Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts: 2019 Week 7 Recap

Game story

In Week 7 of the 2019 NFL season on 2019-10-20, the Indianapolis Colts took care of business against the Houston Texans, pulling away with a 30–23 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Brissett (Indianapolis Colts) paced the passing game, with +23.16 total EPA, and +6.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Brissett (Indianapolis Colts) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +23.16 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-17.4% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Indianapolis Colts changed the game: (7:34) (Shotgun) 7-J.Brissett FUMBLES (Aborted) at IND 12, touched at IND 12, RECOVERED by HOU-59-W.Mercilus at IND 6. 59-W.Mercilus to IND 4 for 2 yards (78-R.Kelly).

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 J. Brissett · Indianapolis Colts · Passing · +23.16 total EPA · 45 snaps · +0.51 EPA/play
2. 2 Z. Pascal · Indianapolis Colts · Receiving · +11.78 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.68 EPA/play
3. 3 E. Ebron · Indianapolis Colts · Receiving · +8.39 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.68 EPA/play
4. 4 K. Stills · Houston Texans · Receiving · +8.11 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.62 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Fells · Houston Texans · Receiving · +2.88 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.44 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Hopkins · Houston Texans · Receiving · +2.77 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.23 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Rogers · Indianapolis Colts · Receiving · +2.35 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.17 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Watson · Houston Texans · Passing · +1.54 total EPA · 42 snaps · +0.04 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

• Indianapolis Colts — Z. Pascal (J. Brissett pass) (Q1 50:08)
• Indianapolis Colts — T. Hilton (J. Brissett pass) (Q2 31:52)
• Indianapolis Colts — E. Ebron (J. Brissett pass) (Q3 25:34)
• Houston Texans — K. Coutee (Q3 23:48)
• Indianapolis Colts — Z. Pascal (J. Brissett pass) (Q3 16:22)
• Houston Texans — D. Hopkins (D. Watson pass) (Q4 6:43)

Field goals

• Houston Texans — K. Fairbairn (Q2 39:05)
• Houston Texans — K. Fairbairn (Q2 36:30)
• Houston Texans — K. Fairbairn (Q2 30:27)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Indianapolis Colts won the period 7–0. Indianapolis Colts found the end zone from the HOU 11 (Q1 50:08) — (5:08) (Shotgun) 7-J.Brissett pass short right to 14-Z.Pascal for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Indianapolis Colts added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q1 50:01) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-8-R.Sanchez..

The second quarter: Houston Texans won the period 9–7. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the IND 29 (Q2 39:05) — (9:05) 7-K.Fairbairn 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-B.Anger.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the IND 13 (Q2 36:30) — (6:30) 7-K.Fairbairn 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-B.Anger.; Indianapolis Colts found the end zone from the HOU 2 (Q2 31:52) — (1:52) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 7-J.Brissett pass short left to 13-T.Hilton for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Indianapolis Colts added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q2 31:49) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-8-R.Sanchez.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the IND 8 (Q2 30:27) — (:27) 7-K.Fairbairn 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-B.Anger..

The third quarter: Indianapolis Colts won the period 14–7. Indianapolis Colts found the end zone from the HOU 4 (Q3 25:34); Indianapolis Colts added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q3 25:29) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-8-R.Sanchez.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the IND 4 (Q3 23:48) — (8:48) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 16-K.Coutee left end for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the IND 15 (Q3 23:43) — 7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-B.Anger.; Indianapolis Colts found the end zone from the HOU 3 (Q3 16:22) — (1:22) (Shotgun) 7-J.Brissett pass short middle to 14-Z.Pascal for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Indianapolis Colts added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q3 16:14) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-8-R.Sanchez..

The fourth quarter: Houston Texans won the period 7–2. Houston Texans found the end zone from the IND 4 (Q4 6:43) — (6:43) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short right to 10-D.Hopkins for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the IND 15 (Q4 6:38) — 7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-B.Anger.; Indianapolis Colts registered a safety from the IND 95 (Q4 2:44) — (2:44) (Punt formation) 9-B.Anger up the middle ran ob in End Zone for -5 yards, SAFETY (14-Z.Pascal)..

