Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens: 2015 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2015 NFL season on 2015-09-27, the Cincinnati Bengals took care of business against the Baltimore Ravens, pulling away with a 28–24 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 31 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Flacco (Baltimore Ravens) paced the passing game, with +6.88 total EPA, and -2.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, S. Smith (Baltimore Ravens) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +14.86 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-41.6% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Cincinnati Bengals changed the game: (7:02) (Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton sacked at CIN 38 for -6 yards (58-E.Dumervil). FUMBLES (58-E.Dumervil) [58-E.Dumervil], RECOVERED by BAL-57-C.Mosley at CIN 41. 57-C.Mosley for 41 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

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. Smith · Baltimore Ravens · Receiving · +14.86 total EPA · 17 snaps · +0.87 EPA/play
2. 2 A. Green · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +14.22 total EPA · 13 snaps · +1.09 EPA/play
3. 3 A. Dalton · Cincinnati Bengals · Passing · +13.10 total EPA · 43 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Jones · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +9.42 total EPA · 8 snaps · +1.18 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Flacco · Baltimore Ravens · Passing · +6.88 total EPA · 55 snaps · +0.13 EPA/play
6. 6 C. Gillmore · Baltimore Ravens · Receiving · +3.65 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.22 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Levine · Baltimore Ravens · Rushing · +2.62 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.62 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Brown · Baltimore Ravens · Receiving · +1.28 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.26 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

• Cincinnati Bengals — A. Dalton (Q1 52:27)
• Cincinnati Bengals — M. Jones (A. Dalton pass) (Q2 42:23)
• Baltimore Ravens — S. Smith (J. Flacco pass) (Q3 21:37)
• Baltimore Ravens — C. Mosley (Q4 7:02)
• Cincinnati Bengals — A. Green (A. Dalton pass) (Q4 6:49)
• Baltimore Ravens — S. Smith (J. Flacco pass) (Q4 4:03)
• Cincinnati Bengals — A. Green (A. Dalton pass) (Q4 2:16)

Field goals

• Baltimore Ravens — J. Tucker (Q4 13:32)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Cincinnati Bengals won the period 7–0. Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the BAL 7 (Q1 52:27) — (7:27) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton scrambles up the middle for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the BAL 15 (Q1 52:20) — 2-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber..

The second quarter: Cincinnati Bengals won the period 7–0. Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the BAL 16 (Q2 42:23) — (12:23) (No Huddle) 14-A.Dalton pass deep middle to 82-M.Jones for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. No. 23 - Lewis (BAL) injured on play.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the BAL 15 (Q2 42:18) — 2-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber..

The third quarter: Baltimore Ravens won the period 7–0. Baltimore Ravens found the end zone from the CIN 50 (Q3 21:37); Baltimore Ravens added 1 points from the CIN 15 (Q3 21:23) — 9-J.Tucker extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Cox, Holder-4-S.Koch..

The fourth quarter: Baltimore Ravens won the period 17–14. Baltimore Ravens connected on a field goal from the CIN 2 (Q4 13:32) — (13:32) 9-J.Tucker 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-M.Cox, Holder-4-S.Koch.; Baltimore Ravens found the end zone from the BAL 56 (Q4 7:02); Baltimore Ravens added 1 points from the CIN 15 (Q4 6:49) — 9-J.Tucker extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Cox, Holder-4-S.Koch.; Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the BAL 80 (Q4 6:49) — (6:49) (Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton pass deep left to 18-A.Green for 80 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the BAL 15 (Q4 6:37) — 2-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.; Baltimore Ravens found the end zone from the CIN 16 (Q4 4:03); Baltimore Ravens added 1 points from the CIN 15 (Q4 3:56) — 9-J.Tucker extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Cox, Holder-4-S.Koch.; Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the BAL 7 (Q4 2:16) — (2:16) (Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton pass short left to 18-A.Green for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the BAL 15 (Q4 2:10) — 2-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber..

Turning points

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

• Cincinnati Bengals (Q4 7:02) — (7:02) (Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton sacked at CIN 38 for -6 yards (58-E.Dumervil). FUMBLES (58-E.Dumervil) [58-E.Dumervil], RECOVERED by BAL-57-C.Mosley at CIN 41. 57-C.Mosley for 41 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -41.6% · EPA -8.28]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q4 6:49) — (6:49) (Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton pass deep left to 18-A.Green for 80 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +33.6% · EPA +6.22]
• Baltimore Ravens (Q4 4:44) — (4:44) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 5-J.Flacco pass short middle to 15-M.Campanaro to CIN 25 for 11 yards (57-V.Rey). [WPA +16.8% · EPA +1.52]
• Baltimore Ravens (Q4 5:22) — (5:22) (Shotgun) 5-J.Flacco pass short right to 89-S.Smith to CIN 36 for 16 yards (36-S.Williams). [WPA +16.2% · EPA +2.46]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q4 3:06) — (3:06) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton pass deep right to 82-M.Jones to BAL 7 for 31 yards (24-K.Arrington). [WPA +12.8% · EPA +2.09]

