Las Vegas Raiders vs. Cincinnati Bengals: 2018 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 2018 NFL season on 2018-12-16, the Cincinnati Bengals took care of business against the Las Vegas Raiders, pulling away with a 30–16 final that built a comfortable lead.

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

D. Carr (Las Vegas Raiders) paced the passing game, with -4.15 total EPA, and +0.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Boyd (Cincinnati Bengals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.09 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+10.5% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Las Vegas Raiders changed the game: (4:43) 4-D.Carr pass deep right to 82-J.Nelson to CIN 7 for 44 yards (36-S.Williams).

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 T. Boyd · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +7.09 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.42 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Nelson · Las Vegas Raiders · Receiving · +6.04 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.75 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Waller · Las Vegas Raiders · Receiving · +3.71 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.71 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Richard · Las Vegas Raiders · Receiving · +3.04 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.51 EPA/play
5. 5 G. Bernard · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +2.28 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.14 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Mixon · Cincinnati Bengals · Rushing · +1.93 total EPA · 28 snaps · +0.07 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Waller · Las Vegas Raiders · Rushing · +1.45 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.45 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Driskel · Cincinnati Bengals · Passing · +1.36 total EPA · 41 snaps · +0.03 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

• Cincinnati Bengals — T. Boyd (J. Driskel pass) (Q1 48:04)
• Cincinnati Bengals — J. Mixon (Q2 40:20)
• Las Vegas Raiders — L. Smith (D. Carr pass) (Q2 33:51)
• Cincinnati Bengals — J. Mixon (Q4 4:10)

Field goals

• Cincinnati Bengals — R. Bullock (Q2 36:46)
• Cincinnati Bengals — R. Bullock (Q2 31:44)
• Las Vegas Raiders — D. Carlson (Q3 21:33)
• Las Vegas Raiders — D. Carlson (Q3 17:42)
• Cincinnati Bengals — R. Bullock (Q4 10:49)
• Las Vegas Raiders — D. Carlson (Q4 5:09)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Cincinnati Bengals won the period 7–0. Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the LV 7 (Q1 48:04) — (3:04) (Shotgun) 6-J.Driskel pass short left to 83-T.Boyd for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the LV 15 (Q1 48:00) — 4-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber..

The second quarter: Cincinnati Bengals won the period 13–7. Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the LV 1 (Q2 40:20) — (10:20) (Run formation) 28-J.Mixon up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the LV 15 (Q2 40:17) — 4-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.; Cincinnati Bengals connected on a field goal from the LV 16 (Q2 36:46) — (6:46) 4-R.Bullock 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.; Las Vegas Raiders found the end zone from the CIN 1 (Q2 33:51) — (3:51) 4-D.Carr pass short right to 86-L.Smith for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Las Vegas Raiders added 1 points from the CIN 15 (Q2 33:48) — 8-D.Carlson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-T.Sieg, Holder-5-J.Townsend.; Cincinnati Bengals connected on a field goal from the LV 20 (Q2 31:44) — (1:44) 4-R.Bullock 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber..

The third quarter: Las Vegas Raiders won the period 6–0. Las Vegas Raiders connected on a field goal from the CIN 32 (Q3 21:33) — (6:33) 8-D.Carlson 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-T.Sieg, Holder-5-J.Townsend.; Las Vegas Raiders connected on a field goal from the CIN 8 (Q3 17:42) — (2:42) 8-D.Carlson 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-T.Sieg, Holder-5-J.Townsend..

The fourth quarter: Cincinnati Bengals won the period 10–3. Cincinnati Bengals connected on a field goal from the LV 4 (Q4 10:49) — (10:49) 4-R.Bullock 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.; Las Vegas Raiders connected on a field goal from the CIN 21 (Q4 5:09) — (5:09) 8-D.Carlson 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-T.Sieg, Holder-5-J.Townsend.; Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the LV 15 (Q4 4:10) — (4:10) 28-J.Mixon right end for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the LV 15 (Q4 4:04) — 4-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber..

Turning points

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

• Las Vegas Raiders (Q3 19:43) — (4:43) 4-D.Carr pass deep right to 82-J.Nelson to CIN 7 for 44 yards (36-S.Williams). [WPA +10.5% · EPA +3.43]
• Las Vegas Raiders (Q1 53:58) — (8:58) (Shotgun) 4-D.Carr sacked at LV 49 for -9 yards (94-S.Hubbard). FUMBLES (94-S.Hubbard) [94-S.Hubbard], RECOVERED by CIN-96-C.Dunlap at CIN 49. 96-C.Dunlap to CIN 49 for no gain (61-R.Hudson). { [WPA -8.1% · EPA -4.53]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q1 50:44) — (5:44) (Shotgun) 6-J.Driskel pass short left to 83-T.Boyd to LV 30 for 7 yards (21-G.Conley; 55-M.Lee). [WPA +6.2% · EPA +2.85]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q1 48:04) — (3:04) (Shotgun) 6-J.Driskel pass short left to 83-T.Boyd for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +5.8% · EPA +2.72]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q3 17:33) — (2:33) 28-J.Mixon up the middle to CIN 36 for 11 yards (42-K.Joseph). CIN-28-J.Mixon was injured during the play. [WPA +5.4% · EPA +1.36]

