Denver Broncos vs. Las Vegas Raiders: 2008 Week 1 Recap

Game story

In Week 1 of the 2008 NFL season on 2008-09-08, the Denver Broncos took care of business against the Las Vegas Raiders, pulling away with a 41–14 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 28 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Russell (Las Vegas Raiders) paced the passing game, with +6.90 total EPA, and +6.5% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Cutler (Denver Broncos) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +23.21 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+18.2% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Las Vegas Raiders changed the game: Broncos' Captains: #6 J.Cutler; #24 C.Bailey; #55 D.J. Williams; #83 M.Leach; #89 D.Graham

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 J. Cutler · Denver Broncos · Passing · +23.21 total EPA · 27 snaps · +0.86 EPA/play
2. 2 E. Royal · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +14.65 total EPA · 9 snaps · +1.63 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Russell · Las Vegas Raiders · Passing · +6.90 total EPA · 29 snaps · +0.24 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Lelie · Las Vegas Raiders · Receiving · +5.87 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.96 EPA/play
5. 5 R. Curry · Las Vegas Raiders · Receiving · +5.82 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.91 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Scheffler · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +5.52 total EPA · 1 snaps · +5.52 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Jackson · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +5.16 total EPA · 1 snaps · +5.16 EPA/play
8. 8 S. Young · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +4.06 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.58 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 — E. Royal (J. Cutler pass) (Q1 55:06)
• Denver Broncos — M. Pittman (Q2 34:21)
• Denver Broncos — D. Jackson (J. Cutler pass) (Q3 23:33)
• Las Vegas Raiders — A. Lelie (J. Russell pass) (Q4 13:12)
• Denver Broncos — S. Young (Q4 10:08)
• Denver Broncos — M. Pittman (Q4 4:40)
• Las Vegas Raiders — R. Curry (J. Russell pass) (Q4 1:35)

Field goals

• Denver Broncos — M. Prater (Q2 39:58)
• Denver Broncos — M. Prater (Q3 18:21)

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 LV 26 (Q1 55:06) — (10:06) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep right to 19-E.Royal for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the LV 2 (Q1 54:59) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-1-B.Kern..

The second quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 10–0. Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the LV 8 (Q2 39:58) — (9:58) 5-M.Prater 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-1-B.Kern.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the LV 3 (Q2 34:21) — (4:21) 28-M.Pittman up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the LV 2 (Q2 34:21) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-1-B.Kern..

The third quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 10–0. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the LV 48 (Q3 23:33) — (8:33) 6-J.Cutler pass deep left to 82-D.Jackson for 48 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the LV 2 (Q3 23:23) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-1-B.Kern.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the LV 25 (Q3 18:21) — (3:21) 5-M.Prater 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-1-B.Kern..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 14–14. Las Vegas Raiders found the end zone from the DEN 8 (Q4 13:12); Las Vegas Raiders added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q4 13:08) — 11-S.Janikowski extra point is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the LV 5 (Q4 10:08) — (10:08) 35-S.Young up the middle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the LV 2 (Q4 10:08) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-1-B.Kern.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the LV 1 (Q4 4:40) — (4:40) 28-M.Pittman up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the LV 2 (Q4 4:35) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-1-B.Kern.; Las Vegas Raiders found the end zone from the DEN 4 (Q4 1:35) — (1:35) 2-J.Russell pass short middle to 89-R.Curry for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Las Vegas Raiders added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q4 1:34) — 11-S.Janikowski extra point is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler..

