Houston Texans vs. Buffalo Bills: 2003 Week 11 Recap

Game story

In Week 11 of the 2003 NFL season on 2003-11-16, the Houston Texans took care of business against the Buffalo Bills, pulling away with a 12–10 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 9 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Bledsoe (Buffalo Bills) paced the passing game, with -7.55 total EPA.

On the individual side, A. Johnson (Houston Texans) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +11.23 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-35.3% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Buffalo Bills changed the game: (2:00) (Shotgun) 11-D.Bledsoe sacked at HOU 39 for -8 yards (55-J.Sharper). FUMBLES (55-J.Sharper), RECOVERED by HOU-53-S.Orr at HOU 39. 53-S.Orr to HOU 38 for -1 yards (31-S.Morris). Play Challenged

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. Johnson · Houston Texans · Receiving · +11.23 total EPA · 4 snaps · +2.81 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Banks · Houston Texans · Passing · +9.59 total EPA · 22 snaps · +0.44 EPA/play
3. 3 B. Shaw · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +6.93 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.39 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Reed · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +4.43 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.74 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Gaffney · Houston Texans · Receiving · +2.96 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.99 EPA/play
6. 6 S. Morris · Buffalo Bills · Rushing · +1.38 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.69 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Davis · Houston Texans · Receiving · +1.10 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.37 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Reed · Buffalo Bills · Rushing · +1.08 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.08 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 — A. Johnson (T. Banks pass) (Q2 31:22)

Field goals

• Buffalo Bills — R. Lindell (Q2 32:10)
• Houston Texans — K. Brown (Q3 25:44)
• Buffalo Bills — R. Lindell (Q3 19:42)
• Houston Texans — K. Brown (Q4 3:28)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 2–0. Buffalo Bills registered a safety from the BUF 97 (Q1 49:56).

The second quarter: Houston Texans won the period 6–3. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the HOU 4 (Q2 32:10) — (2:10) 9-R.Lindell 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-70-T.Teague, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the BUF 46 (Q2 31:22) — (1:22) 12-T.Banks pass to 80-A.Johnson for 46 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught over middle at BUF 35..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the BUF 23 (Q3 25:44) — (10:44) 3-K.Brown 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.; Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the HOU 2 (Q3 19:42) — (4:42) 9-R.Lindell 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-70-T.Teague, Holder-8-B.Moorman..

The fourth quarter: Houston Texans won the period 3–2. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the BUF 16 (Q4 3:28) — (3:28) 3-K.Brown 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.; Buffalo Bills registered a safety from the BUF 66 (Q4 0:03) — (:03) (Punt formation) 80-A.Johnson ran ob in End Zone for -34 yards, SAFETY..

Turning points

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

• Buffalo Bills (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 11-D.Bledsoe sacked at HOU 39 for -8 yards (55-J.Sharper). FUMBLES (55-J.Sharper), RECOVERED by HOU-53-S.Orr at HOU 39. 53-S.Orr to HOU 38 for -1 yards (31-S.Morris). Play Challenged [WPA -35.3% · EPA -3.87]
• Houston Texans (Q3 23:45) — (8:45) 12-T.Banks pass intended for 80-A.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 26-A.Winfield at HOU 31. 26-A.Winfield pushed ob at HOU 20 for 11 yards (80-A.Johnson). [WPA -18.4% · EPA -4.39]
• Houston Texans (Q2 31:22) — (1:22) 12-T.Banks pass to 80-A.Johnson for 46 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught over middle at BUF 35. [WPA +14.4% · EPA +5.17]
• Houston Texans (Q4 6:02) — (6:02) 12-T.Banks pass to 80-A.Johnson pushed ob at BUF 9 for 42 yards (23-P.Prioleau). WR screen left, caught at HOU 48. [WPA +11.7% · EPA +2.92]
• Houston Texans (Q2 30:04) — (:04) (Shotgun) 12-T.Banks sacked at HOU 45 for -1 yards (95-S.Adams). [WPA -10.1% · EPA -0.28]

Impact plays

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

• Houston Texans (Q2 31:22) — (1:22) 12-T.Banks pass to 80-A.Johnson for 46 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught over middle at BUF 35. [WPA +14.4% · EPA +5.17]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 35:45) — (5:45) 20-T.Henry up the middle to HOU 21 for 64 yards (29-M.McCree). [WPA +9.6% · EPA +4.60]
• Houston Texans (Q3 23:45) — (8:45) 12-T.Banks pass intended for 80-A.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 26-A.Winfield at HOU 31. 26-A.Winfield pushed ob at HOU 20 for 11 yards (80-A.Johnson). [WPA -18.4% · EPA -4.39]
• Buffalo Bills (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 11-D.Bledsoe sacked at HOU 39 for -8 yards (55-J.Sharper). FUMBLES (55-J.Sharper), RECOVERED by HOU-53-S.Orr at HOU 39. 53-S.Orr to HOU 38 for -1 yards (31-S.Morris). Play Challenged [WPA -35.3% · EPA -3.87]

Quarterback report card

D.Bledsoe led all passers in efficiency for Buffalo Bills, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Bledsoe (Buffalo Bills) · 32 dropbacks · 46.9% completion · -0.24 EPA/play · -7.55 total EPA
• T.Banks (Houston Texans) · 22 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · +0.44 EPA/play · +9.59 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Houston Texans generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.04 vs -0.10), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Buffalo Bills: 12 drives, -8.07 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• Houston Texans: 12 drives, -3.40 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.
• A. Johnson (Houston Texans) 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. Buffalo Bills Safety (+2) — Q1 49:56 · BUF 97 · Score 0-2
   (4:56) 8-D.Carr sacked at HOU -5 for -8 yards (96-J.Posey). FUMBLES (96-J.Posey), ball out of bounds in End Zone, SAFETY. T.Washington (HOU) deflected ball out
2. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q2 32:10 · HOU 4 · Score 0-5
   (2:10) 9-R.Lindell 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-70-T.Teague, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
3. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q2 31:22 · BUF 46 · Score 6-5
   (1:22) 12-T.Banks pass to 80-A.Johnson for 46 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught over middle at BUF 35.
4. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q3 25:44 · BUF 23 · Score 9-5
   (10:44) 3-K.Brown 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
5. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q3 19:42 · HOU 2 · Score 9-8
   (4:42) 9-R.Lindell 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-70-T.Teague, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
6. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q4 3:28 · BUF 16 · Score 12-8
   (3:28) 3-K.Brown 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
7. Buffalo Bills Safety (+2) — Q4 0:03 · BUF 66 · Score 12-10
   (:03) (Punt formation) 80-A.Johnson ran ob in End Zone for -34 yards, SAFETY.