New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles: 2003 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2003 NFL season on 2003-09-14, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Philadelphia Eagles, pulling away with a 31–10 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. McNabb (Philadelphia Eagles) paced the passing game, with -33.75 total EPA.

On the individual side, D. Branch (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +10.29 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+16.5% win probability) landed in the second quarter when New England Patriots changed the game: (3:03) 13-K.Walter punts 51 yards to PHI 16, Center-66-L.Paxton. 36-B.Westbrook MUFFS catch, touched at PHI 16, RECOVERED by NE-81-B.Johnson at PHI 14.

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 D. Branch · New England Patriots · Receiving · +10.29 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.71 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Brady · New England Patriots · Passing · +6.64 total EPA · 46 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Thrash · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +6.21 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.03 EPA/play
4. 4 C. Fauria · New England Patriots · Receiving · +4.37 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.46 EPA/play
5. 5 K. Faulk · New England Patriots · Receiving · +4.13 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.03 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Pinkston · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +2.82 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.94 EPA/play
7. 7 B. Westbrook · Philadelphia Eagles · Rushing · +2.50 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Brown · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.13 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.30 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

• Philadelphia Eagles — D. Staley (Q2 44:07)
• New England Patriots — C. Fauria (T. Brady pass) (Q2 38:04)
• New England Patriots — C. Fauria (T. Brady pass) (Q2 32:12)
• New England Patriots — D. Branch (T. Brady pass) (Q3 22:07)
• New England Patriots — T. Bruschi (Q4 5:09)

Field goals

• New England Patriots — A. Vinatieri (Q1 46:14)
• Philadelphia Eagles — D. Akers (Q4 10:54)

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 3–0. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the PHI 10 (Q1 46:14) — (1:14) 4-A.Vinatieri 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter..

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 14–7. Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the NE 2 (Q2 44:07) — (14:07) 22-D.Staley left guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Philadelphia Eagles added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q2 44:00) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-88-M.Bartrum, Holder-10-K.Detmer.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the PHI 8 (Q2 38:04) — (8:04) 12-T.Brady pass to 88-C.Fauria for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the PHI 2 (Q2 37:59) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the PHI 5 (Q2 32:12) — (2:12) 12-T.Brady pass to 88-C.Fauria for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the PHI 2 (Q2 32:09) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter..

The third quarter: New England Patriots won the period 7–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the PHI 26 (Q3 22:07) — (7:07) 12-T.Brady pass to 83-D.Branch for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the PHI 2 (Q3 22:02) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter..

The fourth quarter: New England Patriots won the period 7–3. Philadelphia Eagles connected on a field goal from the NE 39 (Q4 10:54) — (10:54) 2-D.Akers 57 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-88-M.Bartrum, Holder-10-K.Detmer.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the NE 86 (Q4 5:09) — (5:09) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass intended for 84-F.Mitchell INTERCEPTED by 54-T.Bruschi at PHI 18. 54-T.Bruschi for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the PHI 2 (Q4 5:02) — 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 England Patriots (Q2 33:03) — (3:03) 13-K.Walter punts 51 yards to PHI 16, Center-66-L.Paxton. 36-B.Westbrook MUFFS catch, touched at PHI 16, RECOVERED by NE-81-B.Johnson at PHI 14. [WPA +16.5% · EPA +4.69]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q2 39:17) — (9:17) 5-D.McNabb sacked at PHI 36 for -5 yards (92-T.Washington). FUMBLES (92-T.Washington), touched at PHI 36, RECOVERED by NE-95-R.Phifer at PHI 36. 95-R.Phifer to PHI 35 for 1 yard (28-C.Buckhalte [WPA -14.8% · EPA -4.93]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q3 27:14) — (12:14) 22-D.Staley right tackle to NE 47 for 1 yard (95-R.Phifer). FUMBLES (95-R.Phifer), touched at NE 47, RECOVERED by NE-55-W.McGinest at NE 47. [WPA -11.6% · EPA -3.81]
• New England Patriots (Q2 39:22) — (9:22) (Field Goal formation) 13-K.Walter Aborted. 66-L.Paxton FUMBLES at PHI 41, touched at PHI 41, recovered by NE-13-K.Walter at PHI 41. 13-K.Walter to PHI 41 for no gain (33-C.Hart). [WPA -11.4% · EPA -4.08]
• New England Patriots (Q1 49:16) — (4:16) 12-T.Brady pass to 83-D.Branch to PHI 31 for 15 yards (23-T.Vincent). [WPA +10.9% · EPA +2.85]

