Houston Texans vs. Buffalo Bills: 2015 Week 13 Recap

Game story

In Week 13 of the 2015 NFL season on 2015-12-06, the Buffalo Bills took care of business against the Houston Texans, pulling away with a 30–21 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Hoyer (Houston Texans) paced the passing game, with +2.38 total EPA, and +2.1% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, S. Watkins (Buffalo Bills) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.42 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-66.3% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Houston Texans changed the game: End of half - 2.24 pm

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 S. Watkins · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +9.42 total EPA · 4 snaps · +2.36 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Hopkins · Houston Texans · Receiving · +5.62 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.62 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Taylor · Buffalo Bills · Passing · +3.37 total EPA · 28 snaps · +0.12 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Taylor · Buffalo Bills · Rushing · +3.10 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.62 EPA/play
5. 5 C. Clay · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +3.04 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.43 EPA/play
6. 6 B. Hoyer · Houston Texans · Passing · +2.38 total EPA · 47 snaps · +0.05 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Polk · Houston Texans · Receiving · +2.15 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.15 EPA/play
8. 8 R. Griffin · Houston Texans · Receiving · +2.12 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.42 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

• Buffalo Bills — S. Watkins (T. Taylor pass) (Q1 54:41)
• Houston Texans — R. Griffin (B. Hoyer pass) (Q1 49:00)
• Buffalo Bills — T. Taylor (Q2 45:00)
• Houston Texans — C. Polk (B. Hoyer pass) (Q2 34:06)
• Buffalo Bills — R. Woods (T. Taylor pass) (Q2 30:34)
• Houston Texans — D. Hopkins (B. Hoyer pass) (Q4 9:19)
• Buffalo Bills — C. Clay (T. Taylor pass) (Q4 2:00)

Field goals

• Buffalo Bills — D. Carpenter (Q4 0:37)

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 7–6. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the HOU 3 (Q1 54:41) — (9:41) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor pass short left to 14-S.Watkins for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught in front corner of end zone.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q1 54:37) — 2-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the BUF 8 (Q1 49:00) — (4:00) (Shotgun) 7-B.Hoyer pass short right to 84-R.Griffin for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Screen pass, caught at BUF 8..

The second quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 14–7. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the HOU 8 (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor left end for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q2 44:53) — 2-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the BUF 11 (Q2 34:06); Houston Texans added 1 points from the BUF 15 (Q2 33:57) — 8-N.Novak extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the HOU 2 (Q2 30:34) — (:34) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor pass short right to 10-R.Woods for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught in front corner of end zone.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q2 30:30) — 2-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-C.Schmidt..

The fourth quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 9–8. Houston Texans found the end zone from the BUF 19 (Q4 9:19) — (9:19) (Shotgun) 7-B.Hoyer pass deep right to 10-D.Hopkins for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught 6 yds. into end zone, near sideline.; Houston Texans registered a safety from the BUF 2 (Q4 9:12) — (Pass formation) TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 41-J.Grimes rushes left guard. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the HOU 40 (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor pass deep middle to 85-C.Clay for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at HOU 10.; Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the HOU 18 (Q4 0:37) — (:37) 2-D.Carpenter 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-C.Schmidt..

Turning points

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

• Houston Texans (Q2) — End of half - 2.24 pm [WPA -66.3% · EPA -1.96]
• Buffalo Bills (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor pass deep middle to 85-C.Clay for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at HOU 10. [WPA +16.9% · EPA +4.30]
• Houston Texans (Q4 9:19) — (9:19) (Shotgun) 7-B.Hoyer pass deep right to 10-D.Hopkins for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught 6 yds. into end zone, near sideline. [WPA +10.6% · EPA +2.92]
• Buffalo Bills (Q4 3:46) — (3:46) 6-C.Schmidt punts 45 yards to HOU 6, Center-65-G.Sanborn, out of bounds. [WPA +10.3% · EPA +0.27]
• Houston Texans (Q4 10:33) — (10:33) 7-B.Hoyer pass deep right to 10-D.Hopkins to BUF 22 for 29 yards (28-R.Darby). Caught along sideline at BUF 26. [WPA +9.8% · EPA +2.34]

Impact plays

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

• Buffalo Bills (Q3 17:47) — (2:47) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor pass deep right to 14-S.Watkins to HOU 38 for 53 yards (24-J.Joseph) [51-J.Simon]. Caught in coverage near sideline at HOU 43. [WPA +7.9% · EPA +4.69]
• Buffalo Bills (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor pass deep middle to 85-C.Clay for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at HOU 10. [WPA +16.9% · EPA +4.30]
• Houston Texans (Q4 1:37) — (1:37) (Shotgun) 7-B.Hoyer pass incomplete short right to 18-C.Shorts III (37-N.Robey) [20-C.Graham]. Receiver at HOU 30, coverage at HOU 33. [WPA -6.7% · EPA -3.48]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 33:51) — (3:51) 5-T.Taylor pass deep middle to 14-S.Watkins to HOU 18 for 53 yards (30-K.Johnson). Caught in coverage at HOU 23. [WPA +6.8% · EPA +3.18]

Quarterback report card

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

• B.Hoyer (Houston Texans) · 47 dropbacks · 55.3% completion · +2.1% CPOE · +0.05 EPA/play · +2.38 total EPA
• T.Taylor (Buffalo Bills) · 28 dropbacks · 39.3% completion · -1.4% CPOE · +0.12 EPA/play · +3.37 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 (+0.08 vs -0.02), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Buffalo Bills: 13 drives, +6.32 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Houston Texans: 13 drives, -1.85 total EPA, 3 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.
• S. Watkins (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 TD (+6) — Q1 54:41 · HOU 3 · Score 0-6
   (9:41) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor pass short left to 14-S.Watkins for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught in front corner of end zone.
2. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q1 54:37 · HOU 15 · Score 0-7
   2-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.
3. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q1 49:00 · BUF 8 · Score 6-7
   (4:00) (Shotgun) 7-B.Hoyer pass short right to 84-R.Griffin for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Screen pass, caught at BUF 8.
4. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q2 45:00 · HOU 8 · Score 6-13
   (15:00) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor left end for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q2 44:53 · HOU 15 · Score 6-14
   2-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.
6. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q2 34:06 · BUF 11 · Score 12-14
   (4:06) 7-B.Hoyer pass short left to 22-C.Polk for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught near sideline at BUF 5. PENALTY on HOU-10-D.Hopkins, Taunting, 15 yards, enforced
7. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q2 33:57 · BUF 15 · Score 13-14
   8-N.Novak extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
8. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q2 30:34 · HOU 2 · Score 13-20
   (:34) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor pass short right to 10-R.Woods for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught in front corner of end zone.
9. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q2 30:30 · HOU 15 · Score 13-21
   2-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.
10. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q4 9:19 · BUF 19 · Score 19-21
    (9:19) (Shotgun) 7-B.Hoyer pass deep right to 10-D.Hopkins for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught 6 yds. into end zone, near sideline.
11. Houston Texans Safety (+2) — Q4 9:12 · BUF 2 · Score 21-21
    (Pass formation) TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 41-J.Grimes rushes left guard. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
12. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q4 2:00 · HOU 40 · Score 21-27
    (2:00) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor pass deep middle to 85-C.Clay for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at HOU 10.
13. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q4 0:37 · HOU 18 · Score 21-30
    (:37) 2-D.Carpenter 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.