Patriots 18–20 Broncos: Score, Stats & Recap | Divisional, 2015

Q: Who was FantasyHQ's player of the game in New England Patriots vs Denver Broncos?

E. Sanders (Denver Broncos) was FantasyHQ's Game MVP with +5.30 total EPA on Receiving plays. across 8 snaps. Their top snap (+3.00 EPA): (:46) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass deep left to 10-E.Sanders to NE 40 for 34 yards (21-M.Butler)..

Quick answer

Winner: Denver Broncos
Final score: Denver Broncos 20–18 New England Patriots
Halftime: New England Patriots 9–17 Denver Broncos at halftime
FantasyHQ MVP: Eli Sanders
Top passer: T. Brady
Biggest EPA play: (2:27) 18-P.Manning pass incomplete short left to 23-R.Hillman. New England challenged the…
Game date: 2016-01-24

Game summary

The Denver Broncos beat the New England Patriots 20–18 on 2016-01-24. Eli Sanders posted a game-high +5.30 total EPA in the receiving.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 13 combined points.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	—	T
New England Patriots	6	3	3	6	0	18
Denver Broncos	7	10	0	3	0	20

Scoring Map

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

NENew England Patriots

NE 21

DEN 1

+3DEN 28

+3NE 33

+3DEN 20

DEN 4

DENDenver Broncos

FantasyHQ Analytics

Scoring timeline

10 scores

Chronological scoring plays — scroll to follow the game.

DENDenver Broncos
Q1 7:37TD
ODO. Daniels
Points+6
Yard line
NE 21
Score
0-6
(7:37) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass deep middle to 81-O.Daniels for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
DENDenver Broncos
Q1 7:32XP
Brandon McManus
Points+1
Yard line
NE 15
Score
0-7
8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
NENew England Patriots
Q1 1:53TD
Shedrick Jackson
Points+6
Yard line
DEN 1
Score
6-7
(1:53) 39-S.Jackson right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
DENDenver Broncos
Q2 13:51TD
ODO. Daniels
Points+6
Yard line
NE 12
Score
6-13
(13:51) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass short right to 81-O.Daniels for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
DENDenver Broncos
Q2 13:46XP
Brandon McManus
Points+1
Yard line
NE 15
Score
6-14
8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
NENew England Patriots
Q2 7:07FG
SGS. Gostkowski
Points+3
Yard line
DEN 28
Score
9-14
(7:07) 3-S.Gostkowski 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
DENDenver Broncos
Q2 0:38FG
Brandon McManus
Points+3
Yard line
NE 33
Score
9-17
(:38) 8-B.McManus 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
NENew England Patriots
Q3 10:31FG
SGS. Gostkowski
Points+3
Yard line
DEN 20
Score
12-17
(10:31) 3-S.Gostkowski 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
DENDenver Broncos
Q4 10:06FG
Brandon McManus
Points+3
Yard line
NE 13
Score
12-20
(10:06) 8-B.McManus 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
NENew England Patriots
Q4 0:17TD
RGR. Gronkowski
Points+6
Yard line
DEN 4
Score
18-20
(:17) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 87-R.Gronkowski for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN [94-D.Ware].

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA).

1Eli Sanders · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +5.30 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.66 EPA/play
2O. Daniels · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +5.25 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.75 EPA/play
3R. Gronkowski · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.56 total EPA · 15 snaps · +0.24 EPA/play
4Brandon Bolden · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.33 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.78 EPA/play
5A. Caldwell · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +0.91 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.91 EPA/play
6C. Latimer · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +0.76 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.76 EPA/play
7J. Norwood · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +0.64 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.21 EPA/play
8T. Brady · New England Patriots · Rushing · +0.31 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.16 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

Eli Sanders — DEN · Receiving

Eli Sanders posted the highest total EPA (+5.30) in the game, the strongest overall impact for Denver Broncos. Across 8 counted snaps, they averaged +0.66 EPA per play.

Eli Sanders's top snap (+3.00 EPA): (:46) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass deep left to 10-E.Sanders to NE 40 for 34 yards (21-M.Butler).

Biggest single play (-5.34 EPA): Paul Manning — (2:27) 18-P.Manning pass incomplete short left to 23-R.Hillman. New England challenged the incomplete pass ruling, and the play was REVERSED. 18-P.Manning FUMBLES (Aborted) at DEN 22, RECOVERED by NE-

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) · 64 dropbacks · 42.2% completion · -13.3% CPOE · -0.11 EPA/play · -7.03 total EPA
Paul Manning (Denver Broncos) · 38 dropbacks · 44.7% completion · -4.3% CPOE · -0.10 EPA/play · -3.66 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency.

Stat	New England Patriots	Denver Broncos
Offensive EPA/play	-0.138	-0.154
Offensive success rate	33.7%	31.8%
Pass EPA/play	-0.110	-0.096
Rush EPA/play	-0.344	-0.330
Defensive EPA/play	+0.154	+0.138
Defensive success rate	68.2%	66.3%

Drive & efficiency notes

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (New England Patriots -0.14, Denver Broncos -0.15) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

Season benchmark context (offensive EPA per play):

New England Patriots: -0.14 EPA/play (20th percentile vs. 2015 team-game averages)
Denver Broncos: -0.15 EPA/play (18th percentile vs. 2015 team-game averages)

Denver Broncos: 15 drives, -13.56 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
New England Patriots: 15 drives, -13.54 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

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

Touchdowns

Denver Broncos — O. Daniels (Paul Manning pass) (Q1 7:37)
New England Patriots — Shedrick Jackson (Q1 1:53)
Denver Broncos — O. Daniels (Paul Manning pass) (Q2 13:51)
New England Patriots — R. Gronkowski (T. Brady pass) (Q4 0:17)

Field goals

New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q2 7:07)
Denver Broncos — Brandon McManus (Q2 0:38)
New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q3 10:31)
Denver Broncos — Brandon McManus (Q4 10:06)

Quarter by quarter

Quarter-by-quarter recap from live scoring plays.

The opening quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 7–6. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the NE 21 (Q1 7:37) — (7:37) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass deep middle to 81-O.Daniels for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q1 7:32) — 8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the DEN 1 (Q1 1:53) — (1:53) 39-S.Jackson right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN..

The second quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 10–3. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the NE 12 (Q2 13:51) — (13:51) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass short right to 81-O.Daniels for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q2 13:46) — 8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the DEN 28 (Q2 7:07) — (7:07) 3-S.Gostkowski 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the NE 33 (Q2 0:38) — (:38) 8-B.McManus 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt..

The third quarter: New England Patriots won the period 3–0. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the DEN 20 (Q3 10:31) — (10:31) 3-S.Gostkowski 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen..

The fourth quarter: New England Patriots won the period 6–3. Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the NE 13 (Q4 10:06) — (10:06) 8-B.McManus 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the DEN 4 (Q4 0:17) — (:17) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 87-R.Gronkowski for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN [94-D.Ware]..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most.

New England Patriots (Q4 0:12) — (Pass formation) TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 12-T.Brady pass to 11-J.Edelman is incomplete. ATTEMPT FAILS. DEFENSIVE TWO-POINT ATTEMPT. 29-B.Roby intercepted the try attempt. ATTEMPT FAILS. [WPA -18.5% · EPA -0.95]
New England Patriots (Q4 0:17) — (:17) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 87-R.Gronkowski for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN [94-D.Ware]. [WPA +17.4% · EPA +4.42]
New England Patriots (Q4 1:34) — (1:34) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep middle to 87-R.Gronkowski to DEN 10 for 40 yards (20-J.Bush; 25-C.Harris). [WPA +13.9% · EPA +4.06]
New England Patriots (Q2 14:41) — (14:41) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short right intended for 87-R.Gronkowski INTERCEPTED by 58-V.Miller at NE 20. 58-V.Miller to NE 16 for 4 yards (28-J.White). [WPA -13.7% · EPA -4.11]
Denver Broncos (Q1 2:27) — (2:27) 18-P.Manning pass incomplete short left to 23-R.Hillman. New England challenged the incomplete pass ruling, and the play was REVERSED. 18-P.Manning FUMBLES (Aborted) at DEN 22, RECOVERED by NE- [WPA -11.7% · EPA -5.34]

Impact plays

Highest EPA snaps that flipped field position.

