Houston Texans vs. New Orleans Saints: 2019 Week 1 Recap

Game story

In Week 1 of the 2019 NFL season on 2019-09-09, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Houston Texans, pulling away with a 30–28 final that came down to the wire.

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

D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with +12.55 total EPA, and +11.1% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +12.55 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+52.0% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (:02) 3-W.Lutz 58 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.

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 D. Brees · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +12.55 total EPA · 43 snaps · +0.29 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Watson · Houston Texans · Passing · +12.04 total EPA · 41 snaps · +0.29 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Hopkins · Houston Texans · Receiving · +8.40 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.65 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Thomas · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +6.07 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Ginn · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +5.59 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.80 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Kamara · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +4.41 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.55 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Watson · Houston Texans · Rushing · +3.82 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.91 EPA/play
8. 8 W. Fuller · Houston Texans · Receiving · +3.61 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.20 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

• Houston Texans — D. Watson (Q2 44:19)
• Houston Texans — D. Hopkins (D. Watson pass) (Q2 31:51)
• New Orleans Saints — L. Murray (Q3 27:57)
• Houston Texans — D. Hopkins (D. Watson pass) (Q3 23:24)
• New Orleans Saints — T. Hill (D. Brees pass) (Q3 17:43)
• New Orleans Saints — T. Smith (D. Brees pass) (Q4 15:00)
• Houston Texans — K. Stills (D. Watson pass) (Q4 0:43)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — W. Lutz (Q2 39:27)
• New Orleans Saints — W. Lutz (Q4 0:55)
• New Orleans Saints — W. Lutz (Q4 0:02)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The second quarter: Houston Texans won the period 14–3. Houston Texans found the end zone from the NO 21 (Q2 44:19) — (14:19) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson left end for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q2 44:13) — 7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-8-T.Daniel.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the HOU 14 (Q2 39:27) — (9:27) 3-W.Lutz 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the NO 2 (Q2 31:51) — (1:51) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short left to 10-D.Hopkins for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 2, YAC 0; Houston Texans added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q2 31:47) — 7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-8-T.Daniel..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 14–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the HOU 30 (Q3 27:57) — (12:57) (Shotgun) 28-L.Murray left guard for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q3 27:51) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the NO 16 (Q3 23:24) — (8:24) 4-D.Watson pass short middle to 10-D.Hopkins for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q3 23:20) — 7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-8-T.Daniel.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the HOU 9 (Q3 17:43) — (2:43) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 7-T.Hill for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 9, YAC 0; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q3 17:39).

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 13–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the HOU 14 (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 10-T.Smith for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 14, YAC 0; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q4 14:55) — 3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the HOU 29 (Q4 0:55) — (:55) 3-W.Lutz 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the NO 37 (Q4 0:43) — (:43) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass deep middle to 12-K.Stills for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN [24-V.Bell]. Pass 32, YAC 5; Houston Texans added 1 points from the NO 7 (Q4 0:37) — 7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-8-T.Daniel.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the HOU 40 (Q4 0:02) — (:02) 3-W.Lutz 58 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead..

Turning points

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q4 0:02) — (:02) 3-W.Lutz 58 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead. [WPA +52.0% · EPA +1.33]
• Houston Texans (Q4 0:43) — (:43) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass deep middle to 12-K.Stills for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN [24-V.Bell]. Pass 32, YAC 5 [WPA +27.8% · EPA +4.29]
• Houston Texans (Q4 0:50) — (:50) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass deep left to 10-D.Hopkins pushed ob at NO 37 for 38 yards (23-M.Lattimore) [92-M.Davenport]. Pass 34, YAC 4 [WPA +14.3% · EPA +2.09]
• Houston Texans (Q2 44:19) — (14:19) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson left end for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.8% · EPA +4.11]
• Houston Texans (Q4 4:25) — (4:25) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson sacked at HOU 45 for -11 yards (91-T.Hendrickson). [WPA -13.6% · EPA -1.95]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q1 48:04) — (3:04) 9-D.Brees pass short right intended for 28-L.Murray INTERCEPTED by 59-W.Mercilus at HOU 4. 59-W.Mercilus to HOU 6 for 2 yards (89-J.Hill). [WPA -12.3% · EPA -5.13]
• Houston Texans (Q4 0:43) — (:43) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass deep middle to 12-K.Stills for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN [24-V.Bell]. Pass 32, YAC 5 [WPA +27.8% · EPA +4.29]
• Houston Texans (Q2 44:19) — (14:19) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson left end for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.8% · EPA +4.11]
• Houston Texans (Q1 47:55) — (2:55) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass deep middle to 15-W.Fuller to NO 40 for 54 yards (25-E.Apple). Pass 50, YAC 4 [WPA +11.3% · EPA +3.51]

Quarterback report card

D.Brees led all passers in efficiency for New Orleans Saints, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Brees (New Orleans Saints) · 43 dropbacks · 74.4% completion · +11.1% CPOE · +0.29 EPA/play · +12.55 total EPA
• D.Watson (Houston Texans) · 41 dropbacks · 48.8% completion · +2.6% CPOE · +0.29 EPA/play · +12.04 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 +0.15, New Orleans Saints +0.17) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Houston Texans: 9 drives, +12.75 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 10 drives, +14.16 total EPA, 6 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• New Orleans Saints 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.
• D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Brees (NO) 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. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q2 44:19 · NO 21 · Score 6-0
   (14:19) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson left end for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q2 44:13 · NO 15 · Score 7-0
   7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-8-T.Daniel.
3. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 39:27 · HOU 14 · Score 7-3
   (9:27) 3-W.Lutz 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
4. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q2 31:51 · NO 2 · Score 13-3
   (1:51) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short left to 10-D.Hopkins for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 2, YAC 0
5. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q2 31:47 · NO 15 · Score 14-3
   7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-8-T.Daniel.
6. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 27:57 · HOU 30 · Score 14-9
   (12:57) (Shotgun) 28-L.Murray left guard for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 27:51 · HOU 15 · Score 14-10
   3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
8. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q3 23:24 · NO 16 · Score 20-10
   (8:24) 4-D.Watson pass short middle to 10-D.Hopkins for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q3 23:20 · NO 15 · Score 21-10
   7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-8-T.Daniel.
10. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 17:43 · HOU 9 · Score 21-16
    (2:43) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 7-T.Hill for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 9, YAC 0
11. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 17:39 · HOU 15 · Score 21-17
    3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead. PENALTY on HOU-97-A.Blackson, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced between downs.
12. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 15:00 · HOU 14 · Score 21-23
    (15:00) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 10-T.Smith for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 14, YAC 0
13. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 14:55 · HOU 15 · Score 21-24
    3-W.Lutz extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
14. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 0:55 · HOU 29 · Score 21-27
    (:55) 3-W.Lutz 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.
15. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q4 0:43 · NO 37 · Score 27-27
    (:43) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass deep middle to 12-K.Stills for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN [24-V.Bell]. Pass 32, YAC 5
16. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q4 0:37 · NO 7 · Score 28-27
    7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-8-T.Daniel.
17. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q4 0:02 · HOU 40 · Score 28-30
    (:02) 3-W.Lutz 58 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-6-T.Morstead.