New England Patriots vs. New York Jets: 2002 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2002 NFL season on 2002-09-15, the New England Patriots took care of business against the New York Jets, pulling away with a 44–7 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 24 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Brady (New England Patriots) paced the passing game, with +6.62 total EPA.

On the individual side, T. Brady (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.62 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-13.9% win probability) landed in the third quarter when New York Jets changed the game: (13:44) 16-V.Testaverde sacked at NYJ 28 for -7 yards (34-T.Jones). FUMBLES (34-T.Jones), touched at NYJ 28, RECOVERED by NE-34-T.Jones at NYJ 24. 34-T.Jones for 24 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 T. Brady · New England Patriots · Passing · +6.62 total EPA · 35 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play
2. 2 K. Faulk · New England Patriots · Rushing · +3.99 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Branch · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.83 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.77 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Becht · New York Jets · Receiving · +3.60 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.90 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Turk · New York Jets · Rushing · +3.26 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.26 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Patten · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.39 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Brady · New England Patriots · Rushing · +2.10 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.70 EPA/play
8. 8 P. Pass · New England Patriots · Rushing · +2.04 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.51 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 — C. Cleeland (T. Brady pass) (Q2 38:53)
• New England Patriots — T. Jones (Q3 28:44)
• New England Patriots — V. Green (Q3 18:16)
• New York Jets — A. Becht (V. Testaverde pass) (Q3 16:29)
• New England Patriots — D. Branch (T. Brady pass) (Q4 11:04)
• New England Patriots — K. Faulk (Q4 3:13)

Field goals

• New England Patriots — A. Vinatieri (Q2 30:05)
• New England Patriots — A. Vinatieri (Q3 21:19)
• New England Patriots — A. Vinatieri (Q4 8:52)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 10–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the NYJ 1 (Q2 38:53) — (8:53) Play action fake. 12-T.Brady pass to 85-C.Cleeland for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the NYJ 2 (Q2 38:48) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the NYJ 10 (Q2 30:05) — (:05) 4-A.Vinatieri 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter..

The third quarter: New England Patriots won the period 17–7. New England Patriots found the end zone from the NE 65 (Q3 28:44); New England Patriots added 1 points from the NYJ 2 (Q3 28:35) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the NYJ 13 (Q3 21:19) — (6:19) 4-A.Vinatieri 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the NE 18 (Q3 18:16) — (3:16) 16-V.Testaverde pass intended for 20-R.Anderson INTERCEPTED by 27-V.Green at NE 10. 27-V.Green for 90 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the NYJ 2 (Q3 17:44) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.; New York Jets found the end zone from the NE 11 (Q3 16:29) — (1:29) 16-V.Testaverde pass to 88-A.Becht for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Jets added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q3 15:51) — 9-J.Hall extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-1-M.Turk..

The fourth quarter: New England Patriots won the period 17–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the NYJ 49 (Q4 11:04) — (11:04) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass to 83-D.Branch for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the NYJ 2 (Q4 10:54) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the NYJ 22 (Q4 8:52) — (8:52) 4-A.Vinatieri 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the NYJ 2 (Q4 3:13) — (3:13) 33-K.Faulk left tackle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the NYJ 2 (Q4 3:10) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter..

Turning points

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

• New York Jets (Q3 28:44) — (13:44) 16-V.Testaverde sacked at NYJ 28 for -7 yards (34-T.Jones). FUMBLES (34-T.Jones), touched at NYJ 28, RECOVERED by NE-34-T.Jones at NYJ 24. 34-T.Jones for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -13.9% · EPA -8.25]
• New England Patriots (Q1 53:50) — (8:50) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass intended for 83-D.Branch INTERCEPTED by 51-J.Darling at NE 35. 51-J.Darling to NE 35 for no gain. [WPA -13.2% · EPA -4.01]
• New England Patriots (Q1 47:09) — (2:09) 12-T.Brady pass to 80-T.Brown to NYJ 1 for 26 yards (42-S.Garnes). FUMBLES (42-S.Garnes), RECOVERED by NYJ-55-M.Jones at NYJ 1. 55-M.Jones to NYJ 2 for 1 yard (86-D.Patten). [WPA -13.1% · EPA -3.41]
• New England Patriots (Q2 40:09) — (10:09) Play action fake and fake end-around. 12-T.Brady pass to 86-D.Patten to NYJ 4 for 39 yards (22-D.Robinson). [WPA +11.4% · EPA +3.31]
• New York Jets (Q1 45:54) — (:54) 16-V.Testaverde pass incomplete to 83-S.Moss (36-L.Milloy). NE #36 deflected pass attempt. [WPA -8.1% · EPA -1.10]

Impact plays

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

• New York Jets (Q3 18:16) — (3:16) 16-V.Testaverde pass intended for 20-R.Anderson INTERCEPTED by 27-V.Green at NE 10. 27-V.Green for 90 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -5.3% · EPA -11.74]
• New York Jets (Q3 28:44) — (13:44) 16-V.Testaverde sacked at NYJ 28 for -7 yards (34-T.Jones). FUMBLES (34-T.Jones), touched at NYJ 28, RECOVERED by NE-34-T.Jones at NYJ 24. 34-T.Jones for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -13.9% · EPA -8.25]
• New England Patriots (Q4 11:04) — (11:04) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass to 83-D.Branch for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +0.4% · EPA +6.25]
• New England Patriots (Q1 53:50) — (8:50) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass intended for 83-D.Branch INTERCEPTED by 51-J.Darling at NE 35. 51-J.Darling to NE 35 for no gain. [WPA -13.2% · EPA -4.01]

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) · 35 dropbacks · 71.4% completion · +0.19 EPA/play · +6.62 total EPA
• V.Testaverde (New York Jets) · 27 dropbacks · 55.6% completion · -0.86 EPA/play · -23.25 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 (+0.16 vs -0.41), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• New England Patriots: 13 drives, +14.71 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• New York Jets: 13 drives, -28.62 total EPA, 1 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.

Every scoring play

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

1. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 38:53 · NYJ 1 · Score 6-0
   (8:53) Play action fake. 12-T.Brady pass to 85-C.Cleeland for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 38:48 · NYJ 2 · Score 7-0
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
3. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 30:05 · NYJ 10 · Score 10-0
   (:05) 4-A.Vinatieri 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
4. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 28:44 · NE 65 · Score 16-0
   (13:44) 16-V.Testaverde sacked at NYJ 28 for -7 yards (34-T.Jones). FUMBLES (34-T.Jones), touched at NYJ 28, RECOVERED by NE-34-T.Jones at NYJ 24. 34-T.Jones fo
5. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 28:35 · NYJ 2 · Score 17-0
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
6. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q3 21:19 · NYJ 13 · Score 20-0
   (6:19) 4-A.Vinatieri 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
7. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 18:16 · NE 18 · Score 26-0
   (3:16) 16-V.Testaverde pass intended for 20-R.Anderson INTERCEPTED by 27-V.Green at NE 10. 27-V.Green for 90 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 17:44 · NYJ 2 · Score 27-0
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
9. New York Jets TD (+6) — Q3 16:29 · NE 11 · Score 27-6
   (1:29) 16-V.Testaverde pass to 88-A.Becht for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. New York Jets XP (+1) — Q3 15:51 · NE 2 · Score 27-7
    9-J.Hall extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-1-M.Turk.
11. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 11:04 · NYJ 49 · Score 33-7
    (11:04) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass to 83-D.Branch for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 10:54 · NYJ 2 · Score 34-7
    4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
13. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q4 8:52 · NYJ 22 · Score 37-7
    (8:52) 4-A.Vinatieri 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
14. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 3:13 · NYJ 2 · Score 43-7
    (3:13) 33-K.Faulk left tackle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 3:10 · NYJ 2 · Score 44-7
    4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.