Las Vegas Raiders vs. Minnesota Vikings: 2011 Week 11 Recap

Game story

In Week 11 of the 2011 NFL season on 2011-11-20, the Las Vegas Raiders took care of business against the Minnesota Vikings, pulling away with a 27–21 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Ponder (Minnesota Vikings) paced the passing game, with -3.87 total EPA, and -6.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, C. Palmer (Las Vegas Raiders) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.06 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-12.3% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Minnesota Vikings changed the game: (13:12) (Shotgun) 7-C.Ponder pass deep right intended for 12-P.Harvin INTERCEPTED by 27-M.Giordano at LV 5. 27-M.Giordano to LV 47 for 42 yards (40-J.Kleinsasser).

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. Palmer · Las Vegas Raiders · Passing · +5.06 total EPA · 31 snaps · +0.16 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Heyward-Bey · Las Vegas Raiders · Receiving · +3.67 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.73 EPA/play
3. 3 C. Schilens · Las Vegas Raiders · Receiving · +2.76 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.38 EPA/play
4. 4 V. Shiancoe · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +2.41 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.80 EPA/play
5. 5 K. Boss · Las Vegas Raiders · Receiving · +1.75 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.29 EPA/play
6. 6 M. Bush · Las Vegas Raiders · Receiving · +1.30 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.65 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Palmer · Las Vegas Raiders · Rushing · +1.17 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.58 EPA/play
8. 8 B. Myers · Las Vegas Raiders · Receiving · +1.14 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.38 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

• Minnesota Vikings — A. Peterson (Q1 50:23)
• Las Vegas Raiders — C. Schilens (C. Palmer pass) (Q2 39:16)
• Las Vegas Raiders — M. Bush (Q2 31:23)
• Las Vegas Raiders — C. Palmer (Q2 30:12)
• Minnesota Vikings — P. Harvin (C. Ponder pass) (Q4 15:00)
• Minnesota Vikings — K. Rudolph (C. Ponder pass) (Q4 5:12)

Field goals

• Las Vegas Raiders — S. Janikowski (Q1 46:01)
• Las Vegas Raiders — S. Janikowski (Q3 15:55)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 7–3. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the LV 12 (Q1 50:23) — (5:23) 28-A.Peterson up the middle for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the LV 2 (Q1 50:17) — 8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-4-C.Kluwe.; Las Vegas Raiders connected on a field goal from the MIN 11 (Q1 46:01) — (1:01) 11-S.Janikowski 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler..

The second quarter: Las Vegas Raiders won the period 21–0. Las Vegas Raiders found the end zone from the MIN 11 (Q2 39:16); Las Vegas Raiders added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q2 39:10) — 11-S.Janikowski extra point is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler.; Las Vegas Raiders found the end zone from the MIN 2 (Q2 31:23) — (1:23) 29-M.Bush up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Las Vegas Raiders added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q2 31:20) — 11-S.Janikowski extra point is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler.; Las Vegas Raiders found the end zone from the MIN 1 (Q2 30:12) — (:12) 3-C.Palmer up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Las Vegas Raiders added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q2 30:08) — 11-S.Janikowski extra point is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler..

The third quarter: Las Vegas Raiders won the period 3–0. Las Vegas Raiders connected on a field goal from the MIN 8 (Q3 15:55) — (:55) 11-S.Janikowski 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler..

The fourth quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 14–0. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the LV 26 (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) 7-C.Ponder pass short left to 12-P.Harvin for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the LV 2 (Q4 14:52) — 8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-4-C.Kluwe.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the LV 1 (Q4 5:12) — (5:12) 98-L.Guion reported in as eligible. 7-C.Ponder pass short right to 82-K.Rudolph for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the LV 2 (Q4 5:08) — 8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-4-C.Kluwe..

