Lions 16–20 Broncos: Score, Stats & Recap | Week 4, 2003

Q: How did the quarterbacks play in Detroit Lions vs Denver Broncos?

J. Plummer (Denver Broncos), 64.1% completion, +0.22 EPA per dropback, +8.76 total passing EPA. J. Harrington (Detroit Lions), 39.5% completion, +0.04 EPA per dropback, +1.52 total passing EPA.

Q: Who was FantasyHQ's player of the game in Detroit Lions vs Denver Broncos?

J. Plummer (Denver Broncos) was FantasyHQ's Game MVP with +8.76 total EPA on Passing plays. across 39 snaps. Their top snap (+2.88 EPA): (2:04) 16-J.Plummer pass to 85-A.Lelie for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

Quick answer

Winner: Denver Broncos
Final score: Denver Broncos 20–16 Detroit Lions
Halftime: Detroit Lions 10–14 Denver Broncos at halftime
FantasyHQ MVP: Jack Plummer
Top passer: Jack Plummer
Biggest EPA play: (13:47) 3-J.Harrington pass to 88-S.Anderson for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Game date: 2003-09-28

Game summary

The Denver Broncos beat the Detroit Lions 20–16 on 2003-09-28. Jack Plummer posted a game-high +8.76 total EPA in the passing.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 14 combined points.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	—	T
Detroit Lions	7	3	0	6	0	16
Denver Broncos	7	7	3	3	0	20

Scoring Map

Each pin marks where a score occurred on the field — yard line from play-by-play.

DETDetroit Lions

DEN 33

+1DEN 2

DET 29

+3DEN 35

+3DET 19

DEN 43

+3DET 23

DENDenver Broncos

FantasyHQ Analytics

Scoring timeline

10 scores

Chronological scoring plays — scroll to follow the game.

DETDetroit Lions
Q1 7:15TD
Casey Rogers
Points+6
Yard line
DEN 33
Score
6-0
(7:15) 3-J.Harrington pass to 80-C.Rogers for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
DETDetroit Lions
Q1 7:07XP
Jake Hanson
Points+1
Yard line
DEN 2
Score
7-0
4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-19-J.Jett.
DENDenver Broncos
Q1 2:04TD
ALA. Lelie
Points+6
Yard line
DET 29
Score
7-6
(2:04) 16-J.Plummer pass to 85-A.Lelie for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
DENDenver Broncos
Q1 1:56XP
JEJ. Elam
Points+1
Yard line
DET 2
Score
7-7
1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-4-M.Knorr.
DENDenver Broncos
Q2 10:40TD
SSS. Sharpe
Points+6
Yard line
DET 1
Score
7-13
(10:40) 16-J.Plummer pass to 84-S.Sharpe for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
DENDenver Broncos
Q2 10:36XP
JEJ. Elam
Points+1
Yard line
DET 2
Score
7-14
1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-4-M.Knorr.
DETDetroit Lions
Q2 6:06FG
Jake Hanson
Points+3
Yard line
DEN 35
Score
10-14
(6:06) 4-J.Hanson 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-19-J.Jett.
DENDenver Broncos
Q3 1:21FG
JEJ. Elam
Points+3
Yard line
DET 19
Score
10-17
(1:21) 1-J.Elam 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-4-M.Knorr.
DETDetroit Lions
Q4 13:47TD
Spencer Anderson
Points+6
Yard line
DEN 43
Score
16-17
(13:47) 3-J.Harrington pass to 88-S.Anderson for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
DENDenver Broncos
Q4 3:17FG
JEJ. Elam
Points+3
Yard line
DET 23
Score
16-20
(3:17) 1-J.Elam 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-4-M.Knorr.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA).

1Jack Plummer · Denver Broncos · Passing · +8.76 total EPA · 39 snaps · +0.22 EPA/play
2Casey Rogers · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +8.19 total EPA · 4 snaps · +2.05 EPA/play
3A. Lelie · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +7.63 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.91 EPA/play
4S. Sharpe · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +6.36 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.91 EPA/play
5Spencer Anderson · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +5.69 total EPA · 1 snaps · +5.69 EPA/play
6Ryan Smith · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +3.98 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.80 EPA/play
7C. Fitzsimmons · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +1.80 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.80 EPA/play
8Jax Harrington · Detroit Lions · Passing · +1.52 total EPA · 38 snaps · +0.04 EPA/play

FantasyHQ Game MVP

Highest total EPA with the player's top snap and the game's biggest single play when different.

FantasyHQ Game MVP

Jack Plummer — DEN · Passing

Jack Plummer posted the highest total EPA (+8.76) in the game, the strongest overall impact for Denver Broncos. Across 39 counted snaps, they averaged +0.22 EPA per play.

Jack Plummer's top snap (+2.88 EPA): (2:04) 16-J.Plummer pass to 85-A.Lelie for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Biggest single play (+5.69 EPA): Jax Harrington — (13:47) 3-J.Harrington pass to 88-S.Anderson for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Quarterback report card

Jack Plummer led all passers in efficiency for Denver Broncos, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

Jack Plummer (Denver Broncos) · 39 dropbacks · 64.1% completion · +0.22 EPA/play · +8.76 total EPA
Jax Harrington (Detroit Lions) · 38 dropbacks · 39.5% completion · +0.04 EPA/play · +1.52 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency.

Stat	Detroit Lions	Denver Broncos
Offensive EPA/play	+0.046	+0.059
Offensive success rate	38.0%	48.7%
Pass EPA/play	+0.070	+0.227
Rush EPA/play	-0.045	-0.251
Defensive EPA/play	-0.059	-0.046
Defensive success rate	51.3%	62.0%

Drive & efficiency notes

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Detroit Lions +0.05, Denver Broncos +0.06) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

Season benchmark context (offensive EPA per play):

Detroit Lions: +0.05 EPA/play (66th percentile vs. 2003 team-game averages)
Denver Broncos: +0.06 EPA/play (70th percentile vs. 2003 team-game averages)

Denver Broncos: 10 drives, +4.59 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
Detroit Lions: 10 drives, +3.64 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal from official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

Detroit Lions — Casey Rogers (Jax Harrington pass) (Q1 7:15)
Denver Broncos — A. Lelie (Jack Plummer pass) (Q1 2:04)
Denver Broncos — S. Sharpe (Jack Plummer pass) (Q2 10:40)
Detroit Lions — Spencer Anderson (Jax Harrington pass) (Q4 13:47)

Field goals

Detroit Lions — Jake Hanson (Q2 6:06)
Denver Broncos — J. Elam (Q3 1:21)
Denver Broncos — J. Elam (Q4 3:17)

Quarter by quarter

Quarter-by-quarter recap from live scoring plays.

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the DEN 33 (Q1 7:15) — (7:15) 3-J.Harrington pass to 80-C.Rogers for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q1 7:07) — 4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-19-J.Jett.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the DET 29 (Q1 2:04) — (2:04) 16-J.Plummer pass to 85-A.Lelie for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q1 1:56) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-4-M.Knorr..

The second quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 7–3. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the DET 1 (Q2 10:40) — (10:40) 16-J.Plummer pass to 84-S.Sharpe for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q2 10:36) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-4-M.Knorr.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the DEN 35 (Q2 6:06) — (6:06) 4-J.Hanson 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-19-J.Jett..

The third quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 3–0. Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the DET 19 (Q3 1:21) — (1:21) 1-J.Elam 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-4-M.Knorr..

The fourth quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 6–3. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the DEN 43 (Q4 13:47) — (13:47) 3-J.Harrington pass to 88-S.Anderson for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the DET 23 (Q4 3:17) — (3:17) 1-J.Elam 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-4-M.Knorr..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most.

Detroit Lions (Q4 13:47) — (13:47) 3-J.Harrington pass to 88-S.Anderson for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +23.0% · EPA +5.69]
Detroit Lions (Q4 1:27) — (1:27) (Shotgun) 3-J.Harrington pass incomplete to 80-C.Rogers (35-L.Walls, 25-N.Ferguson). [WPA -13.4% · EPA -1.81]
Detroit Lions (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) 3-J.Harrington pass to 80-C.Rogers to DET 32 for 10 yards (24-D.O'Neal). [WPA +11.5% · EPA +1.47]
Denver Broncos (Q2 1:13) — (1:13) (Shotgun) 16-J.Plummer right guard to DET 14 for 7 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by DET-27-J.Wyrick at DET 11. 27-J.Wyrick to DET 18 for 7 yards (87-E.McCaffrey). Play Challenged by Review Assistan [WPA -10.5% · EPA -2.43]
Denver Broncos (Q1 2:04) — (2:04) 16-J.Plummer pass to 85-A.Lelie for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +10.0% · EPA +2.88]

Impact plays

Highest EPA snaps that flipped field position.

