Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs: 2009 Week 13 Recap

Game story

In Week 13 of the 2009 NFL season on 2009-12-06, the Denver Broncos took care of business against the Kansas City Chiefs, pulling away with a 44–13 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Cassel (Kansas City Chiefs) paced the passing game, with -18.61 total EPA, and -26.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, C. Buckhalter (Denver Broncos) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.56 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-16.5% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Denver Broncos changed the game: (11:55) 8-K.Orton pass deep middle intended for 88-T.Scheffler INTERCEPTED by 30-M.Brown (53-D.Williams) at KC -5. Touchback.

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. Buckhalter · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +7.56 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.63 EPA/play
2. 2 B. Marshall · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +6.55 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.66 EPA/play
3. 3 K. Moreno · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +3.69 total EPA · 21 snaps · +0.18 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Graham · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +2.39 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.80 EPA/play
5. 5 P. Hillis · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +1.22 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.17 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Castille · Kansas City Chiefs · Rushing · +0.95 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
7. 7 E. Royal · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +0.58 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
8. 8 L. Pope · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +0.32 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.11 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. Graham (K. Orton pass) (Q1 52:27)
• Denver Broncos — K. Moreno (Q2 37:07)
• Denver Broncos — B. Marshall (K. Orton pass) (Q3 25:35)
• Denver Broncos — J. Charles (Q3 17:49)
• Kansas City Chiefs — J. Charles (Q4 15:00)
• Denver Broncos — K. Moreno (Q4 12:11)

Field goals

• Kansas City Chiefs — R. Succop (Q2 44:24)
• Kansas City Chiefs — R. Succop (Q2 30:28)
• Denver Broncos — M. Prater (Q3 28:20)
• Denver Broncos — M. Prater (Q3 20:57)
• Denver Broncos — M. Prater (Q4 8:53)

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 7–0. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the KC 7 (Q1 52:27) — (7:27) 8-K.Orton pass short left to 89-D.Graham for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q1 52:20) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-17-M.Berger..

The second quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 7–6. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the DEN 4 (Q2 44:24) — (14:24) 6-R.Succop 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the KC 2 (Q2 37:07) — (7:07) 27-K.Moreno left tackle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q2 37:03) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-17-M.Berger.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the DEN 30 (Q2 30:28) — (:28) 6-R.Succop 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..

The third quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 20–0. Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the KC 26 (Q3 28:20) — (13:20) 5-M.Prater 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-17-M.Berger.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the KC 7 (Q3 25:35) — (10:35) (Shotgun) 8-K.Orton pass short left to 15-B.Marshall for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q3 25:31) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-17-M.Berger.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the KC 20 (Q3 20:57) — (5:57) 5-M.Prater 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-17-M.Berger.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the DEN 66 (Q3 17:49); Denver Broncos added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q3 17:41) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-17-M.Berger..

The fourth quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 10–7. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the DEN 4 (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) 25-J.Charles left guard for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q4 14:57) — 6-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the KC 18 (Q4 12:11) — (12:11) 27-K.Moreno left end for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q4 12:05) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-17-M.Berger.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the KC 20 (Q4 8:53) — (8:53) 5-M.Prater 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-17-M.Berger..

Turning points

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

• Denver Broncos (Q1 56:55) — (11:55) 8-K.Orton pass deep middle intended for 88-T.Scheffler INTERCEPTED by 30-M.Brown (53-D.Williams) at KC -5. Touchback. [WPA -16.5% · EPA -5.26]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 27:30) — (12:30) (Shotgun) 7-M.Cassel pass short right intended for 17-L.Long INTERCEPTED by 21-A.Goodman at KC 29. 21-A.Goodman to KC 21 for 8 yards (25-J.Charles). [WPA -7.2% · EPA -4.44]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 30:37) — (:37) 7-M.Cassel pass incomplete short right to 11-C.Chambers. [WPA -6.4% · EPA -0.78]
• Denver Broncos (Q2 31:07) — (1:07) (Shotgun) 8-K.Orton sacked at DEN 46 for -5 yards (91-T.Hali). FUMBLES (91-T.Hali), RECOVERED by KC-72-G.Dorsey at DEN 50. [WPA -5.4% · EPA -3.09]
• Denver Broncos (Q1 55:19) — (10:19) 8-K.Orton pass short right to 15-B.Marshall to KC 46 for 10 yards (30-M.Brown). [WPA +5.2% · EPA +1.65]

