Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs: 2001 Week 14 Recap

Game story

In Week 14 of the 2001 NFL season on 2001-12-16, the Kansas City Chiefs took care of business against the Denver Broncos, pulling away with a 26–23 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Green (Kansas City Chiefs) paced the passing game, with +12.32 total EPA.

On the individual side, T. Green (Kansas City Chiefs) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +12.32 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+49.6% win probability) landed in overtime when Kansas City Chiefs changed the game: (10:00) PENALTY on DEN-26-E.Brown, Defensive Pass Interference, 52 yards, enforced at KC 29 - No Play.

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 T. Green · Kansas City Chiefs · Passing · +12.32 total EPA · 30 snaps · +0.41 EPA/play
2. 2 G. Frerotte · Denver Broncos · Passing · +11.96 total EPA · 24 snaps · +0.50 EPA/play
3. 3 R. Smith · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +6.53 total EPA · 15 snaps · +0.44 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Alexander · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +5.41 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.08 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Carswell · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +5.13 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.85 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Gonzalez · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +4.30 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.43 EPA/play
7. 7 M. Minnis · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +3.86 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.64 EPA/play
8. 8 K. Kasper · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +3.37 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.68 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

• Kansas City Chiefs — P. Holmes (Q1 48:27)
• Denver Broncos — R. Smith (G. Frerotte pass) (Q2 39:37)
• Kansas City Chiefs — D. Alexander (T. Green pass) (Q3 25:43)
• Denver Broncos — G. Frerotte (Q3 20:16)

Field goals

• Kansas City Chiefs — T. Peterson (Q1 52:35)
• Kansas City Chiefs — T. Peterson (Q2 35:12)
• Denver Broncos — J. Elam (Q2 30:25)
• Denver Broncos — J. Elam (Q4 14:24)
• Kansas City Chiefs — T. Peterson (Q4 5:17)
• Denver Broncos — J. Elam (Q4 1:19)
• Kansas City Chiefs — T. Peterson (OT 6:00)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 10–0. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the DEN 33 (Q1 52:35) — (7:35) 2-T.Peterson 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-4-D.Stryzinski.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the DEN 12 (Q1 48:27) — (3:27) 31-P.Holmes left end for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q1 48:23) — 2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-4-D.Stryzinski..

The second quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 10–3. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the KC 11 (Q2 39:37) — (9:37) 12-G.Frerotte pass to 80-R.Smith for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q2 39:29) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-63-D.Diaz-Infante, Holder-16-T.Rouen.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the DEN 25 (Q2 35:12) — (5:12) 2-T.Peterson 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-4-D.Stryzinski.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the KC 16 (Q2 30:25) — (:25) 1-J.Elam 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-63-D.Diaz-Infante, Holder-16-T.Rouen..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the DEN 24 (Q3 25:43) — (10:43) 10-T.Green pass to 82-D.Alexander for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q3 25:37) — 2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-4-D.Stryzinski.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the KC 4 (Q3 20:16) — (5:16) 12-G.Frerotte right end for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. DEN - QB GUS FREROTTE INJURED.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q3 20:08) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-63-D.Diaz-Infante, Holder-16-T.Rouen..

The fourth quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 6–3. Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the KC 18 (Q4 14:24) — (14:24) 1-J.Elam 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-63-D.Diaz-Infante, Holder-16-T.Rouen.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the DEN 23 (Q4 5:17) — (5:17) 2-T.Peterson 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-4-D.Stryzinski.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the KC 31 (Q4 1:19) — (1:19) 1-J.Elam 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-63-D.Diaz-Infante, Holder-16-T.Rouen..

Overtime: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 3–0. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the DEN 14 (OT 6:00) — (6:00) 2-T.Peterson 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-4-D.Stryzinski..

Turning points

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

• Kansas City Chiefs (OT 10:00) — (10:00) PENALTY on DEN-26-E.Brown, Defensive Pass Interference, 52 yards, enforced at KC 29 - No Play. [WPA +49.6% · EPA +4.42]
• Kansas City Chiefs (OT 6:20) — (6:20) 10-T.Green pass to 81-M.Minnis to DEN 12 for 58 yards (26-E.Brown). Play Challenged by Replay Official and REVERSED. 10-T.Green pass to 81-M.Minnis to DEN 14 for 56 yards (26-E.Brown). [WPA +46.0% · EPA +0.97]
• Denver Broncos (OT 6:28) — (6:28) 16-T.Rouen punts 38 yards to KC 30, Center-83-S.Montgomery, fair catch by 20-D.Hall. [WPA +36.7% · EPA -0.64]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 0:14) — (:14) 10-T.Green pass intended for 82-D.Alexander INTERCEPTED by 33-J.Spencer at DEN 19. 33-J.Spencer ran ob at DEN 37 for 18 yards. [WPA -25.3% · EPA -0.75]
• Denver Broncos (OT 11:43) — (11:43) 16-T.Rouen punts 35 yards to KC 30, Center-83-S.Montgomery, out of bounds. PENALTY on KC-49-T.Richardson, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at KC 30. [WPA +24.1% · EPA +0.25]

Impact plays

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

• Denver Broncos (Q4 6:55) — (6:55) 17-J.Jackson pass to 37-A.Carter to DEN 42 for no gain (44-E.Warfield). FUMBLES (44-E.Warfield), RECOVERED by KC-51-G.Cadrez at DEN 42. 51-G.Cadrez to DEN 22 for 20 yards (17-J.Jackson). Play C [WPA -21.5% · EPA -5.35]
• Kansas City Chiefs (OT 10:00) — (10:00) PENALTY on DEN-26-E.Brown, Defensive Pass Interference, 52 yards, enforced at KC 29 - No Play. [WPA +49.6% · EPA +4.42]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 30:00) — 1-J.Elam kicks 56 yards from DEN 30 to KC 14. 20-D.Hall to KC 27 for 13 yards (48-G.Coghill). FUMBLES (48-G.Coghill), touched at KC 27, RECOVERED by DEN-52-I.Gold at KC 27. 52-I.Gold to KC 27 for no g [WPA -16.5% · EPA -4.31]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 16:54) — (1:54) 31-P.Holmes right tackle to KC 44 for -4 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by DEN-97-K.Washington at KC 44. [WPA -18.8% · EPA -4.09]

Quarterback report card

T.Green led all passers in efficiency for Kansas City Chiefs, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• T.Green (Kansas City Chiefs) · 30 dropbacks · 56.7% completion · +0.41 EPA/play · +12.32 total EPA
• G.Frerotte (Denver Broncos) · 24 dropbacks · 66.7% completion · +0.50 EPA/play · +11.96 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Denver Broncos +0.04, Kansas City Chiefs +0.06) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Denver Broncos: 13 drives, +3.95 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Kansas City Chiefs: 13 drives, +4.75 total EPA, 6 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Kansas City Chiefs 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.
• T. Green (Kansas City Chiefs) 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. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q1 52:35 · DEN 33 · Score 0-3
   (7:35) 2-T.Peterson 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-4-D.Stryzinski.
2. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q1 48:27 · DEN 12 · Score 0-9
   (3:27) 31-P.Holmes left end for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q1 48:23 · DEN 2 · Score 0-10
   2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-4-D.Stryzinski.
4. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q2 39:37 · KC 11 · Score 6-10
   (9:37) 12-G.Frerotte pass to 80-R.Smith for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q2 39:29 · KC 2 · Score 7-10
   1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-63-D.Diaz-Infante, Holder-16-T.Rouen.
6. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 35:12 · DEN 25 · Score 7-13
   (5:12) 2-T.Peterson 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-4-D.Stryzinski.
7. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q2 30:25 · KC 16 · Score 10-13
   (:25) 1-J.Elam 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-63-D.Diaz-Infante, Holder-16-T.Rouen.
8. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q3 25:43 · DEN 24 · Score 10-19
   (10:43) 10-T.Green pass to 82-D.Alexander for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q3 25:37 · DEN 2 · Score 10-20
   2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-4-D.Stryzinski.
10. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q3 20:16 · KC 4 · Score 16-20
    (5:16) 12-G.Frerotte right end for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. DEN - QB GUS FREROTTE INJURED.
11. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q3 20:08 · KC 2 · Score 17-20
    1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-63-D.Diaz-Infante, Holder-16-T.Rouen.
12. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q4 14:24 · KC 18 · Score 20-20
    (14:24) 1-J.Elam 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-63-D.Diaz-Infante, Holder-16-T.Rouen.
13. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q4 5:17 · DEN 23 · Score 20-23
    (5:17) 2-T.Peterson 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-4-D.Stryzinski.
14. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q4 1:19 · KC 31 · Score 23-23
    (1:19) 1-J.Elam 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-63-D.Diaz-Infante, Holder-16-T.Rouen.
15. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — OT 6:00 · DEN 14 · Score 23-26
    (6:00) 2-T.Peterson 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-4-D.Stryzinski.