Impact plays

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

• Las Vegas Raiders (Q1 53:58) — (8:58) (Shotgun) 4-D.Carr sacked at LV 49 for -9 yards (94-S.Hubbard). FUMBLES (94-S.Hubbard) [94-S.Hubbard], RECOVERED by CIN-96-C.Dunlap at CIN 49. 96-C.Dunlap to CIN 49 for no gain (61-R.Hudson). { [WPA -8.1% · EPA -4.53]
• Las Vegas Raiders (Q2 39:38) — (9:38) (Shotgun) 30-J.Richard left tackle to LV 34 for 4 yards (21-D.Dennard; 56-H.Nickerson). FUMBLES (21-D.Dennard), RECOVERED by CIN-21-D.Dennard at LV 34. 21-D.Dennard to LV 34 for no gain (69-D.G [WPA -2.9% · EPA -4.52]
• Las Vegas Raiders (Q2 34:42) — (4:42) (Shotgun) 4-D.Carr pass short middle to 83-D.Waller to CIN 1 for 44 yards (36-S.Williams). [WPA +4.3% · EPA +3.71]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q3 28:44) — (13:44) (Shotgun) 6-J.Driskel pass incomplete deep left to 16-C.Core (21-G.Conley). LV-21-G.Conley was injured during the play. PENALTY on LV-21-G.Conley, Defensive Pass Interference, 35 yards, enforc [WPA +3.2% · EPA +3.58]

Quarterback report card

D.Carr led all passers in efficiency for Las Vegas Raiders, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Carr (Las Vegas Raiders) · 41 dropbacks · 51.2% completion · +0.2% CPOE · -0.10 EPA/play · -4.15 total EPA
• J.Driskel (Cincinnati Bengals) · 41 dropbacks · 34.1% completion · -16.5% CPOE · +0.03 EPA/play · +1.36 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Cincinnati Bengals held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.03 vs -0.14), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Cincinnati Bengals: 13 drives, +3.01 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Las Vegas Raiders: 13 drives, -10.93 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Cincinnati Bengals leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• T. Boyd (Cincinnati Bengals) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Driskel (CIN) 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. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q1 48:04 · LV 7 · Score 0-6
   (3:04) (Shotgun) 6-J.Driskel pass short left to 83-T.Boyd for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q1 48:00 · LV 15 · Score 0-7
   4-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.
3. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q2 40:20 · LV 1 · Score 0-13
   (10:20) (Run formation) 28-J.Mixon up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q2 40:17 · LV 15 · Score 0-14
   4-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.
5. Cincinnati Bengals FG (+3) — Q2 36:46 · LV 16 · Score 0-17
   (6:46) 4-R.Bullock 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.
6. Las Vegas Raiders TD (+6) — Q2 33:51 · CIN 1 · Score 6-17
   (3:51) 4-D.Carr pass short right to 86-L.Smith for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Las Vegas Raiders XP (+1) — Q2 33:48 · CIN 15 · Score 7-17
   8-D.Carlson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-T.Sieg, Holder-5-J.Townsend.
8. Cincinnati Bengals FG (+3) — Q2 31:44 · LV 20 · Score 7-20
   (1:44) 4-R.Bullock 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.
9. Las Vegas Raiders FG (+3) — Q3 21:33 · CIN 32 · Score 10-20
   (6:33) 8-D.Carlson 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-T.Sieg, Holder-5-J.Townsend.
10. Las Vegas Raiders FG (+3) — Q3 17:42 · CIN 8 · Score 13-20
    (2:42) 8-D.Carlson 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-T.Sieg, Holder-5-J.Townsend.
11. Cincinnati Bengals FG (+3) — Q4 10:49 · LV 4 · Score 13-23
    (10:49) 4-R.Bullock 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.
12. Las Vegas Raiders FG (+3) — Q4 5:09 · CIN 21 · Score 16-23
    (5:09) 8-D.Carlson 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-T.Sieg, Holder-5-J.Townsend.
13. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q4 4:10 · LV 15 · Score 16-29
    (4:10) 28-J.Mixon right end for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q4 4:04 · LV 15 · Score 16-30
    4-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.