Cleveland Browns vs. Denver Broncos: 2023 Week 12 Recap

Game story

In Week 12 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-11-26, the Denver Broncos took care of business against the Cleveland Browns, pulling away with a 29–12 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 15 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Thompson-Robinson (Cleveland Browns) paced the passing game, with +3.29 total EPA, and -11.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, R. Wilson (Denver Broncos) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.75 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+14.4% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Cleveland Browns changed the game: (6:46) 68-M.Dunn reported in as eligible. 17-D.Thompson-Robinson pass short right to 88-H.Bryant for 2 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 R. Wilson · Denver Broncos · Passing · +4.75 total EPA · 28 snaps · +0.17 EPA/play
2. 2 H. Bryant · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +3.86 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.86 EPA/play
3. 3 C. Sutton · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +3.52 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.59 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Thompson-Robinson · Cleveland Browns · Passing · +3.29 total EPA · 33 snaps · +0.10 EPA/play
5. 5 A. Trautman · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +2.96 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.96 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Ford · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +2.75 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
7. 7 M. Mims · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +2.47 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.82 EPA/play
8. 8 S. Perine · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +2.37 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.30 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

• Denver Broncos — S. Perine (Q1 53:18)
• Denver Broncos — R. Wilson (Q2 41:14)
• Cleveland Browns — H. Bryant (D. Thompson-Robinson pass) (Q3 21:46)
• Denver Broncos — A. Trautman (R. Wilson pass) (Q4 13:37)

Field goals

• Cleveland Browns — D. Hopkins (Q2 36:02)
• Cleveland Browns — D. Hopkins (Q2 30:25)
• Denver Broncos — W. Lutz (Q3 16:28)
• Denver Broncos — W. Lutz (Q4 4:23)
• Denver Broncos — W. Lutz (Q4 4:19)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 7–0. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the CLE 3 (Q1 53:18); Denver Broncos added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q1 53:14) — 16-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon..

The second quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 7–6. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the CLE 2 (Q2 41:14) — (11:14) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson right tackle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q2 41:11) — 16-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon.; Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the DEN 18 (Q2 36:02) — (6:02) 7-D.Hopkins 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.; Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the DEN 6 (Q2 30:25) — (:25) 7-D.Hopkins 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez..

The third quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 6–3. Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the DEN 2 (Q3 21:46) — (6:46) 68-M.Dunn reported in as eligible. 17-D.Thompson-Robinson pass short right to 88-H.Bryant for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the CLE 5 (Q3 16:28) — (1:28) 16-W.Lutz 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon..

The fourth quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 15–0. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the CLE 8 (Q4 13:37); Denver Broncos added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q4 13:29) — 16-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the CLE 16 (Q4 4:23) — (4:23) 16-W.Lutz 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the DEN 35 (Q4 4:19) — 16-W.Lutz kicks 65 yards from DEN 35 to end zone, Touchback.; Denver Broncos registered a safety from the DEN 95 (Q4 2:24) — (2:24) (Shotgun) 10-P.Walker sacked in End Zone for -5 yards, SAFETY (sack split by 99-Z.Allen and 42-N.Bonitto)..

Turning points

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

• Cleveland Browns (Q3 21:46) — (6:46) 68-M.Dunn reported in as eligible. 17-D.Thompson-Robinson pass short right to 88-H.Bryant for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +14.4% · EPA +3.86]
• Cleveland Browns (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 8-E.Moore FUMBLES (Aborted) at CLE 32, touched at CLE 31, RECOVERED by DEN-93-D.Jones at CLE 20. [WPA -13.0% · EPA -6.15]
• Denver Broncos (Q1 55:18) — (10:18) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass incomplete deep right to 14-C.Sutton. PENALTY on CLE-0-G.Newsome, Defensive Pass Interference, 34 yards, enforced at DEN 30 - No Play. [WPA +11.7% · EPA +3.46]
• Denver Broncos (Q1 53:59) — (8:59) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass deep left to 14-C.Sutton pushed ob at CLE 3 for 31 yards (33-R.Hickman). [WPA +8.1% · EPA +3.65]
• Cleveland Browns (Q3 15:22) — (:22) (Shotgun) 17-D.Thompson-Robinson pass incomplete short right. CLE-17-D.Thompson-Robinson was injured during the play. PENALTY on DEN-56-B.Browning, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced at CLE [WPA +8.1% · EPA +2.68]