Denver Broncos (Q1 2:27) — (2:27) 18-P.Manning pass incomplete short left to 23-R.Hillman. New England challenged the incomplete pass ruling, and the play was REVERSED. 18-P.Manning FUMBLES (Aborted) at DEN 22, RECOVERED by NE- [WPA -11.7% · EPA -5.34]
New England Patriots (Q4 0:17) — (:17) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 87-R.Gronkowski for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN [94-D.Ware]. [WPA +17.4% · EPA +4.42]
New England Patriots (Q2 14:41) — (14:41) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short right intended for 87-R.Gronkowski INTERCEPTED by 58-V.Miller at NE 20. 58-V.Miller to NE 16 for 4 yards (28-J.White). [WPA -13.7% · EPA -4.11]
New England Patriots (Q4 1:34) — (1:34) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep middle to 87-R.Gronkowski to DEN 10 for 40 yards (20-J.Bush; 25-C.Harris). [WPA +13.9% · EPA +4.06]

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with play-by-play context.

Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q1 7:37 · NE 21 · Score 0-6
(7:37) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass deep middle to 81-O.Daniels for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q1 7:32 · NE 15 · Score 0-7
8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q1 1:53 · DEN 1 · Score 6-7
(1:53) 39-S.Jackson right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q2 13:51 · NE 12 · Score 6-13
(13:51) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass short right to 81-O.Daniels for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q2 13:46 · NE 15 · Score 6-14
8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 7:07 · DEN 28 · Score 9-14
(7:07) 3-S.Gostkowski 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q2 0:38 · NE 33 · Score 9-17
(:38) 8-B.McManus 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q3 10:31 · DEN 20 · Score 12-17
(10:31) 3-S.Gostkowski 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q4 10:06 · NE 13 · Score 12-20
(10:06) 8-B.McManus 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 0:17 · DEN 4 · Score 18-20
(:17) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 87-R.Gronkowski for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN [94-D.Ware].

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.
Eli Sanders (Denver Broncos) led total EPA — start here for highlight and prop research.
T. Brady (NE) finished below expected efficiency despite volume.

Frequently asked questions

Who won New England Patriots vs Denver Broncos on 2016-01-24?

The Denver Broncos beat the New England Patriots 20-18 in Divisional, 2015.

What was the score by quarter in New England Patriots vs Denver Broncos?

Q1: New England Patriots 6, Denver Broncos 7; Q2: New England Patriots 3, Denver Broncos 10; Q3: New England Patriots 3, Denver Broncos 0; Q4: New England Patriots 6, Denver Broncos 3; Final: New England Patriots 18, Denver Broncos 20.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals in New England Patriots vs Denver Broncos?

Denver Broncos touchdown — O. Daniels (P. Manning pass) (Q1 7:37) New England Patriots touchdown — S. Jackson (Q1 1:53) Denver Broncos touchdown — O. Daniels (P. Manning pass) (Q2 13:51) New England Patriots touchdown — R. Gronkowski (T. Brady pass) (Q4 0:17) New England Patriots field goal — S. Gostkowski (Q2 7:07, 3 pts) Denver Broncos field goal — B. McManus (Q2 0:38, 3 pts) New England Patriots field goal — S. Gostkowski (Q3 10:31, 3 pts) Denver Broncos field goal — B. McManus (Q4 10:06, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.

How did the quarterbacks play in New England Patriots vs Denver Broncos?

T. Brady (New England Patriots), 42.2% completion, -13.3% CPOE, -0.11 EPA per dropback, -7.03 total passing EPA. Paul Manning (Denver Broncos), 44.7% completion, -4.3% CPOE, -0.10 EPA per dropback, -3.66 total passing EPA.

Who was FantasyHQ's player of the game in New England Patriots vs Denver Broncos?

Eli Sanders (Denver Broncos) was FantasyHQ's Game MVP with +5.30 total EPA on Receiving plays. across 8 snaps. Their top snap (+3.00 EPA): (:46) (Shotgun) 18-P.Manning pass deep left to 10-E.Sanders to NE 40 for 34 yards (21-M.Butler)..

Was New England Patriots vs Denver Broncos a close game?

Yes — the margin was 2 points. Denver Broncos won 20-18 in a game that came down to the wire.

Season records after this game

New England Patriots

Entered 13-4 Now 13-5 L

Denver Broncos

Entered 13-4 Now 14-4 W

New England Patriots vs. Denver Broncos: 2015 Divisional Recap

Top fantasy performers · Patriots

Top fantasy performers · Broncos

Quick answer

Game summary