Indianapolis Colts vs. Denver Broncos: 2014 Week 1 Recap

Game story

In Week 1 of the 2014 NFL season on 2014-09-07, the Denver Broncos took care of business against the Indianapolis Colts, pulling away with a 31–24 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 28 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

A. Luck (Indianapolis Colts) paced the passing game, with +9.13 total EPA, and +1.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, P. Manning (Denver Broncos) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +13.91 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-11.0% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Indianapolis Colts changed the game: (3:25) 12-A.Luck pass deep middle intended for 83-D.Allen INTERCEPTED by 26-R.Moore (21-A.Talib) at DEN 31. 26-R.Moore to DEN 46 for 15 yards (83-D.Allen).

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. Manning · Denver Broncos · Passing · +13.91 total EPA · 40 snaps · +0.35 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Thomas · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +12.05 total EPA · 8 snaps · +1.51 EPA/play
3. 3 A. Luck · Indianapolis Colts · Passing · +9.13 total EPA · 63 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Bradshaw · Indianapolis Colts · Receiving · +5.97 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.00 EPA/play
5. 5 E. Sanders · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +3.25 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.36 EPA/play
6. 6 H. Nicks · Indianapolis Colts · Receiving · +2.83 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.57 EPA/play
7. 7 R. Wayne · Indianapolis Colts · Receiving · +2.55 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.20 EPA/play
8. 8 C. Anderson · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +2.24 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.45 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 — J. Thomas (P. Manning pass) (Q2 44:19)
• Denver Broncos — J. Thomas (P. Manning pass) (Q2 36:50)
• Denver Broncos — J. Thomas (P. Manning pass) (Q2 32:00)
• Indianapolis Colts — A. Luck (Q2 30:28)
• Denver Broncos — M. Ball (Q4 10:02)
• Indianapolis Colts — D. Allen (A. Luck pass) (Q4 7:57)
• Indianapolis Colts — H. Nicks (A. Luck pass) (Q4 3:32)

Field goals

• Denver Broncos — B. McManus (Q1 50:17)
• Indianapolis Colts — A. Vinatieri (Q3 16:34)

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 3–0. Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the IND 3 (Q1 50:17) — (5:17) 8-B.McManus 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt..

The second quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 21–7. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the IND 3 (Q2 44:19); Denver Broncos added 1 points from the IND 2 (Q2 44:14) — 8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the IND 35 (Q2 36:50) — (6:50) (No Huddle) 18-P.Manning pass short left to 80-J.Thomas for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the IND 2 (Q2 36:41) — 8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the IND 5 (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass short right to 80-J.Thomas for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the IND 2 (Q2 31:57) — 8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.; Indianapolis Colts found the end zone from the DEN 9 (Q2 30:28); Indianapolis Colts added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q2 30:19) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-45-M.Overton, Holder-1-P.McAfee..

The third quarter: Indianapolis Colts won the period 3–0. Indianapolis Colts connected on a field goal from the DEN 7 (Q3 16:34) — (1:34) 4-A.Vinatieri 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-M.Overton, Holder-1-P.McAfee..

The fourth quarter: Indianapolis Colts won the period 14–7. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the IND 3 (Q4 10:02) — (10:02) (Shotgun) 28-M.Ball up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the IND 2 (Q4 9:54) — 8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.; Indianapolis Colts found the end zone from the DEN 41 (Q4 7:57) — (7:57) (Shotgun) 12-A.Luck pass short right to 83-D.Allen for 41 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Indianapolis Colts added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q4 7:46) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-45-M.Overton, Holder-1-P.McAfee.; Indianapolis Colts found the end zone from the DEN 9 (Q4 3:32) — (3:32) (Shotgun) 12-A.Luck pass short middle to 14-H.Nicks for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Indianapolis Colts added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q4 3:26) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-45-M.Overton, Holder-1-P.McAfee..

