Minnesota Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs: 2011 Week 4 Recap

Game story

In Week 4 of the 2011 NFL season on 2011-10-02, the Kansas City Chiefs took care of business against the Minnesota Vikings, pulling away with a 22–17 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Cassel (Kansas City Chiefs) paced the passing game, with +10.01 total EPA, and -0.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Cassel (Kansas City Chiefs) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +10.01 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-13.2% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Minnesota Vikings changed the game: (1:41) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass incomplete deep left to 81-V.Shiancoe. Penalty on MIN-71-P.Loadholt, Offensive Holding, declined.

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 M. Cassel · Kansas City Chiefs · Passing · +10.01 total EPA · 36 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
2. 2 V. Shiancoe · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +6.93 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.87 EPA/play
3. 3 S. Breaston · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +5.78 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.16 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Bowe · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +5.40 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.60 EPA/play
5. 5 P. Harvin · Minnesota Vikings · Rushing · +4.85 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.21 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Aromashodu · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +2.69 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.35 EPA/play
7. 7 M. Jenkins · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +1.53 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.53 EPA/play
8. 8 K. Colbert · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +1.20 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.30 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 — D. Aromashodu (D. McNabb pass) (Q1 46:53)
• Kansas City Chiefs — D. Bowe (M. Cassel pass) (Q4 14:01)
• Minnesota Vikings — M. Jenkins (D. McNabb pass) (Q4 5:55)

Field goals

• Kansas City Chiefs — R. Succop (Q1 52:21)
• Kansas City Chiefs — R. Succop (Q2 35:18)
• Kansas City Chiefs — R. Succop (Q2 30:01)
• Minnesota Vikings — R. Longwell (Q3 24:18)
• Kansas City Chiefs — R. Succop (Q3 20:23)
• Kansas City Chiefs — R. Succop (Q3 15:12)

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. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the MIN 22 (Q1 52:21) — (7:21) 6-R.Succop 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the KC 34 (Q1 46:53); Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q1 46:47) — 8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-4-C.Kluwe..

The second quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 6–0. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the MIN 6 (Q2 35:18) — (5:18) 6-R.Succop 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the MIN 33 (Q2 30:01) — (:01) 6-R.Succop 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..

The third quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 6–3. Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the KC 15 (Q3 24:18) — (9:18) 8-R.Longwell 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-4-C.Kluwe.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the MIN 36 (Q3 20:23) — (5:23) 6-R.Succop 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the MIN 4 (Q3 15:12) — (:12) 6-R.Succop 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the MIN 52 (Q4 14:01) — (14:01) (Shotgun) 7-M.Cassel pass deep left to 82-D.Bowe for 52 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on MIN-23-C.Griffin, Illegal Contact, declined.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q4 13:51) — 6-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the KC 1 (Q4 5:55) — (5:55) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass short left to 84-M.Jenkins for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q4 5:50) — 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 (Q4 1:41) — (1:41) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass incomplete deep left to 81-V.Shiancoe. Penalty on MIN-71-P.Loadholt, Offensive Holding, declined. [WPA -13.2% · EPA -1.91]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 37:56) — (7:56) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass short left intended for 32-T.Gerhart INTERCEPTED by 39-B.Carr at KC 21. 39-B.Carr to KC 35 for 14 yards (5-D.McNabb). [WPA -12.7% · EPA -4.59]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 43:09) — (13:09) 5-D.McNabb pass short left to 82-K.Rudolph pushed ob at KC 44 for 41 yards (23-K.Lewis). [WPA +12.3% · EPA +3.55]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 37:47) — (7:47) 7-M.Cassel pass deep middle to 15-S.Breaston to MIN 23 for 42 yards (25-Ty.Johnson) [92-R.Ayodele]. [WPA +11.1% · EPA +2.59]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 14:01) — (14:01) (Shotgun) 7-M.Cassel pass deep left to 82-D.Bowe for 52 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on MIN-23-C.Griffin, Illegal Contact, declined. [WPA +10.3% · EPA +4.56]

Impact plays

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

• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 37:56) — (7:56) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass short left intended for 32-T.Gerhart INTERCEPTED by 39-B.Carr at KC 21. 39-B.Carr to KC 35 for 14 yards (5-D.McNabb). [WPA -12.7% · EPA -4.59]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 9:56) — (9:56) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass short middle to 87-B.Berrian to KC 17 for 20 yards (42-S.Piscitelli). [WPA +4.1% · EPA +4.57]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 14:01) — (14:01) (Shotgun) 7-M.Cassel pass deep left to 82-D.Bowe for 52 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on MIN-23-C.Griffin, Illegal Contact, declined. [WPA +10.3% · EPA +4.56]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 46:53) — (1:53) 5-D.McNabb pass deep left to 19-D.Aromashodu for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Assistant challenged the pass completion ruling, and the play was Upheld. [WPA +10.1% · EPA +3.73]

Quarterback report card

M.Cassel led all passers in efficiency for Kansas City Chiefs, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• M.Cassel (Kansas City Chiefs) · 36 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -0.3% CPOE · +0.28 EPA/play · +10.01 total EPA
• D.McNabb (Minnesota Vikings) · 34 dropbacks · 52.9% completion · +1.8% CPOE · +0.02 EPA/play · +0.61 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 (Minnesota Vikings +0.01, Kansas City Chiefs +0.05) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Kansas City Chiefs: 10 drives, +3.74 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Minnesota Vikings: 9 drives, +0.70 total EPA, 3 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• M. Cassel (Kansas City Chiefs) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

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

1. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q1 52:21 · MIN 22 · Score 0-3
   (7:21) 6-R.Succop 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
2. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q1 46:53 · KC 34 · Score 6-3
   (1:53) 5-D.McNabb pass deep left to 19-D.Aromashodu for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Assistant challenged the pass completion ruling, and the play was Upheld
3. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q1 46:47 · KC 2 · Score 7-3
   8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-4-C.Kluwe.
4. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 35:18 · MIN 6 · Score 7-6
   (5:18) 6-R.Succop 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
5. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 30:01 · MIN 33 · Score 7-9
   (:01) 6-R.Succop 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
6. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q3 24:18 · KC 15 · Score 10-9
   (9:18) 8-R.Longwell 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-4-C.Kluwe.
7. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q3 20:23 · MIN 36 · Score 10-12
   (5:23) 6-R.Succop 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
8. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q3 15:12 · MIN 4 · Score 10-15
   (:12) 6-R.Succop 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
9. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q4 14:01 · MIN 52 · Score 10-21
   (14:01) (Shotgun) 7-M.Cassel pass deep left to 82-D.Bowe for 52 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on MIN-23-C.Griffin, Illegal Contact, declined.
10. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q4 13:51 · MIN 2 · Score 10-22
    6-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
11. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q4 5:55 · KC 1 · Score 16-22
    (5:55) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass short left to 84-M.Jenkins for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q4 5:50 · KC 2 · Score 17-22
    8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-4-C.Kluwe.