Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs: 2023 Week 6 Recap

Game story

In Week 6 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-10-12, the Kansas City Chiefs took care of business against the Denver Broncos, pulling away with a 19–8 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 13 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) paced the passing game, with +8.54 total EPA, and +6.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +8.54 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-11.8% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Denver Broncos changed the game: (5:00) 3-R.Wilson pass short left intended for 10-J.Jeudy INTERCEPTED by 32-N.Bolton at KC 42. 32-N.Bolton to KC 43 for 1 yard (10-J.Jeudy).

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 P. Mahomes · Kansas City Chiefs · Passing · +8.54 total EPA · 47 snaps · +0.18 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Kelce · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +8.32 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.92 EPA/play
3. 3 R. Rice · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +4.55 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.14 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Williams · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +3.76 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.34 EPA/play
5. 5 C. Sutton · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +3.74 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.62 EPA/play
6. 6 I. Pacheco · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +2.15 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.36 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Edwards-Helaire · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +1.10 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.10 EPA/play
8. 8 R. Wilson · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +0.62 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.62 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 — K. Toney (P. Mahomes pass) (Q2 33:09)
• Denver Broncos — C. Sutton (R. Wilson pass) (Q4 6:11)

Field goals

• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q1 50:44)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q2 30:04)
• Kansas City Chiefs — unlisted player (Q2 30:00)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q3 24:19)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q4 2:00)

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 3–0. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the DEN 17 (Q1 50:44) — (5:44) 7-H.Butker 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend..

The second quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 13–0. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the DEN 3 (Q2 33:09) — (3:09) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right to 19-K.Toney for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the DEN 20 (Q2 33:06) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the DEN 42 (Q2 30:04) — (:04) 7-H.Butker 60 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal (Q2 30:00) — END QUARTER 2.

The third quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 3–0. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the DEN 7 (Q3 24:19) — (9:19) 7-H.Butker 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend..

The fourth quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 8–3. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the KC 11 (Q4 6:11); Denver Broncos registered a safety from the KC 2 (Q4 6:07) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 33-J.Williams rushes up the middle. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the DEN 34 (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) 7-H.Butker 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend..

Turning points

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

• Denver Broncos (Q1 50:00) — (5:00) 3-R.Wilson pass short left intended for 10-J.Jeudy INTERCEPTED by 32-N.Bolton at KC 42. 32-N.Bolton to KC 43 for 1 yard (10-J.Jeudy). [WPA -11.8% · EPA -4.52]
• Denver Broncos (Q1 54:32) — (9:32) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson sacked at KC 41 for -3 yards (20-J.Reid). [WPA -7.6% · EPA -2.74]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 48:04) — (3:04) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right intended for 24-S.Moore INTERCEPTED by 31-J.Simmons (0-J.Cooper) [42-N.Bonitto] at DEN 1. 31-J.Simmons to DEN 7 for 6 yards (4-R.Rice). [WPA -7.1% · EPA -3.21]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 38:10) — (8:10) (Field Goal formation) Direct snap to 83-N.Gray. 83-N.Gray up the middle to DEN 5 for 1 yard (47-J.Jewell). [WPA -5.8% · EPA -2.76]
• Denver Broncos (Q3 20:45) — (5:45) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short left intended for 80-G.Dulcich INTERCEPTED by 20-J.Reid (50-W.Gay) at KC 25. 20-J.Reid to KC 36 for 11 yards (20-M.Burton). [WPA -5.5% · EPA -6.24]

Impact plays

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

• Denver Broncos (Q3 20:45) — (5:45) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short left intended for 80-G.Dulcich INTERCEPTED by 20-J.Reid (50-W.Gay) at KC 25. 20-J.Reid to KC 36 for 11 yards (20-M.Burton). [WPA -5.5% · EPA -6.24]
• Denver Broncos (Q1 50:00) — (5:00) 3-R.Wilson pass short left intended for 10-J.Jeudy INTERCEPTED by 32-N.Bolton at KC 42. 32-N.Bolton to KC 43 for 1 yard (10-J.Jeudy). [WPA -11.8% · EPA -4.52]
• Denver Broncos (Q4 1:50) — (1:50) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short right to 25-S.Perine to DEN 26 for 1 yard (22-T.McDuffie). FUMBLES (22-T.McDuffie), RECOVERED by KC-50-W.Gay at DEN 26. 50-W.Gay to DEN 25 for 1 yard. [WPA -1.3% · EPA -3.79]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 48:04) — (3:04) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right intended for 24-S.Moore INTERCEPTED by 31-J.Simmons (0-J.Cooper) [42-N.Bonitto] at DEN 1. 31-J.Simmons to DEN 7 for 6 yards (4-R.Rice). [WPA -7.1% · EPA -3.21]

Quarterback report card

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

• P.Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) · 47 dropbacks · 63.8% completion · +6.2% CPOE · +0.18 EPA/play · +8.54 total EPA
• R.Wilson (Denver Broncos) · 31 dropbacks · 41.9% completion · -11.7% CPOE · -0.51 EPA/play · -15.94 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Kansas City Chiefs held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.01 vs -0.20), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Denver Broncos: 10 drives, -13.13 total EPA, 1 scoring drives
• Kansas City Chiefs: 11 drives, -0.97 total EPA, 5 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.
• P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• P. Mahomes (KC) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• R. Wilson (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. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q1 50:44 · DEN 17 · Score 0-3
   (5:44) 7-H.Butker 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
2. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q2 33:09 · DEN 3 · Score 0-9
   (3:09) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right to 19-K.Toney for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q2 33:06 · DEN 20 · Score 0-10
   7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
4. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 30:04 · DEN 42 · Score 0-13
   (:04) 7-H.Butker 60 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
5. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 30:00 · Score 0-13
   END QUARTER 2
6. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q3 24:19 · DEN 7 · Score 0-16
   (9:19) 7-H.Butker 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
7. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q4 6:11 · KC 11 · Score 6-16
   (6:11) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass incomplete short left to 14-C.Sutton (35-Ja.Watson). Denver challenged the incomplete pass ruling, and the play was REVERSED. (
8. Denver Broncos Safety (+2) — Q4 6:07 · KC 2 · Score 8-16
   TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 33-J.Williams rushes up the middle. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
9. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q4 2:00 · DEN 34 · Score 8-19
   (2:00) 7-H.Butker 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.