Houston Texans vs. Buffalo Bills: 2005 Week 1 Recap

Game story

In Week 1 of the 2005 NFL season on 2005-09-11, the Buffalo Bills took care of business against the Houston Texans, pulling away with a 22–7 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Losman (Buffalo Bills) paced the passing game, with -0.76 total EPA.

On the individual side, L. Evans (Buffalo Bills) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.62 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+14.4% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Houston Texans changed the game: (6:44) 8-D.Carr right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.

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 L. Evans · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +4.62 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.54 EPA/play
2. 2 E. Moulds · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +4.57 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.14 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Peters · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +1.47 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.47 EPA/play
4. 4 W. McGahee · Buffalo Bills · Rushing · +1.45 total EPA · 24 snaps · +0.06 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Bruener · Houston Texans · Receiving · +1.33 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.33 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Johnson · Houston Texans · Receiving · +1.31 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.44 EPA/play
7. 7 M. Campbell · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +1.21 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.61 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Murphy · Houston Texans · Receiving · +1.16 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.16 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. Carr (Q2 36:44)
• Buffalo Bills — J. Peters (J. Losman pass) (Q2 30:34)

Field goals

• Buffalo Bills — R. Lindell (Q1 54:28)
• Buffalo Bills — R. Lindell (Q1 46:48)
• Buffalo Bills — R. Lindell (Q2 44:02)
• Buffalo Bills — R. Lindell (Q2 41:12)
• Buffalo Bills — R. Lindell (Q4 7:15)

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 6–0. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the HOU 16 (Q1 54:28) — (9:28) 9-R.Lindell 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the HOU 3 (Q1 46:48) — (1:48) 9-R.Lindell 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman..

The second quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 13–7. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the HOU 23 (Q2 44:02) — (14:02) 9-R.Lindell 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the HOU 21 (Q2 41:12) — (11:12) 9-R.Lindell 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the BUF 1 (Q2 36:44) — (6:44) 8-D.Carr right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q2 36:37) — 3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the HOU 1 (Q2 30:34) — (:34) 7-J.Losman pass to 71-J.Peters for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Caught 4 yds. into end zone, right side. (Tackle eligible); Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q2 30:29) — 9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman..

The fourth quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 3–0. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the HOU 13 (Q4 7:15) — (7:15) 9-R.Lindell 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman..

Turning points

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

• Houston Texans (Q2 36:44) — (6:44) 8-D.Carr right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +14.4% · EPA +2.89]
• Buffalo Bills (Q1 57:16) — (12:16) 7-J.Losman pass to 83-L.Evans to HOU 16 for 42 yards (31-P.Buchanon). Caught at HOU 30, right side. [WPA +8.7% · EPA +2.51]
• Houston Texans (Q1 53:00) — (8:00) (Shotgun) 8-D.Carr sacked at HOU 27 for -8 yards (94-A.Schobel). [WPA -6.6% · EPA -1.85]
• Houston Texans (Q3 17:58) — (2:58) 8-D.Carr pass intended for 80-A.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 23-T.Vincent at BUF -1. 23-T.Vincent ran ob at BUF 21 for 22 yards. Coverage over middle. [WPA -6.2% · EPA -3.08]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 44:02) — (14:02) 9-R.Lindell 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman. [WPA +5.1% · EPA +1.08]

Impact plays

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

• Houston Texans (Q4 9:43) — (9:43) 8-D.Carr sacked at HOU 23 for -8 yards (51-T.Spikes). FUMBLES (51-T.Spikes), RECOVERED by BUF-36-L.Milloy at HOU 23. Play Challenged by HOU and Upheld. (Timeout #1 by HOU at 09:32.) [WPA -2.7% · EPA -4.96]
• Houston Texans (Q2 43:51) — (13:51) 37-D.Davis up the middle to HOU 27 for no gain (90-C.Kelsay). FUMBLES (90-C.Kelsay), RECOVERED by BUF-59-L.Fletcher at HOU 27. [WPA -4.9% · EPA -4.40]
• Houston Texans (Q2 39:33) — (9:33) 8-D.Carr right guard to BUF 35 for 16 yards (36-L.Milloy). PENALTY on BUF-36-L.Milloy, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced at BUF 35. [WPA +4.4% · EPA +3.19]
• Houston Texans (Q3 17:58) — (2:58) 8-D.Carr pass intended for 80-A.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 23-T.Vincent at BUF -1. 23-T.Vincent ran ob at BUF 21 for 22 yards. Coverage over middle. [WPA -6.2% · EPA -3.08]

Quarterback report card

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

• J.Losman (Buffalo Bills) · 33 dropbacks · 51.5% completion · -0.02 EPA/play · -0.76 total EPA
• D.Carr (Houston Texans) · 32 dropbacks · 28.1% completion · -0.40 EPA/play · -12.95 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Buffalo Bills held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.02 vs -0.23), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Buffalo Bills: 12 drives, -1.82 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Houston Texans: 12 drives, -16.09 total EPA, 1 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Buffalo Bills leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• L. Evans (Buffalo Bills) 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 FG (+3) — Q1 54:28 · HOU 16 · Score 0-3
   (9:28) 9-R.Lindell 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
2. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q1 46:48 · HOU 3 · Score 0-6
   (1:48) 9-R.Lindell 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
3. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q2 44:02 · HOU 23 · Score 0-9
   (14:02) 9-R.Lindell 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
4. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q2 41:12 · HOU 21 · Score 0-12
   (11:12) 9-R.Lindell 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
5. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q2 36:44 · BUF 1 · Score 6-12
   (6:44) 8-D.Carr right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q2 36:37 · BUF 2 · Score 7-12
   3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
7. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q2 30:34 · HOU 1 · Score 7-18
   (:34) 7-J.Losman pass to 71-J.Peters for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Caught 4 yds. into end zone, right side. (Tackle eligible)
8. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q2 30:29 · HOU 2 · Score 7-19
   9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
9. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q4 7:15 · HOU 13 · Score 7-22
   (7:15) 9-R.Lindell 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.