Cincinnati Bengals vs. Detroit Lions: 2005 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 2005 NFL season on 2005-12-18, the Cincinnati Bengals took care of business against the Detroit Lions, pulling away with a 41–17 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Palmer (Cincinnati Bengals) paced the passing game, with +16.26 total EPA.

On the individual side, C. Palmer (Cincinnati Bengals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +16.26 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-8.7% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Detroit Lions changed the game: 17-S.Graham kicks 63 yards from CIN 30 to DET 7. 31-R.McQuarters to DET 23 for 16 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by CIN-88-T.Perry at DET 23. 88-T.Perry to DET 23 for no gain (63-B.Gutierrez).

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 C. Palmer · Cincinnati Bengals · Passing · +16.26 total EPA · 45 snaps · +0.36 EPA/play
2. 2 C. Johnson · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +11.25 total EPA · 11 snaps · +1.02 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Houshmandzadeh · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +9.15 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.52 EPA/play
4. 4 C. Rogers · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +7.34 total EPA · 3 snaps · +2.45 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Harrington · Detroit Lions · Passing · +6.26 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.89 EPA/play
6. 6 K. Washington · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +5.96 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.49 EPA/play
7. 7 R. Williams · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +2.68 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.89 EPA/play
8. 8 S. Vines · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +2.30 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.57 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 — K. Washington (C. Palmer pass) (Q1 52:58)
• Cincinnati Bengals — C. Johnson (C. Palmer pass) (Q1 48:05)
• Detroit Lions — R. Williams (J. Garcia pass) (Q2 42:46)
• Cincinnati Bengals — T. Houshmandzadeh (C. Palmer pass) (Q2 39:27)
• Cincinnati Bengals — R. Johnson (Q3 24:37)
• Cincinnati Bengals — R. Johnson (Q4 11:08)
• Detroit Lions — C. Rogers (J. Harrington pass) (Q4 6:54)

Field goals

• Cincinnati Bengals — S. Graham (Q1 56:44)
• Detroit Lions — J. Hanson (Q3 20:27)
• Cincinnati Bengals — S. Graham (Q4 1:59)

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 17–0. Cincinnati Bengals connected on a field goal from the DET 10 (Q1 56:44) — (11:44) 17-S.Graham 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.St. Louis, Holder-19-K.Larson.; Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the DET 18 (Q1 52:58) — (7:58) 9-C.Palmer pass to 87-K.Washington for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q1 52:52) — 17-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.St. Louis, Holder-19-K.Larson.; Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the DET 1 (Q1 48:05) — (3:05) 9-C.Palmer pass to 85-C.Johnson for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q1 47:59) — 17-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.St. Louis, Holder-19-K.Larson..

The second quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CIN 5 (Q2 42:46) — (12:46) 5-J.Garcia pass to 11-R.Williams for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the CIN 2 (Q2 42:42) — 4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-67-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.; Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the DET 7 (Q2 39:27) — (9:27) 9-C.Palmer pass to 84-T.Houshmandzadeh for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q2 39:20) — 17-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.St. Louis, Holder-19-K.Larson..

The third quarter: Cincinnati Bengals won the period 7–3. Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the DET 4 (Q3 24:37) — (9:37) 32-R.Johnson right end for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q3 24:32) — 17-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.St. Louis, Holder-19-K.Larson.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the CIN 27 (Q3 20:27) — (5:27) 4-J.Hanson 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-67-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris..

The fourth quarter: Cincinnati Bengals won the period 10–7. Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the DET 16 (Q4 11:08) — (11:08) 32-R.Johnson left tackle for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q4 11:01) — 17-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.St. Louis, Holder-19-K.Larson.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the CIN 35 (Q4 6:54) — (6:54) 3-J.Harrington pass to 80-C.Rogers for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the CIN 2 (Q4 6:44) — 4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-67-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.; Cincinnati Bengals connected on a field goal from the DET 15 (Q4 1:59) — (1:59) 17-S.Graham 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.St. Louis, Holder-19-K.Larson..

