Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears: 2002 Week 1 Recap

Game story

In Week 1 of the 2002 NFL season on 2002-09-08, the Chicago Bears took care of business against the Minnesota Vikings, pulling away with a 27–23 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Miller (Chicago Bears) paced the passing game, with +13.96 total EPA.

On the individual side, J. Miller (Chicago Bears) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +13.96 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+24.5% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Chicago Bears changed the game: (:35) 15-J.Miller pass to 83-D.Terrell for 9 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 J. Miller · Chicago Bears · Passing · +13.96 total EPA · 35 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Booker · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +12.91 total EPA · 12 snaps · +1.08 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Culpepper · Minnesota Vikings · Passing · +6.14 total EPA · 34 snaps · +0.18 EPA/play
4. 4 B. Chamberlain · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +5.45 total EPA · 1 snaps · +5.45 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Kleinsasser · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +4.17 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.70 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Bates · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +3.12 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.62 EPA/play
7. 7 D. White · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +2.69 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.34 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Terrell · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +2.63 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.63 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

• Chicago Bears — M. Booker (J. Miller pass) (Q1 46:10)
• Minnesota Vikings — D. Culpepper (Q2 43:37)
• Minnesota Vikings — R. Moss (D. Culpepper pass) (Q2 31:01)
• Chicago Bears — A. Thomas (Q4 6:15)
• Chicago Bears — D. Terrell (J. Miller pass) (Q4 0:35)

Field goals

• Minnesota Vikings — D. Brien (Q1 51:19)
• Chicago Bears — P. Edinger (Q2 39:24)
• Minnesota Vikings — D. Brien (Q2 33:34)
• Chicago Bears — P. Edinger (Q3 25:33)
• Minnesota Vikings — D. Brien (Q4 9:12)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 7–3. Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the CHI 12 (Q1 51:19) — (6:19) 4-D.Brien 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-B.Liddiard, Holder-5-K.Richardson.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the MIN 29 (Q1 46:10) — (1:10) 15-J.Miller pass to 86-M.Booker for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q1 46:03) — 2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard..

The second quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 17–3. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the CHI 2 (Q2 43:37) — (13:37) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q2 43:32) — 4-D.Brien extra point is GOOD, Center-43-B.Liddiard, Holder-5-K.Richardson.; Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the MIN 31 (Q2 39:24) — (9:24) 2-P.Edinger 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the CHI 6 (Q2 33:34) — (3:34) 4-D.Brien 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-B.Liddiard, Holder-5-K.Richardson.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the CHI 33 (Q2 31:01) — (1:01) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 84-R.Moss for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q2 30:55) — 4-D.Brien extra point is GOOD, Center-43-B.Liddiard, Holder-5-K.Richardson..

The third quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 3–0. Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the MIN 31 (Q3 25:33) — (10:33) 2-P.Edinger 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard..

The fourth quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 14–3. Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the CHI 24 (Q4 9:12) — (9:12) 4-D.Brien 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-B.Liddiard, Holder-5-K.Richardson.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the MIN 1 (Q4 6:15) — (6:15) 35-A.Thomas right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q4 6:13) — 2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the MIN 9 (Q4 0:35) — (:35) 15-J.Miller pass to 83-D.Terrell for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q4 0:28) — 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 (Q4 0:35) — (:35) 15-J.Miller pass to 83-D.Terrell for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +24.5% · EPA +2.63]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 87-B.Chamberlain pushed ob at CHI 1 for 61 yards (30-M.Brown). [WPA +18.8% · EPA +5.45]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 53:00) — (8:00) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 85-D.Bates to CHI 9 for 46 yards (43-M.Green). [WPA +17.7% · EPA +4.59]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 2:43) — (2:43) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper pass intended for 82-D.Alexander INTERCEPTED by 30-M.Brown at CHI 33. 30-M.Brown to CHI 49 for 16 yards (20-M.Williams). [WPA -15.8% · EPA -2.37]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 31:07) — (1:07) (Shotgun) 15-J.Miller FUMBLES (Aborted) at CHI 40, RECOVERED by MIN-97-T.Sawyer at CHI 33. 97-T.Sawyer to CHI 33 for no gain (35-A.Thomas). [WPA -15.0% · EPA -4.11]

Impact plays

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

• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 87-B.Chamberlain pushed ob at CHI 1 for 61 yards (30-M.Brown). [WPA +18.8% · EPA +5.45]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 53:00) — (8:00) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 85-D.Bates to CHI 9 for 46 yards (43-M.Green). [WPA +17.7% · EPA +4.59]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 31:01) — (1:01) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 84-R.Moss for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +12.4% · EPA +4.30]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 31:07) — (1:07) (Shotgun) 15-J.Miller FUMBLES (Aborted) at CHI 40, RECOVERED by MIN-97-T.Sawyer at CHI 33. 97-T.Sawyer to CHI 33 for no gain (35-A.Thomas). [WPA -15.0% · EPA -4.11]

Quarterback report card

J.Miller led all passers in efficiency for Chicago Bears, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Miller (Chicago Bears) · 35 dropbacks · 57.1% completion · +0.40 EPA/play · +13.96 total EPA
• D.Culpepper (Minnesota Vikings) · 34 dropbacks · 47.1% completion · +0.18 EPA/play · +6.14 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Minnesota Vikings +0.10, Chicago Bears +0.11) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Chicago Bears: 12 drives, +8.52 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Minnesota Vikings: 12 drives, +7.96 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. Miller (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. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q1 51:19 · CHI 12 · Score 3-0
   (6:19) 4-D.Brien 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-B.Liddiard, Holder-5-K.Richardson.
2. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q1 46:10 · MIN 29 · Score 3-6
   (1:10) 15-J.Miller pass to 86-M.Booker for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q1 46:03 · MIN 2 · Score 3-7
   2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
4. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q2 43:37 · CHI 2 · Score 9-7
   (13:37) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q2 43:32 · CHI 2 · Score 10-7
   4-D.Brien extra point is GOOD, Center-43-B.Liddiard, Holder-5-K.Richardson.
6. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q2 39:24 · MIN 31 · Score 10-10
   (9:24) 2-P.Edinger 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
7. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q2 33:34 · CHI 6 · Score 13-10
   (3:34) 4-D.Brien 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-B.Liddiard, Holder-5-K.Richardson.
8. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q2 31:01 · CHI 33 · Score 19-10
   (1:01) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 84-R.Moss for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q2 30:55 · CHI 2 · Score 20-10
   4-D.Brien extra point is GOOD, Center-43-B.Liddiard, Holder-5-K.Richardson.
10. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q3 25:33 · MIN 31 · Score 20-13
    (10:33) 2-P.Edinger 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
11. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q4 9:12 · CHI 24 · Score 23-13
    (9:12) 4-D.Brien 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-B.Liddiard, Holder-5-K.Richardson.
12. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q4 6:15 · MIN 1 · Score 23-19
    (6:15) 35-A.Thomas right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q4 6:13 · MIN 2 · Score 23-20
    2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
14. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q4 0:35 · MIN 9 · Score 23-26
    (:35) 15-J.Miller pass to 83-D.Terrell for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q4 0:28 · MIN 2 · Score 23-27
    2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.