Houston Texans vs. Miami Dolphins: 2003 Week 1 Recap

Game story

In Week 1 of the 2003 NFL season on 2003-09-07, the Houston Texans took care of business against the Miami Dolphins, pulling away with a 21–20 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Fiedler (Miami Dolphins) paced the passing game, with +4.47 total EPA.

On the individual side, C. Chambers (Miami Dolphins) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +13.61 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-29.2% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Miami Dolphins changed the game: (:04) (Shotgun) 9-J.Fiedler pass intended for 83-S.Simmons INTERCEPTED by 42-M.Coleman at HOU 5. 42-M.Coleman to HOU 5 for no gain (83-S.Simmons).

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 C. Chambers · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +13.61 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.94 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Carr · Houston Texans · Passing · +9.74 total EPA · 32 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Gaffney · Houston Texans · Receiving · +7.59 total EPA · 3 snaps · +2.53 EPA/play
4. 4 C. Bradford · Houston Texans · Receiving · +7.01 total EPA · 2 snaps · +3.50 EPA/play
5. 5 A. Johnson · Houston Texans · Receiving · +6.73 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.12 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Fiedler · Miami Dolphins · Passing · +4.47 total EPA · 36 snaps · +0.12 EPA/play
7. 7 R. Williams · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +2.80 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.56 EPA/play
8. 8 R. Konrad · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +1.32 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.66 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

• Miami Dolphins — C. Chambers (J. Fiedler pass) (Q2 39:34)
• Miami Dolphins — C. Chambers (J. Fiedler pass) (Q2 31:11)
• Houston Texans — C. Bradford (D. Carr pass) (Q3 19:34)
• Miami Dolphins — R. Williams (J. Fiedler pass) (Q4 12:37)

Field goals

• Houston Texans — K. Brown (Q1 50:14)
• Houston Texans — K. Brown (Q2 36:22)
• Houston Texans — K. Brown (Q3 15:25)
• Houston Texans — K. Brown (Q4 4:59)
• Houston Texans — K. Brown (Q4 0:30)

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 3–0. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the MIA 18 (Q1 50:14) — (5:14) 3-K.Brown 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-[48], Holder-7-C.Stanley..

The second quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 14–3. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the HOU 57 (Q2 39:34) — (9:34) 9-J.Fiedler pass to 84-C.Chambers for 57 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q2 39:20) — 10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-40-S.McDermott, Holder-3-M.Royals.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the MIA 32 (Q2 36:22) — (6:22) 3-K.Brown 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the HOU 21 (Q2 31:11) — (1:11) 9-J.Fiedler pass to 84-C.Chambers for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q2 31:00) — 10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-40-S.McDermott, Holder-3-M.Royals..

The third quarter: Houston Texans won the period 9–0. Houston Texans found the end zone from the MIA 78 (Q3 19:34) — (4:34) 8-D.Carr pass to 85-C.Bradford for 78 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the MIA 5 (Q3 15:25) — (:25) 3-K.Brown 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 6–6. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the HOU 35 (Q4 12:37) — (12:37) 9-J.Fiedler pass to 34-R.Williams for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the MIA 6 (Q4 4:59) — (4:59) 3-K.Brown 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the MIA 17 (Q4 0:30) — (:30) 3-K.Brown 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley..

Turning points

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

• Miami Dolphins (Q4 0:04) — (:04) (Shotgun) 9-J.Fiedler pass intended for 83-S.Simmons INTERCEPTED by 42-M.Coleman at HOU 5. 42-M.Coleman to HOU 5 for no gain (83-S.Simmons). [WPA -29.2% · EPA -0.08]
• Miami Dolphins (Q4 4:01) — (4:01) 9-J.Fiedler pass INTERCEPTED by 42-M.Coleman at MIA 39. 42-M.Coleman ran ob at MIA 36 for 3 yards. [WPA -26.2% · EPA -2.46]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 39:34) — (9:34) 9-J.Fiedler pass to 84-C.Chambers for 57 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +19.1% · EPA +5.20]
• Houston Texans (Q3 19:34) — (4:34) 8-D.Carr pass to 85-C.Bradford for 78 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +18.8% · EPA +6.57]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 37:49) — (7:49) 34-R.Williams up the middle to 50 for 3 yards (42-M.Coleman). FUMBLES (42-M.Coleman), RECOVERED by HOU-50-C.Clemons at HOU 49. PENALTY on MIA-71-T.Wade, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enfor [WPA -16.5% · EPA -5.43]

Impact plays

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

• Houston Texans (Q3 19:34) — (4:34) 8-D.Carr pass to 85-C.Bradford for 78 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +18.8% · EPA +6.57]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 37:49) — (7:49) 34-R.Williams up the middle to 50 for 3 yards (42-M.Coleman). FUMBLES (42-M.Coleman), RECOVERED by HOU-50-C.Clemons at HOU 49. PENALTY on MIA-71-T.Wade, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enfor [WPA -16.5% · EPA -5.43]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 39:34) — (9:34) 9-J.Fiedler pass to 84-C.Chambers for 57 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +19.1% · EPA +5.20]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 31:11) — (1:11) 9-J.Fiedler pass to 84-C.Chambers for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.2% · EPA +3.92]

Quarterback report card

J.Fiedler led all passers in efficiency for Miami Dolphins, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Fiedler (Miami Dolphins) · 36 dropbacks · 47.2% completion · +0.12 EPA/play · +4.47 total EPA
• D.Carr (Houston Texans) · 32 dropbacks · 53.1% completion · +0.30 EPA/play · +9.74 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 (-0.00 vs -0.06), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Houston Texans: 13 drives, -0.25 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Miami Dolphins: 14 drives, -5.19 total EPA, 3 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.
• C. Chambers (Miami Dolphins) 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. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q1 50:14 · MIA 18 · Score 3-0
   (5:14) 3-K.Brown 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-[48], Holder-7-C.Stanley.
2. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 39:34 · HOU 57 · Score 3-6
   (9:34) 9-J.Fiedler pass to 84-C.Chambers for 57 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q2 39:20 · HOU 2 · Score 3-7
   10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-40-S.McDermott, Holder-3-M.Royals.
4. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q2 36:22 · MIA 32 · Score 6-7
   (6:22) 3-K.Brown 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
5. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 31:11 · HOU 21 · Score 6-13
   (1:11) 9-J.Fiedler pass to 84-C.Chambers for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q2 31:00 · HOU 2 · Score 6-14
   10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-40-S.McDermott, Holder-3-M.Royals.
7. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q3 19:34 · MIA 78 · Score 12-14
   (4:34) 8-D.Carr pass to 85-C.Bradford for 78 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q3 15:25 · MIA 5 · Score 15-14
   (:25) 3-K.Brown 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
9. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q4 12:37 · HOU 35 · Score 15-20
   (12:37) 9-J.Fiedler pass to 34-R.Williams for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q4 4:59 · MIA 6 · Score 18-20
    (4:59) 3-K.Brown 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
11. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q4 0:30 · MIA 17 · Score 21-20
    (:30) 3-K.Brown 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.