Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots: 2006 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 2006 NFL season on 2006-12-17, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Houston Texans, pulling away with a 40–7 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Carr (Houston Texans) paced the passing game, with -25.28 total EPA, and -6.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, R. Caldwell (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.59 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-10.9% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Houston Texans changed the game: (8:01) 8-D.Carr pass short left INTERCEPTED by 93-R.Seymour (93-R.Seymour) at HOU 24. 93-R.Seymour to HOU 24 for no gain (74-E.Salaam).

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 R. Caldwell · New England Patriots · Receiving · +4.59 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.77 EPA/play
2. 2 K. Faulk · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.35 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.68 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Cassel · New England Patriots · Passing · +3.09 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.77 EPA/play
4. 4 E. Moulds · Houston Texans · Receiving · +2.87 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.72 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Gaffney · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.87 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.87 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Anderson · Houston Texans · Receiving · +2.16 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.16 EPA/play
7. 7 K. Faulk · New England Patriots · Rushing · +2.11 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.53 EPA/play
8. 8 R. Dayne · Houston Texans · Rushing · +1.98 total EPA · 18 snaps · +0.11 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

• New England Patriots — K. Faulk (Q1 53:11)
• New England Patriots — K. Faulk (T. Brady pass) (Q1 48:40)
• New England Patriots — J. Gaffney (T. Brady pass) (Q2 31:15)
• Houston Texans — R. Dayne (Q3 24:54)
• New England Patriots — E. Hobbs (Q3 24:49)

Field goals

• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q1 51:42)
• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q2 39:51)
• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q4 14:22)
• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q4 12:03)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: New England Patriots won the period 17–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the HOU 11 (Q1 53:11) — (8:11) 33-K.Faulk left guard for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q1 53:06) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-15-K.Walter.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the HOU 18 (Q1 51:42) — (6:42) 3-S.Gostkowski 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-15-K.Walter.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the HOU 43 (Q1 48:40); New England Patriots added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q1 48:31) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-15-K.Walter..

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 10–0. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the HOU 14 (Q2 39:51) — (9:51) 3-S.Gostkowski 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-15-K.Walter.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the HOU 6 (Q2 31:15) — (1:15) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 10-J.Gaffney for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q2 31:11) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-15-K.Walter..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Houston Texans found the end zone from the NE 1 (Q3 24:54) — (9:54) 36-R.Dayne up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q3 24:49) — 3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the HOU 30 (Q3 24:49); New England Patriots added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q3 24:37) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-15-K.Walter..

The fourth quarter: New England Patriots won the period 6–0. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the HOU 14 (Q4 14:22) — (14:22) 3-S.Gostkowski 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-15-K.Walter.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the HOU 3 (Q4 12:03) — (12:03) 3-S.Gostkowski 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-15-K.Walter..

Turning points

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

• Houston Texans (Q1 53:01) — (8:01) 8-D.Carr pass short left INTERCEPTED by 93-R.Seymour (93-R.Seymour) at HOU 24. 93-R.Seymour to HOU 24 for no gain (74-E.Salaam). [WPA -10.9% · EPA -4.74]
• Houston Texans (Q1 49:25) — (4:25) 8-D.Carr pass short middle intended for 84-E.Moulds INTERCEPTED by 36-J.Sanders (54-T.Bruschi) at NE 35. 36-J.Sanders pushed ob at HOU 44 for 21 yards (44-V.Leach). [WPA -9.2% · EPA -5.39]
• Houston Texans (Q1 56:19) — (11:19) (Punt formation) 30-J.Simmons up the middle to HOU 42 for no gain (46-C.Mays, 53-L.Izzo). measurement [WPA -5.9% · EPA -2.83]
• New England Patriots (Q1 56:11) — (11:11) 28-C.Dillon left guard to HOU 35 for 7 yards (30-J.Simmons, 56-M.Greenwood). [WPA +5.0% · EPA +0.29]
• New England Patriots (Q1 48:40) — (3:40) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 33-K.Faulk for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN. NE 33-Ffaulk 2 TDs in this game ties his career best (11/10/02 at Chicago). [WPA +4.8% · EPA +4.35]

