Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cleveland Browns: 2018 Week 9 Recap

Game story

In Week 9 of the 2018 NFL season on 2018-11-04, the Kansas City Chiefs took care of business against the Cleveland Browns, pulling away with a 37–21 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 26 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Mayfield (Cleveland Browns) paced the passing game, with +0.94 total EPA, and +2.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +22.75 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+14.7% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Kansas City Chiefs changed the game: (8:25) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short left to 27-K.Hunt for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN. CLE-28-E.Gaines was injured during the play. His return is Probable.

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. Mahomes · Kansas City Chiefs · Passing · +22.75 total EPA · 38 snaps · +0.60 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Kelce · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +9.62 total EPA · 9 snaps · +1.07 EPA/play
3. 3 S. Ware · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +7.44 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.49 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Johnson · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +5.75 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.64 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Njoku · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +5.41 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.08 EPA/play
6. 6 K. Hunt · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +4.47 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.23 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Hill · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +4.19 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.84 EPA/play
8. 8 S. Watkins · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +4.17 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.83 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

• Kansas City Chiefs — K. Hunt (P. Mahomes pass) (Q1 53:25)
• Kansas City Chiefs — T. Kelce (P. Mahomes pass) (Q2 43:33)
• Cleveland Browns — N. Chubb (Q2 36:33)
• Kansas City Chiefs — K. Hunt (Q2 32:26)
• Cleveland Browns — D. Johnson (B. Mayfield pass) (Q2 30:32)
• Kansas City Chiefs — T. Kelce (P. Mahomes pass) (Q3 25:08)
• Kansas City Chiefs — K. Hunt (Q3 22:33)
• Cleveland Browns — D. Johnson (B. Mayfield pass) (Q4 15:00)

Field goals

• Cleveland Browns — G. Joseph (Q1 47:45)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q4 9:30)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 7–3. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the CLE 50 (Q1 53:25); Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q1 53:14) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the KC 33 (Q1 47:45) — (2:45) (Field Goal formation) 17-G.Joseph 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-4-B.Colquitt..

The second quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 14–12. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the CLE 11 (Q2 43:33) — (13:33) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right to 87-T.Kelce for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q2 43:30) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the KC 3 (Q2 36:33) — (6:33) 24-N.Chubb left guard for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the CLE 1 (Q2 32:26) — (2:26) 27-K.Hunt right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q2 32:24) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the KC 19 (Q2 30:32) — (:32) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass short right to 29-D.Johnson for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

The third quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 13–0. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the CLE 13 (Q3 25:08) — (10:08) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle to 87-T.Kelce for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q3 25:03) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the CLE 10 (Q3 22:33) — (7:33) (Shotgun) 27-K.Hunt right end for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

The fourth quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 6–3. Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the KC 5 (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass short middle to 29-D.Johnson for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the CLE 21 (Q4 9:30) — (9:30) (Field Goal formation) 7-H.Butker 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..

Turning points

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

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 53:25) — (8:25) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short left to 27-K.Hunt for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN. CLE-28-E.Gaines was injured during the play. His return is Probable. [WPA +14.7% · EPA +4.96]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 45:05) — (:05) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short left to 32-S.Ware pushed ob at CLE 29 for 25 yards (26-D.Kindred). [WPA +9.4% · EPA +3.51]
• Cleveland Browns (Q2 38:08) — (8:08) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass short left to 29-D.Johnson ran ob at KC 20 for 23 yards (21-E.Murray). [WPA +9.0% · EPA +3.83]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 48:34) — (3:34) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield sacked at KC 33 for -9 yards (24-J.Lucas). [WPA -7.4% · EPA -2.67]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 25:53) — (10:53) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right to 87-T.Kelce to CLE 13 for 16 yards (20-B.Boddy-Calhoun). [WPA +6.7% · EPA +2.36]

Impact plays

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

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 53:25) — (8:25) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short left to 27-K.Hunt for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN. CLE-28-E.Gaines was injured during the play. His return is Probable. [WPA +14.7% · EPA +4.96]
• Cleveland Browns (Q4 4:39) — (4:39) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass short left intended for 87-S.DeValve INTERCEPTED by 20-S.Nelson at KC 17. 20-S.Nelson to KC 35 for 18 yards (29-D.Johnson). [WPA -0.9% · EPA -4.65]
• Cleveland Browns (Q3 23:10) — (8:10) (Punt formation) 4-B.Colquitt punt is BLOCKED by 26-Dam. Williams, Center-47-C.Hughlett, ball out of bounds at CLE 21. [WPA -3.7% · EPA -3.91]
• Cleveland Browns (Q2 38:08) — (8:08) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass short left to 29-D.Johnson ran ob at KC 20 for 23 yards (21-E.Murray). [WPA +9.0% · EPA +3.83]

Quarterback report card

B.Mayfield led all passers in efficiency for Cleveland Browns, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• B.Mayfield (Cleveland Browns) · 49 dropbacks · 59.2% completion · +2.4% CPOE · +0.02 EPA/play · +0.94 total EPA
• P.Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) · 38 dropbacks · 60.5% completion · +8.8% CPOE · +0.60 EPA/play · +22.75 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Kansas City Chiefs generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.32 vs +0.05), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Cleveland Browns: 9 drives, +4.26 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Kansas City Chiefs: 9 drives, +25.37 total EPA, 6 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Kansas City Chiefs leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• P. Mahomes (KC) 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. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q1 53:25 · CLE 50 · Score 6-0
   (8:25) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short left to 27-K.Hunt for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN. CLE-28-E.Gaines was injured during the play. His return is Probable.
2. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q1 53:14 · CLE 15 · Score 7-0
   7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
3. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q1 47:45 · KC 33 · Score 7-3
   (2:45) (Field Goal formation) 17-G.Joseph 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
4. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q2 43:33 · CLE 11 · Score 13-3
   (13:33) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right to 87-T.Kelce for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q2 43:30 · CLE 15 · Score 14-3
   7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
6. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q2 36:33 · KC 3 · Score 14-9
   (6:33) 24-N.Chubb left guard for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q2 32:26 · CLE 1 · Score 20-9
   (2:26) 27-K.Hunt right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q2 32:24 · CLE 15 · Score 21-9
   7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
9. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q2 30:32 · KC 19 · Score 21-15
   (:32) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass short right to 29-D.Johnson for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q3 25:08 · CLE 13 · Score 27-15
    (10:08) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle to 87-T.Kelce for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q3 25:03 · CLE 15 · Score 28-15
    7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
12. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q3 22:33 · CLE 10 · Score 34-15
    (7:33) (Shotgun) 27-K.Hunt right end for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q4 15:00 · KC 5 · Score 34-21
    (15:00) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass short middle to 29-D.Johnson for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q4 9:30 · CLE 21 · Score 37-21
    (9:30) (Field Goal formation) 7-H.Butker 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.