Washington Commanders vs. San Francisco 49ers: 2004 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 2004 NFL season on 2004-12-18, the Washington Commanders took care of business against the San Francisco 49ers, pulling away with a 26–16 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 18 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

K. Dorsey (San Francisco 49ers) paced the passing game, with -14.99 total EPA.

On the individual side, R. Gardner (Washington Commanders) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +10.92 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-23.4% win probability) landed in the second quarter when San Francisco 49ers changed the game: (1:03) 7-K.Dorsey pass intended for 84-C.Wilson INTERCEPTED by 58-A.Pierce at WAS 22. 58-A.Pierce for 78 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

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 R. Gardner · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +10.92 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.82 EPA/play
2. 2 P. Ramsey · Washington Commanders · Passing · +10.31 total EPA · 28 snaps · +0.37 EPA/play
3. 3 B. Lloyd · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +6.46 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.62 EPA/play
4. 4 L. Coles · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +5.22 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.30 EPA/play
5. 5 C. Conway · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +3.54 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.18 EPA/play
6. 6 E. Johnson · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +2.87 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.36 EPA/play
7. 7 R. Royal · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +2.55 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.55 EPA/play
8. 8 L. Betts · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +1.99 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.99 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

• Washington Commanders — R. Royal (P. Ramsey pass) (Q1 54:21)
• San Francisco 49ers — B. Lloyd (K. Dorsey pass) (Q1 49:57)
• Washington Commanders — A. Pierce (Q2 31:03)
• San Francisco 49ers — C. Conway (K. Dorsey pass) (Q4 4:29)

Field goals

• Washington Commanders — J. Chandler (Q2 44:50)
• Washington Commanders — J. Chandler (Q2 38:31)
• Washington Commanders — J. Chandler (Q2 36:04)
• Washington Commanders — J. Chandler (Q3 18:36)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Washington Commanders found the end zone from the SF 12 (Q1 54:21) — (9:21) 11-P.Ramsey pass to 88-R.Royal for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 8.; Washington Commanders added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q1 54:14) — 5-J.Chandler extra point is GOOD, Center-71-E.Albright, Holder-19-T.Tupa.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the WAS 17 (Q1 49:57) — (4:57) 7-K.Dorsey pass to 85-B.Lloyd for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the WAS 2 (Q1 49:50) — 2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The second quarter: Washington Commanders won the period 16–2. Washington Commanders connected on a field goal from the SF 31 (Q2 44:50) — (14:50) 5-J.Chandler 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-71-E.Albright, Holder-19-T.Tupa.; Washington Commanders connected on a field goal from the SF 7 (Q2 38:31) — (8:31) 5-J.Chandler 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-71-E.Albright, Holder-19-T.Tupa.; Washington Commanders connected on a field goal from the SF 2 (Q2 36:04) — (6:04) 5-J.Chandler 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-71-E.Albright, Holder-19-T.Tupa.; San Francisco 49ers registered a safety from the SF 90 (Q2 32:14); Washington Commanders found the end zone from the WAS 23 (Q2 31:03) — (1:03) 7-K.Dorsey pass intended for 84-C.Wilson INTERCEPTED by 58-A.Pierce at WAS 22. 58-A.Pierce for 78 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Washington Commanders added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q2 30:48) — 5-J.Chandler extra point is GOOD, Center-71-E.Albright, Holder-19-T.Tupa..

The third quarter: Washington Commanders won the period 3–0. Washington Commanders connected on a field goal from the SF 8 (Q3 18:36) — (3:36) 5-J.Chandler 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-71-E.Albright, Holder-19-T.Tupa..

The fourth quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 7–0. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the WAS 11 (Q4 4:29); San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the WAS 2 (Q4 4:26).

Turning points

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

• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 31:03) — (1:03) 7-K.Dorsey pass intended for 84-C.Wilson INTERCEPTED by 58-A.Pierce at WAS 22. 58-A.Pierce for 78 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -23.4% · EPA -9.93]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 37:34) — (7:34) 7-K.Dorsey pass intended for 40-F.Beasley INTERCEPTED by 94-R.Warner (53-M.Washington) at SF 48. 94-R.Warner to SF 9 for 39 yards (77-K.Harris). [WPA -22.7% · EPA -7.11]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 48:15) — (3:15) 7-K.Dorsey pass intended for 84-C.Wilson INTERCEPTED by 36-S.Taylor at WAS 16. 36-S.Taylor to WAS 46 for 30 yards. Lateral to 98-L.Marshall for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by SF and RE [WPA -11.5% · EPA -4.01]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 49:57) — (4:57) 7-K.Dorsey pass to 85-B.Lloyd for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +9.2% · EPA +3.08]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 31:20) — (1:20) (Shotgun) 7-K.Dorsey pass to 85-B.Lloyd ran ob at WAS 25 for 13 yards (27-W.Harris). Caught at WAS 29. [WPA +8.1% · EPA +1.70]