Impact plays

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

• Philadelphia Eagles (Q4 5:09) — (5:09) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass intended for 84-F.Mitchell INTERCEPTED by 54-T.Bruschi at PHI 18. 54-T.Bruschi for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -3.1% · EPA -6.71]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q2 39:17) — (9:17) 5-D.McNabb sacked at PHI 36 for -5 yards (92-T.Washington). FUMBLES (92-T.Washington), touched at PHI 36, RECOVERED by NE-95-R.Phifer at PHI 36. 95-R.Phifer to PHI 35 for 1 yard (28-C.Buckhalte [WPA -14.8% · EPA -4.93]
• New England Patriots (Q2 33:03) — (3:03) 13-K.Walter punts 51 yards to PHI 16, Center-66-L.Paxton. 36-B.Westbrook MUFFS catch, touched at PHI 16, RECOVERED by NE-81-B.Johnson at PHI 14. [WPA +16.5% · EPA +4.69]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q4 2:51) — (2:51) 5-D.McNabb sacked at NE 43 for -9 yards (58-M.Chatham). FUMBLES (58-M.Chatham), RECOVERED by NE-98-A.Pleasant at NE 43. 98-A.Pleasant to NE 49 for 6 yards. Lateral to 55-W.McGinest to PHI 31 fo [WPA -0.1% · EPA -4.53]

Quarterback report card

D.McNabb led all passers in efficiency for Philadelphia Eagles, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.McNabb (Philadelphia Eagles) · 54 dropbacks · 33.3% completion · -0.62 EPA/play · -33.75 total EPA
• T.Brady (New England Patriots) · 46 dropbacks · 65.2% completion · +0.14 EPA/play · +6.64 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 (-0.01 vs -0.29), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• New England Patriots: 17 drives, -1.17 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Philadelphia Eagles: 16 drives, -26.56 total EPA, 3 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.
• D. Branch (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 FG (+3) — Q1 46:14 · PHI 10 · Score 3-0
   (1:14) 4-A.Vinatieri 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
2. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q2 44:07 · NE 2 · Score 3-6
   (14:07) 22-D.Staley left guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Philadelphia Eagles XP (+1) — Q2 44:00 · NE 2 · Score 3-7
   2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-88-M.Bartrum, Holder-10-K.Detmer.
4. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 38:04 · PHI 8 · Score 9-7
   (8:04) 12-T.Brady pass to 88-C.Fauria for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 37:59 · PHI 2 · Score 10-7
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
6. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 32:12 · PHI 5 · Score 16-7
   (2:12) 12-T.Brady pass to 88-C.Fauria for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 32:09 · PHI 2 · Score 17-7
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
8. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 22:07 · PHI 26 · Score 23-7
   (7:07) 12-T.Brady pass to 83-D.Branch for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 22:02 · PHI 2 · Score 24-7
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
10. Philadelphia Eagles FG (+3) — Q4 10:54 · NE 39 · Score 24-10
    (10:54) 2-D.Akers 57 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-88-M.Bartrum, Holder-10-K.Detmer.
11. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 5:09 · NE 86 · Score 30-10
    (5:09) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass intended for 84-F.Mitchell INTERCEPTED by 54-T.Bruschi at PHI 18. 54-T.Bruschi for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 5:02 · PHI 2 · Score 31-10
    4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.