The 10 Most Impactful Plays of Week 15

​Honorable Mentions

So what is NEP? By adding down-and-distance value to standard box score information, we can see just how much each play and each team as a whole influence the outcome of games. If a player passes for five yards on 3rd-and-2, it means more to the game than it does on 3rd-and-10, and those plays should be valued accordingly. For more info on NEP, check out our glossary.

Each play has an NEP value. Each play also changes the win probability (WP) of the game. I factored those values together to see which plays were the most impactful to the moment on the field and the game as a whole.

Below were some exciting moments from the week with big value swings in one category, but didn’t cut it in the other.

10. Green Bay Packers linebacker Julius Peppers strip-sacks Chicago Bears quarterback Matt Barkley to kick off the second half (WP: +15.60, NEP: +5.13).
9. New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks hauls in 65-yard touchdown reception (WP: +13.70, NEP: +5.74).
8. San Diego Chargers running back Kenneth Farrow fumbles early in the fourth quarter, and Oakland Raiders linebacker Malcolm Smith recovers (WP: +29.66, NEP: +4.95).
7. With 36 seconds left, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers hits wide receiver Jordy Nelson for a 60-yard bomb to set up the game-winning field goal (WP: +38.59, NEP: +5.13).
6. Miami Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore drops a 52-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kenny Stills (WP: +14.55, NEP: +6.09).

Now onto the top five plays of the week!