Impact plays

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

• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 31:03) — (1:03) 7-K.Dorsey pass intended for 84-C.Wilson INTERCEPTED by 58-A.Pierce at WAS 22. 58-A.Pierce for 78 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -23.4% · EPA -9.93]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 37:34) — (7:34) 7-K.Dorsey pass intended for 40-F.Beasley INTERCEPTED by 94-R.Warner (53-M.Washington) at SF 48. 94-R.Warner to SF 9 for 39 yards (77-K.Harris). [WPA -22.7% · EPA -7.11]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 4:26) — 2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee. PENALTY on WAS-58-A.Pierce, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs. [WPA +0.4% · EPA -4.57]
• Washington Commanders (Q4 9:36) — (9:36) 26-C.Portis left guard to SF 31 for 10 yards (51-S.Rasheed). FUMBLES (51-S.Rasheed), RECOVERED by SF-51-S.Rasheed at SF 34. 51-S.Rasheed to SF 34 for no gain (82-B.Kozlowski). C.Portis credited [WPA -2.2% · EPA -4.18]

Quarterback report card

K.Dorsey led all passers in efficiency for San Francisco 49ers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• K.Dorsey (San Francisco 49ers) · 41 dropbacks · 48.8% completion · -0.37 EPA/play · -14.99 total EPA
• P.Ramsey (Washington Commanders) · 28 dropbacks · 64.3% completion · +0.37 EPA/play · +10.31 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Washington Commanders generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.00 vs -0.24), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• San Francisco 49ers: 13 drives, -19.34 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Washington Commanders: 14 drives, +0.17 total EPA, 6 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Washington Commanders leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• R. Gardner (Washington Commanders) 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. Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q1 54:21 · SF 12 · Score 6-0
   (9:21) 11-P.Ramsey pass to 88-R.Royal for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 8.
2. Washington Commanders XP (+1) — Q1 54:14 · SF 2 · Score 7-0
   5-J.Chandler extra point is GOOD, Center-71-E.Albright, Holder-19-T.Tupa.
3. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q1 49:57 · WAS 17 · Score 7-6
   (4:57) 7-K.Dorsey pass to 85-B.Lloyd for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q1 49:50 · WAS 2 · Score 7-7
   2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
5. Washington Commanders FG (+3) — Q2 44:50 · SF 31 · Score 10-7
   (14:50) 5-J.Chandler 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-71-E.Albright, Holder-19-T.Tupa.
6. Washington Commanders FG (+3) — Q2 38:31 · SF 7 · Score 13-7
   (8:31) 5-J.Chandler 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-71-E.Albright, Holder-19-T.Tupa.
7. Washington Commanders FG (+3) — Q2 36:04 · SF 2 · Score 16-7
   (6:04) 5-J.Chandler 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-71-E.Albright, Holder-19-T.Tupa.
8. San Francisco 49ers Safety (+2) — Q2 32:14 · SF 90 · Score 16-9
   (2:14) 19-T.Tupa punt is BLOCKED by 28-K.Lewis, Center-71-E.Albright, recovered by WAS-19-T.Tupa at WAS 0. 19-T.Tupa tackled in End Zone, SAFETY. T.Tupa kicked
9. Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q2 31:03 · WAS 23 · Score 22-9
   (1:03) 7-K.Dorsey pass intended for 84-C.Wilson INTERCEPTED by 58-A.Pierce at WAS 22. 58-A.Pierce for 78 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Washington Commanders XP (+1) — Q2 30:48 · SF 2 · Score 23-9
    5-J.Chandler extra point is GOOD, Center-71-E.Albright, Holder-19-T.Tupa.
11. Washington Commanders FG (+3) — Q3 18:36 · SF 8 · Score 26-9
    (3:36) 5-J.Chandler 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-71-E.Albright, Holder-19-T.Tupa.
12. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q4 4:29 · WAS 11 · Score 26-15
    (4:29) (Shotgun) 7-K.Dorsey pass incomplete to 89-C.Conway. Play Challenged by SF and REVERSED. (Shotgun) 7-K.Dorsey pass to 89-C.Conway for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN
13. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q4 4:26 · WAS 2 · Score 26-16
    2-T.Peterson extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee. PENALTY on WAS-58-A.Pierce, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs.