Denver Broncos vs. Cleveland Browns: 2015 Week 6 Recap

Game story

In Week 6 of the 2015 NFL season on 2015-10-18, the Denver Broncos took care of business against the Cleveland Browns, pulling away with a 26–23 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 26 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

P. Manning (Denver Broncos) paced the passing game, with -11.33 total EPA, and -5.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, A. Caldwell (Denver Broncos) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +1.42 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-40.3% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Denver Broncos changed the game: (8:18) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass short left intended for 23-R.Hillman INTERCEPTED by 56-K.Dansby at DEN 35. 56-K.Dansby for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Ball tipped by Denver # 23 (Hillman) The Replay Offic

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 A. Caldwell · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +1.42 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.71 EPA/play
2. 2 R. Hillman · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +1.31 total EPA · 21 snaps · +0.06 EPA/play
3. 3 O. Daniels · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +0.84 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Thomas · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +0.73 total EPA · 17 snaps · +0.04 EPA/play
5. 5 J. McCown · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +0.35 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.17 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Johnson · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +0.19 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.02 EPA/play
7. 7 I. Crowell · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +0.09 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.05 EPA/play
8. 8 C. Anderson · Denver Broncos · Receiving · -0.17 total EPA · 4 snaps · -0.04 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 — A. Talib (Q2 44:19)
• Cleveland Browns — G. Barnidge (J. McCown pass) (Q3 26:12)
• Cleveland Browns — G. Barnidge (J. McCown pass) (Q4 9:20)
• Cleveland Browns — K. Dansby (Q4 8:18)
• Denver Broncos — E. Sanders (P. Manning pass) (Q4 8:02)

Field goals

• Denver Broncos — B. McManus (Q1 47:53)
• Denver Broncos — B. McManus (Q3 17:08)
• Denver Broncos — B. McManus (Q4 13:36)
• Cleveland Browns — T. Coons (Q4 1:32)
• Denver Broncos — B. McManus (OT 4:57)
• Denver Broncos — unlisted player (OT 4:56)

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 CLE 10 (Q1 47:53) — (2:53) (Field Goal formation) 8-B.McManus 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt..

The second quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 7–0. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the DEN 40 (Q2 44:19); Denver Broncos added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q2 44:09) — 8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt..

The third quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 7–3. Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the DEN 11 (Q3 26:12) — (11:12) (Shotgun) 13-J.McCown pass short right to 82-G.Barnidge for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the DEN 15 (Q3 26:07) — 6-T.Coons extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-8-A.Lee.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the CLE 7 (Q3 17:08) — (2:08) (Field Goal formation) 8-B.McManus 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt..

The fourth quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 16–10. Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the CLE 21 (Q4 13:36) — (13:36) (Field Goal formation) 8-B.McManus 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the DEN 14 (Q4 9:20) — (9:20) (Shotgun) 13-J.McCown pass short middle to 82-G.Barnidge for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the DEN 15 (Q4 9:16) — 6-T.Coons extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-8-A.Lee.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the CLE 66 (Q4 8:18); Denver Broncos found the end zone from the CLE 75 (Q4 8:02) — (8:02) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass deep right to 10-E.Sanders for 75 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q4 7:53) — 8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.; Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the DEN 8 (Q4 1:32) — (1:32) (Field Goal formation) 6-T.Coons 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-8-A.Lee..

Overtime: Denver Broncos won the period 6–0. Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the CLE 16 (OT 4:57) — (4:57) 8-B.McManus 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal (OT 4:56) — END GAME.

Turning points

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

• Denver Broncos (Q4 8:18) — (8:18) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass short left intended for 23-R.Hillman INTERCEPTED by 56-K.Dansby at DEN 35. 56-K.Dansby for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Ball tipped by Denver # 23 (Hillman) The Replay Offic [WPA -40.3% · EPA -7.75]
• Denver Broncos (OT 14:34) — (14:34) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass short right intended for 88-D.Thomas INTERCEPTED by 51-B.Mingo at DEN 46. 51-B.Mingo to DEN 39 for 7 yards (22-C.Anderson). [WPA -37.1% · EPA -4.39]
• Denver Broncos (Q4 8:02) — (8:02) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass deep right to 10-E.Sanders for 75 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +28.2% · EPA +5.91]
• Cleveland Browns (Q2 44:19) — (14:19) (Shotgun) 13-J.McCown pass short right intended for 11-T.Benjamin INTERCEPTED by 21-A.Talib at DEN 37. 21-A.Talib for 63 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -27.7% · EPA -9.65]
• Cleveland Browns (Q4 0:53) — (:53) (Shotgun) 13-J.McCown pass short left intended for 82-G.Barnidge INTERCEPTED by 30-D.Bruton [59-D.Trevathan] at DEN 31. 30-D.Bruton to DEN 30 for -1 yards (82-G.Barnidge). [WPA -23.0% · EPA -1.73]

