Denver Broncos vs. Minnesota Vikings: 2019 Week 11 Recap

Game story

In Week 11 of the 2019 NFL season on 2019-11-17, the Minnesota Vikings took care of business against the Denver Broncos, pulling away with a 27–23 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Allen (Denver Broncos) paced the passing game, with -2.87 total EPA, and -13.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, S. Diggs (Minnesota Vikings) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +10.83 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-44.5% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Denver Broncos changed the game: (:02) (Shotgun) 2-B.Allen pass incomplete short right to 87-N.Fant.

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 S. Diggs · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +10.83 total EPA · 5 snaps · +2.17 EPA/play
2. 2 K. Cousins · Minnesota Vikings · Passing · +8.01 total EPA · 44 snaps · +0.18 EPA/play
3. 3 C. Sutton · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +4.69 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.52 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Patrick · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +4.56 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.57 EPA/play
5. 5 K. Rudolph · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +3.78 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.76 EPA/play
6. 6 I. Smith · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +3.49 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.16 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Sutton · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +2.64 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.32 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Conklin · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +2.62 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.87 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 — T. Fumagalli (B. Allen pass) (Q1 49:43)
• Denver Broncos — A. Janovich (Q2 42:28)
• Minnesota Vikings — I. Smith (K. Cousins pass) (Q3 26:34)
• Minnesota Vikings — D. Cook (Q4 13:30)
• Minnesota Vikings — S. Diggs (K. Cousins pass) (Q4 10:29)
• Minnesota Vikings — K. Rudolph (K. Cousins pass) (Q4 6:10)

Field goals

• Denver Broncos — B. McManus (Q1 56:36)
• Denver Broncos — B. McManus (Q2 31:10)
• Denver Broncos — B. McManus (Q3 19:27)

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 10–0. Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the MIN 29 (Q1 56:36) — (11:36) 8-B.McManus 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-6-C.Wadman.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the MIN 3 (Q1 49:43) — (4:43) (Shotgun) 2-B.Allen pass short middle to 84-T.Fumagalli for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the MIN 15 (Q1 49:39) — 8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-6-C.Wadman..

The second quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 10–0. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the MIN 1 (Q2 42:28) — (12:28) 32-A.Janovich up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the MIN 15 (Q2 42:21) — 8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-6-C.Wadman.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the MIN 11 (Q2 31:10) — (1:10) 8-B.McManus 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-6-C.Wadman..

The third quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 7–3. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DEN 10 (Q3 26:34) — (11:34) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short middle to 84-I.Smith for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DEN 15 (Q3 26:29) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-58-A.Cutting, Holder-2-B.Colquitt.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the MIN 23 (Q3 19:27) — (4:27) 8-B.McManus 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-6-C.Wadman..

The fourth quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 20–0. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DEN 3 (Q4 13:30) — (13:30) (No Huddle) 33-D.Cook right end for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DEN 54 (Q4 10:29) — (10:29) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass deep middle to 14-S.Diggs for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DEN 15 (Q4 10:21) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-58-A.Cutting, Holder-2-B.Colquitt.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DEN 32 (Q4 6:10) — (6:10) (No Huddle) 8-K.Cousins pass short left to 82-K.Rudolph for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DEN 15 (Q4 6:01) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-58-A.Cutting, Holder-2-B.Colquitt..

Turning points

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

• Denver Broncos (Q4 0:02) — (:02) (Shotgun) 2-B.Allen pass incomplete short right to 87-N.Fant. [WPA -44.5% · EPA -2.83]
• Denver Broncos (Q4 1:57) — (1:57) (Shotgun) 2-B.Allen pass short middle to 81-T.Patrick to MIN 24 for 6 yards (21-M.Hughes). [WPA +24.0% · EPA +2.45]
• Denver Broncos (Q4 8:19) — (8:19) 8-B.McManus 43 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-6-C.Wadman. [WPA -19.5% · EPA -4.02]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 6:10) — (6:10) (No Huddle) 8-K.Cousins pass short left to 82-K.Rudolph for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +19.3% · EPA +3.14]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 10:29) — (10:29) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass deep middle to 14-S.Diggs for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +15.9% · EPA +5.03]

