Houston Texans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: 2002 Week 14 Recap

Game story

In Week 14 of the 2002 NFL season on 2002-12-08, the Houston Texans took care of business against the Pittsburgh Steelers, pulling away with a 24–6 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.

T. Maddox (Pittsburgh Steelers) paced the passing game, with -32.02 total EPA.

On the individual side, B. Miller (Houston Texans) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +2.94 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-21.9% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Pittsburgh Steelers changed the game: (2:13) 8-T.Maddox pass intended for 80-P.Burress INTERCEPTED by 31-A.Glenn at HOU 30. 31-A.Glenn for 70 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

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 B. Miller · Houston Texans · Receiving · +2.94 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.98 EPA/play
2. 2 H. Ward · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +2.22 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.17 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Kreider · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +1.42 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.42 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Zereoue · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · +0.44 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.15 EPA/play
5. 5 A.Randle El · Pittsburgh Steelers · Passing · +0.20 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.10 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Kreider · Pittsburgh Steelers · Rushing · -0.05 total EPA · 1 snaps · -0.05 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Zereoue · Pittsburgh Steelers · Rushing · -0.57 total EPA · 13 snaps · -0.04 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Bettis · Pittsburgh Steelers · Receiving · -0.65 total EPA · 1 snaps · -0.65 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 — K. Wright (Q1 51:09)
• Houston Texans — A. Glenn (Q1 47:13)
• Houston Texans — A. Glenn (Q4 2:14)

Field goals

• Pittsburgh Steelers — J. Reed (Q2 30:28)
• Pittsburgh Steelers — J. Reed (Q3 24:54)
• Houston Texans — K. Brown (Q4 3:40)

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 14–0. Houston Texans found the end zone from the HOU 65 (Q1 51:09); Houston Texans added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q1 50:54) — 3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-80-S.McDermott, Holder-7-C.Stanley.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the HOU 35 (Q1 47:13) — (2:13) 8-T.Maddox pass intended for 80-P.Burress INTERCEPTED by 31-A.Glenn at HOU 30. 31-A.Glenn for 70 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q1 47:01) — 3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-80-S.McDermott, Holder-7-C.Stanley..

The second quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 3–0. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the HOU 22 (Q2 30:28) — (:28) 3-J.Reed 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-T.Maddox..

The third quarter: Pittsburgh Steelers won the period 3–0. Pittsburgh Steelers connected on a field goal from the HOU 13 (Q3 24:54) — (9:54) 3-J.Reed 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-T.Maddox..

The fourth quarter: Houston Texans won the period 10–0. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the PIT 25 (Q4 3:40) — (3:40) 3-K.Brown 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-80-S.McDermott, Holder-7-C.Stanley.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the HOU 38 (Q4 2:14) — (2:14) (Shotgun) 8-T.Maddox pass intended for 88-T.Mathis INTERCEPTED by 31-A.Glenn at HOU 35. 31-A.Glenn for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the PIT 2 (Q4 2:02) — 3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-80-S.McDermott, Holder-7-C.Stanley..

Turning points

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 47:13) — (2:13) 8-T.Maddox pass intended for 80-P.Burress INTERCEPTED by 31-A.Glenn at HOU 30. 31-A.Glenn for 70 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -21.9% · EPA -9.85]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 51:09) — (6:09) (Shotgun) 8-T.Maddox scrambles right end to PIT 40 for 5 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by HOU-43-K.Wright at PIT 40. 43-K.Wright for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -20.8% · EPA -7.22]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 8:41) — (8:41) 4-J.Miller punts 33 yards to HOU 25, Center-54-M.Schneck. 86-J.Gaffney MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by PIT-22-H.Poteat at HOU 25. 22-H.Poteat to HOU 25 for no gain (54-T.Evans). [WPA +15.8% · EPA +4.34]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 13:59) — (13:59) (Shotgun) 8-T.Maddox pass to 86-H.Ward to HOU 25 for 14 yards (98-J.Posey). [WPA +13.6% · EPA +3.30]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 5:44) — (5:44) (Shotgun) 8-T.Maddox sacked at HOU 26 for -8 yards (sack split by 96-G.Walker and 98-J.Posey). #72 Gandy injured on the play for the Steelers. [WPA -10.0% · EPA -3.00]

Impact plays

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

• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 47:13) — (2:13) 8-T.Maddox pass intended for 80-P.Burress INTERCEPTED by 31-A.Glenn at HOU 30. 31-A.Glenn for 70 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -21.9% · EPA -9.85]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q4 2:14) — (2:14) (Shotgun) 8-T.Maddox pass intended for 88-T.Mathis INTERCEPTED by 31-A.Glenn at HOU 35. 31-A.Glenn for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -3.2% · EPA -7.96]
• Pittsburgh Steelers (Q1 51:09) — (6:09) (Shotgun) 8-T.Maddox scrambles right end to PIT 40 for 5 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by HOU-43-K.Wright at PIT 40. 43-K.Wright for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -20.8% · EPA -7.22]
• Houston Texans (Q4 4:57) — (4:57) 7-C.Stanley punts 49 yards to PIT 18, Center-80-S.McDermott. 82-A.Randle El MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by HOU-54-T.Evans at PIT 20. 54-T.Evans to PIT 20 for no gain (34-V.Haynes). [WPA +4.0% · EPA +4.78]

Quarterback report card

T.Maddox led all passers in efficiency for Pittsburgh Steelers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• T.Maddox (Pittsburgh Steelers) · 66 dropbacks · 45.5% completion · -0.49 EPA/play · -32.02 total EPA
• D.Carr (Houston Texans) · 16 dropbacks · 18.8% completion · -0.39 EPA/play · -6.31 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 (-0.23 vs -0.30), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Houston Texans: 15 drives, -13.56 total EPA, 1 scoring drives
• Pittsburgh Steelers: 15 drives, -35.87 total EPA, 2 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.
• B. Miller (Houston Texans) 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 TD (+6) — Q1 51:09 · HOU 65 · Score 6-0
   (6:09) (Shotgun) 8-T.Maddox scrambles right end to PIT 40 for 5 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by HOU-43-K.Wright at PIT 40. 43-K.Wright for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q1 50:54 · PIT 2 · Score 7-0
   3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-80-S.McDermott, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
3. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q1 47:13 · HOU 35 · Score 13-0
   (2:13) 8-T.Maddox pass intended for 80-P.Burress INTERCEPTED by 31-A.Glenn at HOU 30. 31-A.Glenn for 70 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q1 47:01 · PIT 2 · Score 14-0
   3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-80-S.McDermott, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q2 30:28 · HOU 22 · Score 14-3
   (:28) 3-J.Reed 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-T.Maddox.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers FG (+3) — Q3 24:54 · HOU 13 · Score 14-6
   (9:54) 3-J.Reed 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-T.Maddox.
7. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q4 3:40 · PIT 25 · Score 17-6
   (3:40) 3-K.Brown 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-80-S.McDermott, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
8. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q4 2:14 · HOU 38 · Score 23-6
   (2:14) (Shotgun) 8-T.Maddox pass intended for 88-T.Mathis INTERCEPTED by 31-A.Glenn at HOU 35. 31-A.Glenn for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q4 2:02 · PIT 2 · Score 24-6
   3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-80-S.McDermott, Holder-7-C.Stanley.