New England Patriots vs. Denver Broncos: 2005 Week 6 Recap

Game story

In Week 6 of the 2005 NFL season on 2005-10-16, the Denver Broncos took care of business against the New England Patriots, pulling away with a 28–20 final that built a comfortable lead.

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

T. Brady (New England Patriots) paced the passing game, with +7.66 total EPA.

On the individual side, J. Plummer (Denver Broncos) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +11.98 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+15.4% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Denver Broncos changed the game: (14:15) 16-J.Plummer pass to 80-R.Smith to NE 5 for 72 yards (23-D.Starks).

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 J. Plummer · Denver Broncos · Passing · +11.98 total EPA · 26 snaps · +0.46 EPA/play
2. 2 R. Smith · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +11.30 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.88 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Branch · New England Patriots · Receiving · +9.36 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.34 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Brady · New England Patriots · Passing · +7.66 total EPA · 49 snaps · +0.16 EPA/play
5. 5 A. Lelie · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +5.34 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.78 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Dwight · New England Patriots · Receiving · +4.83 total EPA · 1 snaps · +4.83 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Givens · New England Patriots · Receiving · +4.01 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.57 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Bell · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +3.78 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.29 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 — T. Bell (Q2 42:40)
• Denver Broncos — R. Smith (J. Plummer pass) (Q2 37:57)
• Denver Broncos — K. Johnson (J. Plummer pass) (Q2 30:54)
• Denver Broncos — M. Anderson (Q3 25:39)
• New England Patriots — P. Pass (Q4 15:00)
• New England Patriots — D. Givens (T. Brady pass) (Q4 8:08)

Field goals

• New England Patriots — A. Vinatieri (Q1 50:42)
• New England Patriots — A. Vinatieri (Q3 20:58)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: New England Patriots won the period 3–0. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the DEN 21 (Q1 50:42) — (5:42) 4-A.Vinatieri 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller..

The second quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 21–0. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the NE 3 (Q2 42:40) — (12:40) 26-T.Bell left guard for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q2 42:36) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-16-J.Plummer.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the NE 6 (Q2 37:57) — (7:57) 16-J.Plummer pass to 80-R.Smith for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q2 37:52) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-16-J.Plummer.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the NE 1 (Q2 30:54) — (:54) 16-J.Plummer pass to 39-K.Johnson for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q2 30:48) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-16-J.Plummer..

The third quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 7–3. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the NE 2 (Q3 25:39) — (10:39) 38-M.Anderson up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q3 25:36) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-16-J.Plummer.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the DEN 20 (Q3 20:58) — (5:58) 4-A.Vinatieri 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller..

The fourth quarter: New England Patriots won the period 14–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the DEN 8 (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) 35-P.Pass left guard for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q4 14:56) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the DEN 8 (Q4 8:08) — (8:08) 12-T.Brady pass to 87-D.Givens for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on DEN, Defensive 12 On-field, declined.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q4 8:01) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller..

Turning points

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

• Denver Broncos (Q2 44:15) — (14:15) 16-J.Plummer pass to 80-R.Smith to NE 5 for 72 yards (23-D.Starks). [WPA +15.4% · EPA +5.02]
• Denver Broncos (Q1 54:04) — (9:04) 16-J.Plummer pass to 26-T.Bell to DEN 7 for 6 yards (98-C.Brown). [WPA -8.8% · EPA -0.21]
• Denver Broncos (Q2 39:56) — (9:56) 16-J.Plummer pass to 85-A.Lelie to NE 17 for 55 yards (23-D.Starks). [WPA +6.8% · EPA +3.31]
• Denver Broncos (Q1 53:22) — (8:22) 10-T.Sauerbrun punts 49 yards to NE 44, Center-83-M.Leach. 86-T.Dwight ran ob at DEN 48 for 8 yards. PENALTY on DEN-37-C.Sapp, Illegal Formation, 5 yards, enforced at DEN 48. [WPA +6.6% · EPA -0.25]
• New England Patriots (Q2 42:23) — (12:23) 31-A.Zereoue left tackle to NE 31 for -5 yards (98-C.Brown). [WPA -5.3% · EPA -1.06]

Impact plays

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

• Denver Broncos (Q2 44:15) — (14:15) 16-J.Plummer pass to 80-R.Smith to NE 5 for 72 yards (23-D.Starks). [WPA +15.4% · EPA +5.02]
• New England Patriots (Q3 22:30) — (7:30) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass to 86-T.Dwight to DEN 17 for 49 yards (42-S.Brandon). [WPA +0.7% · EPA +4.83]
• Denver Broncos (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) 26-T.Bell up the middle to NE 11 for 68 yards (22-A.Samuel; 23-D.Starks). [WPA +3.8% · EPA +4.21]
• Denver Broncos (Q2 39:56) — (9:56) 16-J.Plummer pass to 85-A.Lelie to NE 17 for 55 yards (23-D.Starks). [WPA +6.8% · EPA +3.31]

Quarterback report card

T.Brady led all passers in efficiency for New England Patriots, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• T.Brady (New England Patriots) · 49 dropbacks · 49.0% completion · +0.16 EPA/play · +7.66 total EPA
• J.Plummer (Denver Broncos) · 26 dropbacks · 65.4% completion · +0.46 EPA/play · +11.98 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Denver Broncos held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.24 vs +0.15), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Denver Broncos: 12 drives, +18.70 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 12 drives, +14.14 total EPA, 4 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.
• J. Plummer (Denver Broncos) 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. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q1 50:42 · DEN 21 · Score 3-0
   (5:42) 4-A.Vinatieri 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.
2. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q2 42:40 · NE 3 · Score 3-6
   (12:40) 26-T.Bell left guard for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q2 42:36 · NE 2 · Score 3-7
   1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-16-J.Plummer.
4. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q2 37:57 · NE 6 · Score 3-13
   (7:57) 16-J.Plummer pass to 80-R.Smith for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q2 37:52 · NE 2 · Score 3-14
   1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-16-J.Plummer.
6. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q2 30:54 · NE 1 · Score 3-20
   (:54) 16-J.Plummer pass to 39-K.Johnson for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q2 30:48 · NE 2 · Score 3-21
   1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-16-J.Plummer.
8. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q3 25:39 · NE 2 · Score 3-27
   (10:39) 38-M.Anderson up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q3 25:36 · NE 2 · Score 3-28
   1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-16-J.Plummer.
10. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q3 20:58 · DEN 20 · Score 6-28
    (5:58) 4-A.Vinatieri 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.
11. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 15:00 · DEN 8 · Score 12-28
    (15:00) 35-P.Pass left guard for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 14:56 · DEN 2 · Score 13-28
    4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.
13. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 8:08 · DEN 8 · Score 19-28
    (8:08) 12-T.Brady pass to 87-D.Givens for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on DEN, Defensive 12 On-field, declined.
14. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 8:01 · DEN 2 · Score 20-28
    4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.