Philadelphia Eagles vs. Detroit Lions: 2004 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2004 NFL season on 2004-09-26, the Philadelphia Eagles took care of business against the Detroit Lions, pulling away with a 30–13 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. McNabb (Philadelphia Eagles) paced the passing game, with +16.71 total EPA.

On the individual side, D. McNabb (Philadelphia Eagles) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +16.71 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+11.0% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Philadelphia Eagles changed the game: (3:43) 5-D.McNabb pass to 84-F.Mitchell to DET 9 for 48 yards (31-B.Marion).

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. McNabb · Philadelphia Eagles · Passing · +16.71 total EPA · 47 snaps · +0.36 EPA/play
2. 2 R. Williams · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +12.04 total EPA · 9 snaps · +1.34 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Owens · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +10.19 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.70 EPA/play
4. 4 L. Smith · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +7.53 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.88 EPA/play
5. 5 F. Mitchell · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +6.83 total EPA · 3 snaps · +2.28 EPA/play
6. 6 M. Bartrum · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +2.32 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.16 EPA/play
7. 7 S. Bryson · Detroit Lions · Rushing · +1.68 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.34 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Pinkston · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +1.50 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.50 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. McNabb (Q1 47:17)
• Philadelphia Eagles — T. Owens (D. McNabb pass) (Q1 46:34)
• Philadelphia Eagles — M. Bartrum (D. McNabb pass) (Q2 36:05)
• Detroit Lions — R. Williams (J. Harrington pass) (Q2 30:24)
• Detroit Lions — R. Williams (J. Harrington pass) (Q4 8:42)

Field goals

• Philadelphia Eagles — D. Akers (Q3 24:45)
• Philadelphia Eagles — D. Akers (Q3 21:47)
• Philadelphia Eagles — D. Akers (Q4 11:05)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Philadelphia Eagles won the period 14–0. Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the DET 1 (Q1 47:17) — (2:17) 5-D.McNabb up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Philadelphia Eagles added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q1 47:08) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-88-M.Bartrum, Holder-10-K.Detmer.; Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the DET 29 (Q1 46:34) — (1:34) 5-D.McNabb pass to 81-T.Owens for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Philadelphia Eagles added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q1 46:28) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-88-M.Bartrum, Holder-10-K.Detmer..

The second quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the DET 1 (Q2 36:05) — (6:05) 5-D.McNabb pass to 88-M.Bartrum for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on PHI-88-M.Bartrum, Taunting, 15 yards, enforced between downs.; Philadelphia Eagles added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q2 35:59) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-88-M.Bartrum, Holder-10-K.Detmer.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the PHI 12 (Q2 30:24) — (:24) 3-J.Harrington pass to 11-R.Williams for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the PHI 2 (Q2 30:20) — 4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-57-J.Littleton, Holder-2-N.Harris..

The third quarter: Philadelphia Eagles won the period 6–0. Philadelphia Eagles connected on a field goal from the DET 8 (Q3 24:45) — (9:45) 2-D.Akers 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-88-M.Bartrum, Holder-10-K.Detmer.; Philadelphia Eagles connected on a field goal from the DET 29 (Q3 21:47) — (6:47) 2-D.Akers 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-88-M.Bartrum, Holder-10-K.Detmer..

The fourth quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 6–3. Philadelphia Eagles connected on a field goal from the DET 22 (Q4 11:05) — (11:05) 2-D.Akers 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-88-M.Bartrum, Holder-10-K.Detmer.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the PHI 29 (Q4 8:42) — (8:42) 3-J.Harrington pass to 11-R.Williams for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

