Denver Broncos vs. Buffalo Bills: 2005 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 2005 NFL season on 2005-12-17, the Denver Broncos took care of business against the Buffalo Bills, pulling away with a 28–17 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Plummer (Denver Broncos) paced the passing game, with +11.32 total EPA.

On the individual side, J. Plummer (Denver Broncos) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +11.32 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+18.0% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Denver Broncos changed the game: (12:23) 16-J.Plummer pass to 85-A.Lelie ran ob at BUF 4 for 40 yards. Caught along right sideline at BUF 5.

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 J. Plummer · Denver Broncos · Passing · +11.32 total EPA · 40 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
2. 2 E. Moulds · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +9.18 total EPA · 9 snaps · +1.02 EPA/play
3. 3 R. Smith · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +8.41 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.76 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Anderson · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +6.49 total EPA · 21 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
5. 5 K. Holcomb · Buffalo Bills · Passing · +6.23 total EPA · 38 snaps · +0.16 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Putzier · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +5.82 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.94 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Lelie · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +4.63 total EPA · 1 snaps · +4.63 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Shelton · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +3.92 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.96 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 — W. McGahee (Q1 55:16)
• Denver Broncos — R. Smith (J. Plummer pass) (Q2 30:51)
• Denver Broncos — W. Duke (J. Plummer pass) (Q3 25:59)
• Denver Broncos — M. Anderson (Q3 15:27)
• Denver Broncos — M. Anderson (Q4 5:55)
• Buffalo Bills — J. Burns (K. Holcomb pass) (Q4 4:00)

Field goals

• Buffalo Bills — R. Lindell (Q3 20:14)

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 7–0. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the DEN 1 (Q1 55:16) — (10:16) 21-W.McGahee right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by DEN and Upheld. (Timeout #1 by DEN at 10:10.); Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the DEN 7 (Q1 55:10) — 9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman..

The second quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 7–0. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the BUF 3 (Q2 30:51) — (:51) 16-J.Plummer pass to 80-R.Smith for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass tipped by E.King before reception in back of end zone, over middle.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q2 30:43) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-16-J.Plummer..

The third quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 14–3. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the BUF 1 (Q3 25:59) — (10:59) 16-J.Plummer pass to 84-W.Duke for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Caught 7 yds,. into end zone, left side.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q3 25:53) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-16-J.Plummer.; Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the DEN 13 (Q3 20:14) — (5:14) 9-R.Lindell 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the BUF 11 (Q3 15:27) — (:27) 38-M.Anderson right guard for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q3 15:19) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-16-J.Plummer..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the BUF 6 (Q4 5:55) — (5:55) 38-M.Anderson left guard for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q4 5:49) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-16-J.Plummer.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the DEN 19 (Q4 4:00) — (4:00) 10-K.Holcomb pass to 35-J.Burns for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught over middle at DEN 15, crossing left. Key block: .; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q4 3:49) — 9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman..

Turning points

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

• Denver Broncos (Q3 27:23) — (12:23) 16-J.Plummer pass to 85-A.Lelie ran ob at BUF 4 for 40 yards. Caught along right sideline at BUF 5. [WPA +18.0% · EPA +4.63]
• Denver Broncos (Q2 30:51) — (:51) 16-J.Plummer pass to 80-R.Smith for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass tipped by E.King before reception in back of end zone, over middle. [WPA +9.7% · EPA +2.73]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2) — End of half - 10:19 pm [WPA +9.1% · EPA +0.28]
• Denver Broncos (Q3 25:59) — (10:59) 16-J.Plummer pass to 84-W.Duke for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Caught 7 yds,. into end zone, left side. [WPA +8.7% · EPA +1.58]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 30:09) — (:09) (Shotgun) 20-S.Williams right guard to DEN 42 for 28 yards (93-T.Pryce). [WPA -8.7% · EPA -0.17]

Impact plays

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

• Denver Broncos (Q3 27:23) — (12:23) 16-J.Plummer pass to 85-A.Lelie ran ob at BUF 4 for 40 yards. Caught along right sideline at BUF 5. [WPA +18.0% · EPA +4.63]
• Buffalo Bills (Q4 4:00) — (4:00) 10-K.Holcomb pass to 35-J.Burns for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught over middle at DEN 15, crossing left. Key block: . [WPA +0.7% · EPA +3.33]
• Buffalo Bills (Q1 55:44) — (10:44) 10-K.Holcomb pass to 31-D.Shelton to DEN 1 for 7 yards (55-DJ.Williams). FUMBLES (55-DJ.Williams), ball out of bounds at DEN 1. [WPA +8.5% · EPA +3.28]
• Denver Broncos (Q1 45:16) — (:16) 16-J.Plummer pass to 80-R.Smith to DEN 35 for 11 yards (22-N.Clements). FUMBLES (22-N.Clements), RECOVERED by BUF-22-N.Clements at DEN 35. [WPA -6.1% · EPA -3.20]

Quarterback report card

J.Plummer led all passers in efficiency for Denver Broncos, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Plummer (Denver Broncos) · 40 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · +0.28 EPA/play · +11.32 total EPA
• K.Holcomb (Buffalo Bills) · 38 dropbacks · 57.9% completion · +0.16 EPA/play · +6.23 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Denver Broncos generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.22 vs +0.07), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Buffalo Bills: 10 drives, +5.98 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Denver Broncos: 10 drives, +19.45 total EPA, 4 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.
• J. Plummer (Denver Broncos) 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. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q1 55:16 · DEN 1 · Score 0-6
   (10:16) 21-W.McGahee right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by DEN and Upheld. (Timeout #1 by DEN at 10:10.)
2. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q1 55:10 · DEN 7 · Score 0-7
   9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
3. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q2 30:51 · BUF 3 · Score 6-7
   (:51) 16-J.Plummer pass to 80-R.Smith for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass tipped by E.King before reception in back of end zone, over middle.
4. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q2 30:43 · BUF 2 · Score 7-7
   1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-16-J.Plummer.
5. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q3 25:59 · BUF 1 · Score 13-7
   (10:59) 16-J.Plummer pass to 84-W.Duke for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Caught 7 yds,. into end zone, left side.
6. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q3 25:53 · BUF 2 · Score 14-7
   1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-16-J.Plummer.
7. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q3 20:14 · DEN 13 · Score 14-10
   (5:14) 9-R.Lindell 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
8. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q3 15:27 · BUF 11 · Score 20-10
   (:27) 38-M.Anderson right guard for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q3 15:19 · BUF 2 · Score 21-10
   1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-16-J.Plummer.
10. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q4 5:55 · BUF 6 · Score 27-10
    (5:55) 38-M.Anderson left guard for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q4 5:49 · BUF 2 · Score 28-10
    1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-16-J.Plummer.
12. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q4 4:00 · DEN 19 · Score 28-16
    (4:00) 10-K.Holcomb pass to 35-J.Burns for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught over middle at DEN 15, crossing left. Key block: .
13. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q4 3:49 · DEN 2 · Score 28-17
    9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.