Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Chicago Bears: 2008 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2008 NFL season on 2008-09-21, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took care of business against the Chicago Bears, pulling away with a 27–24 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Griese (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) paced the passing game, with +5.24 total EPA, and -2.8% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, B. Lloyd (Chicago Bears) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +12.49 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+32.8% win probability) landed in overtime when Tampa Bay Buccaneers changed the game: (5:29) (Shotgun) 8-B.Griese pass deep left to 89-A.Bryant to CHI 6 for 38 yards (21-C.Graham). Penalty on CHI, Defensive Offside, declined.

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 B. Lloyd · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +12.49 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.78 EPA/play
2. 2 A. Bryant · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +11.95 total EPA · 10 snaps · +1.19 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Stevens · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +9.66 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.61 EPA/play
4. 4 B. Griese · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Passing · +5.24 total EPA · 69 snaps · +0.08 EPA/play
5. 5 I. Hilliard · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +4.64 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.77 EPA/play
6. 6 M. Forte · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +4.32 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.62 EPA/play
7. 7 G. Wolfe · Chicago Bears · Rushing · +4.05 total EPA · 1 snaps · +4.05 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Clayton · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +3.91 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.78 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

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — I. Hilliard (B. Griese pass) (Q1 46:54)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — G. Adams (Q2 35:40)
• Chicago Bears — M. Forte (K. Orton pass) (Q3 17:58)
• Chicago Bears — B. Lloyd (K. Orton pass) (Q4 6:45)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — J. Stevens (B. Griese pass) (Q4 0:10)

Field goals

• Chicago Bears — R. Gould (Q1 57:48)
• Chicago Bears — R. Gould (Q1 51:15)
• Chicago Bears — R. Gould (Q2 30:03)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — M. Bryant (Q4 3:16)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers — M. Bryant (OT 4:24)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the period 7–6. Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the TB 22 (Q1 57:48) — (12:48) 9-R.Gould 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the TB 25 (Q1 51:15) — (6:15) 9-R.Gould 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the CHI 4 (Q1 46:54) — (1:54) (Shotgun) 8-B.Griese pass short left to 19-I.Hilliard for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q1 46:50) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-48-A.Economos, Holder-9-J.Bidwell..

The second quarter: Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the period 7–3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the TB 49 (Q2 35:40); Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q2 35:26); Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the TB 10 (Q2 30:03) — (:03) 9-R.Gould 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard..

The third quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 8–0. Chicago Bears found the end zone from the TB 6 (Q3 17:58) — (2:58) 18-K.Orton pass short left to 22-M.Forte for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears registered a safety from the TB 2 (Q3 17:54) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 18-K.Orton pass to 80-B.Lloyd is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..

The fourth quarter: Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the period 10–7. Chicago Bears found the end zone from the TB 19 (Q4 6:45) — (6:45) 18-K.Orton pass deep left to 80-B.Lloyd for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the TB 2 (Q4 6:38) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers connected on a field goal from the CHI 17 (Q4 3:16) — (3:16) 3-M.Bryant 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-A.Economos, Holder-9-J.Bidwell.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the CHI 1 (Q4 0:10) — (:10) 8-B.Griese pass short left to 86-J.Stevens for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q4 0:07) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-48-A.Economos, Holder-9-J.Bidwell..

Overtime: Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the period 3–0. Tampa Bay Buccaneers connected on a field goal from the CHI 3 (OT 4:24) — (4:24) (Field Goal formation) 3-M.Bryant 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-A.Economos, Holder-9-J.Bidwell..

Turning points

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

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (OT 5:29) — (5:29) (Shotgun) 8-B.Griese pass deep left to 89-A.Bryant to CHI 6 for 38 yards (21-C.Graham). Penalty on CHI, Defensive Offside, declined. [WPA +32.8% · EPA +3.02]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 35:40) — (5:40) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass short middle INTERCEPTED by 90-G.Adams at CHI 45. 90-G.Adams to CHI 1 for 44 yards (18-K.Orton). Tampa Bay challenged the runner was in bounds ruling, and the play was [WPA -31.1% · EPA -8.80]
• Chicago Bears (OT 8:50) — (8:50) 4-B.Maynard punts 46 yards to TB 7, Center-65-P.Mannelly, out of bounds. [WPA +29.1% · EPA +0.59]
• Chicago Bears (OT 10:29) — (10:29) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass short right to 80-B.Lloyd pushed ob at CHI 44 for 24 yards (32-M.Hamilton). [WPA +21.9% · EPA +2.28]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (OT 6:43) — (6:43) (Shotgun) 8-B.Griese pass short left to 80-M.Clayton to TB 42 for 17 yards (54-B.Urlacher). [WPA +20.4% · EPA +2.08]