Impact plays

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

• Houston Texans (Q4 13:42) — (13:42) 8-D.Carr pass short right intended for 81-O.Daniels INTERCEPTED by 22-A.Samuel at HOU 38. 22-A.Samuel ran ob at HOU 5 for 33 yards. NE 22-Samuel 8th INT of season, most by a Patriot since Ty L [WPA -0.0% · EPA -6.48]
• New England Patriots (Q3 24:49) — 3-K.Brown kicks 63 yards from HOU 30 to NE 7. 27-E.Hobbs for 93 yards, TOUCHDOWN. NE 27-Hobbs 1st KO return TD of career & 1st NFL TD. 1st NE KO return TD since 12/5/04 (Bethel Johnson, 93 yds at Clev [WPA +2.2% · EPA +6.18]
• Houston Texans (Q1 49:25) — (4:25) 8-D.Carr pass short middle intended for 84-E.Moulds INTERCEPTED by 36-J.Sanders (54-T.Bruschi) at NE 35. 36-J.Sanders pushed ob at HOU 44 for 21 yards (44-V.Leach). [WPA -9.2% · EPA -5.39]
• Houston Texans (Q1 53:01) — (8:01) 8-D.Carr pass short left INTERCEPTED by 93-R.Seymour (93-R.Seymour) at HOU 24. 93-R.Seymour to HOU 24 for no gain (74-E.Salaam). [WPA -10.9% · EPA -4.74]

Quarterback report card

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

• D.Carr (Houston Texans) · 32 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -6.3% CPOE · -0.79 EPA/play · -25.28 total EPA
• T.Brady (New England Patriots) · 26 dropbacks · 61.5% completion · +2.6% CPOE · +0.02 EPA/play · +0.53 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

New England Patriots held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.05 vs -0.41), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Houston Texans: 14 drives, -29.57 total EPA, 1 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 14 drives, +3.93 total EPA, 8 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• New England Patriots leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• R. Caldwell (New England Patriots) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Carr (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. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q1 53:11 · HOU 11 · Score 0-6
   (8:11) 33-K.Faulk left guard for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q1 53:06 · HOU 2 · Score 0-7
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-15-K.Walter.
3. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q1 51:42 · HOU 18 · Score 0-10
   (6:42) 3-S.Gostkowski 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-15-K.Walter.
4. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q1 48:40 · HOU 43 · Score 0-16
   (3:40) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 33-K.Faulk for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN. NE 33-Ffaulk 2 TDs in this game ties his career best (11/10/02 at Chicago).
5. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q1 48:31 · HOU 2 · Score 0-17
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-15-K.Walter.
6. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 39:51 · HOU 14 · Score 0-20
   (9:51) 3-S.Gostkowski 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-15-K.Walter.
7. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 31:15 · HOU 6 · Score 0-26
   (1:15) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 10-J.Gaffney for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 31:11 · HOU 2 · Score 0-27
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-15-K.Walter.
9. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q3 24:54 · NE 1 · Score 6-27
   (9:54) 36-R.Dayne up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q3 24:49 · NE 2 · Score 7-27
    3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
11. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 24:49 · HOU 30 · Score 7-33
    3-K.Brown kicks 63 yards from HOU 30 to NE 7. 27-E.Hobbs for 93 yards, TOUCHDOWN. NE 27-Hobbs 1st KO return TD of career & 1st NFL TD. 1st NE KO return TD since
12. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 24:37 · HOU 2 · Score 7-34
    3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-15-K.Walter.
13. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q4 14:22 · HOU 14 · Score 7-37
    (14:22) 3-S.Gostkowski 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-15-K.Walter.
14. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q4 12:03 · HOU 3 · Score 7-40
    (12:03) 3-S.Gostkowski 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-15-K.Walter.