Denver Broncos vs. Buffalo Bills: 2017 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2017 NFL season on 2017-09-24, the Buffalo Bills took care of business against the Denver Broncos, pulling away with a 26–16 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 23 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Siemian (Denver Broncos) paced the passing game, with -3.19 total EPA, and +0.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Matthews (Buffalo Bills) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.14 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-18.4% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Denver Broncos changed the game: (10:55) (Shotgun) 13-T.Siemian pass short right intended for 16-B.Fowler INTERCEPTED by 27-T.White [54-E.Yarbrough] at BUF 24. 27-T.White to BUF 38 for 14 yards (75-M.Watson). Receiver underthrown, al

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. Matthews · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +5.14 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.03 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Thomas · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +4.97 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.55 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Taylor · Buffalo Bills · Passing · +4.48 total EPA · 34 snaps · +0.13 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Charles · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +3.88 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.43 EPA/play
5. 5 A. Holmes · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +2.40 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.20 EPA/play
6. 6 N. O'Leary · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +1.95 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.95 EPA/play
7. 7 L. McCoy · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +1.51 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.22 EPA/play
8. 8 C. Clay · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +1.44 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.24 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 — A. Holmes (T. Taylor pass) (Q2 41:45)
• Denver Broncos — J. Charles (Q2 40:33)
• Buffalo Bills — C. Clay (T. Taylor pass) (Q3 21:25)

Field goals

• Denver Broncos — B. McManus (Q1 45:53)
• Buffalo Bills — S. Hauschka (Q2 32:56)
• Denver Broncos — B. McManus (Q2 30:46)
• Buffalo Bills — S. Hauschka (Q2 30:06)
• Denver Broncos — B. McManus (Q3 22:49)
• Buffalo Bills — S. Hauschka (Q4 13:56)
• Buffalo Bills — S. Hauschka (Q4 3:18)

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 3–0. Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the BUF 20 (Q1 45:53) — (:53) 8-B.McManus 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon..

The second quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 13–10. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the DEN 2 (Q2 41:45); Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the DEN 15 (Q2 41:41) — 4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the BUF 12 (Q2 40:33) — (10:33) (Shotgun) 28-J.Charles up the middle for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the BUF 15 (Q2 40:26) — 8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon.; Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the DEN 31 (Q2 32:56) — (2:56) 4-S.Hauschka 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the BUF 17 (Q2 30:46) — (:46) 8-B.McManus 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon.; Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the DEN 37 (Q2 30:06) — (:06) 4-S.Hauschka 55 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt..

The third quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 7–3. Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the BUF 10 (Q3 22:49) — (7:49) 8-B.McManus 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the DEN 6 (Q3 21:25) — (6:25) 5-T.Taylor pass short middle to 85-C.Clay for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at goal line.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the DEN 15 (Q3 21:20) — 4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt..

The fourth quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 6–0. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the DEN 34 (Q4 13:56) — (13:56) 4-S.Hauschka 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.; Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the DEN 9 (Q4 3:18) — (3:18) 4-S.Hauschka 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt..

Turning points

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

• Denver Broncos (Q4 10:55) — (10:55) (Shotgun) 13-T.Siemian pass short right intended for 16-B.Fowler INTERCEPTED by 27-T.White [54-E.Yarbrough] at BUF 24. 27-T.White to BUF 38 for 14 yards (75-M.Watson). Receiver underthrown, al [WPA -18.4% · EPA -6.35]
• Denver Broncos (Q2 40:59) — (10:59) (Shotgun) 22-C.Anderson up the middle pushed ob at BUF 40 for 32 yards (23-M.Hyde). PENALTY on BUF-23-M.Hyde, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced at BUF 40. [WPA +12.0% · EPA +3.26]
• Denver Broncos (Q2) — End of half - 2.34 pm [WPA -11.9% · EPA -2.91]
• Buffalo Bills (Q3 22:40) — (7:40) 5-T.Taylor pass deep left to 84-N.O'Leary ran ob at DEN 38 for 31 yards. Caught along sideline at DEN 38. [WPA +10.8% · EPA +1.95]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor pass short left to 87-J.Matthews pushed ob at DEN 42 for 28 yards (26-D.Stewart). Caught at BUF 35, crossing from middle. [WPA +9.7% · EPA +2.70]

Impact plays

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

• Denver Broncos (Q4 10:55) — (10:55) (Shotgun) 13-T.Siemian pass short right intended for 16-B.Fowler INTERCEPTED by 27-T.White [54-E.Yarbrough] at BUF 24. 27-T.White to BUF 38 for 14 yards (75-M.Watson). Receiver underthrown, al [WPA -18.4% · EPA -6.35]
• Denver Broncos (Q2 40:59) — (10:59) (Shotgun) 22-C.Anderson up the middle pushed ob at BUF 40 for 32 yards (23-M.Hyde). PENALTY on BUF-23-M.Hyde, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced at BUF 40. [WPA +12.0% · EPA +3.26]
• Denver Broncos (Q2) — End of half - 2.34 pm [WPA -11.9% · EPA -2.91]
• Denver Broncos (Q3 15:33) — (:33) (Punt formation) 33-D.Henderson right guard to DEN 32 for 1 yard (44-D.Lacey). Direct snap to D.Henderson. [WPA -5.0% · EPA -2.80]

Quarterback report card

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

• T.Siemian (Denver Broncos) · 50 dropbacks · 48.0% completion · +0.9% CPOE · -0.06 EPA/play · -3.19 total EPA
• T.Taylor (Buffalo Bills) · 34 dropbacks · 58.8% completion · +10.2% CPOE · +0.13 EPA/play · +4.48 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Buffalo Bills held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.00 vs -0.11), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Buffalo Bills: 12 drives, +0.29 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Denver Broncos: 12 drives, -10.04 total EPA, 4 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.
• J. Matthews (Buffalo Bills) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• T. Taylor (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. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q1 45:53 · BUF 20 · Score 3-0
   (:53) 8-B.McManus 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
2. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q2 41:45 · DEN 2 · Score 3-6
   (11:45) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor pass short right to 18-A.Holmes for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught 9 yds. into end zone, after deflecting off hands of Z.Jones at goal
3. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q2 41:41 · DEN 15 · Score 3-7
   4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.
4. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q2 40:33 · BUF 12 · Score 9-7
   (10:33) (Shotgun) 28-J.Charles up the middle for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q2 40:26 · BUF 15 · Score 10-7
   8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
6. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q2 32:56 · DEN 31 · Score 10-10
   (2:56) 4-S.Hauschka 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.
7. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q2 30:46 · BUF 17 · Score 13-10
   (:46) 8-B.McManus 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
8. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q2 30:06 · DEN 37 · Score 13-13
   (:06) 4-S.Hauschka 55 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.
9. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q3 22:49 · BUF 10 · Score 16-13
   (7:49) 8-B.McManus 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
10. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q3 21:25 · DEN 6 · Score 16-19
    (6:25) 5-T.Taylor pass short middle to 85-C.Clay for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at goal line.
11. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q3 21:20 · DEN 15 · Score 16-20
    4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.
12. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q4 13:56 · DEN 34 · Score 16-23
    (13:56) 4-S.Hauschka 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.
13. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q4 3:18 · DEN 9 · Score 16-26
    (3:18) 4-S.Hauschka 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.