Houston Texans vs. New York Giants: 2014 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2014 NFL season on 2014-09-21, the New York Giants took care of business against the Houston Texans, pulling away with a 30–17 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

R. Fitzpatrick (Houston Texans) paced the passing game, with -5.12 total EPA, and -3.7% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, V. Cruz (New York Giants) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.40 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-17.4% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New York Giants changed the game: (3:19) 10-E.Manning pass short left to 84-L.Donnell to HOU 4 for 6 yards (21-K.Lewis). FUMBLES (21-K.Lewis), RECOVERED by HOU-24-J.Joseph at HOU 3. 24-J.Joseph to HOU 27 for 24 yards (65-W.Beatty). HO

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 V. Cruz · New York Giants · Receiving · +5.40 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.90 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Johnson · Houston Texans · Receiving · +4.90 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.45 EPA/play
3. 3 R. Jennings · New York Giants · Rushing · +4.00 total EPA · 34 snaps · +0.12 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Fells · New York Giants · Receiving · +3.76 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.88 EPA/play
5. 5 S. Lechler · Houston Texans · Passing · +2.79 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.79 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Blue · Houston Texans · Receiving · +2.79 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.79 EPA/play
7. 7 G. Graham · Houston Texans · Receiving · +1.68 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
8. 8 P. Parker · New York Giants · Receiving · +1.68 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.42 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 York Giants — V. Cruz (E. Manning pass) (Q2 33:30)
• New York Giants — R. Jennings (Q2 31:10)
• Houston Texans — D. Johnson (R. Fitzpatrick pass) (Q3 17:21)
• New York Giants — D. Fells (E. Manning pass) (Q4 9:34)
• Houston Texans — R. Fitzpatrick (Q4 2:05)

Field goals

• New York Giants — J. Brown (Q3 25:50)
• Houston Texans — R. Bullock (Q3 21:13)
• New York Giants — J. Brown (Q4 12:22)
• New York Giants — J. Brown (Q4 5:37)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The second quarter: New York Giants won the period 14–0. New York Giants found the end zone from the HOU 26 (Q2 33:30); New York Giants added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q2 33:21) — 3-J.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-5-S.Weatherford.; New York Giants found the end zone from the HOU 1 (Q2 31:10) — (1:10) 23-R.Jennings right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Giants added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q2 31:07) — 3-J.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-5-S.Weatherford..

The third quarter: Houston Texans won the period 10–3. New York Giants connected on a field goal from the HOU 21 (Q3 25:50) — (10:50) 3-J.Brown 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-5-S.Weatherford.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the NYG 9 (Q3 21:13) — (6:13) 4-R.Bullock 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the NYG 44 (Q3 17:21) — (2:21) (Shotgun) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass deep middle to 13-D.Johnson for 44 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the NYG 2 (Q3 17:13) — 4-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler..

The fourth quarter: New York Giants won the period 13–7. New York Giants connected on a field goal from the HOU 11 (Q4 12:22) — (12:22) 3-J.Brown 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-5-S.Weatherford.; New York Giants found the end zone from the HOU 9 (Q4 9:34) — (9:34) (Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short left to 85-D.Fells for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Giants added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q4 9:25) — 3-J.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-5-S.Weatherford.; New York Giants connected on a field goal from the HOU 13 (Q4 5:37) — (5:37) 3-J.Brown 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-5-S.Weatherford.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the NYG 1 (Q4 2:05) — (2:05) (Shotgun) 14-R.Fitzpatrick scrambles up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the NYG 2 (Q4 2:00) — 4-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler..

Turning points

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

• New York Giants (Q1 48:19) — (3:19) 10-E.Manning pass short left to 84-L.Donnell to HOU 4 for 6 yards (21-K.Lewis). FUMBLES (21-K.Lewis), RECOVERED by HOU-24-J.Joseph at HOU 3. 24-J.Joseph to HOU 27 for 24 yards (65-W.Beatty). HO [WPA -17.4% · EPA -5.62]
• New York Giants (Q1 45:57) — (:57) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short middle to 80-V.Cruz to HOU 15 for 61 yards (26-D.Morris). [WPA +12.4% · EPA +4.27]
• New York Giants (Q2 44:19) — (14:19) (Field Goal formation) 5-S.Weatherford Aborted. 51-Z.DeOssie FUMBLES at HOU 12, recovered by NYG-3-J.Brown at HOU 37. 3-J.Brown to HOU 41 for -4 yards (25-K.Jackson, 93-J.Crick). The Field Goa [WPA -10.8% · EPA -4.57]
• Houston Texans (Q3 17:21) — (2:21) (Shotgun) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass deep middle to 13-D.Johnson for 44 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +10.1% · EPA +4.72]
• New York Giants (Q2 34:55) — (4:55) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short right to 83-P.Parker to HOU 39 for 13 yards (26-D.Morris). [WPA +9.4% · EPA +2.35]

