Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs: 2003 Week 5 Recap

Game story

In Week 5 of the 2003 NFL season on 2003-10-05, the Kansas City Chiefs took care of business against the Denver Broncos, pulling away with a 24–23 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Plummer (Denver Broncos) paced the passing game, with +2.08 total EPA.

On the individual side, R. Smith (Denver Broncos) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +10.03 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-34.4% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Denver Broncos changed the game: (8:45) 4-M.Knorr punts 43 yards to KC 7, Center-83-M.Leach. 82-D.Hall for 93 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

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 R. Smith · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +10.03 total EPA · 8 snaps · +1.25 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Gonzalez · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +5.13 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.71 EPA/play
3. 3 R. Smith · Denver Broncos · Passing · +5.02 total EPA · 1 snaps · +5.02 EPA/play
4. 4 S. Sharpe · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +4.23 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.41 EPA/play
5. 5 C. Portis · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +3.57 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.71 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Morton · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +2.95 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.95 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Portis · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +2.89 total EPA · 24 snaps · +0.12 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Morton · Kansas City Chiefs · Rushing · +2.27 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.27 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 — D. Carswell (J. Plummer pass) (Q1 50:23)
• Kansas City Chiefs — T. Gonzalez (T. Green pass) (Q1 48:15)
• Denver Broncos — C. Portis (Q3 28:40)
• Kansas City Chiefs — J. Morton (T. Green pass) (Q3 25:56)
• Kansas City Chiefs — D. Hall (Q4 8:45)

Field goals

• Denver Broncos — J. Elam (Q2 42:30)
• Kansas City Chiefs — M. Andersen (Q2 35:55)
• Denver Broncos — J. Elam (Q2 30:08)
• Denver Broncos — J. Elam (Q4 14:21)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the KC 6 (Q1 50:23) — (5:23) 16-J.Plummer pass to 89-D.Carswell for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q1 50:16) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-4-M.Knorr.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the DEN 20 (Q1 48:15) — (3:15) 10-T.Green pass to 88-T.Gonzalez for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q1 48:08) — 8-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-9-J.Baker..

The second quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 6–3. Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the KC 29 (Q2 42:30) — (12:30) 1-J.Elam 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-4-M.Knorr.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the DEN 5 (Q2 35:55) — (5:55) 8-M.Andersen 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-9-J.Baker.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the KC 11 (Q2 30:08) — (:08) 1-J.Elam 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-4-M.Knorr..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the KC 65 (Q3 28:40) — (13:40) 26-C.Portis up the middle for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q3 28:30) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-4-M.Knorr.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the DEN 28 (Q3 25:56) — (10:56) 10-T.Green pass to 80-J.Morton for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q3 25:49) — 8-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-9-J.Baker..

The fourth quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 7–3. Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the KC 3 (Q4 14:21) — (14:21) 1-J.Elam 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-4-M.Knorr.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the KC 50 (Q4 8:45) — (8:45) 4-M.Knorr punts 43 yards to KC 7, Center-83-M.Leach. 82-D.Hall for 93 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q4 8:20) — 8-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-9-J.Baker..

Turning points

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

• Denver Broncos (Q4 8:45) — (8:45) 4-M.Knorr punts 43 yards to KC 7, Center-83-M.Leach. 82-D.Hall for 93 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -34.4% · EPA -6.48]
• Denver Broncos (Q4 6:04) — (6:04) 1-J.Elam 53 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-4-M.Knorr. [WPA -24.9% · EPA -2.30]
• Denver Broncos (Q4 1:26) — (1:26) 16-J.Plummer pass incomplete to 87-E.McCaffrey. [WPA -19.6% · EPA -2.82]
• Denver Broncos (Q3 28:40) — (13:40) 26-C.Portis up the middle for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +18.0% · EPA +6.34]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 2:30) — (2:30) 31-P.Holmes up the middle to DEN 19 for 17 yards (31-K.Herndon). FUMBLES (31-K.Herndon), RECOVERED by DEN-35-L.Walls at DEN 8. 35-L.Walls to DEN 8 for no gain (49-T.Richardson). [WPA -16.0% · EPA -2.12]

Impact plays

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

• Denver Broncos (Q4 8:45) — (8:45) 4-M.Knorr punts 43 yards to KC 7, Center-83-M.Leach. 82-D.Hall for 93 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -34.4% · EPA -6.48]
• Denver Broncos (Q3 28:40) — (13:40) 26-C.Portis up the middle for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +18.0% · EPA +6.34]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 49:15) — (4:15) 9-J.Baker punts 51 yards to DEN 21, Center-83-K.Gammon. 24-D.O'Neal to DEN 27 for 6 yards (55-G.Stills). FUMBLES (55-G.Stills), RECOVERED by KC-55-G.Stills at DEN 25. 55-G.Stills to DEN 25 for [WPA +14.2% · EPA +5.18]
• Denver Broncos (Q1 51:37) — (6:37) 80-R.Smith pass to 26-C.Portis pushed ob at KC 8 for 72 yards (25-G.Wesley). J.Plummer handed off to R.Smith on reverse to the right, pass to C.Portis at left hashmark at Den42 [WPA +15.4% · EPA +5.02]

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 · +0.05 EPA/play · +2.08 total EPA
• T.Green (Kansas City Chiefs) · 28 dropbacks · 53.6% completion · -0.11 EPA/play · -2.99 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 +0.03, Kansas City Chiefs +0.02) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Denver Broncos: 12 drives, +2.72 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Kansas City Chiefs: 14 drives, +1.22 total EPA, 3 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.
• R. Smith (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. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q1 50:23 · KC 6 · Score 6-0
   (5:23) 16-J.Plummer pass to 89-D.Carswell for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q1 50:16 · KC 2 · Score 7-0
   1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-4-M.Knorr.
3. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q1 48:15 · DEN 20 · Score 7-6
   (3:15) 10-T.Green pass to 88-T.Gonzalez for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q1 48:08 · DEN 2 · Score 7-7
   8-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-9-J.Baker.
5. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q2 42:30 · KC 29 · Score 10-7
   (12:30) 1-J.Elam 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-4-M.Knorr.
6. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 35:55 · DEN 5 · Score 10-10
   (5:55) 8-M.Andersen 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-9-J.Baker.
7. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q2 30:08 · KC 11 · Score 13-10
   (:08) 1-J.Elam 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-4-M.Knorr.
8. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q3 28:40 · KC 65 · Score 19-10
   (13:40) 26-C.Portis up the middle for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q3 28:30 · KC 2 · Score 20-10
   1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-4-M.Knorr.
10. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q3 25:56 · DEN 28 · Score 20-16
    (10:56) 10-T.Green pass to 80-J.Morton for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q3 25:49 · DEN 2 · Score 20-17
    8-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-9-J.Baker.
12. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q4 14:21 · KC 3 · Score 23-17
    (14:21) 1-J.Elam 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-4-M.Knorr.
13. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q4 8:45 · KC 50 · Score 23-23
    (8:45) 4-M.Knorr punts 43 yards to KC 7, Center-83-M.Leach. 82-D.Hall for 93 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q4 8:20 · DEN 2 · Score 23-24
    8-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-9-J.Baker.