Turning points

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

• Detroit Lions (Q1 60:00) — 17-S.Graham kicks 63 yards from CIN 30 to DET 7. 31-R.McQuarters to DET 23 for 16 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by CIN-88-T.Perry at DET 23. 88-T.Perry to DET 23 for no gain (63-B.Gutierrez). [WPA -8.7% · EPA -5.24]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q2 41:56) — (11:56) (Shotgun) 9-C.Palmer pass to 85-C.Johnson to CIN 49 for 20 yards (31-R.McQuarters). PENALTY on DET-92-S.Rogers, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced at CIN 49. [WPA +7.3% · EPA +3.32]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q1 52:58) — (7:58) 9-C.Palmer pass to 87-K.Washington for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.1% · EPA +2.71]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q1 59:50) — (14:50) 9-C.Palmer pass to 84-T.Houshmandzadeh to DET 17 for 6 yards (31-R.McQuarters). [WPA +7.1% · EPA +0.21]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q1 54:56) — (9:56) (No Huddle) 9-C.Palmer pass to 87-K.Washington to DET 48 for 12 yards (32-D.Bly; 52-J.Davis). [WPA +6.8% · EPA +1.50]

Impact plays

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

• Detroit Lions (Q1 60:00) — 17-S.Graham kicks 63 yards from CIN 30 to DET 7. 31-R.McQuarters to DET 23 for 16 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by CIN-88-T.Perry at DET 23. 88-T.Perry to DET 23 for no gain (63-B.Gutierrez). [WPA -8.7% · EPA -5.24]
• Detroit Lions (Q4 6:54) — (6:54) 3-J.Harrington pass to 80-C.Rogers for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +0.1% · EPA +4.68]
• Detroit Lions (Q2 38:07) — (8:07) 5-J.Garcia pass intended for 11-R.Williams INTERCEPTED by 24-D.O'Neal at CIN 43. 24-D.O'Neal to DET 48 for 9 yards (21-A.Pinner). [WPA -4.3% · EPA -4.00]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 50:53) — (5:53) 5-J.Garcia pass intended for 49-S.McHugh INTERCEPTED by 97-J.Thornton at DET 45. 97-J.Thornton to DET 45 for no gain (81-M.Pollard). [WPA -6.5% · EPA -3.83]

Quarterback report card

C.Palmer led all passers in efficiency for Cincinnati Bengals, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• C.Palmer (Cincinnati Bengals) · 45 dropbacks · 62.2% completion · +0.36 EPA/play · +16.26 total EPA
• J.Garcia (Detroit Lions) · 23 dropbacks · 56.5% completion · -0.31 EPA/play · -7.19 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 (+0.26 vs -0.09), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Cincinnati Bengals: 11 drives, +24.76 total EPA, 7 scoring drives
• Detroit Lions: 11 drives, -5.76 total EPA, 3 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.
• C. Palmer (Cincinnati Bengals) 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. Cincinnati Bengals FG (+3) — Q1 56:44 · DET 10 · Score 3-0
   (11:44) 17-S.Graham 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.St. Louis, Holder-19-K.Larson.
2. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q1 52:58 · DET 18 · Score 9-0
   (7:58) 9-C.Palmer pass to 87-K.Washington for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q1 52:52 · DET 2 · Score 10-0
   17-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.St. Louis, Holder-19-K.Larson.
4. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q1 48:05 · DET 1 · Score 16-0
   (3:05) 9-C.Palmer pass to 85-C.Johnson for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q1 47:59 · DET 2 · Score 17-0
   17-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.St. Louis, Holder-19-K.Larson.
6. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 42:46 · CIN 5 · Score 17-6
   (12:46) 5-J.Garcia pass to 11-R.Williams for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 42:42 · CIN 2 · Score 17-7
   4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-67-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.
8. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q2 39:27 · DET 7 · Score 23-7
   (9:27) 9-C.Palmer pass to 84-T.Houshmandzadeh for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q2 39:20 · DET 2 · Score 24-7
   17-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.St. Louis, Holder-19-K.Larson.
10. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q3 24:37 · DET 4 · Score 30-7
    (9:37) 32-R.Johnson right end for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q3 24:32 · DET 2 · Score 31-7
    17-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.St. Louis, Holder-19-K.Larson.
12. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q3 20:27 · CIN 27 · Score 31-10
    (5:27) 4-J.Hanson 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-67-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.
13. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q4 11:08 · DET 16 · Score 37-10
    (11:08) 32-R.Johnson left tackle for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q4 11:01 · DET 2 · Score 38-10
    17-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.St. Louis, Holder-19-K.Larson.
15. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q4 6:54 · CIN 35 · Score 38-16
    (6:54) 3-J.Harrington pass to 80-C.Rogers for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
16. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q4 6:44 · CIN 2 · Score 38-17
    4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-67-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.
17. Cincinnati Bengals FG (+3) — Q4 1:59 · DET 15 · Score 41-17
    (1:59) 17-S.Graham 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.St. Louis, Holder-19-K.Larson.