Impact plays

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

• Cleveland Browns (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 8-E.Moore FUMBLES (Aborted) at CLE 32, touched at CLE 31, RECOVERED by DEN-93-D.Jones at CLE 20. [WPA -13.0% · EPA -6.15]
• Cleveland Browns (Q3 21:46) — (6:46) 68-M.Dunn reported in as eligible. 17-D.Thompson-Robinson pass short right to 88-H.Bryant for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +14.4% · EPA +3.86]
• Denver Broncos (Q1 53:59) — (8:59) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass deep left to 14-C.Sutton pushed ob at CLE 3 for 31 yards (33-R.Hickman). [WPA +8.1% · EPA +3.65]
• Denver Broncos (Q1 55:18) — (10:18) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass incomplete deep right to 14-C.Sutton. PENALTY on CLE-0-G.Newsome, Defensive Pass Interference, 34 yards, enforced at DEN 30 - No Play. [WPA +11.7% · EPA +3.46]

Quarterback report card

D.Thompson-Robinson led all passers in efficiency for Cleveland Browns, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Thompson-Robinson (Cleveland Browns) · 33 dropbacks · 42.4% completion · -11.4% CPOE · +0.10 EPA/play · +3.29 total EPA
• R.Wilson (Denver Broncos) · 28 dropbacks · 46.4% completion · -3.9% CPOE · +0.17 EPA/play · +4.75 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Denver Broncos held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.02 vs -0.19), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Cleveland Browns: 12 drives, -16.76 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Denver Broncos: 12 drives, +1.87 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Denver Broncos leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• R. Wilson (Denver Broncos) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Thompson-Robinson (CLE) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• R. Wilson (DEN) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

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

1. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q1 53:18 · CLE 3 · Score 0-6
   (8:18) (Shotgun) 25-S.Perine up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official reviewed the runner broke the plane ruling, and the play was Upheld. The
2. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q1 53:14 · CLE 15 · Score 0-7
   16-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
3. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q2 41:14 · CLE 2 · Score 0-13
   (11:14) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson right tackle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q2 41:11 · CLE 15 · Score 0-14
   16-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
5. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q2 36:02 · DEN 18 · Score 3-14
   (6:02) 7-D.Hopkins 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.
6. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q2 30:25 · DEN 6 · Score 6-14
   (:25) 7-D.Hopkins 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.
7. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q3 21:46 · DEN 2 · Score 12-14
   (6:46) 68-M.Dunn reported in as eligible. 17-D.Thompson-Robinson pass short right to 88-H.Bryant for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q3 16:28 · CLE 5 · Score 12-17
   (1:28) 16-W.Lutz 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
9. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q4 13:37 · CLE 8 · Score 12-23
   (13:37) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass incomplete short right to 82-A.Trautman. Denver challenged the incomplete pass ruling, and the play was REVERSED. (Shotgun) 3-
10. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q4 13:29 · CLE 15 · Score 12-24
    16-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
11. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q4 4:23 · CLE 16 · Score 12-27
    (4:23) 16-W.Lutz 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
12. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q4 4:19 · DEN 35 · Score 12-27
    16-W.Lutz kicks 65 yards from DEN 35 to end zone, Touchback.
13. Denver Broncos Safety (+2) — Q4 2:24 · DEN 95 · Score 12-29
    (2:24) (Shotgun) 10-P.Walker sacked in End Zone for -5 yards, SAFETY (sack split by 99-Z.Allen and 42-N.Bonitto).