Detroit Lions (Q4 13:47) — (13:47) 3-J.Harrington pass to 88-S.Anderson for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +23.0% · EPA +5.69]
Detroit Lions (Q1 7:15) — (7:15) 3-J.Harrington pass to 80-C.Rogers for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +8.6% · EPA +3.80]
Denver Broncos (Q1 2:04) — (2:04) 16-J.Plummer pass to 85-A.Lelie for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +10.0% · EPA +2.88]
Detroit Lions (Q2 6:06) — (6:06) 4-J.Hanson 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-19-J.Jett. [WPA +3.8% · EPA +2.45]

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with play-by-play context.

Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q1 7:15 · DEN 33 · Score 6-0
(7:15) 3-J.Harrington pass to 80-C.Rogers for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q1 7:07 · DEN 2 · Score 7-0
4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-19-J.Jett.
Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q1 2:04 · DET 29 · Score 7-6
(2:04) 16-J.Plummer pass to 85-A.Lelie for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q1 1:56 · DET 2 · Score 7-7
1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-4-M.Knorr.
Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q2 10:40 · DET 1 · Score 7-13
(10:40) 16-J.Plummer pass to 84-S.Sharpe for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q2 10:36 · DET 2 · Score 7-14
1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-4-M.Knorr.
Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 6:06 · DEN 35 · Score 10-14
(6:06) 4-J.Hanson 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-19-J.Jett.
Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q3 1:21 · DET 19 · Score 10-17
(1:21) 1-J.Elam 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-4-M.Knorr.
Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q4 13:47 · DEN 43 · Score 16-17
(13:47) 3-J.Harrington pass to 88-S.Anderson for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q4 3:17 · DET 23 · Score 16-20
(3:17) 1-J.Elam 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-4-M.Knorr.

Key takeaways

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

Denver Broncos earned the result — use the box score for snap-level context.
One-score margin — verify garbage-time stats before drawing fantasy conclusions.
Jack Plummer (Denver Broncos) led total EPA — start here for highlight and prop research.

Frequently asked questions

Who won Detroit Lions vs Denver Broncos on 2003-09-28?

The Denver Broncos beat the Detroit Lions 20-16 in Week 4, 2003.

What was the score by quarter in Detroit Lions vs Denver Broncos?

Q1: Detroit Lions 7, Denver Broncos 7; Q2: Detroit Lions 3, Denver Broncos 7; Q3: Detroit Lions 0, Denver Broncos 3; Q4: Detroit Lions 6, Denver Broncos 3; Final: Detroit Lions 16, Denver Broncos 20.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals in Detroit Lions vs Denver Broncos?

Detroit Lions touchdown — C. Rogers (J. Harrington pass) (Q1 7:15) Denver Broncos touchdown — A. Lelie (J. Plummer pass) (Q1 2:04) Denver Broncos touchdown — S. Sharpe (J. Plummer pass) (Q2 10:40) Detroit Lions touchdown — S. Anderson (J. Harrington pass) (Q4 13:47) Detroit Lions field goal — J. Hanson (Q2 6:06, 3 pts) Denver Broncos field goal — J. Elam (Q3 1:21, 3 pts) Denver Broncos field goal — J. Elam (Q4 3:17, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.

How did the quarterbacks play in Detroit Lions vs Denver Broncos?

Jack Plummer (Denver Broncos), 64.1% completion, +0.22 EPA per dropback, +8.76 total passing EPA. Jax Harrington (Detroit Lions), 39.5% completion, +0.04 EPA per dropback, +1.52 total passing EPA.

Who was FantasyHQ's player of the game in Detroit Lions vs Denver Broncos?

Jack Plummer (Denver Broncos) was FantasyHQ's Game MVP with +8.76 total EPA on Passing plays. across 39 snaps. Their top snap (+2.88 EPA): (2:04) 16-J.Plummer pass to 85-A.Lelie for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

Was Detroit Lions vs Denver Broncos a close game?

Yes — the margin was 4 points. Denver Broncos won 20-16 in a game that stayed within one score into the fourth quarter.

Season records after this game

Detroit Lions

Entered 1-2 Now 1-3 L

Denver Broncos

Entered 3-0 Now 4-0 W

Detroit Lions vs. Denver Broncos: 2003 Week 4 Recap

Top fantasy performers · Lions

Top fantasy performers · Broncos

Quick answer

Game summary