Impact plays

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

• Cleveland Browns (Q2 44:19) — (14:19) (Shotgun) 13-J.McCown pass short right intended for 11-T.Benjamin INTERCEPTED by 21-A.Talib at DEN 37. 21-A.Talib for 63 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -27.7% · EPA -9.65]
• Denver Broncos (Q4 8:18) — (8:18) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass short left intended for 23-R.Hillman INTERCEPTED by 56-K.Dansby at DEN 35. 56-K.Dansby for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Ball tipped by Denver # 23 (Hillman) The Replay Offic [WPA -40.3% · EPA -7.75]
• Denver Broncos (Q4 8:02) — (8:02) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass deep right to 10-E.Sanders for 75 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +28.2% · EPA +5.91]
• Cleveland Browns (Q3 19:56) — (4:56) (Shotgun) 13-J.McCown sacked at CLE 41 for -9 yards (48-S.Barrett). FUMBLES (48-S.Barrett) [48-S.Barrett], RECOVERED by DEN-48-S.Barrett at CLE 41. 48-S.Barrett to CLE 41 for no gain (55-A.Mack [WPA -16.9% · EPA -5.59]

Quarterback report card

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

• P.Manning (Denver Broncos) · 49 dropbacks · 53.1% completion · -5.3% CPOE · -0.23 EPA/play · -11.33 total EPA
• J.McCown (Cleveland Browns) · 48 dropbacks · 41.7% completion · -12.7% CPOE · -0.40 EPA/play · -19.02 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 (-0.18 vs -0.24), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Cleveland Browns: 18 drives, -24.61 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Denver Broncos: 17 drives, -18.82 total EPA, 6 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• A. Caldwell (Denver Broncos) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• P. Manning (DEN) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• J. McCown (CLE) 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 FG (+3) — Q1 47:53 · CLE 10 · Score 3-0
   (2:53) (Field Goal formation) 8-B.McManus 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
2. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q2 44:19 · DEN 40 · Score 9-0
   (14:19) (Shotgun) 13-J.McCown pass short right intended for 11-T.Benjamin INTERCEPTED by 21-A.Talib at DEN 37. 21-A.Talib for 63 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q2 44:09 · CLE 15 · Score 10-0
   8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
4. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q3 26:12 · DEN 11 · Score 10-6
   (11:12) (Shotgun) 13-J.McCown pass short right to 82-G.Barnidge for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q3 26:07 · DEN 15 · Score 10-7
   6-T.Coons extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-8-A.Lee.
6. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q3 17:08 · CLE 7 · Score 13-7
   (2:08) (Field Goal formation) 8-B.McManus 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
7. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q4 13:36 · CLE 21 · Score 16-7
   (13:36) (Field Goal formation) 8-B.McManus 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
8. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q4 9:20 · DEN 14 · Score 16-13
   (9:20) (Shotgun) 13-J.McCown pass short middle to 82-G.Barnidge for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q4 9:16 · DEN 15 · Score 16-14
   6-T.Coons extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-8-A.Lee.
10. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q4 8:18 · CLE 66 · Score 16-20
    (8:18) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass short left intended for 23-R.Hillman INTERCEPTED by 56-K.Dansby at DEN 35. 56-K.Dansby for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Ball tipped b
11. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q4 8:02 · CLE 75 · Score 22-20
    (8:02) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass deep right to 10-E.Sanders for 75 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q4 7:53 · CLE 15 · Score 23-20
    8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
13. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q4 1:32 · DEN 8 · Score 23-23
    (1:32) (Field Goal formation) 6-T.Coons 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-8-A.Lee.
14. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — OT 4:57 · CLE 16 · Score 26-23
    (4:57) 8-B.McManus 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
15. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — OT 4:56 · Score 26-23
    END GAME