Denver Broncos vs. Houston Texans: 2023 Week 13 Recap

Game story

In Week 13 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-12-03, the Houston Texans took care of business against the Denver Broncos, pulling away with a 22–17 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

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

C. Stroud (Houston Texans) paced the passing game, with -4.45 total EPA, and -4.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, N. Collins (Houston Texans) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +12.07 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-35.7% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Denver Broncos changed the game: (:16) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short left intended for 85-L.Krull INTERCEPTED by 1-J.Ward at HOU -6. Touchback.

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 N. Collins · Houston Texans · Receiving · +12.07 total EPA · 12 snaps · +1.01 EPA/play
2. 2 B. Jordan · Houston Texans · Receiving · +4.08 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.82 EPA/play
3. 3 R. Wilson · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +2.77 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.69 EPA/play
4. 4 C. Stroud · Houston Texans · Rushing · +2.38 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.59 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Mills · Houston Texans · Passing · +1.54 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.54 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Williams · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +1.27 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
7. 7 L. Humphrey · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +0.72 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.72 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Mims · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +0.57 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.57 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 — D. Pierce (Q1 48:53)
• Denver Broncos — C. Sutton (R. Wilson pass) (Q3 19:55)
• Houston Texans — N. Collins (C. Stroud pass) (Q4 14:21)
• Denver Broncos — R. Wilson (Q4 12:06)

Field goals

• Houston Texans — M. Ammendola (Q1 55:14)
• Houston Texans — M. Ammendola (Q2 42:58)
• Denver Broncos — W. Lutz (Q2 31:27)
• Houston Texans — M. Ammendola (Q3 23:55)

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 10–0. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the DEN 11 (Q1 55:14) — (10:14) 16-M.Ammendola 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the DEN 3 (Q1 48:53) — (3:53) 31-D.Pierce up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. HOU-3-T.Dell was injured during the play. He is Out.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the DEN 15 (Q1 48:49) — 16-M.Ammendola extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston..

The second quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the DEN 20 (Q2 42:58) — (12:58) 16-M.Ammendola 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the HOU 16 (Q2 31:27) — (1:27) 16-W.Lutz 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon..

The third quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 7–3. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the DEN 20 (Q3 23:55) — (8:55) 16-M.Ammendola 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the HOU 45 (Q3 19:55) — (4:55) 3-R.Wilson pass deep left to 14-C.Sutton for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on HOU-5-J.Pitre, Defensive Pass Interference, declined.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q3 19:47) — 16-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon..

The fourth quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 7–6. Houston Texans found the end zone from the DEN 3 (Q4 14:21) — (14:21) 7-C.Stroud pass short left to 12-N.Collins for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the HOU 1 (Q4 12:06) — (12:06) 3-R.Wilson right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q4 12:04) — 16-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon..

Turning points

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

• Denver Broncos (Q4 0:16) — (:16) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short left intended for 85-L.Krull INTERCEPTED by 1-J.Ward at HOU -6. Touchback. [WPA -35.7% · EPA -3.30]
• Denver Broncos (Q4 0:30) — (:30) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson scrambles up the middle to HOU 8 for 5 yards (96-M.Collins). [WPA +15.6% · EPA +2.00]
• Denver Broncos (Q4 0:23) — (:23) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass incomplete short middle to 82-A.Trautman. [WPA -12.1% · EPA -0.69]
• Denver Broncos (Q3 19:55) — (4:55) 3-R.Wilson pass deep left to 14-C.Sutton for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on HOU-5-J.Pitre, Defensive Pass Interference, declined. [WPA +11.3% · EPA +4.05]
• Denver Broncos (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) 33-J.Williams right tackle to HOU 21 for 1 yard (25-D.King). [WPA +10.7% · EPA +1.33]

Impact plays

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

• Denver Broncos (Q3 16:04) — (1:04) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short right intended for 10-J.Jeudy INTERCEPTED by 24-D.Stingley (51-W.Anderson) at DEN 24. 24-D.Stingley to DEN 21 for 3 yards (84-C.Manhertz). [WPA -9.0% · EPA -5.68]
• Houston Texans (Q1 45:26) — (:26) (Shotgun) 7-C.Stroud pass deep right to 12-N.Collins to DEN 26 for 59 yards (2-P.Surtain; 6-P.Locke). [WPA +9.1% · EPA +5.07]
• Houston Texans (Q3 26:44) — (11:44) (Shotgun) 7-C.Stroud pass deep middle to 12-N.Collins to DEN 22 for 39 yards (6-P.Locke). [WPA +5.3% · EPA +4.22]
• Denver Broncos (Q3 19:55) — (4:55) 3-R.Wilson pass deep left to 14-C.Sutton for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on HOU-5-J.Pitre, Defensive Pass Interference, declined. [WPA +11.3% · EPA +4.05]

Quarterback report card

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

• C.Stroud (Houston Texans) · 37 dropbacks · 43.2% completion · -4.9% CPOE · -0.12 EPA/play · -4.45 total EPA
• R.Wilson (Denver Broncos) · 36 dropbacks · 41.7% completion · +2.5% CPOE · -0.33 EPA/play · -12.03 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 (-0.06 vs -0.15), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Denver Broncos: 13 drives, -11.14 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Houston Texans: 13 drives, -5.37 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• N. Collins (Houston Texans) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• C. Stroud (HOU) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

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

1. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q1 55:14 · DEN 11 · Score 0-3
   (10:14) 16-M.Ammendola 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.
2. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q1 48:53 · DEN 3 · Score 0-9
   (3:53) 31-D.Pierce up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. HOU-3-T.Dell was injured during the play. He is Out.
3. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q1 48:49 · DEN 15 · Score 0-10
   16-M.Ammendola extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.
4. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q2 42:58 · DEN 20 · Score 0-13
   (12:58) 16-M.Ammendola 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.
5. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q2 31:27 · HOU 16 · Score 3-13
   (1:27) 16-W.Lutz 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
6. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q3 23:55 · DEN 20 · Score 3-16
   (8:55) 16-M.Ammendola 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.
7. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q3 19:55 · HOU 45 · Score 9-16
   (4:55) 3-R.Wilson pass deep left to 14-C.Sutton for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on HOU-5-J.Pitre, Defensive Pass Interference, declined.
8. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q3 19:47 · HOU 15 · Score 10-16
   16-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
9. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q4 14:21 · DEN 3 · Score 10-22
   (14:21) 7-C.Stroud pass short left to 12-N.Collins for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q4 12:06 · HOU 1 · Score 16-22
    (12:06) 3-R.Wilson right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q4 12:04 · HOU 15 · Score 17-22
    16-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Fraboni, Holder-9-R.Dixon.