Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos: 2024 Week 18 Recap

Game story

In Week 18 of the 2024 NFL season on 2025-01-05, the Denver Broncos took care of business against the Kansas City Chiefs, pulling away with a 38–0 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

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

B. Nix (Denver Broncos) paced the passing game, with +24.66 total EPA, and +19.0% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, B. Nix (Denver Broncos) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +24.66 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+6.5% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Denver Broncos changed the game: (12:04) (Shotgun) 10-B.Nix pass short right to 19-M.Mims for 32 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 B. Nix · Denver Broncos · Passing · +24.66 total EPA · 35 snaps · +0.70 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Vele · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +6.06 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.52 EPA/play
3. 3 C. Sutton · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +5.58 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.80 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Mims · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +5.22 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.04 EPA/play
5. 5 B. Nix · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +4.60 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.53 EPA/play
6. 6 L. Humphrey · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +3.51 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.75 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Williams · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +3.33 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.83 EPA/play
8. 8 S. Perine · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +2.81 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.81 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 — M. Mims (B. Nix pass) (Q1 57:04)
• Denver Broncos — C. Sutton (B. Nix pass) (Q1 49:59)
• Denver Broncos — D. Vele (B. Nix pass) (Q2 36:54)
• Denver Broncos — M. Mims (B. Nix pass) (Q3 17:54)
• Denver Broncos — A. Estime (Q4 9:43)

Field goals

• Denver Broncos — W. Lutz (Q2 30:06)
• Denver Broncos — W. Lutz (Q2 30:03)

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 32 (Q1 57:04) — (12:04) (Shotgun) 10-B.Nix pass short right to 19-M.Mims for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the KC 10 (Q1 56:55) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the KC 10 (Q1 49:59) — (4:59) 10-B.Nix pass short middle to 14-C.Sutton for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q1 49:53) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon..

The second quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 13–0. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the KC 3 (Q2 36:54) — (6:54) (No Huddle) 10-B.Nix pass short right to 17-D.Vele for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q2 36:46) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the KC 15 (Q2 30:06) — (:06) 3-W.Lutz 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the DEN 35 (Q2 30:03) — 3-W.Lutz kicks 74 yards from DEN 35 to KC -9. 81-N.Remigio to KC 27 for 36 yards (42-Z.Cunningham)..

The third quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 7–0. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the KC 7 (Q3 17:54) — (2:54) (Shotgun) 10-B.Nix pass short right to 19-M.Mims for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q3 17:49) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon..

The fourth quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 7–0. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the KC 1 (Q4 9:43) — (9:43) 79-M.Peart reported in as eligible. 23-A.Estime right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q4 9:40) — 3-W.Lutz extra point 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.

• Denver Broncos (Q1 57:04) — (12:04) (Shotgun) 10-B.Nix pass short right to 19-M.Mims for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.5% · EPA +2.85]
• Denver Broncos (Q1 57:47) — (12:47) 33-J.Williams right guard to KC 32 for 10 yards (54-L.Chenal). [WPA +6.3% · EPA +0.92]
• Denver Broncos (Q1 51:15) — (6:15) (Shotgun) 10-B.Nix pass deep right to 14-C.Sutton to KC 13 for 47 yards (13-N.Johnson). [WPA +5.2% · EPA +2.89]
• Denver Broncos (Q1 51:54) — (6:54) (No Huddle) 10-B.Nix up the middle to DEN 40 for 1 yard (94-M.Herring). [WPA +4.5% · EPA +2.10]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 33:07) — (3:07) (Shotgun) 11-C.Wentz pass short right to 34-S.Perine pushed ob at DEN 23 for 13 yards (40-J.Strnad). [WPA +3.6% · EPA +2.81]

Impact plays

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

• Denver Broncos (Q3 19:08) — (4:08) 10-B.Nix pass deep left to 17-D.Vele to KC 10 for 32 yards (30-C.Roland-Wallace). [WPA +0.0% · EPA +3.68]
• Denver Broncos (Q1 51:15) — (6:15) (Shotgun) 10-B.Nix pass deep right to 14-C.Sutton to KC 13 for 47 yards (13-N.Johnson). [WPA +5.2% · EPA +2.89]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 31:08) — (1:08) 7-H.Butker 51 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-14-M.Araiza. [WPA -1.6% · EPA -2.85]
• Denver Broncos (Q1 57:04) — (12:04) (Shotgun) 10-B.Nix pass short right to 19-M.Mims for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.5% · EPA +2.85]

Quarterback report card

B.Nix led all passers in efficiency for Denver Broncos, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• B.Nix (Denver Broncos) · 35 dropbacks · 74.3% completion · +19.0% CPOE · +0.70 EPA/play · +24.66 total EPA
• C.Wentz (Kansas City Chiefs) · 22 dropbacks · 45.5% completion · -5.4% CPOE · -0.37 EPA/play · -8.09 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 (+0.32 vs -0.31), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Denver Broncos: 8 drives, +27.39 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Kansas City Chiefs: 9 drives, -15.20 total EPA, 0 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.
• B. Nix (Denver Broncos) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• B. Nix (DEN) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• C. Wentz (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 57:04 · KC 32 · Score 0-6
   (12:04) (Shotgun) 10-B.Nix pass short right to 19-M.Mims for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q1 56:55 · KC 10 · Score 0-7
   3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
3. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q1 49:59 · KC 10 · Score 0-13
   (4:59) 10-B.Nix pass short middle to 14-C.Sutton for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q1 49:53 · KC 15 · Score 0-14
   3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
5. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q2 36:54 · KC 3 · Score 0-20
   (6:54) (No Huddle) 10-B.Nix pass short right to 17-D.Vele for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q2 36:46 · KC 15 · Score 0-21
   3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
7. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q2 30:06 · KC 15 · Score 0-24
   (:06) 3-W.Lutz 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
8. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q2 30:03 · DEN 35 · Score 0-24
   3-W.Lutz kicks 74 yards from DEN 35 to KC -9. 81-N.Remigio to KC 27 for 36 yards (42-Z.Cunningham).
9. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q3 17:54 · KC 7 · Score 0-30
   (2:54) (Shotgun) 10-B.Nix pass short right to 19-M.Mims for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q3 17:49 · KC 15 · Score 0-31
    3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
11. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q4 9:43 · KC 1 · Score 0-37
    (9:43) 79-M.Peart reported in as eligible. 23-A.Estime right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q4 9:40 · KC 15 · Score 0-38
    3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon.