Denver Broncos vs. San Francisco 49ers: 2002 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2002 NFL season on 2002-09-15, the Denver Broncos took care of business against the San Francisco 49ers, pulling away with a 24–14 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Garcia (San Francisco 49ers) paced the passing game, with +3.79 total EPA.

On the individual side, B. Griese (Denver Broncos) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +11.96 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-17.8% win probability) landed in the third quarter when San Francisco 49ers changed the game: (4:26) 5-J.Garcia FUMBLES (Aborted) at SF 43, RECOVERED by DEN-51-J.Mobley at SF 40. 51-J.Mobley to SF 40 for no gain (78-S.Gragg).

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. Griese · Denver Broncos · Passing · +11.96 total EPA · 25 snaps · +0.48 EPA/play
2. 2 S. Sharpe · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +6.71 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.34 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Anderson · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +4.78 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.48 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Garcia · San Francisco 49ers · Passing · +3.79 total EPA · 39 snaps · +0.10 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Owens · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +3.72 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.53 EPA/play
6. 6 E. Johnson · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +2.98 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Stokes · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +2.95 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.59 EPA/play
8. 8 S. Montgomery · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +2.41 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.41 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

• San Francisco 49ers — T. Owens (J. Garcia pass) (Q2 38:01)
• Denver Broncos — M. Anderson (B. Griese pass) (Q3 24:06)
• Denver Broncos — O. Gary (Q4 14:20)
• Denver Broncos — S. Montgomery (B. Griese pass) (Q4 3:03)
• San Francisco 49ers — J. Garcia (Q4 1:25)

Field goals

• Denver Broncos — J. Elam (Q2 30:20)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The second quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 7–3. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the DEN 8 (Q2 38:01); San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q2 37:55) — 6-J.Cortez extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-7-J.Baker.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the SF 10 (Q2 30:20) — (:20) 1-J.Elam 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-78-M.Lepsis, Holder-16-T.Rouen..

The third quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 7–0. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the SF 1 (Q3 24:06) — (9:06) 14-B.Griese pass to 38-M.Anderson for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q3 24:01) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-78-M.Lepsis, Holder-16-T.Rouen..

The fourth quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 14–7. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the SF 1 (Q4 14:20) — (14:20) 22-O.Gary up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q4 14:15) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-78-M.Lepsis, Holder-16-T.Rouen.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the SF 11 (Q4 3:03) — (3:03) 14-B.Griese pass to 83-S.Montgomery for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q4 2:58) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-78-M.Lepsis, Holder-16-T.Rouen.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the DEN 1 (Q4 1:25) — (1:25) 5-J.Garcia up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q4 1:23) — 6-J.Cortez extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-7-J.Baker..

Turning points

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

• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 19:26) — (4:26) 5-J.Garcia FUMBLES (Aborted) at SF 43, RECOVERED by DEN-51-J.Mobley at SF 40. 51-J.Mobley to SF 40 for no gain (78-S.Gragg). [WPA -17.8% · EPA -4.62]
• Denver Broncos (Q1 52:41) — (7:41) 87-E.McCaffrey left end to SF 23 for 17 yards (31-Z.Bronson). FUMBLES (31-Z.Bronson), touched at SF 23, RECOVERED by SF-33-T.Parrish at SF 24. 33-T.Parrish to SF 24 for no gain (66-T.Nalen). Mc [WPA -12.7% · EPA -3.73]
• Denver Broncos (Q3 15:02) — (:02) 14-B.Griese pass incomplete to 80-R.Smith. PENALTY on SF-38-R.Heard, Defensive Pass Interference, 39 yards, enforced at SF 40 - No Play. [WPA +11.4% · EPA +4.56]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 9:44) — (9:44) 5-J.Garcia pass intended for 89-T.Streets INTERCEPTED by 24-D.O'Neal at DEN 1. 24-D.O'Neal to DEN 1 for no gain (89-T.Streets). [WPA -10.3% · EPA -1.84]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 39:56) — (9:56) 32-K.Barlow right tackle pushed ob at DEN 22 for 31 yards (25-D.Walker). [WPA +9.4% · EPA +2.39]

Impact plays

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

• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 19:26) — (4:26) 5-J.Garcia FUMBLES (Aborted) at SF 43, RECOVERED by DEN-51-J.Mobley at SF 40. 51-J.Mobley to SF 40 for no gain (78-S.Gragg). [WPA -17.8% · EPA -4.62]
• Denver Broncos (Q3 15:02) — (:02) 14-B.Griese pass incomplete to 80-R.Smith. PENALTY on SF-38-R.Heard, Defensive Pass Interference, 39 yards, enforced at SF 40 - No Play. [WPA +11.4% · EPA +4.56]
• Denver Broncos (Q1 52:41) — (7:41) 87-E.McCaffrey left end to SF 23 for 17 yards (31-Z.Bronson). FUMBLES (31-Z.Bronson), touched at SF 23, RECOVERED by SF-33-T.Parrish at SF 24. 33-T.Parrish to SF 24 for no gain (66-T.Nalen). Mc [WPA -12.7% · EPA -3.73]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 38:01) — (8:01) 5-J.Garcia pass to 81-T.Owens for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at DEN 6. PENALTY on DEN-28-K.Kennedy, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced between downs. Pryce injured on play [WPA +5.3% · EPA +3.10]

Quarterback report card

J.Garcia led all passers in efficiency for San Francisco 49ers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Garcia (San Francisco 49ers) · 39 dropbacks · 69.2% completion · +0.10 EPA/play · +3.79 total EPA
• B.Griese (Denver Broncos) · 25 dropbacks · 56.0% completion · +0.48 EPA/play · +11.96 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Denver Broncos generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.17 vs +0.01), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Denver Broncos: 10 drives, +12.94 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 10 drives, +0.49 total EPA, 2 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Denver Broncos leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• B. Griese (Denver Broncos) 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. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q2 38:01 · DEN 8 · Score 0-6
   (8:01) 5-J.Garcia pass to 81-T.Owens for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at DEN 6. PENALTY on DEN-28-K.Kennedy, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced between downs
2. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q2 37:55 · DEN 2 · Score 0-7
   6-J.Cortez extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-7-J.Baker.
3. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q2 30:20 · SF 10 · Score 3-7
   (:20) 1-J.Elam 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-78-M.Lepsis, Holder-16-T.Rouen.
4. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q3 24:06 · SF 1 · Score 9-7
   (9:06) 14-B.Griese pass to 38-M.Anderson for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q3 24:01 · SF 2 · Score 10-7
   1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-78-M.Lepsis, Holder-16-T.Rouen.
6. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q4 14:20 · SF 1 · Score 16-7
   (14:20) 22-O.Gary up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q4 14:15 · SF 2 · Score 17-7
   1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-78-M.Lepsis, Holder-16-T.Rouen.
8. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q4 3:03 · SF 11 · Score 23-7
   (3:03) 14-B.Griese pass to 83-S.Montgomery for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q4 2:58 · SF 2 · Score 24-7
   1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-78-M.Lepsis, Holder-16-T.Rouen.
10. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q4 1:25 · DEN 1 · Score 24-13
    (1:25) 5-J.Garcia up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
11. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q4 1:23 · DEN 2 · Score 24-14
    6-J.Cortez extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-7-J.Baker.