Turning points

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

• Indianapolis Colts (Q2 37:34) — (7:34) (Shotgun) 7-J.Brissett FUMBLES (Aborted) at IND 12, touched at IND 12, RECOVERED by HOU-59-W.Mercilus at IND 6. 59-W.Mercilus to IND 4 for 2 yards (78-R.Kelly). [WPA -17.4% · EPA -4.90]
• Houston Texans (Q2 36:47) — (6:47) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson sacked at IND 13 for -9 yards (99-J.Houston). [WPA -11.1% · EPA -1.69]
• Houston Texans (Q4 0:37) — (:37) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass deep middle intended for 16-K.Coutee INTERCEPTED by 53-D.Leonard at IND 32. 53-D.Leonard to IND 32 for no gain (16-K.Coutee). [WPA -7.9% · EPA -1.38]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q3 18:46) — (3:46) (Shotgun) 7-J.Brissett pass short left to 13-T.Hilton ran ob at HOU 6 for 25 yards (37-J.Addae). [WPA +7.4% · EPA +2.77]
• Houston Texans (Q3 23:48) — (8:48) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 16-K.Coutee left end for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.3% · EPA +0.96]

Impact plays

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

• Houston Texans (Q4 9:40) — (9:40) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short left intended for 25-D.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 35-P.Desir [99-J.Houston] at IND 34. 35-P.Desir to IND 34 for no gain (25-D.Johnson). [WPA -5.0% · EPA -5.08]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q2 37:34) — (7:34) (Shotgun) 7-J.Brissett FUMBLES (Aborted) at IND 12, touched at IND 12, RECOVERED by HOU-59-W.Mercilus at IND 6. 59-W.Mercilus to IND 4 for 2 yards (78-R.Kelly). [WPA -17.4% · EPA -4.90]
• Houston Texans (Q4 13:06) — (13:06) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass incomplete short middle to 10-D.Hopkins (96-D.Autry) [96-D.Autry]. IND 96 hit QB's biceps as he was throwing [WPA -1.4% · EPA -3.33]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q2 43:10) — (13:10) 73-J.Haeg reported in as eligible. 25-M.Mack left end to IND 45 for no gain (55-B.McKinney). [WPA -6.3% · EPA -3.23]

Quarterback report card

J.Brissett led all passers in efficiency for Indianapolis Colts, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Brissett (Indianapolis Colts) · 45 dropbacks · 57.8% completion · +6.3% CPOE · +0.51 EPA/play · +23.16 total EPA
• D.Watson (Houston Texans) · 42 dropbacks · 54.8% completion · +1.3% CPOE · +0.04 EPA/play · +1.54 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Houston Texans -0.02, Indianapolis Colts +0.02) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Houston Texans: 11 drives, -1.90 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Indianapolis Colts: 12 drives, +2.22 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Indianapolis Colts 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.
• J. Brissett (Indianapolis Colts) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Brissett (IND) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

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

1. Indianapolis Colts TD (+6) — Q1 50:08 · HOU 11 · Score 0-6
   (5:08) (Shotgun) 7-J.Brissett pass short right to 14-Z.Pascal for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Indianapolis Colts XP (+1) — Q1 50:01 · HOU 15 · Score 0-7
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-8-R.Sanchez.
3. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q2 39:05 · IND 29 · Score 3-7
   (9:05) 7-K.Fairbairn 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-B.Anger.
4. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q2 36:30 · IND 13 · Score 6-7
   (6:30) 7-K.Fairbairn 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-B.Anger.
5. Indianapolis Colts TD (+6) — Q2 31:52 · HOU 2 · Score 6-13
   (1:52) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 7-J.Brissett pass short left to 13-T.Hilton for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Indianapolis Colts XP (+1) — Q2 31:49 · HOU 15 · Score 6-14
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-8-R.Sanchez.
7. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q2 30:27 · IND 8 · Score 9-14
   (:27) 7-K.Fairbairn 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-B.Anger.
8. Indianapolis Colts TD (+6) — Q3 25:34 · HOU 4 · Score 9-20
   (10:34) 7-J.Brissett pass incomplete short left to 85-E.Ebron. Indianapolis challenged the incomplete pass ruling, and the play was REVERSED. 56-Q.Nelson report
9. Indianapolis Colts XP (+1) — Q3 25:29 · HOU 15 · Score 9-21
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-8-R.Sanchez.
10. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q3 23:48 · IND 4 · Score 15-21
    (8:48) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 16-K.Coutee left end for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q3 23:43 · IND 15 · Score 16-21
    7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-B.Anger.
12. Indianapolis Colts TD (+6) — Q3 16:22 · HOU 3 · Score 16-27
    (1:22) (Shotgun) 7-J.Brissett pass short middle to 14-Z.Pascal for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Indianapolis Colts XP (+1) — Q3 16:14 · HOU 15 · Score 16-28
    4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-8-R.Sanchez.
14. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q4 6:43 · IND 4 · Score 22-28
    (6:43) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short right to 10-D.Hopkins for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q4 6:38 · IND 15 · Score 23-28
    7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-B.Anger.
16. Indianapolis Colts Safety (+2) — Q4 2:44 · IND 95 · Score 23-30
    (2:44) (Punt formation) 9-B.Anger up the middle ran ob in End Zone for -5 yards, SAFETY (14-Z.Pascal).