Impact plays

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

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 17:49) — (2:49) 25-J.Charles right end to KC 30 for -4 yards (57-M.Haggan). FUMBLES (57-M.Haggan), RECOVERED by DEN-21-A.Goodman at KC 30. 21-A.Goodman for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -2.3% · EPA -8.55]
• Denver Broncos (Q1 56:55) — (11:55) 8-K.Orton pass deep middle intended for 88-T.Scheffler INTERCEPTED by 30-M.Brown (53-D.Williams) at KC -5. Touchback. [WPA -16.5% · EPA -5.26]
• Denver Broncos (Q3 15:10) — (:10) 8-K.Orton sacked at DEN 2 for -5 yards (91-T.Hali). FUMBLES (91-T.Hali), RECOVERED by KC-72-G.Dorsey at DEN 3. 72-G.Dorsey to DEN 3 for no gain (71-R.Hochstein). [WPA -0.2% · EPA -4.80]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 27:30) — (12:30) (Shotgun) 7-M.Cassel pass short right intended for 17-L.Long INTERCEPTED by 21-A.Goodman at KC 29. 21-A.Goodman to KC 21 for 8 yards (25-J.Charles). [WPA -7.2% · EPA -4.44]

Quarterback report card

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

• M.Cassel (Kansas City Chiefs) · 33 dropbacks · 30.3% completion · -26.3% CPOE · -0.56 EPA/play · -18.61 total EPA
• K.Orton (Denver Broncos) · 28 dropbacks · 53.6% completion · -4.5% CPOE · -0.22 EPA/play · -6.20 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 (+0.09 vs -0.32), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Denver Broncos: 16 drives, +8.39 total EPA, 7 scoring drives
• Kansas City Chiefs: 15 drives, -29.57 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. Buckhalter (Denver Broncos) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• M. Cassel (KC) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• K. Orton (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) — Q1 52:27 · KC 7 · Score 6-0
   (7:27) 8-K.Orton pass short left to 89-D.Graham for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q1 52:20 · KC 2 · Score 7-0
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-17-M.Berger.
3. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 44:24 · DEN 4 · Score 7-3
   (14:24) 6-R.Succop 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
4. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q2 37:07 · KC 2 · Score 13-3
   (7:07) 27-K.Moreno left tackle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q2 37:03 · KC 2 · Score 14-3
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-17-M.Berger.
6. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 30:28 · DEN 30 · Score 14-6
   (:28) 6-R.Succop 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
7. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q3 28:20 · KC 26 · Score 17-6
   (13:20) 5-M.Prater 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-17-M.Berger.
8. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q3 25:35 · KC 7 · Score 23-6
   (10:35) (Shotgun) 8-K.Orton pass short left to 15-B.Marshall for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q3 25:31 · KC 2 · Score 24-6
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-17-M.Berger.
10. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q3 20:57 · KC 20 · Score 27-6
    (5:57) 5-M.Prater 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-17-M.Berger.
11. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q3 17:49 · DEN 66 · Score 33-6
    (2:49) 25-J.Charles right end to KC 30 for -4 yards (57-M.Haggan). FUMBLES (57-M.Haggan), RECOVERED by DEN-21-A.Goodman at KC 30. 21-A.Goodman for 30 yards, TOU
12. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q3 17:41 · KC 2 · Score 34-6
    5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-17-M.Berger.
13. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q4 15:00 · DEN 4 · Score 34-12
    (15:00) 25-J.Charles left guard for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q4 14:57 · DEN 2 · Score 34-13
    6-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
15. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q4 12:11 · KC 18 · Score 40-13
    (12:11) 27-K.Moreno left end for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
16. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q4 12:05 · KC 2 · Score 41-13
    5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-17-M.Berger.
17. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q4 8:53 · KC 20 · Score 44-13
    (8:53) 5-M.Prater 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-17-M.Berger.