Turning points

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

• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 43:12) — (13:12) (Shotgun) 7-C.Ponder pass deep right intended for 12-P.Harvin INTERCEPTED by 27-M.Giordano at LV 5. 27-M.Giordano to LV 47 for 42 yards (40-J.Kleinsasser). [WPA -12.3% · EPA -5.96]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 37:34) — (7:34) (Shotgun) 7-C.Ponder scrambles right end to LV 36 for 17 yards (27-M.Giordano). [WPA +11.5% · EPA +2.15]
• Las Vegas Raiders (Q2 39:16) — (9:16) 3-C.Palmer pass short right to 81-C.Schilens for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Assistant challenged the pass completion ruling, and the play was Upheld. [WPA +10.8% · EPA +3.26]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 34:51) — (4:51) (Field Goal formation) 4-C.Kluwe up the middle to LV 43 for -12 yards (33-T.Branch). [WPA -10.2% · EPA -3.47]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 1:58) — (1:58) (Shotgun) 7-C.Ponder pass incomplete short middle to 12-P.Harvin. [WPA -9.8% · EPA -2.27]

Impact plays

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

• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 43:12) — (13:12) (Shotgun) 7-C.Ponder pass deep right intended for 12-P.Harvin INTERCEPTED by 27-M.Giordano at LV 5. 27-M.Giordano to LV 47 for 42 yards (40-J.Kleinsasser). [WPA -12.3% · EPA -5.96]
• Las Vegas Raiders (Q4 6:05) — (6:05) 29-M.Bush up the middle to LV 41 for -3 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by MIN-96-B.Robison at LV 38. 96-B.Robison to LV 38 for no gain (68-J.Veldheer). [WPA -5.6% · EPA -5.64]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q3 19:26) — (4:26) 7-C.Ponder pass short left intended for 84-M.Jenkins INTERCEPTED by 93-T.Kelly at MIN 25. 93-T.Kelly to MIN 24 for 1 yard (84-M.Jenkins). [WPA -2.1% · EPA -5.37]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 31:20) — 11-S.Janikowski kicks 61 yards from LV 35 to MIN 4. 27-L.Booker to MIN 19 for 15 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by LV-23-D.Van Dyke at MIN 16. [WPA -9.6% · EPA -5.10]

Quarterback report card

C.Ponder led all passers in efficiency for Minnesota Vikings, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• C.Ponder (Minnesota Vikings) · 45 dropbacks · 42.2% completion · -6.3% CPOE · -0.09 EPA/play · -3.87 total EPA
• C.Palmer (Las Vegas Raiders) · 31 dropbacks · 54.8% completion · +12.6% CPOE · +0.16 EPA/play · +5.06 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Las Vegas Raiders generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.06 vs -0.19), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Las Vegas Raiders: 13 drives, -5.70 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Minnesota Vikings: 15 drives, -15.40 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Las Vegas Raiders 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.
• C. Palmer (Las Vegas Raiders) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• C. Ponder (MIN) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• C. Palmer (LV) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q1 50:23 · LV 12 · Score 0-6
   (5:23) 28-A.Peterson up the middle for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q1 50:17 · LV 2 · Score 0-7
   8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-4-C.Kluwe.
3. Las Vegas Raiders FG (+3) — Q1 46:01 · MIN 11 · Score 3-7
   (1:01) 11-S.Janikowski 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
4. Las Vegas Raiders TD (+6) — Q2 39:16 · MIN 11 · Score 9-7
   (9:16) 3-C.Palmer pass short right to 81-C.Schilens for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Assistant challenged the pass completion ruling, and the play was Upheld
5. Las Vegas Raiders XP (+1) — Q2 39:10 · MIN 2 · Score 10-7
   11-S.Janikowski extra point is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
6. Las Vegas Raiders TD (+6) — Q2 31:23 · MIN 2 · Score 16-7
   (1:23) 29-M.Bush up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Las Vegas Raiders XP (+1) — Q2 31:20 · MIN 2 · Score 17-7
   11-S.Janikowski extra point is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
8. Las Vegas Raiders TD (+6) — Q2 30:12 · MIN 1 · Score 23-7
   (:12) 3-C.Palmer up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Las Vegas Raiders XP (+1) — Q2 30:08 · MIN 2 · Score 24-7
   11-S.Janikowski extra point is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
10. Las Vegas Raiders FG (+3) — Q3 15:55 · MIN 8 · Score 27-7
    (:55) 11-S.Janikowski 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
11. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q4 15:00 · LV 26 · Score 27-13
    (15:00) 7-C.Ponder pass short left to 12-P.Harvin for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q4 14:52 · LV 2 · Score 27-14
    8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-4-C.Kluwe.
13. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q4 5:12 · LV 1 · Score 27-20
    (5:12) 98-L.Guion reported in as eligible. 7-C.Ponder pass short right to 82-K.Rudolph for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q4 5:08 · LV 2 · Score 27-21
    8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-4-C.Kluwe.