Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs: 2011 Week 1 Recap

Game story

In Week 1 of the 2011 NFL season on 2011-09-11, the Buffalo Bills took care of business against the Kansas City Chiefs, pulling away with a 41–7 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.

M. Cassel (Kansas City Chiefs) paced the passing game, with -16.90 total EPA, and -2.8% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, R. Fitzpatrick (Buffalo Bills) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +13.03 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+8.7% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Buffalo Bills changed the game: (14:50) 22-F.Jackson left end to KC 14 for 9 yards (56-D.Johnson).

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 R. Fitzpatrick · Buffalo Bills · Passing · +13.03 total EPA · 28 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play
2. 2 S. Chandler · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +9.65 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.93 EPA/play
3. 3 St. Johnson · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +3.79 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.63 EPA/play
4. 4 F. Jackson · Buffalo Bills · Rushing · +3.75 total EPA · 20 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Nelson · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +2.81 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play
6. 6 J. O'Connell · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +1.83 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.83 EPA/play
7. 7 D. McCluster · Kansas City Chiefs · Rushing · +1.82 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.45 EPA/play
8. 8 C. Spiller · Buffalo Bills · Rushing · +1.02 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.20 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

• Buffalo Bills — S. Chandler (R. Fitzpatrick pass) (Q1 57:19)
• Buffalo Bills — R. Fitzpatrick (Q1 46:02)
• Kansas City Chiefs — J. Charles (M. Cassel pass) (Q2 31:51)
• Buffalo Bills — S. Chandler (R. Fitzpatrick pass) (Q3 19:23)
• Buffalo Bills — D. Jones (R. Fitzpatrick pass) (Q3 15:19)
• Buffalo Bills — C. Spiller (Q4 11:57)

Field goals

• Buffalo Bills — R. Lindell (Q2 36:50)
• Buffalo Bills — R. Lindell (Q2 35:42)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 14–0. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the KC 4 (Q1 57:19) — (12:19) (Shotgun) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short right to 84-S.Chandler for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q1 57:14) — 9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the KC 27 (Q1 46:02) — (1:02) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass deep right to 13-St.Johnson for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q1 45:55) — 9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-8-B.Moorman..

The second quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 7–6. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the KC 11 (Q2 36:50) — (6:50) 9-R.Lindell 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the KC 20 (Q2 35:42) — (5:42) 9-R.Lindell 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the BUF 6 (Q2 31:51) — (1:51) 7-M.Cassel pass short left to 25-J.Charles for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q2 31:46) — 6-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..

The third quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 14–0. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the KC 11 (Q3 19:23) — (4:23) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short middle to 84-S.Chandler for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN [21-J.Arenas].; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q3 19:19) — 9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the KC 4 (Q3 15:19) — (:19) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short middle to 19-D.Jones for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q3 15:14) — 9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-8-B.Moorman..

The fourth quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 7–0. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the KC 9 (Q4 11:57) — (11:57) 28-C.Spiller up the middle for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q4 11:50) — 9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-8-B.Moorman..

Turning points

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

• Buffalo Bills (Q1 59:50) — (14:50) 22-F.Jackson left end to KC 14 for 9 yards (56-D.Johnson). [WPA +8.7% · EPA +0.71]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 60:00) — 9-R.Lindell kicks 66 yards from BUF 35 to KC -1. 22-D.McCluster to KC 25 for 26 yards (51-C.White). FUMBLES (51-C.White), RECOVERED by BUF-55-K.Sheppard at KC 26. [WPA -8.5% · EPA -4.79]
• Buffalo Bills (Q1 57:19) — (12:19) (Shotgun) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short right to 84-S.Chandler for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.0% · EPA +2.71]
• Buffalo Bills (Q1 48:02) — (3:02) (Shotgun) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short right to 86-D.Nelson pushed ob at BUF 38 for 9 yards (47-J.McGraw). [WPA +5.4% · EPA +1.51]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 36:37) — (6:37) 25-J.Charles right end to KC 21 for 3 yards (37-G.Wilson). FUMBLES (37-G.Wilson), RECOVERED by BUF-21-L.McKelvin at KC 21. 21-L.McKelvin to KC 21 for no gain (25-J.Charles). Kansas City challen [WPA -4.9% · EPA -4.57]

Impact plays

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

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 14:12) — (14:12) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 7-M.Cassel pass deep left intended for 84-K.Colbert INTERCEPTED by 29-D.Florence [98-D.Edwards] at BUF 42. 29-D.Florence pushed ob at KC 28 for 30 yards (73-J.Asamoah). [WPA -0.0% · EPA -5.86]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 60:00) — 9-R.Lindell kicks 66 yards from BUF 35 to KC -1. 22-D.McCluster to KC 25 for 26 yards (51-C.White). FUMBLES (51-C.White), RECOVERED by BUF-55-K.Sheppard at KC 26. [WPA -8.5% · EPA -4.79]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 36:37) — (6:37) 25-J.Charles right end to KC 21 for 3 yards (37-G.Wilson). FUMBLES (37-G.Wilson), RECOVERED by BUF-21-L.McKelvin at KC 21. 21-L.McKelvin to KC 21 for no gain (25-J.Charles). Kansas City challen [WPA -4.9% · EPA -4.57]
• Buffalo Bills (Q3 19:23) — (4:23) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short middle to 84-S.Chandler for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN [21-J.Arenas]. [WPA +2.1% · EPA +3.56]

Quarterback report card

M.Cassel led all passers in efficiency for Kansas City Chiefs, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• M.Cassel (Kansas City Chiefs) · 38 dropbacks · 57.9% completion · -2.8% CPOE · -0.44 EPA/play · -16.90 total EPA
• R.Fitzpatrick (Buffalo Bills) · 28 dropbacks · 60.7% completion · +14.8% CPOE · +0.47 EPA/play · +13.03 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Buffalo Bills generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.14 vs -0.36), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Buffalo Bills: 14 drives, +12.25 total EPA, 7 scoring drives
• Kansas City Chiefs: 14 drives, -27.39 total EPA, 1 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Buffalo Bills leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• R. Fitzpatrick (Buffalo Bills) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• R. Fitzpatrick (BUF) 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. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q1 57:19 · KC 4 · Score 6-0
   (12:19) (Shotgun) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short right to 84-S.Chandler for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q1 57:14 · KC 2 · Score 7-0
   9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
3. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q1 46:02 · KC 27 · Score 13-0
   (1:02) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass deep right to 13-St.Johnson for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q1 45:55 · KC 2 · Score 14-0
   9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
5. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q2 36:50 · KC 11 · Score 17-0
   (6:50) 9-R.Lindell 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
6. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q2 35:42 · KC 20 · Score 20-0
   (5:42) 9-R.Lindell 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
7. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q2 31:51 · BUF 6 · Score 20-6
   (1:51) 7-M.Cassel pass short left to 25-J.Charles for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q2 31:46 · BUF 2 · Score 20-7
   6-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
9. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q3 19:23 · KC 11 · Score 26-7
   (4:23) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short middle to 84-S.Chandler for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN [21-J.Arenas].
10. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q3 19:19 · KC 2 · Score 27-7
    9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
11. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q3 15:19 · KC 4 · Score 33-7
    (:19) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short middle to 19-D.Jones for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q3 15:14 · KC 2 · Score 34-7
    9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
13. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q4 11:57 · KC 9 · Score 40-7
    (11:57) 28-C.Spiller up the middle for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q4 11:50 · KC 2 · Score 41-7
    9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-8-B.Moorman.