Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs: 2014 Week 13 Recap

Game story

In Week 13 of the 2014 NFL season on 2014-11-30, the Denver Broncos took care of business against the Kansas City Chiefs, pulling away with a 29–16 final that built a comfortable lead.

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

P. Manning (Denver Broncos) paced the passing game, with +0.82 total EPA, and -6.0% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Bruton (Denver Broncos) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +3.38 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+10.2% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Denver Broncos changed the game: (11:07) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass short right to 10-E.Sanders to KC 28 for 20 yards (39-H.Abdullah).

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 D. Bruton · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +3.38 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.38 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Kelce · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +3.32 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.11 EPA/play
3. 3 E. Sanders · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +3.00 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.27 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Charles · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +2.46 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.41 EPA/play
5. 5 A. Fasano · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +1.91 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.95 EPA/play
6. 6 C. Anderson · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +1.60 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.53 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Avant · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +1.49 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.37 EPA/play
8. 8 V. Green · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +1.03 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.03 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. Thomas (P. Manning pass) (Q1 54:02)
• Denver Broncos — C. Anderson (P. Manning pass) (Q1 47:04)
• Kansas City Chiefs — A. Fasano (A. Smith pass) (Q2 33:08)
• Kansas City Chiefs — J. Charles (A. Smith pass) (Q4 11:54)

Field goals

• Denver Broncos — C. Barth (Q2 37:18)
• Denver Broncos — C. Barth (Q2 30:19)
• Kansas City Chiefs — C. Santos (Q3 27:48)
• Denver Broncos — C. Barth (Q3 21:20)
• Denver Broncos — C. Barth (Q4 14:47)
• Denver Broncos — C. Barth (Q4 7:37)

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 14–0. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the KC 23 (Q1 54:02) — (9:02) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass deep left to 88-D.Thomas for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q1 53:57) — 1-C.Barth extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the KC 15 (Q1 47:04) — (2:04) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass short middle to 22-C.Anderson for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN. DEN-84-J.Tamme was injured during the play.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q1 46:58) — 1-C.Barth extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt..

The second quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 7–6. Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the KC 4 (Q2 37:18) — (7:18) 1-C.Barth 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the DEN 20 (Q2 33:08) — (3:08) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass deep middle to 80-A.Fasano for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q2 33:02); Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the KC 6 (Q2 30:19) — (:19) 1-C.Barth 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the DEN 21 (Q3 27:48) — (12:48) 5-C.Santos 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the KC 11 (Q3 21:20) — (6:20) 1-C.Barth 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 6–6. Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the KC 14 (Q4 14:47) — (14:47) 1-C.Barth 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the DEN 12 (Q4 11:54) — (11:54) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short left to 25-J.Charles for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the KC 19 (Q4 7:37) — (7:37) 1-C.Barth 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt..

Turning points

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

• Denver Broncos (Q1 56:07) — (11:07) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass short right to 10-E.Sanders to KC 28 for 20 yards (39-H.Abdullah). [WPA +10.2% · EPA +2.63]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 22:23) — (7:23) 11-A.Smith pass short left intended for 82-D.Bowe INTERCEPTED by 94-D.Ware (98-T.Knighton) at KC 16. 94-D.Ware to KC 13 for 3 yards (75-M.McGlynn). Pass deflected at line of scimmage by T.Knigh [WPA -10.1% · EPA -5.23]
• Denver Broncos (Q1 54:02) — (9:02) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass deep left to 88-D.Thomas for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +9.9% · EPA +3.44]
• Denver Broncos (Q3 29:10) — (14:10) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning sacked at DEN 22 for -6 yards (50-J.Houston). FUMBLES (50-J.Houston), RECOVERED by KC-27-K.Coleman at DEN 23. 27-K.Coleman to DEN 23 for no gain (66-M.Ramirez). [WPA -9.1% · EPA -4.47]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 52:33) — (7:33) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith sacked at KC 24 for -13 yards (43-T.Ward). [WPA -5.2% · EPA -2.54]

Impact plays

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

• Denver Broncos (Q3 18:01) — (3:01) 4-B.Colquitt punts 33 yards to KC 42, Center-46-A.Brewer. 31-M.Cooper MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by DEN-31-O.Bolden at KC 37. 31-O.Bolden to KC 37 for no gain (31-M.Cooper). Ball bounced of leg of [WPA +3.7% · EPA +5.46]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 22:23) — (7:23) 11-A.Smith pass short left intended for 82-D.Bowe INTERCEPTED by 94-D.Ware (98-T.Knighton) at KC 16. 94-D.Ware to KC 13 for 3 yards (75-M.McGlynn). Pass deflected at line of scimmage by T.Knigh [WPA -10.1% · EPA -5.23]
• Denver Broncos (Q4 0:25) — (:25) 18-P.Manning kneels to KC 8 for -1 yards. [EPA -4.56]
• Denver Broncos (Q3 29:10) — (14:10) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning sacked at DEN 22 for -6 yards (50-J.Houston). FUMBLES (50-J.Houston), RECOVERED by KC-27-K.Coleman at DEN 23. 27-K.Coleman to DEN 23 for no gain (66-M.Ramirez). [WPA -9.1% · EPA -4.47]

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) · 37 dropbacks · 45.9% completion · -6.0% CPOE · +0.02 EPA/play · +0.82 total EPA
• A.Smith (Kansas City Chiefs) · 33 dropbacks · 45.5% completion · +1.1% CPOE · -0.46 EPA/play · -15.06 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 (+0.02 vs -0.25), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Denver Broncos: 13 drives, +2.25 total EPA, 7 scoring drives
• Kansas City Chiefs: 12 drives, -15.87 total EPA, 3 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.
• D. Bruton (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.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q1 54:02 · KC 23 · Score 6-0
   (9:02) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass deep left to 88-D.Thomas for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q1 53:57 · KC 2 · Score 7-0
   1-C.Barth extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
3. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q1 47:04 · KC 15 · Score 13-0
   (2:04) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass short middle to 22-C.Anderson for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN. DEN-84-J.Tamme was injured during the play.
4. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q1 46:58 · KC 2 · Score 14-0
   1-C.Barth extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
5. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q2 37:18 · KC 4 · Score 17-0
   (7:18) 1-C.Barth 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
6. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q2 33:08 · DEN 20 · Score 17-6
   (3:08) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass deep middle to 80-A.Fasano for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q2 33:02 · DEN 2 · Score 17-7
   5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt. PENALTY on KC-79-D.Stephenson, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced between downs
8. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q2 30:19 · KC 6 · Score 20-7
   (:19) 1-C.Barth 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
9. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q3 27:48 · DEN 21 · Score 20-10
   (12:48) 5-C.Santos 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
10. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q3 21:20 · KC 11 · Score 23-10
    (6:20) 1-C.Barth 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
11. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q4 14:47 · KC 14 · Score 26-10
    (14:47) 1-C.Barth 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
12. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q4 11:54 · DEN 12 · Score 26-16
    (11:54) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short left to 25-J.Charles for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q4 7:37 · KC 19 · Score 29-16
    (7:37) 1-C.Barth 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.