Turning points

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

• Las Vegas Raiders (Q1) — Broncos' Captains: #6 J.Cutler; #24 C.Bailey; #55 D.J. Williams; #83 M.Leach; #89 D.Graham [WPA +18.2% · EPA -0.02]
• Las Vegas Raiders (Q1 49:32) — (4:32) 2-J.Russell FUMBLES (Aborted) at DEN 14, RECOVERED by DEN-91-E.Ekuban at DEN 17. 91-E.Ekuban to DEN 17 for no gain (2-J.Russell). [WPA -11.2% · EPA -3.97]
• Denver Broncos (Q1 55:06) — (10:06) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep right to 19-E.Royal for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +10.0% · EPA +3.98]
• Denver Broncos (Q1 56:35) — (11:35) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 14-B.Stokley to LV 30 for 13 yards (26-S.Routt). [WPA +10.0% · EPA +2.37]
• Denver Broncos (Q2 41:57) — (11:57) 6-J.Cutler pass deep middle to 88-T.Scheffler to LV 4 for 72 yards (28-G.Wilson, 24-M.Huff). [WPA +8.6% · EPA +5.52]

Impact plays

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

• Denver Broncos (Q2 41:57) — (11:57) 6-J.Cutler pass deep middle to 88-T.Scheffler to LV 4 for 72 yards (28-G.Wilson, 24-M.Huff). [WPA +8.6% · EPA +5.52]
• Denver Broncos (Q3 23:33) — (8:33) 6-J.Cutler pass deep left to 82-D.Jackson for 48 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +5.2% · EPA +5.16]
• Las Vegas Raiders (Q4 1:35) — (1:35) 2-J.Russell pass short middle to 89-R.Curry for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -0.0% · EPA +4.24]
• Las Vegas Raiders (Q4 13:12) — (13:12) 2-J.Russell pass short left to 87-A.Lelie for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on DEN-41-K.Paymah, Defensive Pass Interference, declined. [WPA +0.6% · EPA +4.10]

Quarterback report card

J.Russell led all passers in efficiency for Las Vegas Raiders, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Russell (Las Vegas Raiders) · 29 dropbacks · 58.6% completion · +6.5% CPOE · +0.24 EPA/play · +6.90 total EPA
• J.Cutler (Denver Broncos) · 27 dropbacks · 59.3% completion · +8.3% CPOE · +0.86 EPA/play · +23.21 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 (+0.44 vs -0.00), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Denver Broncos: 10 drives, +32.41 total EPA, 7 scoring drives
• Las Vegas Raiders: 11 drives, -0.28 total EPA, 2 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.
• J. Cutler (Denver Broncos) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Russell (LV) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• J. Cutler (DEN) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

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

1. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q1 55:06 · LV 26 · Score 6-0
   (10:06) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep right to 19-E.Royal for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q1 54:59 · LV 2 · Score 7-0
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-1-B.Kern.
3. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q2 39:58 · LV 8 · Score 10-0
   (9:58) 5-M.Prater 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-1-B.Kern.
4. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q2 34:21 · LV 3 · Score 16-0
   (4:21) 28-M.Pittman up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q2 34:21 · LV 2 · Score 17-0
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-1-B.Kern.
6. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q3 23:33 · LV 48 · Score 23-0
   (8:33) 6-J.Cutler pass deep left to 82-D.Jackson for 48 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q3 23:23 · LV 2 · Score 24-0
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-1-B.Kern.
8. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q3 18:21 · LV 25 · Score 27-0
   (3:21) 5-M.Prater 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-1-B.Kern.
9. Las Vegas Raiders TD (+6) — Q4 13:12 · DEN 8 · Score 27-6
   (13:12) 2-J.Russell pass short left to 87-A.Lelie for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on DEN-41-K.Paymah, Defensive Pass Interference, declined.
10. Las Vegas Raiders XP (+1) — Q4 13:08 · DEN 2 · Score 27-7
    11-S.Janikowski extra point is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
11. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q4 10:08 · LV 5 · Score 33-7
    (10:08) 35-S.Young up the middle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q4 10:08 · LV 2 · Score 34-7
    5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-1-B.Kern.
13. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q4 4:40 · LV 1 · Score 40-7
    (4:40) 28-M.Pittman up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q4 4:35 · LV 2 · Score 41-7
    5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-1-B.Kern.
15. Las Vegas Raiders TD (+6) — Q4 1:35 · DEN 4 · Score 41-13
    (1:35) 2-J.Russell pass short middle to 89-R.Curry for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
16. Las Vegas Raiders XP (+1) — Q4 1:34 · DEN 2 · Score 41-14
    11-S.Janikowski extra point is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler.