Las Vegas Raiders vs. Denver Broncos: 2007 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2007 NFL season on 2007-09-16, the Denver Broncos took care of business against the Las Vegas Raiders, pulling away with a 23–20 final that came down to the wire.

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

J. Cutler (Denver Broncos) paced the passing game, with -0.82 total EPA, and +8.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, B. Stokley (Denver Broncos) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.62 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-35.2% win probability) landed in overtime when Las Vegas Raiders changed the game: (11:13) 11-S.Janikowski 52 yard field goal is No Good, Hit Left Upright, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler.

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. Stokley · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +6.62 total EPA · 3 snaps · +2.21 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Walker · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +6.28 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.79 EPA/play
3. 3 B. Marshall · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +6.13 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.23 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Porter · Las Vegas Raiders · Receiving · +5.81 total EPA · 1 snaps · +5.81 EPA/play
5. 5 L. Jordan · Las Vegas Raiders · Rushing · +5.22 total EPA · 26 snaps · +0.20 EPA/play
6. 6 C. Sapp · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +2.99 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.49 EPA/play
7. 7 S. Young · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +2.01 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.67 EPA/play
8. 8 Z. Miller · Las Vegas Raiders · Receiving · +1.32 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.44 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 — B. Stokley (J. Cutler pass) (Q1 50:08)
• Denver Broncos — C. Sapp (Q2 37:37)
• Las Vegas Raiders — J. Porter (J. McCown pass) (Q3 20:28)
• Las Vegas Raiders — T. Howard (Q4 9:07)

Field goals

• Las Vegas Raiders — S. Janikowski (Q2 40:29)
• Denver Broncos — J. Elam (Q2 30:21)
• Denver Broncos — J. Elam (Q4 2:22)
• Denver Broncos — J. Elam (OT 5:52)

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 7–0. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the LV 9 (Q1 50:08) — (5:08) 6-J.Cutler pass short middle to 14-B.Stokley for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the LV 2 (Q1 50:02) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-10-T.Sauerbrun..

The second quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 10–3. Las Vegas Raiders connected on a field goal from the DEN 19 (Q2 40:29) — (10:29) 11-S.Janikowski 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the LV 4 (Q2 37:37) — (7:37) 37-C.Sapp up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the LV 2 (Q2 37:34) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-10-T.Sauerbrun. PENALTY on LV, Illegal Motion, 5 yards, enforced between downs.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the LV 5 (Q2 30:21) — (:21) 1-J.Elam 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-10-T.Sauerbrun..

The third quarter: Las Vegas Raiders won the period 7–0. Las Vegas Raiders found the end zone from the DEN 46 (Q3 20:28) — (5:28) 12-J.McCown pass deep left to 84-J.Porter for 46 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Las Vegas Raiders added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q3 20:19) — 11-S.Janikowski extra point is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler..

The fourth quarter: Las Vegas Raiders won the period 10–3. Las Vegas Raiders registered a safety from the LV 91 (Q4 14:22); Las Vegas Raiders found the end zone from the LV 55 (Q4 9:07); Las Vegas Raiders registered a safety from the DEN 2 (Q4 8:55); Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the LV 2 (Q4 2:22) — (2:22) 1-J.Elam 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-10-T.Sauerbrun..

Overtime: Denver Broncos won the period 3–0. Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the LV 6 (OT 5:52) — (5:52) 1-J.Elam 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-10-T.Sauerbrun..

Turning points

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

• Las Vegas Raiders (OT 11:13) — (11:13) 11-S.Janikowski 52 yard field goal is No Good, Hit Left Upright, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler. [WPA -35.2% · EPA -3.29]
• Denver Broncos (Q4 9:07) — (9:07) 6-J.Cutler pass short left intended for 84-J.Walker INTERCEPTED by 53-T.Howard (98-J.Richardson) at DEN 44. 53-T.Howard for 44 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -31.5% · EPA -7.94]
• Las Vegas Raiders (OT 13:24) — (13:24) 34-L.Jordan left tackle to DEN 40 for 33 yards (52-I.Gold). [WPA +22.6% · EPA +2.21]
• Denver Broncos (OT 6:38) — (6:38) 6-J.Cutler pass short middle to 15-B.Marshall to LV 6 for 22 yards (24-M.Huff). [WPA +18.2% · EPA -0.27]
• Denver Broncos (OT 9:43) — (9:43) 20-T.Henry left tackle to LV 37 for 13 yards (30-S.Schweigert). [WPA +17.4% · EPA +1.36]

Impact plays

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

• Denver Broncos (Q4 9:07) — (9:07) 6-J.Cutler pass short left intended for 84-J.Walker INTERCEPTED by 53-T.Howard (98-J.Richardson) at DEN 44. 53-T.Howard for 44 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -31.5% · EPA -7.94]
• Las Vegas Raiders (Q3 20:28) — (5:28) 12-J.McCown pass deep left to 84-J.Porter for 46 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +10.7% · EPA +5.81]
• Denver Broncos (Q2 44:12) — (14:12) 6-J.Cutler pass short middle intended for 84-J.Walker INTERCEPTED by 52-K.Morrison at LV 39. 52-K.Morrison to DEN 48 for 13 yards (64-E.Pears). FUMBLES (64-E.Pears), recovered by LV-53-T.Howar [WPA -10.1% · EPA -5.09]
• Denver Broncos (Q2 39:16) — (9:16) (Shotgun) 35-S.Young up the middle to LV 39 for 40 yards (21-N.Asomugha). [WPA +10.2% · EPA +3.59]

Quarterback report card

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

• J.Cutler (Denver Broncos) · 38 dropbacks · 60.5% completion · +8.4% CPOE · -0.02 EPA/play · -0.82 total EPA
• J.McCown (Las Vegas Raiders) · 24 dropbacks · 33.3% completion · -3.2% CPOE · -0.20 EPA/play · -4.79 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Las Vegas Raiders -0.06, Denver Broncos -0.04) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Denver Broncos: 13 drives, -3.44 total EPA, 7 scoring drives
• Las Vegas Raiders: 12 drives, -4.92 total EPA, 2 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.
• B. Stokley (Denver Broncos) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Cutler (DEN) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• J. McCown (LV) 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 50:08 · LV 9 · Score 0-6
   (5:08) 6-J.Cutler pass short middle to 14-B.Stokley for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q1 50:02 · LV 2 · Score 0-7
   1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-10-T.Sauerbrun.
3. Las Vegas Raiders FG (+3) — Q2 40:29 · DEN 19 · Score 3-7
   (10:29) 11-S.Janikowski 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
4. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q2 37:37 · LV 4 · Score 3-13
   (7:37) 37-C.Sapp up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q2 37:34 · LV 2 · Score 3-14
   1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-10-T.Sauerbrun. PENALTY on LV, Illegal Motion, 5 yards, enforced between downs.
6. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q2 30:21 · LV 5 · Score 3-17
   (:21) 1-J.Elam 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-10-T.Sauerbrun.
7. Las Vegas Raiders TD (+6) — Q3 20:28 · DEN 46 · Score 9-17
   (5:28) 12-J.McCown pass deep left to 84-J.Porter for 46 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Las Vegas Raiders XP (+1) — Q3 20:19 · DEN 2 · Score 10-17
   11-S.Janikowski extra point is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
9. Las Vegas Raiders Safety (+2) — Q4 14:22 · LV 91 · Score 12-17
   (14:22) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler sacked in End Zone for -9 yards, SAFETY (61-G.Warren). Denver challenged the safety ruling, and the play was Upheld. (Timeout #1 at
10. Las Vegas Raiders TD (+6) — Q4 9:07 · LV 55 · Score 18-17
    (9:07) 6-J.Cutler pass short left intended for 84-J.Walker INTERCEPTED by 53-T.Howard (98-J.Richardson) at DEN 44. 53-T.Howard for 44 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Las Vegas Raiders Safety (+2) — Q4 8:55 · DEN 2 · Score 20-17
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 12-J.McCown pass to 89-R.Curry is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS. PENALTY on DEN, Defensive 12 On-field, 5 yards, enforced between dow
12. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q4 2:22 · LV 2 · Score 20-20
    (2:22) 1-J.Elam 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-10-T.Sauerbrun.
13. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — OT 5:52 · LV 6 · Score 20-23
    (5:52) 1-J.Elam 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-10-T.Sauerbrun.