Chicago Bears vs. Washington Commanders: 2001 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 2001 NFL season on 2001-12-23, the Chicago Bears took care of business against the Washington Commanders, pulling away with a 20–15 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 19 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Banks (Washington Commanders) paced the passing game, with -4.70 total EPA.

On the individual side, B. Maynard (Chicago Bears) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.42 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+24.3% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Chicago Bears changed the game: (10:01) (Field Goal formation) 4-B.Maynard pass to 54-B.Urlacher for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

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 B. Maynard · Chicago Bears · Passing · +5.42 total EPA · 1 snaps · +5.42 EPA/play
2. 2 B. Urlacher · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +5.42 total EPA · 1 snaps · +5.42 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Westbrook · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +4.97 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.55 EPA/play
4. 4 L. Johnson · Chicago Bears · Rushing · +4.26 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.13 EPA/play
5. 5 R. Gardner · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +2.27 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.23 EPA/play
6. 6 Z. Flemister · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +1.78 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.36 EPA/play
7. 7 B. Johnson · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +1.58 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.79 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Booker · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +1.40 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.11 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

• Washington Commanders — S. Davis (Q1 49:43)
• Chicago Bears — L. Johnson (Q2 45:00)
• Chicago Bears — B. Urlacher (B. Maynard pass) (Q4 10:01)

Field goals

• Chicago Bears — P. Edinger (Q1 55:32)
• Washington Commanders — B. Conway (Q2 38:40)
• Washington Commanders — B. Conway (Q3 19:58)
• Chicago Bears — P. Edinger (Q4 3:27)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Washington Commanders won the period 7–3. Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the WAS 21 (Q1 55:32) — (10:32) 2-P.Edinger 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; Washington Commanders found the end zone from the CHI 3 (Q1 49:43) — (4:43) 48-S.Davis right tackle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Washington Commanders added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q1 49:39) — 5-B.Conway extra point is GOOD, Center-77-E.Albright, Holder-4-B.Barker..

The second quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 7–3. Chicago Bears found the end zone from the WAS 32 (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) 32-L.Johnson right end for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the WAS 2 (Q2 44:52) — 2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; Washington Commanders connected on a field goal from the CHI 17 (Q2 38:40) — (8:40) 5-B.Conway 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-77-E.Albright, Holder-4-B.Barker..

The third quarter: Washington Commanders won the period 3–0. Washington Commanders connected on a field goal from the CHI 8 (Q3 19:58) — (4:58) 5-B.Conway 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-77-E.Albright, Holder-4-B.Barker..

The fourth quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 17–2. Chicago Bears found the end zone from the WAS 27 (Q4 10:01) — (10:01) (Field Goal formation) 4-B.Maynard pass to 54-B.Urlacher for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the WAS 2 (Q4 9:55) — 2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the WAS 77 (Q4 9:16) — (9:16) 15-J.Miller pass to 86-M.Booker pushed ob at CHI 39 for 16 yards (24-C.Bailey).; Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the WAS 19 (Q4 3:27) — (3:27) 2-P.Edinger 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; Washington Commanders registered a safety from the WAS 90 (Q4 0:27) — (:27) (Punt formation) 4-B.Maynard ran ob in End Zone for -10 yards, SAFETY..

Turning points

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

• Chicago Bears (Q4 10:01) — (10:01) (Field Goal formation) 4-B.Maynard pass to 54-B.Urlacher for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +24.3% · EPA +5.42]
• Washington Commanders (Q4 1:30) — (1:30) 12-T.Banks pass incomplete to 87-R.Gardner. [WPA -20.4% · EPA -2.85]
• Washington Commanders (Q3 23:07) — (8:07) (Shotgun) 12-T.Banks pass to 89-Z.Flemister to CHI 23 for 33 yards (43-M.Green). [WPA +14.1% · EPA +3.07]
• Washington Commanders (Q1 58:44) — (13:44) (Shotgun) 12-T.Banks sacked at CHI 34 for -5 yards (59-R.Colvin). FUMBLES (59-R.Colvin), touched at CHI 34, RECOVERED by CHI-93-P.Daniels at CHI 34. [WPA -12.4% · EPA -3.76]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) 32-L.Johnson right end for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +11.8% · EPA +3.61]

Impact plays

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

• Chicago Bears (Q4 10:01) — (10:01) (Field Goal formation) 4-B.Maynard pass to 54-B.Urlacher for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +24.3% · EPA +5.42]
• Washington Commanders (Q1 58:44) — (13:44) (Shotgun) 12-T.Banks sacked at CHI 34 for -5 yards (59-R.Colvin). FUMBLES (59-R.Colvin), touched at CHI 34, RECOVERED by CHI-93-P.Daniels at CHI 34. [WPA -12.4% · EPA -3.76]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) 32-L.Johnson right end for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +11.8% · EPA +3.61]
• Chicago Bears (Q1 60:00) — 5-B.Conway kicks 55 yards from WAS 30 to CHI 15. 25-A.Denson to CHI 32 for 17 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by WAS-88-D.Thompson at CHI 32. [WPA -5.5% · EPA -3.50]

Quarterback report card

T.Banks led all passers in efficiency for Washington Commanders, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• T.Banks (Washington Commanders) · 51 dropbacks · 45.1% completion · -0.09 EPA/play · -4.70 total EPA
• J.Miller (Chicago Bears) · 27 dropbacks · 48.1% completion · -0.20 EPA/play · -5.32 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 (+0.01 vs -0.08), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Chicago Bears: 14 drives, +0.60 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Washington Commanders: 13 drives, -7.46 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.
• B. Maynard (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. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q1 55:32 · WAS 21 · Score 3-0
   (10:32) 2-P.Edinger 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
2. Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q1 49:43 · CHI 3 · Score 3-6
   (4:43) 48-S.Davis right tackle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Washington Commanders XP (+1) — Q1 49:39 · CHI 2 · Score 3-7
   5-B.Conway extra point is GOOD, Center-77-E.Albright, Holder-4-B.Barker.
4. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q2 45:00 · WAS 32 · Score 9-7
   (15:00) 32-L.Johnson right end for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q2 44:52 · WAS 2 · Score 10-7
   2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
6. Washington Commanders FG (+3) — Q2 38:40 · CHI 17 · Score 10-10
   (8:40) 5-B.Conway 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-77-E.Albright, Holder-4-B.Barker.
7. Washington Commanders FG (+3) — Q3 19:58 · CHI 8 · Score 10-13
   (4:58) 5-B.Conway 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-77-E.Albright, Holder-4-B.Barker.
8. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q4 10:01 · WAS 27 · Score 16-13
   (10:01) (Field Goal formation) 4-B.Maynard pass to 54-B.Urlacher for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q4 9:55 · WAS 2 · Score 17-13
   2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
10. Chicago Bears TD (+7) — Q4 9:16 · WAS 77 · Score 17-13
    (9:16) 15-J.Miller pass to 86-M.Booker pushed ob at CHI 39 for 16 yards (24-C.Bailey).
11. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q4 3:27 · WAS 19 · Score 20-13
    (3:27) 2-P.Edinger 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
12. Washington Commanders Safety (+2) — Q4 0:27 · WAS 90 · Score 20-15
    (:27) (Punt formation) 4-B.Maynard ran ob in End Zone for -10 yards, SAFETY.