Denver Broncos vs. Cincinnati Bengals: 2018 Week 13 Recap

Game story

In Week 13 of the 2018 NFL season on 2018-12-02, the Denver Broncos took care of business against the Cincinnati Bengals, pulling away with a 24–10 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Driskel (Cincinnati Bengals) paced the passing game, with -7.78 total EPA, and -2.0% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, C. Sutton (Denver Broncos) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.77 — 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: (12:18) 3-C.Wadman punts 43 yards to CIN 37, Center-42-C.Kreiter. 12-A.Erickson MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by DEN-35-D.Thomas at CIN 33. 35-D.Thomas to CIN 33 for no gain (12-A.Erickson). Penalty on CIN-8

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. Sutton · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +6.77 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.97 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Boyd · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +5.88 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.73 EPA/play
3. 3 P. Lindsay · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +5.04 total EPA · 20 snaps · +0.25 EPA/play
4. 4 C. Keenum · Denver Broncos · Passing · +4.57 total EPA · 25 snaps · +0.18 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Booker · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +3.77 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.88 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Mixon · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +1.83 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.91 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Core · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +1.20 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Mixon · Cincinnati Bengals · Rushing · +1.15 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.09 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 — P. Lindsay (Q2 32:00)
• Denver Broncos — C. Sutton (C. Keenum pass) (Q3 26:32)
• Denver Broncos — P. Lindsay (Q3 22:45)
• Cincinnati Bengals — C. Core (J. Driskel pass) (Q3 17:53)

Field goals

• Cincinnati Bengals — R. Bullock (Q2 30:16)
• Denver Broncos — B. McManus (Q4 0:27)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The second quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 7–3. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the CIN 6 (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) 30-P.Lindsay right tackle for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the CIN 15 (Q2 31:56) — 8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-3-C.Wadman.; Cincinnati Bengals connected on a field goal from the DEN 17 (Q2 30:16) — (:16) 4-R.Bullock 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber..

The third quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 14–7. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the CIN 30 (Q3 26:32) — (11:32) 4-C.Keenum pass deep right to 14-C.Sutton for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the CIN 10 (Q3 26:27) — 8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-3-C.Wadman.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the CIN 65 (Q3 22:45) — (7:45) 30-P.Lindsay left end for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the CIN 15 (Q3 22:35) — 8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-3-C.Wadman.; Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the DEN 30 (Q3 17:53) — (2:53) (Shotgun) 6-J.Driskel pass short middle to 16-C.Core for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN [21-S.Cravens].; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the DEN 15 (Q3 17:45) — 4-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber..

The fourth quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 3–0. Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the CIN 11 (Q4 0:27) — (:27) 8-B.McManus 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-3-C.Wadman..

Turning points

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

• Denver Broncos (Q3 27:18) — (12:18) 3-C.Wadman punts 43 yards to CIN 37, Center-42-C.Kreiter. 12-A.Erickson MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by DEN-35-D.Thomas at CIN 33. 35-D.Thomas to CIN 33 for no gain (12-A.Erickson). Penalty on CIN-8 [WPA +18.0% · EPA +5.96]
• Denver Broncos (Q2 32:45) — (2:45) (Shotgun) 4-C.Keenum pass short right to 23-D.Booker pushed ob at CIN 14 for 30 yards (21-D.Dennard). Penalty on CIN-59-N.Vigil, Defensive Holding, declined. [WPA +13.7% · EPA +3.09]
• Denver Broncos (Q3 15:35) — (:35) 28-R.Freeman right tackle to CIN 45 for 7 yards (56-H.Nickerson). FUMBLES (56-H.Nickerson), RECOVERED by CIN-59-N.Vigil at CIN 46. 59-N.Vigil to CIN 46 for no gain (68-E.Wilkinson). {Freeman cre [WPA -10.1% · EPA -4.96]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q2 31:26) — (1:26) (Shotgun) 6-J.Driskel pass deep middle to 83-T.Boyd to DEN 36 for 22 yards (31-J.Simmons). [WPA +9.5% · EPA +1.96]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q3 24:48) — (9:48) 6-J.Driskel pass deep left intended for 88-J.Franks INTERCEPTED by 31-J.Simmons [99-A.Gotsis] at DEN 7. 31-J.Simmons to DEN 15 for 8 yards (15-J.Ross). [WPA -9.1% · EPA -4.00]

Impact plays

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

• Denver Broncos (Q3 22:45) — (7:45) 30-P.Lindsay left end for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.6% · EPA +6.01]
• Denver Broncos (Q3 27:18) — (12:18) 3-C.Wadman punts 43 yards to CIN 37, Center-42-C.Kreiter. 12-A.Erickson MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by DEN-35-D.Thomas at CIN 33. 35-D.Thomas to CIN 33 for no gain (12-A.Erickson). Penalty on CIN-8 [WPA +18.0% · EPA +5.96]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q4 2:49) — (2:49) (Shotgun) 6-J.Driskel sacked at CIN 27 for -8 yards (55-B.Chubb). FUMBLES (55-B.Chubb) [55-B.Chubb], touched at CIN 24, RECOVERED by DEN-55-B.Chubb at CIN 22. 55-B.Chubb to CIN 18 for 4 yards ( [WPA -2.1% · EPA -5.18]
• Denver Broncos (Q3 15:35) — (:35) 28-R.Freeman right tackle to CIN 45 for 7 yards (56-H.Nickerson). FUMBLES (56-H.Nickerson), RECOVERED by CIN-59-N.Vigil at CIN 46. 59-N.Vigil to CIN 46 for no gain (68-E.Wilkinson). {Freeman cre [WPA -10.1% · EPA -4.96]

Quarterback report card

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

• J.Driskel (Cincinnati Bengals) · 44 dropbacks · 56.8% completion · -2.0% CPOE · -0.18 EPA/play · -7.78 total EPA
• C.Keenum (Denver Broncos) · 25 dropbacks · 48.0% completion · -4.7% CPOE · +0.18 EPA/play · +4.57 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 (+0.08 vs -0.14), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Cincinnati Bengals: 12 drives, -12.17 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• Denver Broncos: 13 drives, +6.42 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.
• C. Sutton (Denver Broncos) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• C. Keenum (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) — Q2 32:00 · CIN 6 · Score 6-0
   (2:00) 30-P.Lindsay right tackle for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q2 31:56 · CIN 15 · Score 7-0
   8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-3-C.Wadman.
3. Cincinnati Bengals FG (+3) — Q2 30:16 · DEN 17 · Score 7-3
   (:16) 4-R.Bullock 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.
4. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q3 26:32 · CIN 30 · Score 13-3
   (11:32) 4-C.Keenum pass deep right to 14-C.Sutton for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q3 26:27 · CIN 10 · Score 14-3
   8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-3-C.Wadman.
6. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q3 22:45 · CIN 65 · Score 20-3
   (7:45) 30-P.Lindsay left end for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q3 22:35 · CIN 15 · Score 21-3
   8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-3-C.Wadman.
8. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q3 17:53 · DEN 30 · Score 21-9
   (2:53) (Shotgun) 6-J.Driskel pass short middle to 16-C.Core for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN [21-S.Cravens].
9. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q3 17:45 · DEN 15 · Score 21-10
   4-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.
10. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q4 0:27 · CIN 11 · Score 24-10
    (:27) 8-B.McManus 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-3-C.Wadman.