Impact plays

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

• Chicago Bears (Q2 35:40) — (5:40) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass short middle INTERCEPTED by 90-G.Adams at CHI 45. 90-G.Adams to CHI 1 for 44 yards (18-K.Orton). Tampa Bay challenged the runner was in bounds ruling, and the play was [WPA -31.1% · EPA -8.80]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 32:06) — (2:06) (Punt formation) 25-G.Wolfe right end to TB 18 for 38 yards (10-D.Jackson). Direct snap to Wolfe. [WPA +9.7% · EPA +4.05]
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q2 44:53) — (14:53) 8-B.Griese pass to 85-M.Stovall to TB 38 for 8 yards (33-C.Tillman). FUMBLES (33-C.Tillman), RECOVERED by CHI-54-B.Urlacher at TB 38. 54-B.Urlacher to TB 38 for no gain (85-M.Stovall). [WPA -16.9% · EPA -3.62]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 44:08) — (14:08) 18-K.Orton pass deep right intended for 22-M.Forte INTERCEPTED by 51-B.Ruud at TB -4. Touchback. [WPA -16.9% · EPA -3.37]

Quarterback report card

B.Griese led all passers in efficiency for Tampa Bay Buccaneers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• B.Griese (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) · 69 dropbacks · 55.1% completion · -2.8% CPOE · +0.08 EPA/play · +5.24 total EPA
• K.Orton (Chicago Bears) · 42 dropbacks · 52.4% completion · +7.3% CPOE · -0.16 EPA/play · -6.83 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Tampa Bay Buccaneers generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.00 vs -0.05), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Chicago Bears: 16 drives, -5.03 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 15 drives, -0.07 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers 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.
• B. Lloyd (Chicago Bears) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• K. Orton (CHI) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

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

1. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q1 57:48 · TB 22 · Score 0-3
   (12:48) 9-R.Gould 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
2. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q1 51:15 · TB 25 · Score 0-6
   (6:15) 9-R.Gould 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q1 46:54 · CHI 4 · Score 6-6
   (1:54) (Shotgun) 8-B.Griese pass short left to 19-I.Hilliard for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q1 46:50 · CHI 2 · Score 7-6
   3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-48-A.Economos, Holder-9-J.Bidwell.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q2 35:40 · TB 49 · Score 13-6
   (5:40) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass short middle INTERCEPTED by 90-G.Adams at CHI 45. 90-G.Adams to CHI 1 for 44 yards (18-K.Orton). Tampa Bay challenged the runne
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q2 35:26 · CHI 2 · Score 14-6
   3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-48-A.Economos, Holder-9-J.Bidwell. PENALTY on CHI, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced between downs.
7. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q2 30:03 · TB 10 · Score 14-9
   (:03) 9-R.Gould 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
8. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q3 17:58 · TB 6 · Score 14-15
   (2:58) 18-K.Orton pass short left to 22-M.Forte for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Chicago Bears Safety (+2) — Q3 17:54 · TB 2 · Score 14-17
   TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 18-K.Orton pass to 80-B.Lloyd is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
10. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q4 6:45 · TB 19 · Score 14-23
    (6:45) 18-K.Orton pass deep left to 80-B.Lloyd for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q4 6:38 · TB 2 · Score 14-24
    9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers FG (+3) — Q4 3:16 · CHI 17 · Score 17-24
    (3:16) 3-M.Bryant 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-A.Economos, Holder-9-J.Bidwell.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q4 0:10 · CHI 1 · Score 23-24
    (:10) 8-B.Griese pass short left to 86-J.Stevens for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q4 0:07 · CHI 2 · Score 24-24
    3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-48-A.Economos, Holder-9-J.Bidwell.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers FG (+3) — OT 4:24 · CHI 3 · Score 27-24
    (4:24) (Field Goal formation) 3-M.Bryant 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-A.Economos, Holder-9-J.Bidwell.