner broke the plane ruling, and the play was Upheld
8. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q3 26:28 · SEA 2 · Score 14-13
   9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
9. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q3 20:36 · SEA 19 · Score 17-13
   (5:36) 9-R.Gould 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
10. Seattle Seahawks FG (+3) — Q4 14:52 · CHI 21 · Score 17-16
    (14:52) 10-O.Mare 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-K.Houser, Holder-9-J.Ryan.
11. Seattle Seahawks FG (+3) — Q4 5:17 · CHI 28 · Score 17-19
    (5:17) 10-O.Mare 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-K.Houser, Holder-9-J.Ryan.
12. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q4 2:00 · SEA 36 · Score 23-19
    (2:00) 6-J.Cutler pass short left to 23-D.Hester for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN [97-P.Kerney]. PENALTY on SEA-97-P.Kerney, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced betw
13. Chicago Bears Safety (+2) — Q4 1:52 · SEA 2 · Score 25-19
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 6-J.Cutler pass to 80-E.Bennett is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.