Indianapolis Colts vs. Philadelphia Eagles: 2018 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2018 NFL season on 2018-09-23, the Philadelphia Eagles took care of business against the Indianapolis Colts, pulling away with a 20–16 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Wentz (Philadelphia Eagles) paced the passing game, with -0.26 total EPA, and +1.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Goedert (Philadelphia Eagles) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.90 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-40.1% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Indianapolis Colts changed the game: (1:19) 12-A.Luck sacked at PHI 20 for -16 yards (96-D.Barnett).

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 D. Goedert · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +5.90 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.84 EPA/play
2. 2 R. Grant · Indianapolis Colts · Receiving · +4.26 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.85 EPA/play
3. 3 W. Smallwood · Philadelphia Eagles · Rushing · +3.53 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.35 EPA/play
4. 4 N. Agholor · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +2.84 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.57 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Wilkins · Indianapolis Colts · Rushing · +0.80 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.13 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Matthews · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +0.25 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.13 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Brissett · Indianapolis Colts · Passing · -0.16 total EPA · 1 snaps · -0.16 EPA/play
8. 8 C. Wentz · Philadelphia Eagles · Passing · -0.26 total EPA · 49 snaps · -0.01 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

• Philadelphia Eagles — D. Goedert (C. Wentz pass) (Q1 52:14)
• Indianapolis Colts — R. Grant (A. Luck pass) (Q1 45:28)
• Philadelphia Eagles — W. Smallwood (Q4 3:06)

Field goals

• Philadelphia Eagles — J. Elliott (Q2 33:09)
• Indianapolis Colts — A. Vinatieri (Q3 24:44)
• Indianapolis Colts — A. Vinatieri (Q3 23:26)
• Philadelphia Eagles — J. Elliott (Q3 17:53)
• Indianapolis Colts — A. Vinatieri (Q4 14:22)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the IND 13 (Q1 52:14) — (7:14) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 11-C.Wentz pass short middle to 88-D.Goedert for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Philadelphia Eagles added 1 points from the IND 15 (Q1 52:10) — 4-J.Elliott extra point is GOOD, Center-45-R.Lovato, Holder-1-C.Johnston.; Indianapolis Colts found the end zone from the PHI 5 (Q1 45:28) — (:28) (Shotgun) 12-A.Luck pass short left to 11-R.Grant for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Indianapolis Colts added 1 points from the PHI 15 (Q1 45:24) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-2-R.Sanchez..

The second quarter: Philadelphia Eagles won the period 3–0. Philadelphia Eagles connected on a field goal from the IND 15 (Q2 33:09) — (3:09) 4-J.Elliott 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-R.Lovato, Holder-1-C.Johnston..

The third quarter: Indianapolis Colts won the period 6–3. Indianapolis Colts connected on a field goal from the PHI 17 (Q3 24:44) — (9:44) 4-A.Vinatieri 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-2-R.Sanchez.; Indianapolis Colts connected on a field goal from the PHI 13 (Q3 23:26) — (8:26) 4-A.Vinatieri 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-2-R.Sanchez.; Philadelphia Eagles connected on a field goal from the IND 6 (Q3 17:53) — (2:53) 4-J.Elliott 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-R.Lovato, Holder-1-C.Johnston..

The fourth quarter: Philadelphia Eagles won the period 7–3. Indianapolis Colts connected on a field goal from the PHI 10 (Q4 14:22) — (14:22) 4-A.Vinatieri 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-2-R.Sanchez.; Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the IND 4 (Q4 3:06) — (3:06) (Shotgun) 28-W.Smallwood up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Philadelphia Eagles added 1 points from the IND 15 (Q4 3:02) — 4-J.Elliott extra point is GOOD, Center-45-R.Lovato, Holder-1-C.Johnston..

Turning points

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

• Indianapolis Colts (Q4 1:19) — (1:19) 12-A.Luck sacked at PHI 20 for -16 yards (96-D.Barnett). [WPA -40.1% · EPA -3.07]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q4 2:40) — (2:40) (Shotgun) 12-A.Luck pass deep left to 11-R.Grant to PHI 23 for 22 yards (24-C.Graham). [WPA +19.0% · EPA +1.87]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q4 7:50) — (7:50) 11-C.Wentz sacked at IND 49 for -9 yards (53-D.Leonard). [WPA -16.5% · EPA -2.12]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q3 24:41) — (9:41) (Shotgun) 11-C.Wentz pass short left intended for 86-Z.Ertz INTERCEPTED by 50-A.Walker at PHI 28. 50-A.Walker to PHI 17 for 11 yards (61-S.Wisniewski). [WPA -16.2% · EPA -6.15]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q4 6:24) — (6:24) (Shotgun) 11-C.Wentz pass incomplete short left to 80-J.Matthews [92-M.Hunt]. PENALTY on IND-93-J.Sheard, Defensive Holding, 5 yards, enforced at IND 42 - No Play. [WPA +14.6% · EPA +2.99]

Impact plays

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

• Philadelphia Eagles (Q3 24:41) — (9:41) (Shotgun) 11-C.Wentz pass short left intended for 86-Z.Ertz INTERCEPTED by 50-A.Walker at PHI 28. 50-A.Walker to PHI 17 for 11 yards (61-S.Wisniewski). [WPA -16.2% · EPA -6.15]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q3 15:27) — (:27) (Shotgun) 11-C.Wentz sacked at PHI 13 for -6 yards (92-M.Hunt). FUMBLES (92-M.Hunt), touched at PHI 13, RECOVERED by IND-92-M.Hunt at PHI 13. 92-M.Hunt to PHI 13 for no gain (11-C.Wentz). [WPA -12.6% · EPA -4.37]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q2 41:43) — (11:43) (Shotgun) 12-A.Luck scrambles right end pushed ob at PHI 42 for 33 yards (27-M.Jenkins). [WPA +8.8% · EPA +3.27]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q4 1:19) — (1:19) 12-A.Luck sacked at PHI 20 for -16 yards (96-D.Barnett). [WPA -40.1% · EPA -3.07]

Quarterback report card

C.Wentz led all passers in efficiency for Philadelphia Eagles, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• C.Wentz (Philadelphia Eagles) · 49 dropbacks · 51.0% completion · +1.4% CPOE · -0.01 EPA/play · -0.26 total EPA
• A.Luck (Indianapolis Colts) · 46 dropbacks · 54.3% completion · -3.7% CPOE · -0.15 EPA/play · -6.88 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 (Indianapolis Colts -0.10, Philadelphia Eagles -0.06) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Indianapolis Colts: 11 drives, -7.67 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Philadelphia Eagles: 11 drives, -5.99 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Philadelphia Eagles 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.
• D. Goedert (Philadelphia Eagles) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• A. Luck (IND) 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. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q1 52:14 · IND 13 · Score 0-6
   (7:14) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 11-C.Wentz pass short middle to 88-D.Goedert for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Philadelphia Eagles XP (+1) — Q1 52:10 · IND 15 · Score 0-7
   4-J.Elliott extra point is GOOD, Center-45-R.Lovato, Holder-1-C.Johnston.
3. Indianapolis Colts TD (+6) — Q1 45:28 · PHI 5 · Score 6-7
   (:28) (Shotgun) 12-A.Luck pass short left to 11-R.Grant for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Indianapolis Colts XP (+1) — Q1 45:24 · PHI 15 · Score 7-7
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-2-R.Sanchez.
5. Philadelphia Eagles FG (+3) — Q2 33:09 · IND 15 · Score 7-10
   (3:09) 4-J.Elliott 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-R.Lovato, Holder-1-C.Johnston.
6. Indianapolis Colts FG (+3) — Q3 24:44 · PHI 17 · Score 10-10
   (9:44) 4-A.Vinatieri 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-2-R.Sanchez.
7. Indianapolis Colts FG (+3) — Q3 23:26 · PHI 13 · Score 13-10
   (8:26) 4-A.Vinatieri 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-2-R.Sanchez.
8. Philadelphia Eagles FG (+3) — Q3 17:53 · IND 6 · Score 13-13
   (2:53) 4-J.Elliott 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-R.Lovato, Holder-1-C.Johnston.
9. Indianapolis Colts FG (+3) — Q4 14:22 · PHI 10 · Score 16-13
   (14:22) 4-A.Vinatieri 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-2-R.Sanchez.
10. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q4 3:06 · IND 4 · Score 16-19
    (3:06) (Shotgun) 28-W.Smallwood up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Philadelphia Eagles XP (+1) — Q4 3:02 · IND 15 · Score 16-20
    4-J.Elliott extra point is GOOD, Center-45-R.Lovato, Holder-1-C.Johnston.