Impact plays

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

• Cincinnati Bengals (Q4 7:02) — (7:02) (Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton sacked at CIN 38 for -6 yards (58-E.Dumervil). FUMBLES (58-E.Dumervil) [58-E.Dumervil], RECOVERED by BAL-57-C.Mosley at CIN 41. 57-C.Mosley for 41 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -41.6% · EPA -8.28]
• Baltimore Ravens (Q3 21:37) — (6:37) (Shotgun) 5-J.Flacco pass short right to 89-S.Smith for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN. No. 27 - Kilpatrick (CIN) injured on play. Smith makes catch at CIN45, breaks two tackles and runs down right sideli [WPA +11.8% · EPA +6.72]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q4 6:49) — (6:49) (Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton pass deep left to 18-A.Green for 80 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +33.6% · EPA +6.22]
• Baltimore Ravens (Q2 42:42) — (12:42) 5-J.Flacco pass short left intended for 44-K.Juszczyk INTERCEPTED by 24-A.Jones at BAL 30. 24-A.Jones to BAL 30 for no gain (44-K.Juszczyk). Penalty on BAL-53-J.Zuttah, Offensive Holding, decl [WPA -12.0% · EPA -5.42]

Quarterback report card

J.Flacco led all passers in efficiency for Baltimore Ravens, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Flacco (Baltimore Ravens) · 55 dropbacks · 58.2% completion · -2.2% CPOE · +0.13 EPA/play · +6.88 total EPA
• A.Dalton (Cincinnati Bengals) · 43 dropbacks · 46.5% completion · +5.5% CPOE · +0.30 EPA/play · +13.10 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Cincinnati Bengals generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.00 vs -0.07), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Baltimore Ravens: 11 drives, -6.52 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Cincinnati Bengals: 12 drives, -0.35 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Cincinnati Bengals 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. Smith (Baltimore Ravens) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• A. Dalton (CIN) 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. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q1 52:27 · BAL 7 · Score 6-0
   (7:27) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton scrambles up the middle for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q1 52:20 · BAL 15 · Score 7-0
   2-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.
3. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q2 42:23 · BAL 16 · Score 13-0
   (12:23) (No Huddle) 14-A.Dalton pass deep middle to 82-M.Jones for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. No. 23 - Lewis (BAL) injured on play.
4. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q2 42:18 · BAL 15 · Score 14-0
   2-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.
5. Baltimore Ravens TD (+6) — Q3 21:37 · CIN 50 · Score 14-6
   (6:37) (Shotgun) 5-J.Flacco pass short right to 89-S.Smith for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN. No. 27 - Kilpatrick (CIN) injured on play. Smith makes catch at CIN45, break
6. Baltimore Ravens XP (+1) — Q3 21:23 · CIN 15 · Score 14-7
   9-J.Tucker extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Cox, Holder-4-S.Koch.
7. Baltimore Ravens FG (+3) — Q4 13:32 · CIN 2 · Score 14-10
   (13:32) 9-J.Tucker 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-M.Cox, Holder-4-S.Koch.
8. Baltimore Ravens TD (+6) — Q4 7:02 · BAL 56 · Score 14-16
   (7:02) (Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton sacked at CIN 38 for -6 yards (58-E.Dumervil). FUMBLES (58-E.Dumervil) [58-E.Dumervil], RECOVERED by BAL-57-C.Mosley at CIN 41. 57-
9. Baltimore Ravens XP (+1) — Q4 6:49 · CIN 15 · Score 14-17
   9-J.Tucker extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Cox, Holder-4-S.Koch.
10. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q4 6:49 · BAL 80 · Score 20-17
    (6:49) (Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton pass deep left to 18-A.Green for 80 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q4 6:37 · BAL 15 · Score 21-17
    2-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.
12. Baltimore Ravens TD (+6) — Q4 4:03 · CIN 16 · Score 21-23
    (4:03) (Shotgun) 5-J.Flacco pass deep right to 89-S.Smith for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Steve Smith ties Ravens' single game record with 13 receptions. Priest Holmes
13. Baltimore Ravens XP (+1) — Q4 3:56 · CIN 15 · Score 21-24
    9-J.Tucker extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Cox, Holder-4-S.Koch.
14. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q4 2:16 · BAL 7 · Score 27-24
    (2:16) (Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton pass short left to 18-A.Green for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q4 2:10 · BAL 15 · Score 28-24
    2-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.