Houston Texans vs. Denver Broncos: 2016 Week 7 Recap

Game story

In Week 7 of the 2016 NFL season on 2016-10-24, the Denver Broncos took care of business against the Houston Texans, pulling away with a 27–9 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Osweiler (Houston Texans) paced the passing game, with -12.61 total EPA, and -11.1% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, E. Sanders (Denver Broncos) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +3.30 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-10.7% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Houston Texans changed the game: (4:46) (Shotgun) 28-A.Blue up the middle to DEN 27 for 7 yards (43-T.Ward). FUMBLES (43-T.Ward), RECOVERED by DEN-51-T.Davis at DEN 27. 51-T.Davis to DEN 28 for 1 yard (10-D.Hopkins).

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 E. Sanders · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +3.30 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.41 EPA/play
2. 2 C. Anderson · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +2.72 total EPA · 16 snaps · +0.17 EPA/play
3. 3 L. Miller · Houston Texans · Rushing · +1.30 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.12 EPA/play
4. 4 C. Fiedorowicz · Houston Texans · Receiving · +1.26 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.18 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Siemian · Denver Broncos · Passing · +1.24 total EPA · 27 snaps · +0.05 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Thomas · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +1.02 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.10 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Ervin · Houston Texans · Receiving · +0.79 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.79 EPA/play
8. 8 A. Janovich · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +0.36 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.18 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

• Denver Broncos — C. Anderson (Q2 39:15)
• Denver Broncos — D. Thomas (T. Siemian pass) (Q2 34:08)
• Denver Broncos — D. Booker (Q3 15:45)

Field goals

• Houston Texans — N. Novak (Q1 52:15)
• Houston Texans — N. Novak (Q1 45:25)
• Houston Texans — N. Novak (Q3 24:12)
• Denver Broncos — B. McManus (Q4 11:37)
• Denver Broncos — B. McManus (Q4 2:00)

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 6–0. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the DEN 25 (Q1 52:15) — (7:15) 8-N.Novak 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the DEN 25 (Q1 45:25) — (:25) 8-N.Novak 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler..

The second quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 14–0. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the HOU 7 (Q2 39:15) — (9:15) 22-C.Anderson left guard for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q2 39:10) — 8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the HOU 4 (Q2 34:08) — (4:08) (Shotgun) 13-T.Siemian pass short left to 88-D.Thomas for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q2 34:04) — 8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon..

The third quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 7–3. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the DEN 11 (Q3 24:12) — (9:12) 8-N.Novak 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the HOU 1 (Q3 15:45) — (:45) 23-D.Booker right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q3 15:40) — 8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon..

The fourth quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 6–0. Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the HOU 3 (Q4 11:37) — (11:37) 8-B.McManus 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the HOU 14 (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) 8-B.McManus 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon..

Turning points

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

• Houston Texans (Q3 19:46) — (4:46) (Shotgun) 28-A.Blue up the middle to DEN 27 for 7 yards (43-T.Ward). FUMBLES (43-T.Ward), RECOVERED by DEN-51-T.Davis at DEN 27. 51-T.Davis to DEN 28 for 1 yard (10-D.Hopkins). [WPA -10.7% · EPA -4.86]
• Houston Texans (Q1 53:39) — (8:39) (Shotgun) 26-L.Miller left tackle pushed ob at DEN 27 for 25 yards (34-W.Parks). [WPA +10.2% · EPA +2.68]
• Houston Texans (Q1 48:56) — (3:56) (Shotgun) 28-A.Blue left guard pushed ob at DEN 42 for 17 yards (43-T.Ward). [WPA +7.4% · EPA +2.30]
• Houston Texans (Q3 20:30) — (5:30) (Shotgun) 17-B.Osweiler scrambles up the middle to DEN 34 for 10 yards (25-C.Harris Jr.). FUMBLES (25-C.Harris Jr.), and recovers at DEN 34. 17-B.Osweiler to DEN 34 for no gain (31-J.Simmons). [WPA +7.2% · EPA +1.98]
• Denver Broncos (Q2 39:15) — (9:15) 22-C.Anderson left guard for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.5% · EPA +1.53]

Impact plays

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

• Houston Texans (Q3 19:46) — (4:46) (Shotgun) 28-A.Blue up the middle to DEN 27 for 7 yards (43-T.Ward). FUMBLES (43-T.Ward), RECOVERED by DEN-51-T.Davis at DEN 27. 51-T.Davis to DEN 28 for 1 yard (10-D.Hopkins). [WPA -10.7% · EPA -4.86]
• Houston Texans (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 17-B.Osweiler sacked at HOU 23 for -7 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by DEN-25-C.Harris Jr. at HOU 31. 25-C.Harris Jr. to HOU 25 for 6 yards. The Replay Official reviewed the fumble rulin [WPA -3.7% · EPA -4.53]
• Denver Broncos (Q3 16:55) — (1:55) 13-T.Siemian pass deep left to 10-E.Sanders ran ob at HOU 2 for 31 yards. [WPA +6.1% · EPA +2.74]
• Houston Texans (Q1 53:39) — (8:39) (Shotgun) 26-L.Miller left tackle pushed ob at DEN 27 for 25 yards (34-W.Parks). [WPA +10.2% · EPA +2.68]

Quarterback report card

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

• B.Osweiler (Houston Texans) · 46 dropbacks · 47.8% completion · -11.1% CPOE · -0.27 EPA/play · -12.61 total EPA
• T.Siemian (Denver Broncos) · 27 dropbacks · 51.9% completion · -3.2% CPOE · +0.05 EPA/play · +1.24 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Denver Broncos held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.00 vs -0.21), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Denver Broncos: 13 drives, +0.25 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Houston Texans: 12 drives, -18.03 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Denver Broncos leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• E. Sanders (Denver Broncos) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• B. Osweiler (HOU) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• T. Siemian (DEN) 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 52:15 · DEN 25 · Score 3-0
   (7:15) 8-N.Novak 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
2. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q1 45:25 · DEN 25 · Score 6-0
   (:25) 8-N.Novak 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
3. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q2 39:15 · HOU 7 · Score 6-6
   (9:15) 22-C.Anderson left guard for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q2 39:10 · HOU 15 · Score 6-7
   8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
5. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q2 34:08 · HOU 4 · Score 6-13
   (4:08) (Shotgun) 13-T.Siemian pass short left to 88-D.Thomas for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q2 34:04 · HOU 15 · Score 6-14
   8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
7. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q3 24:12 · DEN 11 · Score 9-14
   (9:12) 8-N.Novak 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
8. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q3 15:45 · HOU 1 · Score 9-20
   (:45) 23-D.Booker right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q3 15:40 · HOU 15 · Score 9-21
   8-B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
10. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q4 11:37 · HOU 3 · Score 9-24
    (11:37) 8-B.McManus 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon.
11. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q4 2:00 · HOU 14 · Score 9-27
    (2:00) 8-B.McManus 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-C.Kreiter, Holder-9-R.Dixon.