Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans: 2002 Week 1 Recap

Game story

In Week 1 of the 2002 NFL season on 2002-09-08, the Tennessee Titans took care of business against the Philadelphia Eagles, pulling away with a 27–24 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. McNabb (Philadelphia Eagles) paced the passing game, with -3.72 total EPA.

On the individual side, S. McNair (Tennessee Titans) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +14.39 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-21.9% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Philadelphia Eagles changed the game: (1:19) 5-D.McNabb sacked at PHI 31 for -3 yards (97-C.Hall). FUMBLES (97-C.Hall), RECOVERED by TEN-93-K.Carter at PHI 35.

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 S. McNair · Tennessee Titans · Passing · +14.39 total EPA · 39 snaps · +0.37 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Mason · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +7.64 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.76 EPA/play
3. 3 A. Freeman · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +4.76 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.19 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Staley · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +4.28 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.61 EPA/play
5. 5 E. George · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +4.12 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.03 EPA/play
6. 6 B. Westbrook · Philadelphia Eagles · Rushing · +2.56 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
7. 7 D. McNabb · Philadelphia Eagles · Rushing · +2.35 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.17 EPA/play
8. 8 J. McCareins · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +2.11 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.11 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

• Tennessee Titans — E. George (S. McNair pass) (Q1 52:19)
• Philadelphia Eagles — J. Thrash (D. McNabb pass) (Q1 50:24)
• Philadelphia Eagles — D. Staley (D. McNabb pass) (Q1 47:40)
• Philadelphia Eagles — C. Lewis (D. McNabb pass) (Q2 35:10)
• Tennessee Titans — J. McCareins (S. McNair pass) (Q4 12:52)
• Tennessee Titans — E. George (Q4 3:12)

Field goals

• Tennessee Titans — J. Nedney (Q2 41:04)
• Philadelphia Eagles — D. Akers (Q2 30:52)
• Tennessee Titans — J. Nedney (Q3 26:16)

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 14–7. Tennessee Titans found the end zone from the PHI 14 (Q1 52:19) — (7:19) 9-S.McNair pass to 27-E.George for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tennessee Titans added 1 points from the PHI 2 (Q1 52:10) — 6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-60-A.Graham, Holder-15-C.Hentrich.; Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the TEN 18 (Q1 50:24) — (5:24) 5-D.McNabb pass to 80-J.Thrash for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Philadelphia Eagles added 1 points from the TEN 2 (Q1 50:20) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-88-M.Bartrum, Holder-10-K.Detmer.; Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the TEN 7 (Q1 47:40) — (2:40) 5-D.McNabb pass to 22-D.Staley for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Philadelphia Eagles added 1 points from the TEN 2 (Q1 47:36) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-88-M.Bartrum, Holder-10-K.Detmer..

The second quarter: Philadelphia Eagles won the period 10–3. Tennessee Titans connected on a field goal from the PHI 15 (Q2 41:04) — (11:04) 6-J.Nedney 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-A.Graham, Holder-15-C.Hentrich.; Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the TEN 7 (Q2 35:10) — (5:10) 5-D.McNabb pass to 89-C.Lewis for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Philadelphia Eagles added 1 points from the TEN 2 (Q2 35:05) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-88-M.Bartrum, Holder-10-K.Detmer.; Philadelphia Eagles connected on a field goal from the TEN 12 (Q2 30:52) — (:52) 2-D.Akers 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-88-M.Bartrum, Holder-10-K.Detmer..

The third quarter: Tennessee Titans won the period 3–0. Tennessee Titans connected on a field goal from the PHI 29 (Q3 26:16) — (11:16) (Field Goal formation) 6-J.Nedney 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-A.Graham, Holder-15-C.Hentrich..

The fourth quarter: Tennessee Titans won the period 14–0. Tennessee Titans found the end zone from the PHI 2 (Q4 12:52) — (12:52) 9-S.McNair pass to 86-J.McCareins for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on PHI-21-B.Taylor, Defensive Pass Interference, declined.; Tennessee Titans found the end zone from the PHI 2 (Q4 3:12) — (3:12) 27-E.George right end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tennessee Titans registered a safety from the PHI 2 (Q4 3:09) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 27-E.George rushes left end. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..

Turning points

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

• Philadelphia Eagles (Q4 1:19) — (1:19) 5-D.McNabb sacked at PHI 31 for -3 yards (97-C.Hall). FUMBLES (97-C.Hall), RECOVERED by TEN-93-K.Carter at PHI 35. [WPA -21.9% · EPA -2.03]
• Tennessee Titans (Q4 1:34) — (1:34) 15-C.Hentrich punts 44 yards to PHI 25, Center-60-A.Graham. 30-B.Mitchell to PHI 34 for 9 yards (30-D.Mitchell). [WPA -17.3% · EPA -0.28]
• Tennessee Titans (Q4 3:28) — (3:28) 9-S.McNair pass to 89-F.Wycheck to PHI 9 for 18 yards (52-B.Gardner). [WPA +14.9% · EPA +1.80]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q1 51:26) — (6:26) (Punt formation) 7-S.Landeta punts 52 yards to TEN 15, Center-88-M.Bartrum. 45-J.Simon to TEN 16 for 1 yard (30-B.Mitchell). FUMBLES (30-B.Mitchell), RECOVERED by PHI-30-B.Mitchell at TEN 15. 3 [WPA +14.6% · EPA +6.77]
• Tennessee Titans (Q4 4:16) — (4:16) 9-S.McNair pass to 85-D.Mason to PHI 30 for 39 yards (20-B.Dawkins). [WPA +14.1% · EPA +3.54]