Turning points

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

• Philadelphia Eagles (Q1 48:43) — (3:43) 5-D.McNabb pass to 84-F.Mitchell to DET 9 for 48 yards (31-B.Marion). [WPA +11.0% · EPA +3.71]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q1 50:09) — (5:09) 5-D.McNabb pass to 82-L.Smith to PHI 38 for 25 yards (29-C.Cash). [WPA +8.6% · EPA +2.69]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 46:43) — (1:43) (Shotgun) 3-J.Harrington sacked at DET 21 for -2 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by PHI-29-R.Hood at DET 29. 29-R.Hood to DET 29 for no gain (24-S.Bryson). [WPA -7.2% · EPA -3.63]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q2 39:05) — (9:05) 5-D.McNabb pass to 82-L.Smith to DET 40 for 16 yards (28-Bracy Walker). [WPA +3.8% · EPA +1.87]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q3 29:15) — (14:15) 5-D.McNabb pass to 82-L.Smith to PHI 46 for 27 yards (31-B.Marion). [WPA +3.8% · EPA +2.82]

Impact plays

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

• Philadelphia Eagles (Q4 13:40) — (13:40) 5-D.McNabb pass to 81-T.Owens to DET 25 for 55 yards (42-T.Holt). [WPA +0.6% · EPA +4.96]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) 5-D.McNabb sacked at PHI 42 for -7 yards (72-D.Wilkinson). FUMBLES (72-D.Wilkinson), RECOVERED by DET-78-C.Redding at PHI 44. 78-C.Redding to PHI 44 for no gain (69-J.Runyan). Play Challenged [WPA -1.3% · EPA -4.43]
• Detroit Lions (Q4 8:42) — (8:42) 3-J.Harrington pass to 11-R.Williams for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +0.7% · EPA +4.10]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q1 48:43) — (3:43) 5-D.McNabb pass to 84-F.Mitchell to DET 9 for 48 yards (31-B.Marion). [WPA +11.0% · EPA +3.71]

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) · 47 dropbacks · 61.7% completion · +0.36 EPA/play · +16.71 total EPA
• J.Harrington (Detroit Lions) · 44 dropbacks · 47.7% completion · -0.26 EPA/play · -11.26 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Philadelphia Eagles generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.15 vs -0.13), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Detroit Lions: 12 drives, -10.30 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• Philadelphia Eagles: 13 drives, +12.93 total EPA, 6 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Philadelphia Eagles leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• D. McNabb (Philadelphia Eagles) 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. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q1 47:17 · DET 1 · Score 6-0
   (2:17) 5-D.McNabb up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Philadelphia Eagles XP (+1) — Q1 47:08 · DET 2 · Score 7-0
   2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-88-M.Bartrum, Holder-10-K.Detmer.
3. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q1 46:34 · DET 29 · Score 13-0
   (1:34) 5-D.McNabb pass to 81-T.Owens for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Philadelphia Eagles XP (+1) — Q1 46:28 · DET 2 · Score 14-0
   2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-88-M.Bartrum, Holder-10-K.Detmer.
5. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q2 36:05 · DET 1 · Score 20-0
   (6:05) 5-D.McNabb pass to 88-M.Bartrum for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on PHI-88-M.Bartrum, Taunting, 15 yards, enforced between downs.
6. Philadelphia Eagles XP (+1) — Q2 35:59 · DET 2 · Score 21-0
   2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-88-M.Bartrum, Holder-10-K.Detmer.
7. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 30:24 · PHI 12 · Score 21-6
   (:24) 3-J.Harrington pass to 11-R.Williams for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 30:20 · PHI 2 · Score 21-7
   4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-57-J.Littleton, Holder-2-N.Harris.
9. Philadelphia Eagles FG (+3) — Q3 24:45 · DET 8 · Score 24-7
   (9:45) 2-D.Akers 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-88-M.Bartrum, Holder-10-K.Detmer.
10. Philadelphia Eagles FG (+3) — Q3 21:47 · DET 29 · Score 27-7
    (6:47) 2-D.Akers 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-88-M.Bartrum, Holder-10-K.Detmer.
11. Philadelphia Eagles FG (+3) — Q4 11:05 · DET 22 · Score 30-7
    (11:05) 2-D.Akers 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-88-M.Bartrum, Holder-10-K.Detmer.
12. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q4 8:42 · PHI 29 · Score 30-13
    (8:42) 3-J.Harrington pass to 11-R.Williams for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN.