Cleveland Browns vs. Houston Texans: 2004 Week 17 Recap

Game story

In Week 17 of the 2004 NFL season on 2005-01-02, the Cleveland Browns took care of business against the Houston Texans, pulling away with a 22–14 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 13 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Carr (Houston Texans) paced the passing game, with -6.68 total EPA.

On the individual side, A. Bryant (Cleveland Browns) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.34 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-20.8% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Cleveland Browns changed the game: (:49) (Shotgun) 10-K.Holcomb pass intended for 81-A.Bryant INTERCEPTED by 38-D.Faggins at CLE 41. 38-D.Faggins to CLE 37 for 4 yards (81-A.Bryant).

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. Bryant · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +6.34 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.91 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Northcutt · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +5.14 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.03 EPA/play
3. 3 S. Heiden · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +3.63 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.81 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Wells · Houston Texans · Receiving · +2.37 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.19 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Davis · Houston Texans · Rushing · +2.32 total EPA · 18 snaps · +0.13 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Banks · Houston Texans · Passing · +2.15 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.15 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Davis · Houston Texans · Receiving · +2.09 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
8. 8 C. Bradford · Houston Texans · Receiving · +1.81 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.90 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 (D. Carr pass) (Q1 49:54)
• Cleveland Browns — S. Heiden (K. Holcomb pass) (Q3 20:30)
• Houston Texans — D. Davis (Q4 1:27)

Field goals

• Cleveland Browns — P. Dawson (Q1 54:56)
• Cleveland Browns — P. Dawson (Q2 41:28)
• Cleveland Browns — P. Dawson (Q2 32:05)
• Cleveland Browns — P. Dawson (Q4 14:14)
• Cleveland Browns — P. Dawson (Q4 4:05)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Houston Texans won the period 7–3. Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the HOU 27 (Q1 54:56) — (9:56) 4-P.Dawson 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-8-D.Frost.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the CLE 6 (Q1 49:54) — (4:54) 8-D.Carr pass to 32-J.Wells for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the CLE 2 (Q1 49:48) — 3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley..

The second quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 6–0. Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the HOU 5 (Q2 41:28) — (11:28) 4-P.Dawson 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-8-D.Frost.; Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the HOU 12 (Q2 32:05) — (2:05) 4-P.Dawson 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-8-D.Frost..

The third quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 7–0. Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the HOU 9 (Q3 20:30); Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q3 20:24) — 4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-8-D.Frost..

The fourth quarter: Houston Texans won the period 7–6. Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the HOU 28 (Q4 14:14) — (14:14) 4-P.Dawson 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-8-D.Frost.; Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the HOU 5 (Q4 4:05) — (4:05) 4-P.Dawson 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-8-D.Frost.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the CLE 1 (Q4 1:27) — (1:27) 37-D.Davis up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the CLE 2 (Q4 1:23) — 3-K.Brown extra point 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.

• Cleveland Browns (Q2 30:49) — (:49) (Shotgun) 10-K.Holcomb pass intended for 81-A.Bryant INTERCEPTED by 38-D.Faggins at CLE 41. 38-D.Faggins to CLE 37 for 4 yards (81-A.Bryant). [WPA -20.8% · EPA -3.15]
• Cleveland Browns (Q3 30:00) — (15:00) 10-K.Holcomb pass intended for 82-S.Heiden INTERCEPTED by 30-J.Simmons (93-J.Babin) at CLE 43. 30-J.Simmons to CLE 43 for no gain (82-S.Heiden). [WPA -17.6% · EPA -4.42]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 57:38) — (12:38) 10-K.Holcomb pass to 86-D.Northcutt to HOU 32 for 48 yards (30-J.Simmons). (6 yards after catch.) [WPA +11.5% · EPA +3.19]
• Cleveland Browns (Q2 44:13) — (14:13) (Shotgun) 10-K.Holcomb pass to 81-A.Bryant to HOU 20 for 24 yards (29-M.McCree). (12 yards after catch.) [WPA +9.8% · EPA +2.88]
• Cleveland Browns (Q3 25:06) — (10:06) 44-L.Suggs up the middle to HOU 22 for 39 yards (31-A.Glenn). [WPA +9.6% · EPA +2.89]

Impact plays

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

• Cleveland Browns (Q3 15:53) — (:53) 8-D.Frost punts 42 yards to HOU 26, Center-64-R.Pontbriand. 84-J.Moses to HOU 29 for 3 yards (35-D.Carter). FUMBLES (35-D.Carter), RECOVERED by CLE-56-E.Westmoreland at HOU 25. 56-E.Westmoreland [WPA +6.9% · EPA +4.99]
• Cleveland Browns (Q3 30:00) — (15:00) 10-K.Holcomb pass intended for 82-S.Heiden INTERCEPTED by 30-J.Simmons (93-J.Babin) at CLE 43. 30-J.Simmons to CLE 43 for no gain (82-S.Heiden). [WPA -17.6% · EPA -4.42]
• Houston Texans (Q4 8:55) — (8:55) 8-D.Carr right end to CLE 46 for -3 yards (57-W.Holdman). [WPA -1.8% · EPA -3.35]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 57:38) — (12:38) 10-K.Holcomb pass to 86-D.Northcutt to HOU 32 for 48 yards (30-J.Simmons). (6 yards after catch.) [WPA +11.5% · EPA +3.19]

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) · 34 dropbacks · 44.1% completion · -0.20 EPA/play · -6.68 total EPA
• K.Holcomb (Cleveland Browns) · 30 dropbacks · 66.7% completion · -0.06 EPA/play · -1.89 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Cleveland Browns generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.03 vs -0.11), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Cleveland Browns: 12 drives, +2.74 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Houston Texans: 11 drives, -8.47 total EPA, 2 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Cleveland Browns leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• A. Bryant (Cleveland Browns) 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. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q1 54:56 · HOU 27 · Score 3-0
   (9:56) 4-P.Dawson 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-8-D.Frost.
2. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q1 49:54 · CLE 6 · Score 3-6
   (4:54) 8-D.Carr pass to 32-J.Wells for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q1 49:48 · CLE 2 · Score 3-7
   3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
4. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q2 41:28 · HOU 5 · Score 6-7
   (11:28) 4-P.Dawson 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-8-D.Frost.
5. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q2 32:05 · HOU 12 · Score 9-7
   (2:05) 4-P.Dawson 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-8-D.Frost.
6. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q3 20:30 · HOU 9 · Score 15-7
   (5:30) (Shotgun) 10-K.Holcomb pass to 82-S.Heiden for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. (This TOUCHDOWN is the first allowed by the Texans since December 12, 2004 against Ind
7. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q3 20:24 · HOU 2 · Score 16-7
   4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-8-D.Frost.
8. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q4 14:14 · HOU 28 · Score 19-7
   (14:14) 4-P.Dawson 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-8-D.Frost.
9. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q4 4:05 · HOU 5 · Score 22-7
   (4:05) 4-P.Dawson 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-8-D.Frost.
10. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q4 1:27 · CLE 1 · Score 22-13
    (1:27) 37-D.Davis up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q4 1:23 · CLE 2 · Score 22-14
    3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.