Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos: 2023 Week 8 Recap

Game story

In Week 8 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-10-29, the Denver Broncos took care of business against the Kansas City Chiefs, pulling away with a 24–9 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 13 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) paced the passing game, with -12.84 total EPA, and -4.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, C. Sutton (Denver Broncos) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.00 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-10.9% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Kansas City Chiefs changed the game: (:56) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes sacked at DEN 27 for -8 yards (56-B.Browning). FUMBLES (56-B.Browning) [56-B.Browning], RECOVERED by DEN-0-J.Cooper at DEN 30.

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 C. Sutton · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +4.00 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.33 EPA/play
2. 2 Ju. Watson · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +3.37 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.12 EPA/play
3. 3 J. McLaughlin · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +2.03 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.41 EPA/play
4. 4 N. Gray · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +1.92 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.64 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Jeudy · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +1.59 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
6. 6 R. Wilson · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +1.18 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.39 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Williams · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +0.94 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
8. 8 S. Perine · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +0.35 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.12 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. Williams (R. Wilson pass) (Q1 53:04)
• Denver Broncos — J. Jeudy (R. Wilson pass) (Q2 41:57)
• Denver Broncos — C. Sutton (R. Wilson pass) (Q4 10:40)

Field goals

• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q1 46:14)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q2 35:42)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q2 30:04)
• Denver Broncos — W. Lutz (Q4 0:34)

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 7–3. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the KC 4 (Q1 53:04) — (8:04) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short left to 33-J.Williams for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q1 52:56) — 16-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the DEN 4 (Q1 46:14) — (1:14) 7-H.Butker 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend..

The second quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 7–6. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the KC 11 (Q2 41:57); Denver Broncos added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q2 41:51) — 16-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the DEN 16 (Q2 35:42) — (5:42) 7-H.Butker 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the DEN 37 (Q2 30:04) — (:04) 7-H.Butker 56 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend..

The fourth quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 10–0. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the KC 6 (Q4 10:40) — (10:40) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short left to 14-C.Sutton for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on KC-38-L.Sneed, Defensive Holding, declined.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q4 10:33) — 16-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the KC 10 (Q4 0:34) — (:34) 16-W.Lutz 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon..

Turning points

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

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 30:56) — (:56) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes sacked at DEN 27 for -8 yards (56-B.Browning). FUMBLES (56-B.Browning) [56-B.Browning], RECOVERED by DEN-0-J.Cooper at DEN 30. [WPA -10.9% · EPA -4.78]
• Denver Broncos (Q4 11:24) — (11:24) 9-R.Dixon punts 31 yards to KC 5, Center-48-M.Fraboni. 12-M.Hardman MUFFS catch, touched at KC 6, RECOVERED by DEN-41-D.Sanders at KC 10. Penalty on KC, Defensive Too Many Men on Field, declin [WPA +10.6% · EPA +4.22]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 43:13) — (13:13) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle to 11-M.Valdes-Scantling to DEN 42 for 15 yards (47-J.Jewell). FUMBLES (47-J.Jewell), RECOVERED by DEN-31-J.Simmons at DEN 43. 31-J.Simmons to 50 for 7 [WPA -10.6% · EPA -4.79]
• Denver Broncos (Q4 10:40) — (10:40) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short left to 14-C.Sutton for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on KC-38-L.Sneed, Defensive Holding, declined. [WPA +7.4% · EPA +2.01]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 30:04) — (:04) 7-H.Butker 56 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend. [WPA +7.4% · EPA +1.39]

Impact plays

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

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 43:13) — (13:13) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle to 11-M.Valdes-Scantling to DEN 42 for 15 yards (47-J.Jewell). FUMBLES (47-J.Jewell), RECOVERED by DEN-31-J.Simmons at DEN 43. 31-J.Simmons to 50 for 7 [WPA -10.6% · EPA -4.79]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 30:56) — (:56) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes sacked at DEN 27 for -8 yards (56-B.Browning). FUMBLES (56-B.Browning) [56-B.Browning], RECOVERED by DEN-0-J.Cooper at DEN 30. [WPA -10.9% · EPA -4.78]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 40:09) — (10:09) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass deep middle intended for 87-T.Kelce INTERCEPTED by 29-J.McMillian at DEN 47. 29-J.McMillian to KC 48 for 5 yards (24-S.Moore). [WPA -5.4% · EPA -4.27]
• Denver Broncos (Q4 11:24) — (11:24) 9-R.Dixon punts 31 yards to KC 5, Center-48-M.Fraboni. 12-M.Hardman MUFFS catch, touched at KC 6, RECOVERED by DEN-41-D.Sanders at KC 10. Penalty on KC, Defensive Too Many Men on Field, declin [WPA +10.6% · EPA +4.22]

Quarterback report card

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

• P.Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) · 47 dropbacks · 51.1% completion · -4.2% CPOE · -0.27 EPA/play · -12.84 total EPA
• R.Wilson (Denver Broncos) · 34 dropbacks · 35.3% completion · +2.7% CPOE · -0.08 EPA/play · -2.83 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 (-0.01 vs -0.24), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Denver Broncos: 11 drives, -1.32 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Kansas City Chiefs: 11 drives, -16.85 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.
• C. Sutton (Denver Broncos) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• P. Mahomes (KC) 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. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q1 53:04 · KC 4 · Score 0-6
   (8:04) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short left to 33-J.Williams for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q1 52:56 · KC 15 · Score 0-7
   16-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
3. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q1 46:14 · DEN 4 · Score 3-7
   (1:14) 7-H.Butker 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
4. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q2 41:57 · KC 11 · Score 3-13
   (11:57) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short left to 10-J.Jeudy for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official reviewed the pass completion ruling, and the play was Up
5. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q2 41:51 · KC 15 · Score 3-14
   16-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
6. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 35:42 · DEN 16 · Score 6-14
   (5:42) 7-H.Butker 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
7. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 30:04 · DEN 37 · Score 9-14
   (:04) 7-H.Butker 56 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
8. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q4 10:40 · KC 6 · Score 9-20
   (10:40) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short left to 14-C.Sutton for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on KC-38-L.Sneed, Defensive Holding, declined.
9. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q4 10:33 · KC 15 · Score 9-21
   16-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
10. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q4 0:34 · KC 10 · Score 9-24
    (:34) 16-W.Lutz 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon.