New England Patriots vs. Chicago Bears: 2010 Week 14 Recap

Game story

In Week 14 of the 2010 NFL season on 2010-12-12, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Chicago Bears, pulling away with a 36–7 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 26 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Brady (New England Patriots) paced the passing game, with +15.28 total EPA, and +4.5% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Brady (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +15.28 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+10.9% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New England Patriots changed the game: (7:51) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 84-D.Branch to CHI 34 for 16 yards (46-C.Harris).

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 T. Brady · New England Patriots · Passing · +15.28 total EPA · 45 snaps · +0.34 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Branch · New England Patriots · Receiving · +13.95 total EPA · 10 snaps · +1.39 EPA/play
3. 3 W. Welker · New England Patriots · Receiving · +5.88 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.45 EPA/play
4. 4 R. Gronkowski · New England Patriots · Receiving · +4.44 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.74 EPA/play
5. 5 B. Tate · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.50 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.17 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Woodhead · New England Patriots · Rushing · +1.38 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.20 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Aromashodu · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +0.94 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.94 EPA/play
8. 8 S. Morris · New England Patriots · Rushing · +0.65 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.65 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

• New England Patriots — R. Gronkowski (T. Brady pass) (Q1 50:52)
• New England Patriots — D. Woodhead (Q2 40:22)
• New England Patriots — J. Knox (J. Cutler pass) (Q2 40:09)
• New England Patriots — D. Branch (T. Brady pass) (Q2 30:05)
• Chicago Bears — C. Taylor (Q3 23:48)

Field goals

• New England Patriots — S. Graham (Q2 34:43)
• New England Patriots — S. Graham (Q2 33:25)
• New England Patriots — S. Graham (Q3 26:01)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: New England Patriots won the period 7–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the CHI 7 (Q1 50:52) — (5:52) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 87-R.Gronkowski for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q1 50:47) — 5-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko..

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 26–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the CHI 3 (Q2 40:22) — (10:22) (Shotgun) 39-D.Woodhead right guard for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q2 40:16) — 5-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the NE 62 (Q2 40:09); New England Patriots added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q2 39:56) — 5-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the CHI 12 (Q2 34:43) — (4:43) 5-S.Graham 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the CHI 7 (Q2 33:25) — (3:25) 5-S.Graham 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the CHI 59 (Q2 30:05) — (:05) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep left to 84-D.Branch for 59 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

The third quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 7–3. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the CHI 11 (Q3 26:01) — (11:01) 5-S.Graham 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the NE 1 (Q3 23:48) — (8:48) 29-C.Taylor left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. NE-97-R.Brace was injured during the play.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q3 23:43) — 9-R.Gould 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.

• New England Patriots (Q1 52:51) — (7:51) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 84-D.Branch to CHI 34 for 16 yards (46-C.Harris). [WPA +10.9% · EPA +2.74]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 40:09) — (10:09) 6-J.Cutler pass short left to 13-J.Knox to CHI 39 for 1 yard (32-D.McCourty). FUMBLES (32-D.McCourty), RECOVERED by NE-59-G.Guyton at CHI 35. 59-G.Guyton for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Chicago chall [WPA -8.6% · EPA -8.73]
• New England Patriots (Q1 54:46) — (9:46) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 83-W.Welker to CHI 48 for 17 yards (38-D.Manning). [WPA +7.5% · EPA +2.48]
• Chicago Bears (Q1 48:56) — (3:56) 6-J.Cutler pass deep right to 13-J.Knox to CHI 33 for 19 yards (32-D.McCourty). [WPA +6.7% · EPA +3.08]
• New England Patriots (Q1 52:10) — (7:10) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 83-W.Welker to CHI 10 for 24 yards (35-Z.Bowman, 53-N.Roach). [WPA +6.2% · EPA +1.50]

Impact plays

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

• Chicago Bears (Q2 40:09) — (10:09) 6-J.Cutler pass short left to 13-J.Knox to CHI 39 for 1 yard (32-D.McCourty). FUMBLES (32-D.McCourty), RECOVERED by NE-59-G.Guyton at CHI 35. 59-G.Guyton for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Chicago chall [WPA -8.6% · EPA -8.73]
• New England Patriots (Q2 30:05) — (:05) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep left to 84-D.Branch for 59 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -0.0% · EPA +6.83]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 34:30) — (4:30) 6-J.Cutler sacked at CHI 7 for -10 yards (98-E.Moore). FUMBLES (98-E.Moore), RECOVERED by NE-51-J.Mayo at CHI 7. 51-J.Mayo to CHI 9 for -2 yards (63-R.Garza). [WPA -3.7% · EPA -5.06]
• Chicago Bears (Q4 6:43) — (6:43) 6-J.Cutler pass deep left intended for 80-E.Bennett INTERCEPTED by 31-B.Meriweather [95-T.Banta-Cain] at NE -6. Touchback. [WPA -0.1% · EPA -4.95]

Quarterback report card

T.Brady led all passers in efficiency for New England Patriots, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• T.Brady (New England Patriots) · 45 dropbacks · 60.0% completion · +4.5% CPOE · +0.34 EPA/play · +15.28 total EPA
• J.Cutler (Chicago Bears) · 32 dropbacks · 37.5% completion · -11.4% CPOE · -0.58 EPA/play · -18.57 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, New England Patriots generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.14 vs -0.35), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Chicago Bears: 10 drives, -20.37 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 11 drives, +13.54 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• New England Patriots leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• T. Brady (New England Patriots) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• T. Brady (NE) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• J. Cutler (CHI) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q1 50:52 · CHI 7 · Score 6-0
   (5:52) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 87-R.Gronkowski for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q1 50:47 · CHI 2 · Score 7-0
   5-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.
3. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 40:22 · CHI 3 · Score 13-0
   (10:22) (Shotgun) 39-D.Woodhead right guard for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 40:16 · CHI 2 · Score 14-0
   5-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.
5. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 40:09 · NE 62 · Score 20-0
   (10:09) 6-J.Cutler pass short left to 13-J.Knox to CHI 39 for 1 yard (32-D.McCourty). FUMBLES (32-D.McCourty), RECOVERED by NE-59-G.Guyton at CHI 35. 59-G.Guyto
6. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 39:56 · CHI 2 · Score 21-0
   5-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.
7. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 34:43 · CHI 12 · Score 24-0
   (4:43) 5-S.Graham 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.
8. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 33:25 · CHI 7 · Score 27-0
   (3:25) 5-S.Graham 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.
9. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 30:05 · CHI 59 · Score 33-0
   (:05) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep left to 84-D.Branch for 59 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q3 26:01 · CHI 11 · Score 36-0
    (11:01) 5-S.Graham 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.
11. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q3 23:48 · NE 1 · Score 36-6
    (8:48) 29-C.Taylor left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. NE-97-R.Brace was injured during the play.
12. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q3 23:43 · NE 2 · Score 36-7
    9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.