Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos: 2014 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2014 NFL season on 2014-09-14, the Denver Broncos took care of business against the Kansas City Chiefs, pulling away with a 24–17 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

A. Smith (Kansas City Chiefs) paced the passing game, with +18.35 total EPA, and +0.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, A. Smith (Kansas City Chiefs) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +18.35 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+11.5% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Kansas City Chiefs changed the game: (14:26) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith scrambles right tackle to DEN 22 for 25 yards (26-R.Moore).

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 A. Smith · Kansas City Chiefs · Passing · +18.35 total EPA · 57 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
2. 2 P. Manning · Denver Broncos · Passing · +12.76 total EPA · 29 snaps · +0.44 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Kelce · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +8.40 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.40 EPA/play
4. 4 E. Sanders · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +5.13 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.57 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Thomas · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +3.56 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.71 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Thomas · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +3.39 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.48 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Fasano · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +3.09 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.77 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Charles · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +1.71 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.71 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) (Q1 56:24)
• Kansas City Chiefs — K. Davis (Q2 40:36)
• Denver Broncos — J. Tamme (P. Manning pass) (Q2 37:24)
• Denver Broncos — D. Thomas (P. Manning pass) (Q2 31:15)
• Kansas City Chiefs — K. Davis (Q4 7:15)

Field goals

• Kansas City Chiefs — C. Santos (Q1 47:07)
• Denver Broncos — B. McManus (Q4 3:30)

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 7–3. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the KC 4 (Q1 56:24) — (11:24) (No Huddle) 18-P.Manning pass short left to 80-J.Thomas for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q1 56:19) — 8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the DEN 27 (Q1 47:07) — (2:07) 5-C.Santos 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..

The second quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 14–7. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the DEN 2 (Q2 40:36) — (10:36) 34-K.Davis left tackle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q2 40:32) — 5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the KC 4 (Q2 37:24) — (7:24) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass short left to 84-J.Tamme for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q2 37:19) — 8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the KC 12 (Q2 31:15) — (1:15) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass short left to 88-D.Thomas for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q2 31:09) — 8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt..

The fourth quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 7–3. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the DEN 4 (Q4 7:15) — (7:15) 34-K.Davis up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q4 7:11) — 5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the KC 2 (Q4 3:30) — (3:30) 8-B.McManus 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt..

Turning points

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

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 44:26) — (14:26) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith scrambles right tackle to DEN 22 for 25 yards (26-R.Moore). [WPA +11.5% · EPA +2.71]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 0:18) — (:18) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass incomplete short middle to 82-D.Bowe (98-T.Knighton). [WPA -10.3% · EPA -2.59]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 0:55) — (:55) (Shotgun) 34-K.Davis up the middle to DEN 2 for no gain (56-N.Irving; 94-D.Ware). [WPA -9.9% · EPA -1.81]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 1:51) — (1:51) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass deep left to 82-D.Bowe pushed ob at DEN 9 for 21 yards (25-C.Harris). [WPA +9.9% · EPA +1.43]
• Denver Broncos (Q1 59:57) — (14:57) 18-P.Manning pass deep middle to 10-E.Sanders to KC 32 for 48 yards (31-M.Cooper). [WPA +9.1% · EPA +3.02]

Impact plays

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

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 20:05) — (5:05) 5-C.Santos 37 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt. [WPA -2.2% · EPA -4.09]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 28:51) — (13:51) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass deep right to 87-T.Kelce ran ob at KC 32 for 20 yards. [WPA +4.8% · EPA +3.27]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 7:52) — (7:52) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short middle to 87-T.Kelce pushed ob at DEN 4 for 24 yards (29-B.Roby). [WPA +5.4% · EPA +3.20]
• Denver Broncos (Q1 59:57) — (14:57) 18-P.Manning pass deep middle to 10-E.Sanders to KC 32 for 48 yards (31-M.Cooper). [WPA +9.1% · EPA +3.02]

Quarterback report card

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

• A.Smith (Kansas City Chiefs) · 57 dropbacks · 45.6% completion · +0.2% CPOE · +0.32 EPA/play · +18.35 total EPA
• P.Manning (Denver Broncos) · 29 dropbacks · 72.4% completion · +14.7% CPOE · +0.44 EPA/play · +12.76 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 (+0.25 vs +0.11), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Denver Broncos: 8 drives, +16.15 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Kansas City Chiefs: 8 drives, +10.36 total EPA, 3 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.
• A. Smith (Kansas City Chiefs) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• P. Manning (DEN) 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. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q1 56:24 · KC 4 · Score 0-6
   (11:24) (No Huddle) 18-P.Manning pass short left to 80-J.Thomas for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q1 56:19 · KC 2 · Score 0-7
   8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
3. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q1 47:07 · DEN 27 · Score 3-7
   (2:07) 5-C.Santos 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
4. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q2 40:36 · DEN 2 · Score 9-7
   (10:36) 34-K.Davis left tackle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q2 40:32 · DEN 2 · Score 10-7
   5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
6. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q2 37:24 · KC 4 · Score 10-13
   (7:24) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass short left to 84-J.Tamme for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q2 37:19 · KC 2 · Score 10-14
   8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
8. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q2 31:15 · KC 12 · Score 10-20
   (1:15) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass short left to 88-D.Thomas for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q2 31:09 · KC 2 · Score 10-21
   8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
10. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q4 7:15 · DEN 4 · Score 16-21
    (7:15) 34-K.Davis up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q4 7:11 · DEN 2 · Score 17-21
    5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
12. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q4 3:30 · KC 2 · Score 17-24
    (3:30) 8-B.McManus 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.