Cincinnati Bengals vs. Atlanta Falcons: 2002 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2002 NFL season on 2002-09-22, the Atlanta Falcons took care of business against the Cincinnati Bengals, pulling away with a 30–3 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 13 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Kitna (Cincinnati Bengals) paced the passing game, with -13.42 total EPA.

On the individual side, M. Vick (Atlanta Falcons) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.36 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-7.9% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Atlanta Falcons changed the game: (10:45) 45-T.Duckett left tackle to CIN 26 for -3 yards (94-T.Williams).

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. Vick · Atlanta Falcons · Rushing · +7.36 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.47 EPA/play
2. 2 B. Finneran · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +7.09 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.01 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Duckett · Atlanta Falcons · Rushing · +1.94 total EPA · 19 snaps · +0.10 EPA/play
4. 4 C. Dillon · Cincinnati Bengals · Rushing · +0.52 total EPA · 18 snaps · +0.03 EPA/play
5. 5 A. Crumpler · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +0.40 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Johnson · Atlanta Falcons · Rushing · +0.34 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.17 EPA/play
7. 7 W. Dunn · Atlanta Falcons · Rushing · +0.06 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.01 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Schobel · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +0.02 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.02 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

• Atlanta Falcons — B. Finneran (M. Vick pass) (Q1 47:02)
• Atlanta Falcons — B. Finneran (M. Vick pass) (Q2 35:06)
• Atlanta Falcons — W. Dunn (Q3 20:15)

Field goals

• Atlanta Falcons — J. Feely (Q1 55:41)
• Atlanta Falcons — J. Feely (Q1 52:30)
• Cincinnati Bengals — N. Rackers (Q2 30:07)
• Atlanta Falcons — J. Feely (Q4 8:15)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 13–0. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the CIN 26 (Q1 55:41) — (10:41) 4-J.Feely 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the CIN 8 (Q1 52:30) — (7:30) 4-J.Feely 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the CIN 20 (Q1 47:02) — (2:02) 7-M.Vick pass to 86-B.Finneran for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the CIN 2 (Q1 46:57) — 4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr..

The second quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 7–3. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the CIN 13 (Q2 35:06) — (5:06) 7-M.Vick pass to 86-B.Finneran for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the CIN 2 (Q2 34:56) — 4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.; Cincinnati Bengals connected on a field goal from the ATL 7 (Q2 30:07) — (:07) 5-N.Rackers 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.St. Louis, Holder-8-N.Harris..

The third quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 7–0. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the CIN 4 (Q3 20:15) — (5:15) 28-W.Dunn left end for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by CIN and Upheld. (Timeout #1 at 05:08.); Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the CIN 2 (Q3 20:07) — 4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr..

The fourth quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 3–0. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the CIN 16 (Q4 8:15) — (8:15) 4-J.Feely 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr..

Turning points

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 55:45) — (10:45) 45-T.Duckett left tackle to CIN 26 for -3 yards (94-T.Williams). [WPA -7.9% · EPA -2.44]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 47:02) — (2:02) 7-M.Vick pass to 86-B.Finneran for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.5% · EPA +2.75]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 58:36) — (13:36) (Shotgun) 7-M.Vick pass to 80-W.Jackson to CIN 32 for 19 yards (57-A.Ross). [WPA +6.1% · EPA +1.54]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 48:43) — (3:43) 7-M.Vick left tackle ran ob at CIN 29 for 7 yards (27-A.Hawkins). [WPA +3.9% · EPA +1.58]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q1 54:55) — (9:55) 28-C.Dillon left end to CIN 10 for -3 yards (91-B.Smith). [WPA -3.6% · EPA -1.12]

Impact plays

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

• Cincinnati Bengals (Q3 27:18) — (12:18) 3-J.Kitna pass intended for 84-T.Houshmandzadeh INTERCEPTED by 33-A.Ambrose at ATL 26. 33-A.Ambrose to ATL 26 for no gain (84-T.Houshmandzadeh). [WPA -3.2% · EPA -3.65]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q3 20:15) — (5:15) 28-W.Dunn left end for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by CIN and Upheld. (Timeout #1 at 05:08.) [WPA +2.4% · EPA +3.04]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 47:02) — (2:02) 7-M.Vick pass to 86-B.Finneran for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.5% · EPA +2.75]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q1 54:16) — (9:16) (Shotgun) 12-G.Frerotte pass intended for 80-P.Warrick INTERCEPTED by 23-K.Mathis at CIN 23. 23-K.Mathis to CIN 15 for 8 yards (80-P.Warrick). [WPA -3.5% · EPA -2.45]

Quarterback report card

J.Kitna led all passers in efficiency for Cincinnati Bengals, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Kitna (Cincinnati Bengals) · 36 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -0.37 EPA/play · -13.42 total EPA
• M.Vick (Atlanta Falcons) · 27 dropbacks · 59.3% completion · -0.00 EPA/play · -0.10 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Atlanta Falcons held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.06 vs -0.29), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Atlanta Falcons: 12 drives, +4.61 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Cincinnati Bengals: 12 drives, -23.02 total EPA, 1 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Atlanta Falcons leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• M. Vick (Atlanta Falcons) 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. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q1 55:41 · CIN 26 · Score 0-3
   (10:41) 4-J.Feely 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
2. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q1 52:30 · CIN 8 · Score 0-6
   (7:30) 4-J.Feely 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
3. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q1 47:02 · CIN 20 · Score 0-12
   (2:02) 7-M.Vick pass to 86-B.Finneran for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q1 46:57 · CIN 2 · Score 0-13
   4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
5. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 35:06 · CIN 13 · Score 0-19
   (5:06) 7-M.Vick pass to 86-B.Finneran for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q2 34:56 · CIN 2 · Score 0-20
   4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
7. Cincinnati Bengals FG (+3) — Q2 30:07 · ATL 7 · Score 3-20
   (:07) 5-N.Rackers 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.St. Louis, Holder-8-N.Harris.
8. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q3 20:15 · CIN 4 · Score 3-26
   (5:15) 28-W.Dunn left end for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by CIN and Upheld. (Timeout #1 at 05:08.)
9. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q3 20:07 · CIN 2 · Score 3-27
   4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
10. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q4 8:15 · CIN 16 · Score 3-30
    (8:15) 4-J.Feely 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.