The 10 Most Impactful Plays of Week 8

​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. Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr tosses a third-quarter go-ahead touchdown to wide receiver Amari Cooper from 34 yards out (WP: +14.81, NEP: +4.69).
9. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady throws his second touchdown pass in the first quarter, this one for 53 yards to Chris Hogan (WP: +11.70, NEP: +6.27).
8. Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jordan Hicks picks off Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in the end zone (WP: +15.23, NEP: +5.00).
7. Denver Broncos safety Darian Stewart snares a pass by San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers and brings it back to their 10-yard line (WP: +14.44, NEP: +5.23).
6. Chargers cornerback Casey Hayward jumps a Trevor Siemian pass and brings it back for a fourth-quarter pick-six (WP: +13.76, NEP: +6.14).

Now onto the top five plays of the week!