Denver Broncos vs. Houston Texans: 2007 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 2007 NFL season on 2007-12-13, the Houston Texans took care of business against the Denver Broncos, pulling away with a 31–13 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Cutler (Denver Broncos) paced the passing game, with -1.04 total EPA, and +5.1% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, B. Marshall (Denver Broncos) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +10.00 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-9.7% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Houston Texans changed the game: (2:17) 18-S.Rosenfels pass deep middle intended for 80-A.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 32-D.Bly (47-J.Lynch) at DEN 36. 32-D.Bly ran ob at HOU 27 for 37 yards (81-O.Daniels). Penalty on HOU-74-E.Salaam, Offe

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 B. Marshall · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +10.00 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.91 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Scheffler · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +9.06 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.29 EPA/play
3. 3 A. Johnson · Houston Texans · Receiving · +8.48 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.41 EPA/play
4. 4 O. Daniels · Houston Texans · Receiving · +5.60 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.87 EPA/play
5. 5 R. Dayne · Houston Texans · Rushing · +3.36 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
6. 6 S. Rosenfels · Houston Texans · Passing · +3.29 total EPA · 28 snaps · +0.12 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Walker · Houston Texans · Rushing · +2.80 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.22 EPA/play
8. 8 K. Walter · Houston Texans · Rushing · +2.12 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.06 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 — S. Rosenfels (Q1 56:11)
• Houston Texans — R. Dayne (Q3 20:19)
• Denver Broncos — T. Scheffler (J. Cutler pass) (Q3 15:53)
• Houston Texans — A. Johnson (S. Rosenfels pass) (Q4 10:11)
• Houston Texans — V. Leach (Q4 3:23)

Field goals

• Denver Broncos — J. Elam (Q2 38:53)
• Houston Texans — K. Brown (Q2 37:42)
• Denver Broncos — J. Elam (Q2 34:34)

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 7–0. Houston Texans found the end zone from the DEN 5 (Q1 56:11) — (11:11) 18-S.Rosenfels scrambles left end for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q1 56:04) — 3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk..

The second quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 6–3. Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the HOU 23 (Q2 38:53) — (8:53) 1-J.Elam 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-10-T.Sauerbrun.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the DEN 23 (Q2 37:42) — (7:42) 3-K.Brown 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the HOU 29 (Q2 34:34) — (4:34) 1-J.Elam 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-10-T.Sauerbrun..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Houston Texans found the end zone from the DEN 6 (Q3 20:19) — (5:19) 36-R.Dayne up the middle for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q3 20:17) — 3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the HOU 12 (Q3 15:53); Denver Broncos added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q3 15:36) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-10-T.Sauerbrun..

The fourth quarter: Houston Texans won the period 14–0. Houston Texans found the end zone from the DEN 4 (Q4 10:11) — (10:11) 18-S.Rosenfels pass short left to 80-A.Johnson for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q4 10:06) — 3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the DEN 1 (Q4 3:23) — (3:23) 44-V.Leach up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q4 3:20) — 3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk..

Turning points

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

• Houston Texans (Q3 17:17) — (2:17) 18-S.Rosenfels pass deep middle intended for 80-A.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 32-D.Bly (47-J.Lynch) at DEN 36. 32-D.Bly ran ob at HOU 27 for 37 yards (81-O.Daniels). Penalty on HOU-74-E.Salaam, Offe [WPA -9.7% · EPA -5.64]
• Houston Texans (Q4 10:11) — (10:11) 18-S.Rosenfels pass short left to 80-A.Johnson for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +8.2% · EPA +2.58]
• Denver Broncos (Q3 25:46) — (10:46) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short left to 35-S.Young pushed ob at HOU 34 for 4 yards (56-M.Greenwood). [WPA -6.9% · EPA -1.90]
• Denver Broncos (Q2 42:35) — (12:35) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short middle to 15-B.Marshall to HOU 24 for 13 yards (32-F.Bennett, 47-W.Demps). [WPA +6.8% · EPA +2.30]
• Houston Texans (Q2 38:49) — 10-T.Sauerbrun kicks 63 yards from DEN 30 to HOU 7. 11-A.Davis to DEN 43 for 50 yards (51-J.Winborn). [WPA +6.4% · EPA +2.13]

Impact plays

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

• Houston Texans (Q3 17:17) — (2:17) 18-S.Rosenfels pass deep middle intended for 80-A.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 32-D.Bly (47-J.Lynch) at DEN 36. 32-D.Bly ran ob at HOU 27 for 37 yards (81-O.Daniels). Penalty on HOU-74-E.Salaam, Offe [WPA -9.7% · EPA -5.64]
• Denver Broncos (Q3 17:59) — (2:59) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass incomplete deep left to 84-J.Walker [47-W.Demps]. [WPA -2.5% · EPA -3.10]
• Houston Texans (Q4 5:22) — (5:22) 18-S.Rosenfels pass deep left to 80-A.Johnson pushed ob at DEN 1 for 28 yards (24-C.Bailey). [WPA +1.3% · EPA +2.77]
• Denver Broncos (Q3 26:05) — (11:05) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler sacked at HOU 38 for -4 yards (90-M.Williams). [WPA -6.2% · EPA -2.67]

Quarterback report card

J.Cutler led all passers in efficiency for Denver Broncos, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Cutler (Denver Broncos) · 44 dropbacks · 61.4% completion · +5.1% CPOE · -0.02 EPA/play · -1.04 total EPA
• S.Rosenfels (Houston Texans) · 28 dropbacks · 57.1% completion · -2.8% CPOE · +0.12 EPA/play · +3.29 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 (+0.23 vs -0.01), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Denver Broncos: 10 drives, -1.13 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Houston Texans: 10 drives, +16.46 total EPA, 5 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.
• B. Marshall (Denver Broncos) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Cutler (DEN) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q1 56:11 · DEN 5 · Score 0-6
   (11:11) 18-S.Rosenfels scrambles left end for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q1 56:04 · DEN 2 · Score 0-7
   3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk.
3. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q2 38:53 · HOU 23 · Score 3-7
   (8:53) 1-J.Elam 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-10-T.Sauerbrun.
4. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q2 37:42 · DEN 23 · Score 3-10
   (7:42) 3-K.Brown 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk.
5. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q2 34:34 · HOU 29 · Score 6-10
   (4:34) 1-J.Elam 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-10-T.Sauerbrun.
6. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q3 20:19 · DEN 6 · Score 6-16
   (5:19) 36-R.Dayne up the middle for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q3 20:17 · DEN 2 · Score 6-17
   3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk.
8. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q3 15:53 · HOU 12 · Score 12-17
   (:53) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short left to 88-T.Scheffler for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Houston challenged the runner broke the plane ruling, and the play was Uph
9. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q3 15:36 · HOU 2 · Score 13-17
   1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-83-M.Leach, Holder-10-T.Sauerbrun.
10. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q4 10:11 · DEN 4 · Score 13-23
    (10:11) 18-S.Rosenfels pass short left to 80-A.Johnson for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q4 10:06 · DEN 2 · Score 13-24
    3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk.
12. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q4 3:23 · DEN 1 · Score 13-30
    (3:23) 44-V.Leach up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q4 3:20 · DEN 2 · Score 13-31
    3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk.