Arizona Cardinals vs. Houston Texans: 2005 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 2005 NFL season on 2005-12-18, the Houston Texans took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 30–19 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 31 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Carr (Houston Texans) paced the passing game, with -5.50 total EPA.

On the individual side, A. Boldin (Arizona Cardinals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.84 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-10.2% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Arizona Cardinals changed the game: 3-K.Brown kicks 65 yards from HOU 15 to ARI 20. 87-R.Swinton to ARI 45 for 25 yards (44-M.Norris). FUMBLES (44-M.Norris), RECOVERED by HOU-50-C.Anderson at ARI 45. 50-C.Anderson to ARI 45 for no gain

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 A. Boldin · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +7.84 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.98 EPA/play
2. 2 L. Fitzgerald · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +5.38 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.90 EPA/play
3. 3 K. Warner · Arizona Cardinals · Passing · +4.96 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.38 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Johnson · Houston Texans · Receiving · +4.60 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.66 EPA/play
5. 5 L. McCoy · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +3.49 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.75 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Gaffney · Houston Texans · Receiving · +3.34 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.67 EPA/play
7. 7 V. Morency · Houston Texans · Rushing · +1.95 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.39 EPA/play
8. 8 C. Bradford · Houston Texans · Receiving · +1.75 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.58 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

• Houston Texans — J. Wells (Q2 44:28)
• Arizona Cardinals — A. Boldin (K. Warner pass) (Q2 40:23)
• Houston Texans — V. Morency (Q2 35:06)
• Houston Texans — J. Wells (Q2 31:55)
• Arizona Cardinals — L. Fitzgerald (J. Navarre pass) (Q4 5:36)

Field goals

• Arizona Cardinals — N. Rackers (Q1 48:47)
• Houston Texans — K. Brown (Q2 30:12)
• Houston Texans — K. Brown (Q3 27:26)
• Arizona Cardinals — N. Rackers (Q4 14:51)
• Houston Texans — K. Brown (Q4 0:29)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 3–0. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the HOU 8 (Q1 48:47) — (3:47) 1-N.Rackers 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-10-S.Player..

The second quarter: Houston Texans won the period 24–7. Houston Texans found the end zone from the ARI 7 (Q2 44:28) — (14:28) 32-J.Wells up the middle for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q2 44:23) — 3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the HOU 20 (Q2 40:23) — (10:23) 13-K.Warner pass to 81-A.Boldin for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN. (7 yards after catch.); Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q2 40:16) — 1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-10-S.Player.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the ARI 25 (Q2 35:06) — (5:06) 34-V.Morency left end for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on HOU-34-V.Morency, Taunting, 15 yards, enforced between downs.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q2 34:57); Houston Texans found the end zone from the ARI 3 (Q2 31:55) — (1:55) 32-J.Wells right guard for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q2 31:50) — 3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the ARI 9 (Q2 30:12) — (:12) 3-K.Brown 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley..

The third quarter: Houston Texans won the period 3–0. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the ARI 23 (Q3 27:26) — (12:26) 3-K.Brown 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley..

The fourth quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 9–3. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the HOU 24 (Q4 14:51) — (14:51) 1-N.Rackers 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-10-S.Player.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the HOU 12 (Q4 5:36) — (5:36) 16-J.Navarre pass to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the ARI 8 (Q4 0:29) — (:29) 3-K.Brown 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley..

Turning points

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 34:57) — 3-K.Brown kicks 65 yards from HOU 15 to ARI 20. 87-R.Swinton to ARI 45 for 25 yards (44-M.Norris). FUMBLES (44-M.Norris), RECOVERED by HOU-50-C.Anderson at ARI 45. 50-C.Anderson to ARI 45 for no gain [WPA -10.2% · EPA -3.43]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 52:32) — (7:32) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass to 19-L.McCoy to HOU 23 for 16 yards (28-C.McKenzie). (No yards after catch.) [WPA +9.7% · EPA +2.47]
• Houston Texans (Q2 35:06) — (5:06) 34-V.Morency left end for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on HOU-34-V.Morency, Taunting, 15 yards, enforced between downs. [WPA +8.1% · EPA +3.21]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 40:58) — (10:58) 13-K.Warner pass to 81-A.Boldin ran ob at HOU 20 for 22 yards (56-M.Greenwood). (10 yards after catch.) [WPA +7.5% · EPA +1.63]
• Houston Texans (Q1 55:40) — (10:40) 32-J.Wells left end to 50 for -1 yards (57-O.Huff, 27-D.Macklin). [WPA -7.4% · EPA -3.13]