Impact plays

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

• Philadelphia Eagles (Q1 51:26) — (6:26) (Punt formation) 7-S.Landeta punts 52 yards to TEN 15, Center-88-M.Bartrum. 45-J.Simon to TEN 16 for 1 yard (30-B.Mitchell). FUMBLES (30-B.Mitchell), RECOVERED by PHI-30-B.Mitchell at TEN 15. 3 [WPA +14.6% · EPA +6.77]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q3 15:15) — (:15) 5-D.McNabb pass intended for 80-J.Thrash INTERCEPTED by 22-A.Dyson at TEN 31. 22-A.Dyson to TEN 33 for 2 yards (80-J.Thrash). [WPA -9.5% · EPA -4.66]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q3 26:06) — (11:06) 5-D.McNabb pass intended for 89-C.Lewis INTERCEPTED by 31-L.Schulters (93-K.Carter) at PHI 30. 31-L.Schulters to PHI 22 for 8 yards (22-D.Staley; 89-C.Lewis). [WPA -12.9% · EPA -4.57]
• Tennessee Titans (Q3 25:45) — (10:45) 9-S.McNair pass to 33-G.Comella to PHI 20 for 2 yards (24-B.Bishop). FUMBLES (24-B.Bishop), RECOVERED by PHI-56-S.Barber at PHI 19. 56-S.Barber to PHI 19 for no gain (33-G.Comella). [WPA -12.3% · EPA -4.36]

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) · 45 dropbacks · 40.0% completion · -0.08 EPA/play · -3.72 total EPA
• S.McNair (Tennessee Titans) · 39 dropbacks · 61.5% completion · +0.37 EPA/play · +14.39 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 (Philadelphia Eagles +0.06, Tennessee Titans +0.08) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Philadelphia Eagles: 13 drives, +4.91 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Tennessee Titans: 13 drives, +6.27 total EPA, 6 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Tennessee Titans 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.
• S. McNair (Tennessee Titans) 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. Tennessee Titans TD (+6) — Q1 52:19 · PHI 14 · Score 0-6
   (7:19) 9-S.McNair pass to 27-E.George for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Tennessee Titans XP (+1) — Q1 52:10 · PHI 2 · Score 0-7
   6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-60-A.Graham, Holder-15-C.Hentrich.
3. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q1 50:24 · TEN 18 · Score 6-7
   (5:24) 5-D.McNabb pass to 80-J.Thrash for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Philadelphia Eagles XP (+1) — Q1 50:20 · TEN 2 · Score 7-7
   2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-88-M.Bartrum, Holder-10-K.Detmer.
5. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q1 47:40 · TEN 7 · Score 13-7
   (2:40) 5-D.McNabb pass to 22-D.Staley for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Philadelphia Eagles XP (+1) — Q1 47:36 · TEN 2 · Score 14-7
   2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-88-M.Bartrum, Holder-10-K.Detmer.
7. Tennessee Titans FG (+3) — Q2 41:04 · PHI 15 · Score 14-10
   (11:04) 6-J.Nedney 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-A.Graham, Holder-15-C.Hentrich.
8. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q2 35:10 · TEN 7 · Score 20-10
   (5:10) 5-D.McNabb pass to 89-C.Lewis for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Philadelphia Eagles XP (+1) — Q2 35:05 · TEN 2 · Score 21-10
   2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-88-M.Bartrum, Holder-10-K.Detmer.
10. Philadelphia Eagles FG (+3) — Q2 30:52 · TEN 12 · Score 24-10
    (:52) 2-D.Akers 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-88-M.Bartrum, Holder-10-K.Detmer.
11. Tennessee Titans FG (+3) — Q3 26:16 · PHI 29 · Score 24-13
    (11:16) (Field Goal formation) 6-J.Nedney 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-60-A.Graham, Holder-15-C.Hentrich.
12. Tennessee Titans TD (+6) — Q4 12:52 · PHI 2 · Score 24-19
    (12:52) 9-S.McNair pass to 86-J.McCareins for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on PHI-21-B.Taylor, Defensive Pass Interference, declined.
13. Tennessee Titans TD (+6) — Q4 3:12 · PHI 2 · Score 24-25
    (3:12) 27-E.George right end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Tennessee Titans Safety (+2) — Q4 3:09 · PHI 2 · Score 24-27
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 27-E.George rushes left end. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.