Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos: 2002 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 2002 NFL season on 2002-12-15, the Denver Broncos took care of business against the Kansas City Chiefs, pulling away with a 31–24 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 28 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Green (Kansas City Chiefs) paced the passing game, with +7.48 total EPA.

On the individual side, D. Hall (Kansas City Chiefs) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +14.02 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+11.4% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Denver Broncos changed the game: (12:10) 26-C.Portis up the middle for 51 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

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. Hall · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +14.02 total EPA · 6 snaps · +2.34 EPA/play
2. 2 B. Griese · Denver Broncos · Passing · +12.42 total EPA · 31 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Green · Kansas City Chiefs · Passing · +7.48 total EPA · 48 snaps · +0.16 EPA/play
4. 4 R. Smith · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +6.04 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.51 EPA/play
5. 5 A. Lelie · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +5.81 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.90 EPA/play
6. 6 C. Portis · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +4.63 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.54 EPA/play
7. 7 P. Holmes · Kansas City Chiefs · Rushing · +4.23 total EPA · 18 snaps · +0.23 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Anderson · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +2.99 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.25 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 — C. Portis (Q1 57:10)
• Denver Broncos — C. Portis (Q1 45:37)
• Kansas City Chiefs — D. Hall (T. Green pass) (Q3 26:43)
• Denver Broncos — C. Portis (Q3 21:36)
• Denver Broncos — C. Portis (B. Griese pass) (Q3 19:08)
• Kansas City Chiefs — M. Cloud (Q3 15:06)
• Kansas City Chiefs — D. Hall (T. Green pass) (Q4 8:29)

Field goals

• Denver Broncos — J. Elam (Q4 10:11)
• Kansas City Chiefs — M. Andersen (Q4 2:27)

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 14–0. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the KC 51 (Q1 57:10) — (12:10) 26-C.Portis up the middle for 51 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q1 57:01) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Leach, Holder-11-S.Beuerlein.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the KC 3 (Q1 45:37) — (:37) 26-C.Portis right guard for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q1 45:33) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Leach, Holder-11-S.Beuerlein..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 14–14. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the DEN 75 (Q3 26:43) — (11:43) 10-T.Green pass to 82-D.Hall for 75 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q3 26:28) — 8-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-4-D.Stryzinski.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the KC 1 (Q3 21:36) — (6:36) 26-C.Portis right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q3 21:32) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Leach, Holder-11-S.Beuerlein.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the KC 66 (Q3 19:08) — (4:08) 14-B.Griese pass to 26-C.Portis for 66 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q3 18:53) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Leach, Holder-11-S.Beuerlein.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the DEN 4 (Q3 15:06) — (:06) 34-M.Cloud right end for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q3 15:00) — 8-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-4-D.Stryzinski..

The fourth quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 10–3. Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the KC 12 (Q4 10:11) — (10:11) 1-J.Elam 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Leach, Holder-11-S.Beuerlein.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the DEN 49 (Q4 8:29) — (8:29) (Shotgun) 10-T.Green pass to 82-D.Hall for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q4 8:15) — 8-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-4-D.Stryzinski.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the DEN 3 (Q4 2:27) — (2:27) 8-M.Andersen 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-4-D.Stryzinski..

Turning points

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

• Denver Broncos (Q1 57:10) — (12:10) 26-C.Portis up the middle for 51 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +11.4% · EPA +4.25]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 26:43) — (11:43) 10-T.Green pass to 82-D.Hall for 75 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +10.9% · EPA +7.15]
• Denver Broncos (Q1 54:56) — (9:56) 26-C.Portis right tackle to KC 20 for 4 yards (95-D.Ransom). FUMBLES (95-D.Ransom), RECOVERED by KC-98-E.Hicks at KC 19. 98-E.Hicks to KC 19 for no gain (78-M.Lepsis). [WPA -9.8% · EPA -4.22]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 0:05) — (:05) (Shotgun) 10-T.Green pass incomplete to 88-T.Gonzalez. [WPA -9.6% · EPA -1.27]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 3:48) — (3:48) 34-M.Cloud right end to DEN 11 for -6 yards (51-J.Mobley). [WPA -8.7% · EPA -1.50]

Impact plays

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

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 26:43) — (11:43) 10-T.Green pass to 82-D.Hall for 75 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +10.9% · EPA +7.15]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 8:29) — (8:29) (Shotgun) 10-T.Green pass to 82-D.Hall for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +3.4% · EPA +6.08]
• Denver Broncos (Q2 30:48) — (:48) 26-C.Portis left guard to KC 1 for no gain (53-M.Patton). FUMBLES (53-M.Patton), RECOVERED by KC-25-G.Wesley at KC 1. 25-G.Wesley to KC 1 for no gain (79-S.Herndon). [WPA -4.9% · EPA -5.82]
• Denver Broncos (Q3 19:08) — (4:08) 14-B.Griese pass to 26-C.Portis for 66 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +2.9% · EPA +5.28]

Quarterback report card

T.Green led all passers in efficiency for Kansas City Chiefs, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• T.Green (Kansas City Chiefs) · 48 dropbacks · 37.5% completion · +0.16 EPA/play · +7.48 total EPA
• B.Griese (Denver Broncos) · 31 dropbacks · 58.1% completion · +0.40 EPA/play · +12.42 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 (+0.17 vs +0.12), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Denver Broncos: 11 drives, +14.05 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Kansas City Chiefs: 12 drives, +11.02 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.
• D. Hall (Kansas City Chiefs) 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 TD (+6) — Q1 57:10 · KC 51 · Score 0-6
   (12:10) 26-C.Portis up the middle for 51 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q1 57:01 · KC 2 · Score 0-7
   1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Leach, Holder-11-S.Beuerlein.
3. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q1 45:37 · KC 3 · Score 0-13
   (:37) 26-C.Portis right guard for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q1 45:33 · KC 2 · Score 0-14
   1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Leach, Holder-11-S.Beuerlein.
5. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q3 26:43 · DEN 75 · Score 6-14
   (11:43) 10-T.Green pass to 82-D.Hall for 75 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q3 26:28 · DEN 2 · Score 7-14
   8-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-4-D.Stryzinski.
7. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q3 21:36 · KC 1 · Score 7-20
   (6:36) 26-C.Portis right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q3 21:32 · KC 2 · Score 7-21
   1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Leach, Holder-11-S.Beuerlein.
9. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q3 19:08 · KC 66 · Score 7-27
   (4:08) 14-B.Griese pass to 26-C.Portis for 66 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q3 18:53 · KC 2 · Score 7-28
    1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Leach, Holder-11-S.Beuerlein.
11. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q3 15:06 · DEN 4 · Score 13-28
    (:06) 34-M.Cloud right end for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q3 15:00 · DEN 2 · Score 14-28
    8-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-4-D.Stryzinski.
13. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q4 10:11 · KC 12 · Score 14-31
    (10:11) 1-J.Elam 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Leach, Holder-11-S.Beuerlein.
14. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q4 8:29 · DEN 49 · Score 20-31
    (8:29) (Shotgun) 10-T.Green pass to 82-D.Hall for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q4 8:15 · DEN 2 · Score 21-31
    8-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-4-D.Stryzinski.
16. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q4 2:27 · DEN 3 · Score 24-31
    (2:27) 8-M.Andersen 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-K.Gammon, Holder-4-D.Stryzinski.