Impact plays

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 15:45) — (:45) (Shotgun) 16-J.Navarre pass to 11-L.Fitzgerald to HOU 17 for 40 yards (24-C.Brown). [WPA +3.2% · EPA +4.33]
• Houston Texans (Q4 8:59) — (8:59) 8-D.Carr sacked at ARI 42 for -5 yards (72-R.Kolodziej). FUMBLES (72-R.Kolodziej), RECOVERED by ARI-58-K.Dansby at ARI 42. 58-K.Dansby to ARI 42 for no gain (70-F.Weary). [WPA -2.8% · EPA -4.19]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 34:57) — 3-K.Brown kicks 65 yards from HOU 15 to ARI 20. 87-R.Swinton to ARI 45 for 25 yards (44-M.Norris). FUMBLES (44-M.Norris), RECOVERED by HOU-50-C.Anderson at ARI 45. 50-C.Anderson to ARI 45 for no gain [WPA -10.2% · EPA -3.43]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 31:25) — (1:25) 12-J.McCown pass intended for 81-A.Boldin INTERCEPTED by 26-G.Earl at ARI 40. 26-G.Earl to ARI 38 for 2 yards (75-L.Davis). Play Challenged by Review Assistant and Upheld. [WPA -4.1% · EPA -3.34]

Quarterback report card

D.Carr led all passers in efficiency for Houston Texans, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Carr (Houston Texans) · 37 dropbacks · 59.5% completion · -0.15 EPA/play · -5.50 total EPA
• J.Navarre (Arizona Cardinals) · 29 dropbacks · 48.3% completion · -0.36 EPA/play · -10.35 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Houston Texans held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.01 vs -0.14), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Arizona Cardinals: 14 drives, -11.17 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Houston Texans: 13 drives, -0.41 total EPA, 6 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Houston Texans leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• A. Boldin (Arizona Cardinals) 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. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q1 48:47 · HOU 8 · Score 3-0
   (3:47) 1-N.Rackers 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-10-S.Player.
2. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q2 44:28 · ARI 7 · Score 3-6
   (14:28) 32-J.Wells up the middle for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q2 44:23 · ARI 2 · Score 3-7
   3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
4. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 40:23 · HOU 20 · Score 9-7
   (10:23) 13-K.Warner pass to 81-A.Boldin for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN. (7 yards after catch.)
5. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 40:16 · HOU 2 · Score 10-7
   1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-10-S.Player.
6. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q2 35:06 · ARI 25 · Score 10-13
   (5:06) 34-V.Morency left end for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on HOU-34-V.Morency, Taunting, 15 yards, enforced between downs.
7. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q2 34:57 · ARI 2 · Score 10-14
   3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley. Penalty on ARI, Personal Foul, offsetting. Penalty on HOU-69-C.Pitts, Unsportsmanlike Co
8. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q2 31:55 · ARI 3 · Score 10-20
   (1:55) 32-J.Wells right guard for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q2 31:50 · ARI 2 · Score 10-21
   3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
10. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q2 30:12 · ARI 9 · Score 10-24
    (:12) 3-K.Brown 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
11. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q3 27:26 · ARI 23 · Score 10-27
    (12:26) 3-K.Brown 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
12. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q4 14:51 · HOU 24 · Score 13-27
    (14:51) 1-N.Rackers 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-10-S.Player.
13. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 5:36 · HOU 12 · Score 19-27
    (5:36) 16-J.Navarre pass to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q4 0:29 · ARI 8 · Score 19-30
    (:29) 3-K.Brown 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.