Houston Texans vs. Minnesota Vikings: 2024 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season on 2024-09-22, the Minnesota Vikings took care of business against the Houston Texans, pulling away with a 34–7 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Stroud (Houston Texans) paced the passing game, with -12.53 total EPA, and -5.7% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, S. Darnold (Minnesota Vikings) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.82 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-12.7% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Houston Texans changed the game: (14:35) (Shotgun) 7-C.Stroud pass short middle intended for 3-T.Dell INTERCEPTED by 54-K.Grugier-Hill (97-H.Phillips) at HOU 26. 54-K.Grugier-Hill to HOU 21 for 5 yards (12-N.Collins; 22-C.Akers).

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. Darnold · Minnesota Vikings · Passing · +4.82 total EPA · 35 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Jefferson · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +4.80 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.60 EPA/play
3. 3 A. Jones · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +4.61 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.77 EPA/play
4. 4 S. Diggs · Houston Texans · Receiving · +3.57 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
5. 5 S. Diggs · Houston Texans · Passing · +2.76 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.76 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Nailor · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +2.76 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.69 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Jones · Minnesota Vikings · Rushing · +2.21 total EPA · 19 snaps · +0.12 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Nailor · Minnesota Vikings · Rushing · +1.96 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.96 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

• Minnesota Vikings — J. Jefferson (S. Darnold pass) (Q1 57:10)
• Minnesota Vikings — A. Jones (S. Darnold pass) (Q1 46:13)
• Minnesota Vikings — J. Nailor (S. Darnold pass) (Q3 25:26)
• Houston Texans — C. Akers (C. Stroud pass) (Q3 19:00)
• Minnesota Vikings — J. Mundt (S. Darnold pass) (Q4 10:16)

Field goals

• Minnesota Vikings — W. Reichard (Q4 14:57)
• Minnesota Vikings — W. Reichard (Q4 4:48)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 14–0. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the HOU 6 (Q1 57:10) — (12:10) (Shotgun) 14-S.Darnold pass short left to 18-J.Jefferson for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q1 57:03) — 16-W.Reichard extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-17-R.Wright.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the HOU 8 (Q1 46:13) — (1:13) (Shotgun) 14-S.Darnold pass short left to 33-A.Jones for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q1 46:08) — 16-W.Reichard extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-17-R.Wright..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the HOU 4 (Q3 25:26) — (10:26) (Shotgun) 14-S.Darnold pass short right to 83-J.Nailor for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q3 25:22) — 16-W.Reichard extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-17-R.Wright.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the MIN 8 (Q3 19:00) — (4:00) (Shotgun) 7-C.Stroud pass short right to 22-C.Akers for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the MIN 15 (Q3 18:56) — 15-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-6-T.Townsend..

The fourth quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 13–0. Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the HOU 17 (Q4 14:57) — (14:57) 16-W.Reichard 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-17-R.Wright.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the HOU 2 (Q4 10:16) — (10:16) (Shotgun) 14-S.Darnold pass short middle to 86-J.Mundt for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q4 10:14) — 16-W.Reichard extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-17-R.Wright.; Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the HOU 40 (Q4 4:48) — (4:48) 16-W.Reichard 58 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-17-R.Wright..

Turning points

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

• Houston Texans (Q1 59:35) — (14:35) (Shotgun) 7-C.Stroud pass short middle intended for 3-T.Dell INTERCEPTED by 54-K.Grugier-Hill (97-H.Phillips) at HOU 26. 54-K.Grugier-Hill to HOU 21 for 5 yards (12-N.Collins; 22-C.Akers). [WPA -12.7% · EPA -5.30]
• Houston Texans (Q1 51:51) — (6:51) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 7-C.Stroud pass short right to 86-D.Schultz to MIN 35 for 3 yards (44-J.Metellus). [WPA +6.4% · EPA +3.27]
• Houston Texans (Q1 50:25) — (5:25) 7-C.Stroud sacked at MIN 36 for -10 yards (58-J.Greenard). [WPA -6.3% · EPA -2.58]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 57:10) — (12:10) (Shotgun) 14-S.Darnold pass short left to 18-J.Jefferson for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +5.4% · EPA +2.54]
• Houston Texans (Q1 49:36) — (4:36) 15-K.Fairbairn 54 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-6-T.Townsend. [WPA -5.1% · EPA -4.05]

Impact plays

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

• Houston Texans (Q1 59:35) — (14:35) (Shotgun) 7-C.Stroud pass short middle intended for 3-T.Dell INTERCEPTED by 54-K.Grugier-Hill (97-H.Phillips) at HOU 26. 54-K.Grugier-Hill to HOU 21 for 5 yards (12-N.Collins; 22-C.Akers). [WPA -12.7% · EPA -5.30]
• Houston Texans (Q3 20:27) — (5:27) (Shotgun) 7-C.Stroud pass deep left to 12-N.Collins to MIN 13 for 34 yards (7-B.Murphy). [WPA +1.9% · EPA +4.07]
• Houston Texans (Q1 49:36) — (4:36) 15-K.Fairbairn 54 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-6-T.Townsend. [WPA -5.1% · EPA -4.05]
• Houston Texans (Q1 51:51) — (6:51) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 7-C.Stroud pass short right to 86-D.Schultz to MIN 35 for 3 yards (44-J.Metellus). [WPA +6.4% · EPA +3.27]

Quarterback report card

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

• C.Stroud (Houston Texans) · 41 dropbacks · 48.8% completion · -5.7% CPOE · -0.31 EPA/play · -12.53 total EPA
• S.Darnold (Minnesota Vikings) · 35 dropbacks · 48.6% completion · +1.0% CPOE · +0.14 EPA/play · +4.82 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Minnesota Vikings held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.12 vs -0.26), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Houston Texans: 11 drives, -22.52 total EPA, 1 scoring drives
• Minnesota Vikings: 11 drives, +9.47 total EPA, 6 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Minnesota Vikings leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• S. Darnold (Minnesota Vikings) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• C. Stroud (HOU) 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. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q1 57:10 · HOU 6 · Score 0-6
   (12:10) (Shotgun) 14-S.Darnold pass short left to 18-J.Jefferson for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q1 57:03 · HOU 15 · Score 0-7
   16-W.Reichard extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-17-R.Wright.
3. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q1 46:13 · HOU 8 · Score 0-13
   (1:13) (Shotgun) 14-S.Darnold pass short left to 33-A.Jones for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q1 46:08 · HOU 15 · Score 0-14
   16-W.Reichard extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-17-R.Wright.
5. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q3 25:26 · HOU 4 · Score 0-20
   (10:26) (Shotgun) 14-S.Darnold pass short right to 83-J.Nailor for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q3 25:22 · HOU 15 · Score 0-21
   16-W.Reichard extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-17-R.Wright.
7. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q3 19:00 · MIN 8 · Score 6-21
   (4:00) (Shotgun) 7-C.Stroud pass short right to 22-C.Akers for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q3 18:56 · MIN 15 · Score 7-21
   15-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-6-T.Townsend.
9. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q4 14:57 · HOU 17 · Score 7-24
   (14:57) 16-W.Reichard 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-17-R.Wright.
10. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q4 10:16 · HOU 2 · Score 7-30
    (10:16) (Shotgun) 14-S.Darnold pass short middle to 86-J.Mundt for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q4 10:14 · HOU 15 · Score 7-31
    16-W.Reichard extra point is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-17-R.Wright.
12. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q4 4:48 · HOU 40 · Score 7-34
    (4:48) 16-W.Reichard 58 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-A.DePaola, Holder-17-R.Wright.