Impact plays

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

• New York Giants (Q1 48:19) — (3:19) 10-E.Manning pass short left to 84-L.Donnell to HOU 4 for 6 yards (21-K.Lewis). FUMBLES (21-K.Lewis), RECOVERED by HOU-24-J.Joseph at HOU 3. 24-J.Joseph to HOU 27 for 24 yards (65-W.Beatty). HO [WPA -17.4% · EPA -5.62]
• Houston Texans (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass deep left intended for 80-A.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 26-A.Rolle [91-R.Ayers] at HOU 27. 26-A.Rolle to HOU 2 for 25 yards (82-K.Martin). [WPA -7.5% · EPA -4.92]
• Houston Texans (Q3 17:21) — (2:21) (Shotgun) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass deep middle to 13-D.Johnson for 44 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +10.1% · EPA +4.72]
• Houston Texans (Q4 9:25) — (9:25) (Shotgun) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass deep middle intended for 10-D.Hopkins INTERCEPTED by 21-D.Rodgers-Cromartie at HOU 39. 21-D.Rodgers-Cromartie to HOU 29 for 10 yards (55-C.Myers). [WPA -1.5% · EPA -4.67]

Quarterback report card

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

• R.Fitzpatrick (Houston Texans) · 46 dropbacks · 43.5% completion · -3.7% CPOE · -0.11 EPA/play · -5.12 total EPA
• E.Manning (New York Giants) · 30 dropbacks · 70.0% completion · +8.4% CPOE · +0.05 EPA/play · +1.47 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

New York Giants held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.02 vs -0.14), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Houston Texans: 13 drives, -11.03 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• New York Giants: 13 drives, +1.83 total EPA, 6 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• New York Giants leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• V. Cruz (New York Giants) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• R. Fitzpatrick (HOU) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• E. Manning (NYG) 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. New York Giants TD (+6) — Q2 33:30 · HOU 26 · Score 0-6
   (3:30) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short middle to 80-V.Cruz for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official challenged the runner broke the plane rulin
2. New York Giants XP (+1) — Q2 33:21 · HOU 2 · Score 0-7
   3-J.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-5-S.Weatherford.
3. New York Giants TD (+6) — Q2 31:10 · HOU 1 · Score 0-13
   (1:10) 23-R.Jennings right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
4. New York Giants XP (+1) — Q2 31:07 · HOU 2 · Score 0-14
   3-J.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-5-S.Weatherford.
5. New York Giants FG (+3) — Q3 25:50 · HOU 21 · Score 0-17
   (10:50) 3-J.Brown 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-5-S.Weatherford.
6. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q3 21:13 · NYG 9 · Score 3-17
   (6:13) 4-R.Bullock 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
7. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q3 17:21 · NYG 44 · Score 9-17
   (2:21) (Shotgun) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass deep middle to 13-D.Johnson for 44 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q3 17:13 · NYG 2 · Score 10-17
   4-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
9. New York Giants FG (+3) — Q4 12:22 · HOU 11 · Score 10-20
   (12:22) 3-J.Brown 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-5-S.Weatherford.
10. New York Giants TD (+6) — Q4 9:34 · HOU 9 · Score 10-26
    (9:34) (Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short left to 85-D.Fells for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. New York Giants XP (+1) — Q4 9:25 · HOU 2 · Score 10-27
    3-J.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-5-S.Weatherford.
12. New York Giants FG (+3) — Q4 5:37 · HOU 13 · Score 10-30
    (5:37) 3-J.Brown 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-5-S.Weatherford.
13. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q4 2:05 · NYG 1 · Score 16-30
    (2:05) (Shotgun) 14-R.Fitzpatrick scrambles up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q4 2:00 · NYG 2 · Score 17-30
    4-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.