Impact plays

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

• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 32:46) — (2:46) 8-K.Cousins sacked at MIN 17 for -8 yards (96-S.Harris). FUMBLES (96-S.Harris) [96-S.Harris], RECOVERED by DEN-45-A.Johnson at MIN 17. 45-A.Johnson to MIN 17 for no gain (78-D.Dozier). [WPA -5.4% · EPA -6.06]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 31:06) — 8-B.McManus kicks 68 yards from DEN 35 to MIN -3. 31-A.Abdullah to MIN 16 for 19 yards (34-W.Parks; 23-D.Booker). FUMBLES (34-W.Parks), RECOVERED by DEN-47-J.Jewell at MIN 17. 47-J.Jewell to MIN 17 fo [WPA -2.9% · EPA -5.47]
• Denver Broncos (Q2 31:00) — (1:00) (Shotgun) 2-B.Allen pass short middle intended for 87-N.Fant INTERCEPTED by 34-A.Sendejo at MIN 2. 34-A.Sendejo to MIN 23 for 21 yards (17-D.Hamilton). [WPA -2.8% · EPA -5.24]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 10:29) — (10:29) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass deep middle to 14-S.Diggs for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +15.9% · EPA +5.03]

Quarterback report card

B.Allen led all passers in efficiency for Denver Broncos, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• B.Allen (Denver Broncos) · 46 dropbacks · 37.0% completion · -13.3% CPOE · -0.06 EPA/play · -2.87 total EPA
• K.Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) · 44 dropbacks · 65.9% completion · +10.6% CPOE · +0.18 EPA/play · +8.01 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, Minnesota Vikings -0.04) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Denver Broncos: 11 drives, -3.00 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Minnesota Vikings: 11 drives, -2.87 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Minnesota Vikings 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.
• S. Diggs (Minnesota Vikings) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• B. Allen (DEN) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• K. Cousins (MIN) 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 FG (+3) — Q1 56:36 · MIN 29 · Score 3-0
   (11:36) 8-B.McManus 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-6-C.Wadman.
2. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q1 49:43 · MIN 3 · Score 9-0
   (4:43) (Shotgun) 2-B.Allen pass short middle to 84-T.Fumagalli for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q1 49:39 · MIN 15 · Score 10-0
   8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-6-C.Wadman.
4. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q2 42:28 · MIN 1 · Score 16-0
   (12:28) 32-A.Janovich up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q2 42:21 · MIN 15 · Score 17-0
   8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-6-C.Wadman.
6. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q2 31:10 · MIN 11 · Score 20-0
   (1:10) 8-B.McManus 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-6-C.Wadman.
7. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q3 26:34 · DEN 10 · Score 20-6
   (11:34) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short middle to 84-I.Smith for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q3 26:29 · DEN 15 · Score 20-7
   5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-58-A.Cutting, Holder-2-B.Colquitt.
9. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q3 19:27 · MIN 23 · Score 23-7
   (4:27) 8-B.McManus 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-6-C.Wadman.
10. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q4 13:30 · DEN 3 · Score 23-13
    (13:30) (No Huddle) 33-D.Cook right end for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q4 10:29 · DEN 54 · Score 23-19
    (10:29) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass deep middle to 14-S.Diggs for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q4 10:21 · DEN 15 · Score 23-20
    5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-58-A.Cutting, Holder-2-B.Colquitt.
13. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q4 6:10 · DEN 32 · Score 23-26
    (6:10) (No Huddle) 8-K.Cousins pass short left to 82-K.Rudolph for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q4 6:01 · DEN 15 · Score 23-27
    5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-58-A.Cutting, Holder-2-B.Colquitt.