Los Angeles Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs: 2014 Week 17 Recap

Game story

In Week 17 of the 2014 NFL season on 2014-12-28, the Kansas City Chiefs took care of business against the Los Angeles Chargers, pulling away with a 19–7 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

P. Rivers (Los Angeles Chargers) paced the passing game, with -7.90 total EPA, and +3.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, E. Royal (Los Angeles Chargers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.83 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-9.6% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Los Angeles Chargers changed the game: (11:35) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 17-P.Rivers sacked at LAC 14 for -3 yards (50-J.Houston). FUMBLES (50-J.Houston), RECOVERED by KC-53-J.Mays at LAC 17.

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 E. Royal · Los Angeles Chargers · Receiving · +4.83 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.60 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Inman · Los Angeles Chargers · Receiving · +2.93 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.37 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Kelce · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +2.46 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Thomas · Kansas City Chiefs · Rushing · +1.32 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.32 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Thomas · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +1.14 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.38 EPA/play
6. 6 S. Ajirotutu · Los Angeles Chargers · Receiving · +1.10 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.10 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Daniel · Kansas City Chiefs · Rushing · +0.86 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.43 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Charles · Kansas City Chiefs · Rushing · +0.62 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.05 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 — D. Bowe (C. Daniel pass) (Q2 42:56)
• Los Angeles Chargers — B. Oliver (Q2 40:53)

Field goals

• Kansas City Chiefs — C. Santos (Q1 51:38)
• Kansas City Chiefs — C. Santos (Q2 34:01)
• Kansas City Chiefs — C. Santos (Q2 30:36)
• Kansas City Chiefs — C. Santos (Q3 23:28)

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 3–0. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the LAC 25 (Q1 51:38) — (6:38) 5-C.Santos 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..

The second quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 13–7. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the LAC 11 (Q2 42:56); Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the LAC 2 (Q2 42:50) — 5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Los Angeles Chargers found the end zone from the KC 1 (Q2 40:53) — (10:53) 43-B.Oliver right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Los Angeles Chargers added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q2 40:50) — 9-N.Novak extra point is GOOD, Center-47-M.Windt, Holder-1-M.McBriar.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the LAC 3 (Q2 34:01) — (4:01) 5-C.Santos 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the LAC 9 (Q2 30:36) — (:36) 5-C.Santos 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..

The third quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 3–0. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the LAC 13 (Q3 23:28) — (8:28) 5-C.Santos 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..

Turning points

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

• Los Angeles Chargers (Q3 26:35) — (11:35) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 17-P.Rivers sacked at LAC 14 for -3 yards (50-J.Houston). FUMBLES (50-J.Houston), RECOVERED by KC-53-J.Mays at LAC 17. [WPA -9.6% · EPA -5.01]
• Los Angeles Chargers (Q1 48:20) — (3:20) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 17-P.Rivers sacked at 50 for -7 yards (sack split by 90-J.Mauga and 55-D.Ford). [WPA -9.6% · EPA -2.53]
• Los Angeles Chargers (Q2 41:02) — (11:02) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 17-P.Rivers pass deep right to 11-E.Royal pushed ob at KC 1 for 44 yards (30-J.Fleming). [WPA +7.8% · EPA +3.64]
• Los Angeles Chargers (Q1 50:15) — (5:15) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 17-P.Rivers pass deep left to 11-E.Royal to KC 49 for 30 yards (20-C.Owens). [WPA +6.3% · EPA +2.71]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 55:01) — (10:01) 13-D.Thomas right tackle to LAC 36 for 18 yards (26-B.Flowers). [WPA +6.1% · EPA +1.32]

Impact plays

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

• Los Angeles Chargers (Q3 26:35) — (11:35) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 17-P.Rivers sacked at LAC 14 for -3 yards (50-J.Houston). FUMBLES (50-J.Houston), RECOVERED by KC-53-J.Mays at LAC 17. [WPA -9.6% · EPA -5.01]
• Los Angeles Chargers (Q2 41:02) — (11:02) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 17-P.Rivers pass deep right to 11-E.Royal pushed ob at KC 1 for 44 yards (30-J.Fleming). [WPA +7.8% · EPA +3.64]
• Los Angeles Chargers (Q3 15:31) — (:31) 9-N.Novak 52 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-47-M.Windt, Holder-1-M.McBriar. [WPA -2.0% · EPA -3.53]
• Los Angeles Chargers (Q4 3:37) — (3:37) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 34-D.Brown up the middle to KC 20 for no gain (39-H.Abdullah). [WPA -3.5% · EPA -3.41]

Quarterback report card

P.Rivers led all passers in efficiency for Los Angeles Chargers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• P.Rivers (Los Angeles Chargers) · 45 dropbacks · 44.4% completion · +3.3% CPOE · -0.18 EPA/play · -7.90 total EPA
• C.Daniel (Kansas City Chiefs) · 34 dropbacks · 47.1% completion · -4.3% CPOE · -0.22 EPA/play · -7.52 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Kansas City Chiefs held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.09 vs -0.22), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Kansas City Chiefs: 13 drives, -6.60 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Los Angeles Chargers: 12 drives, -18.83 total EPA, 1 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.
• E. Royal (Los Angeles Chargers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• P. Rivers (LAC) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• C. Daniel (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. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q1 51:38 · LAC 25 · Score 0-3
   (6:38) 5-C.Santos 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
2. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q2 42:56 · LAC 11 · Score 0-9
   (12:56) (Shotgun) 10-C.Daniel pass short left to 82-D.Bowe for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official challenged the runner broke the plane ruling, and the pl
3. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q2 42:50 · LAC 2 · Score 0-10
   5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
4. Los Angeles Chargers TD (+6) — Q2 40:53 · KC 1 · Score 6-10
   (10:53) 43-B.Oliver right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Los Angeles Chargers XP (+1) — Q2 40:50 · KC 2 · Score 7-10
   9-N.Novak extra point is GOOD, Center-47-M.Windt, Holder-1-M.McBriar.
6. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 34:01 · LAC 3 · Score 7-13
   (4:01) 5-C.Santos 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
7. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 30:36 · LAC 9 · Score 7-16
   (:36) 5-C.Santos 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
8. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q3 23:28 · LAC 13 · Score 7-19
   (8:28) 5-C.Santos 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.