Turning points

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

• Indianapolis Colts (Q1 48:25) — (3:25) 12-A.Luck pass deep middle intended for 83-D.Allen INTERCEPTED by 26-R.Moore (21-A.Talib) at DEN 31. 26-R.Moore to DEN 46 for 15 yards (83-D.Allen). [WPA -11.0% · EPA -4.28]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q4 1:57) — (1:57) (Shotgun) 12-A.Luck pass incomplete short middle to 87-R.Wayne (29-B.Roby). [WPA -9.8% · EPA -0.88]
• Denver Broncos (Q1 47:12) — (2:12) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass deep left to 80-J.Thomas pushed ob at IND 20 for 34 yards (30-L.Landry). [WPA +6.8% · EPA +3.23]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q4 2:37) — (2:37) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-A.Luck pass short right to 80-C.Fleener pushed ob at DEN 43 for 12 yards (54-B.Marshall). [WPA +6.2% · EPA +0.58]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q4 5:32) — (5:32) (Shotgun) 12-A.Luck pass deep middle intended for 80-C.Fleener INTERCEPTED by 26-R.Moore at DEN 11. 26-R.Moore to DEN 13 for 2 yards (17-G.Whalen). [WPA -5.1% · EPA -3.60]

Impact plays

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

• Indianapolis Colts (Q4 7:57) — (7:57) (Shotgun) 12-A.Luck pass short right to 83-D.Allen for 41 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +0.8% · EPA +4.52]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q1 48:25) — (3:25) 12-A.Luck pass deep middle intended for 83-D.Allen INTERCEPTED by 26-R.Moore (21-A.Talib) at DEN 31. 26-R.Moore to DEN 46 for 15 yards (83-D.Allen). [WPA -11.0% · EPA -4.28]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q3 25:22) — (10:22) 12-A.Luck up the middle to DEN 2 for -1 yards (54-B.Marshall). [WPA -3.1% · EPA -4.02]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q4 5:32) — (5:32) (Shotgun) 12-A.Luck pass deep middle intended for 80-C.Fleener INTERCEPTED by 26-R.Moore at DEN 11. 26-R.Moore to DEN 13 for 2 yards (17-G.Whalen). [WPA -5.1% · EPA -3.60]

Quarterback report card

A.Luck led all passers in efficiency for Indianapolis Colts, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• A.Luck (Indianapolis Colts) · 63 dropbacks · 55.6% completion · +1.2% CPOE · +0.14 EPA/play · +9.13 total EPA
• P.Manning (Denver Broncos) · 40 dropbacks · 55.0% completion · -0.8% CPOE · +0.35 EPA/play · +13.91 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Denver Broncos held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.09 vs +0.02), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Denver Broncos: 13 drives, +8.29 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Indianapolis Colts: 12 drives, +2.08 total EPA, 4 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• P. Manning (Denver Broncos) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

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

1. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q1 50:17 · IND 3 · Score 0-3
   (5:17) 8-B.McManus 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
2. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q2 44:19 · IND 3 · Score 0-9
   (14:19) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass short right to 80-J.Thomas for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN [90-C.Redding]. Penalty on IND-28-G.Toler, Defensive Holding, d
3. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q2 44:14 · IND 2 · Score 0-10
   8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
4. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q2 36:50 · IND 35 · Score 0-16
   (6:50) (No Huddle) 18-P.Manning pass short left to 80-J.Thomas for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q2 36:41 · IND 2 · Score 0-17
   8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
6. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q2 32:00 · IND 5 · Score 0-23
   (2:00) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass short right to 80-J.Thomas for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q2 31:57 · IND 2 · Score 0-24
   8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
8. Indianapolis Colts TD (+6) — Q2 30:28 · DEN 9 · Score 6-24
   (:28) (Shotgun) 12-A.Luck scrambles right end pushed ob at DEN 2 for 7 yards (56-N.Irving). The Replay Official challenged the runner was in bounds ruling, and
9. Indianapolis Colts XP (+1) — Q2 30:19 · DEN 2 · Score 7-24
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-45-M.Overton, Holder-1-P.McAfee.
10. Indianapolis Colts FG (+3) — Q3 16:34 · DEN 7 · Score 10-24
    (1:34) 4-A.Vinatieri 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-M.Overton, Holder-1-P.McAfee.
11. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q4 10:02 · IND 3 · Score 10-30
    (10:02) (Shotgun) 28-M.Ball up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q4 9:54 · IND 2 · Score 10-31
    8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
13. Indianapolis Colts TD (+6) — Q4 7:57 · DEN 41 · Score 16-31
    (7:57) (Shotgun) 12-A.Luck pass short right to 83-D.Allen for 41 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Indianapolis Colts XP (+1) — Q4 7:46 · DEN 2 · Score 17-31
    4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-45-M.Overton, Holder-1-P.McAfee.
15. Indianapolis Colts TD (+6) — Q4 3:32 · DEN 9 · Score 23-31
    (3:32) (Shotgun) 12-A.Luck pass short middle to 14-H.Nicks for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
16. Indianapolis Colts XP (+1) — Q4 3:26 · DEN 2 · Score 24-31
    4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-45-M.Overton, Holder-1-P.McAfee.