Tennessee Titans vs. Kansas City Chiefs: 2014 Week 1 Recap

Game story

In Week 1 of the 2014 NFL season on 2014-09-07, the Tennessee Titans took care of business against the Kansas City Chiefs, pulling away with a 26–10 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

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

A. Smith (Kansas City Chiefs) paced the passing game, with -4.81 total EPA, and -2.7% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Locker (Tennessee Titans) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +12.48 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-8.4% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Kansas City Chiefs changed the game: (:38) 11-A.Smith pass deep left intended for 17-D.Avery INTERCEPTED by 30-J.McCourty at KC 42. 30-J.McCourty to KC 42 for no gain (17-D.Avery).

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. Locker · Tennessee Titans · Passing · +12.48 total EPA · 42 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
2. 2 N. Washington · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +4.93 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.82 EPA/play
3. 3 K. Wright · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +4.66 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.67 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Kelce · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +4.57 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.91 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Walker · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +4.19 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.05 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Fasano · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +3.23 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.54 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Thompson · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +1.82 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.91 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Hunter · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +1.24 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.16 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

• Tennessee Titans — D. Walker (J. Locker pass) (Q2 33:37)
• Tennessee Titans — K. Wright (J. Locker pass) (Q3 25:31)
• Kansas City Chiefs — A. Fasano (A. Smith pass) (Q4 10:16)

Field goals

• Kansas City Chiefs — C. Santos (Q2 43:40)
• Tennessee Titans — R. Succop (Q2 30:07)
• Tennessee Titans — R. Succop (Q3 17:50)
• Tennessee Titans — R. Succop (Q4 12:43)
• Tennessee Titans — R. Succop (Q4 4:54)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The second quarter: Tennessee Titans won the period 10–3. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the TEN 17 (Q2 43:40) — (13:40) 5-C.Santos 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Tennessee Titans found the end zone from the KC 5 (Q2 33:37) — (3:37) (Shotgun) 10-J.Locker pass short middle to 82-D.Walker for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tennessee Titans added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q2 33:31) — 8-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Brinkley, Holder-6-B.Kern.; Tennessee Titans connected on a field goal from the KC 18 (Q2 30:07) — (:07) 8-R.Succop 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Brinkley, Holder-6-B.Kern..

The third quarter: Tennessee Titans won the period 10–0. Tennessee Titans found the end zone from the KC 6 (Q3 25:31) — (10:31) (Shotgun) 10-J.Locker pass short right to 13-K.Wright for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tennessee Titans added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q3 25:26) — 8-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Brinkley, Holder-6-B.Kern.; Tennessee Titans connected on a field goal from the KC 12 (Q3 17:50) — (2:50) 8-R.Succop 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Brinkley, Holder-6-B.Kern..

The fourth quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 7–6. Tennessee Titans connected on a field goal from the KC 28 (Q4 12:43) — (12:43) 8-R.Succop 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Brinkley, Holder-6-B.Kern.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the TEN 5 (Q4 10:16) — (10:16) 11-A.Smith pass short right to 80-A.Fasano for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the TEN 2 (Q4 10:09) — 5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Tennessee Titans connected on a field goal from the KC 29 (Q4 4:54) — (4:54) 8-R.Succop 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Brinkley, Holder-6-B.Kern..

Turning points

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

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 30:38) — (:38) 11-A.Smith pass deep left intended for 17-D.Avery INTERCEPTED by 30-J.McCourty at KC 42. 30-J.McCourty to KC 42 for no gain (17-D.Avery). [WPA -8.4% · EPA -1.73]
• Tennessee Titans (Q2 39:26) — (9:26) (Shotgun) 10-J.Locker pass short right to 85-N.Washington pushed ob at KC 43 for 16 yards (38-R.Parker). [WPA +7.6% · EPA +1.41]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 45:52) — (:52) 11-A.Smith pass deep left to 85-F.Hammond pushed ob at TEN 22 for 22 yards (25-B.Wreh-Wilson). Penalty on TEN-31-B.Pollard, Illegal Contact, declined. [WPA +7.4% · EPA +1.39]
• Tennessee Titans (Q2 37:34) — (7:34) (Shotgun) 10-J.Locker pass short right to 29-L.Washington pushed ob at KC 33 for 8 yards (56-D.Johnson). Penalty on KC-97-A.Bailey, Illegal Use of Hands, declined. [WPA +6.9% · EPA +1.69]
• Tennessee Titans (Q2 31:31) — (1:31) (Shotgun) 10-J.Locker pass short middle to 15-J.Hunter to TEN 36 for 15 yards (21-S.Smith). [WPA +6.5% · EPA +1.16]

Impact plays

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

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 11:18) — (11:18) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short middle to 80-A.Fasano to TEN 22 for 18 yards (31-B.Pollard; 33-M.Griffin). [WPA +1.2% · EPA +3.97]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 40:05) — (10:05) 5-C.Santos 48 yard field goal is No Good, Hit Left Upright, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt. [WPA -4.3% · EPA -3.10]
• Tennessee Titans (Q3 30:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 10-J.Locker pass deep right to 15-J.Hunter to KC 41 for 39 yards (20-C.Owens). [WPA +6.1% · EPA +2.87]
• Tennessee Titans (Q4 8:02) — (8:02) (Shotgun) 10-J.Locker pass short left to 85-N.Washington pushed ob at TEN 44 for 12 yards (21-S.Smith) [90-J.Mauga]. PENALTY on KC-90-J.Mauga, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced at TEN 44. [WPA +2.5% · EPA +2.75]

Quarterback report card

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

• A.Smith (Kansas City Chiefs) · 46 dropbacks · 41.3% completion · -2.7% CPOE · -0.10 EPA/play · -4.81 total EPA
• J.Locker (Tennessee Titans) · 42 dropbacks · 52.4% completion · +7.3% CPOE · +0.30 EPA/play · +12.48 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Tennessee Titans generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.09 vs -0.16), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Kansas City Chiefs: 13 drives, -12.01 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• Tennessee Titans: 13 drives, +8.50 total EPA, 6 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Tennessee Titans leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• J. Locker (Tennessee Titans) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Locker (TEN) 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. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 43:40 · TEN 17 · Score 0-3
   (13:40) 5-C.Santos 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
2. Tennessee Titans TD (+6) — Q2 33:37 · KC 5 · Score 6-3
   (3:37) (Shotgun) 10-J.Locker pass short middle to 82-D.Walker for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Tennessee Titans XP (+1) — Q2 33:31 · KC 2 · Score 7-3
   8-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Brinkley, Holder-6-B.Kern.
4. Tennessee Titans FG (+3) — Q2 30:07 · KC 18 · Score 10-3
   (:07) 8-R.Succop 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Brinkley, Holder-6-B.Kern.
5. Tennessee Titans TD (+6) — Q3 25:31 · KC 6 · Score 16-3
   (10:31) (Shotgun) 10-J.Locker pass short right to 13-K.Wright for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Tennessee Titans XP (+1) — Q3 25:26 · KC 2 · Score 17-3
   8-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Brinkley, Holder-6-B.Kern.
7. Tennessee Titans FG (+3) — Q3 17:50 · KC 12 · Score 20-3
   (2:50) 8-R.Succop 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Brinkley, Holder-6-B.Kern.
8. Tennessee Titans FG (+3) — Q4 12:43 · KC 28 · Score 23-3
   (12:43) 8-R.Succop 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Brinkley, Holder-6-B.Kern.
9. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q4 10:16 · TEN 5 · Score 23-9
   (10:16) 11-A.Smith pass short right to 80-A.Fasano for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q4 10:09 · TEN 2 · Score 23-10
    5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
11. Tennessee Titans FG (+3) — Q4 4:54 · KC 29 · Score 26-10
    (4:54) 8-R.Succop 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Brinkley, Holder-6-B.Kern.