Denver Broncos vs. San Francisco 49ers: 2010 Week 8 Recap

Game story

In Week 8 of the 2010 NFL season on 2010-10-31, the San Francisco 49ers took care of business against the Denver Broncos, pulling away with a 24–16 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 30 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

K. Orton (Denver Broncos) paced the passing game, with +6.90 total EPA, and +7.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Smith (San Francisco 49ers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +11.82 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+21.3% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Denver Broncos changed the game: (9:08) 8-K.Orton pass deep right to 84-B.Lloyd to SF 1 for 71 yards (23-T.Mays).

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 T. Smith · San Francisco 49ers · Passing · +11.82 total EPA · 21 snaps · +0.56 EPA/play
2. 2 B. Lloyd · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +10.36 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.86 EPA/play
3. 3 K. Orton · Denver Broncos · Passing · +6.90 total EPA · 49 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
4. 4 Del. Walker · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +6.03 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.86 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Gaffney · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +4.25 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.61 EPA/play
6. 6 M. Crabtree · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +3.78 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.76 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Thomas · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +2.89 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.89 EPA/play
8. 8 V. Davis · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +2.14 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.14 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. Tebow (Q3 23:11)
• San Francisco 49ers — T. Smith (Q4 11:57)
• San Francisco 49ers — M. Crabtree (T. Smith pass) (Q4 7:29)
• San Francisco 49ers — F. Gore (Q4 3:52)
• Denver Broncos — B. Lloyd (K. Orton pass) (Q4 2:22)

Field goals

• San Francisco 49ers — J. Nedney (Q1 45:27)
• Denver Broncos — M. Prater (Q4 14:17)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 3–0. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the DEN 17 (Q1 45:27) — (:27) (Field Goal formation) 6-J.Nedney 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The third quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 7–0. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the SF 1 (Q3 23:11) — (8:11) DEN #74 Harris reports eligible (Shotgun) 15-T.Tebow left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q3 23:08) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-4-B.Colquitt..

The fourth quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 21–9. Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the SF 14 (Q4 14:17) — (14:17) (Field Goal formation) 5-M.Prater 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the DEN 1 (Q4 11:57) — (11:57) 1-T.Smith right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q4 11:51) — 6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the DEN 28 (Q4 7:29) — (7:29) 1-T.Smith pass deep left to 15-M.Crabtree for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q4 7:23) — 6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the DEN 3 (Q4 3:52) — (3:52) SF #68 Snyder reports eligible 21-F.Gore right guard for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q4 3:47) — 6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the SF 1 (Q4 2:22) — (2:22) (Shotgun) 8-K.Orton pass short right to 84-B.Lloyd for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN..

Turning points

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

• Denver Broncos (Q3 24:08) — (9:08) 8-K.Orton pass deep right to 84-B.Lloyd to SF 1 for 71 yards (23-T.Mays). [WPA +21.3% · EPA +5.25]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 7:29) — (7:29) 1-T.Smith pass deep left to 15-M.Crabtree for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +17.3% · EPA +3.50]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 13:30) — (13:30) 1-T.Smith pass deep right to 46-Del.Walker to DEN 1 for 38 yards (24-C.Bailey) [91-R.Fields]. Smith scrambles right for the long completion [WPA +15.0% · EPA +3.38]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 11:57) — (11:57) 1-T.Smith right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +12.2% · EPA +1.16]
• Denver Broncos (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 8-K.Orton pass short left to 88-D.Thomas to SF 14 for 31 yards (94-J.Smith). [WPA +11.5% · EPA +2.89]

Impact plays

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

• Denver Broncos (Q3 24:08) — (9:08) 8-K.Orton pass deep right to 84-B.Lloyd to SF 1 for 71 yards (23-T.Mays). [WPA +21.3% · EPA +5.25]
• Denver Broncos (Q4 7:18) — (7:18) 8-K.Orton scrambles left tackle to DEN 22 for 4 yards (99-M.Lawson). FUMBLES (99-M.Lawson), RECOVERED by SF-51-T.Spikes at DEN 26. 51-T.Spikes to DEN 18 for 8 yards (84-B.Lloyd). [WPA -9.2% · EPA -4.95]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 7:29) — (7:29) 1-T.Smith pass deep left to 15-M.Crabtree for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +17.3% · EPA +3.50]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 13:30) — (13:30) 1-T.Smith pass deep right to 46-Del.Walker to DEN 1 for 38 yards (24-C.Bailey) [91-R.Fields]. Smith scrambles right for the long completion [WPA +15.0% · EPA +3.38]

Quarterback report card

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

• K.Orton (Denver Broncos) · 49 dropbacks · 57.1% completion · +7.2% CPOE · +0.14 EPA/play · +6.90 total EPA
• T.Smith (San Francisco 49ers) · 21 dropbacks · 57.1% completion · +5.2% CPOE · +0.56 EPA/play · +11.82 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

San Francisco 49ers held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.15 vs +0.03), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Denver Broncos: 12 drives, +2.25 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 13 drives, +11.53 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• San Francisco 49ers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• T. Smith (San Francisco 49ers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• K. Orton (DEN) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• T. Smith (SF) 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. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q1 45:27 · DEN 17 · Score 0-3
   (:27) (Field Goal formation) 6-J.Nedney 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
2. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q3 23:11 · SF 1 · Score 6-3
   (8:11) DEN #74 Harris reports eligible (Shotgun) 15-T.Tebow left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q3 23:08 · SF 2 · Score 7-3
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
4. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q4 14:17 · SF 14 · Score 10-3
   (14:17) (Field Goal formation) 5-M.Prater 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
5. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q4 11:57 · DEN 1 · Score 10-9
   (11:57) 1-T.Smith right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
6. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q4 11:51 · DEN 2 · Score 10-10
   6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
7. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q4 7:29 · DEN 28 · Score 10-16
   (7:29) 1-T.Smith pass deep left to 15-M.Crabtree for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q4 7:23 · DEN 2 · Score 10-17
   6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
9. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q4 3:52 · DEN 3 · Score 10-23
   (3:52) SF #68 Snyder reports eligible 21-F.Gore right guard for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q4 3:47 · DEN 2 · Score 10-24
    6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
11. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q4 2:22 · SF 1 · Score 16-24
    (2:22) (Shotgun) 8-K.Orton pass short right to 84-B.Lloyd for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.