Houston Texans vs. San Francisco 49ers: 2005 Week 17 Recap

Game story

In Week 17 of the 2005 NFL season on 2006-01-01, the San Francisco 49ers took care of business against the Houston Texans, pulling away with a 20–17 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

A. Smith (San Francisco 49ers) paced the passing game, with -4.32 total EPA.

On the individual side, B. Lloyd (San Francisco 49ers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.21 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+40.2% win probability) landed in overtime when San Francisco 49ers changed the game: (7:04) 4-A.Lee punts 47 yards to HOU 4, Center-86-B.Jennings, downed by SF-86-B.Jennings.

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. Lloyd · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +7.21 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.80 EPA/play
2. 2 C. Bradford · Houston Texans · Receiving · +6.22 total EPA · 2 snaps · +3.11 EPA/play
3. 3 V. Morency · Houston Texans · Receiving · +4.07 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.02 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Morgan · Houston Texans · Receiving · +2.82 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.94 EPA/play
5. 5 A. Battle · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +2.80 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.93 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Mathis · Houston Texans · Receiving · +0.98 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.49 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Jones · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +0.65 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.65 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Gaffney · Houston Texans · Receiving · +0.49 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.49 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 — V. Morency (Q1 49:48)
• San Francisco 49ers — B. Lloyd (A. Smith pass) (Q2 30:25)
• Houston Texans — C. Bradford (T. Banks pass) (Q3 20:56)
• San Francisco 49ers — M. Adams (Q3 15:20)

Field goals

• Houston Texans — K. Brown (Q1 54:18)
• San Francisco 49ers — J. Nedney (Q3 22:38)
• San Francisco 49ers — J. Nedney (OT 3:55)

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 10–0. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the SF 3 (Q1 54:18) — (9:18) 3-K.Brown 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the SF 3 (Q1 49:48) — (4:48) 34-V.Morency up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q1 49:43) — 3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley..

The second quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 7–0. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the HOU 14 (Q2 30:25) — (:25) 11-A.Smith pass to 85-B.Lloyd for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q2 30:18) — 6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The third quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 10–7. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the HOU 24 (Q3 22:38) — (7:38) 6-J.Nedney 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the SF 25 (Q3 20:56) — (5:56) (Shotgun) 12-T.Banks pass to 85-C.Bradford for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 2.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q3 20:50) — 3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the SF 66 (Q3 15:20) — (:20) (Shotgun) 12-T.Banks pass intended for 11-D.Morgan INTERCEPTED by 20-M.Adams at HOU 40. 20-M.Adams for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q3 15:10) — 6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

Overtime: San Francisco 49ers won the period 3–0. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the HOU 15 (OT 3:55) — (3:55) 6-J.Nedney 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

Turning points

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

• San Francisco 49ers (OT 7:04) — (7:04) 4-A.Lee punts 47 yards to HOU 4, Center-86-B.Jennings, downed by SF-86-B.Jennings. [WPA +40.2% · EPA +0.55]
• Houston Texans (Q3 15:20) — (:20) (Shotgun) 12-T.Banks pass intended for 11-D.Morgan INTERCEPTED by 20-M.Adams at HOU 40. 20-M.Adams for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -31.7% · EPA -7.00]
• San Francisco 49ers (OT 9:18) — (9:18) 11-A.Smith pass to 83-A.Battle to SF 44 for 39 yards (38-D.Faggins). [WPA +26.2% · EPA +2.59]
• Houston Texans (OT 9:27) — (9:27) 7-C.Stanley punts 39 yards to SF 5, Center-48-B.Pittman, downed by HOU-33-J.Bell. [WPA +24.5% · EPA +0.14]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 0:59) — (:59) 4-A.Lee punts 35 yards to end zone, Center-86-B.Jennings, Touchback. [WPA -20.5% · EPA -0.64]

Impact plays

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

• Houston Texans (Q3 15:20) — (:20) (Shotgun) 12-T.Banks pass intended for 11-D.Morgan INTERCEPTED by 20-M.Adams at HOU 40. 20-M.Adams for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -31.7% · EPA -7.00]
• Houston Texans (OT 5:31) — (5:31) 12-T.Banks pass intended for 85-C.Bradford INTERCEPTED by 20-M.Adams at SF 48. 20-M.Adams to SF 44 for -4 yards. Lateral to 38-B.Emanuel to HOU 21 for 35 yards (86-J.Gaffney). [WPA -14.7% · EPA -4.27]
• Houston Texans (Q3 20:56) — (5:56) (Shotgun) 12-T.Banks pass to 85-C.Bradford for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 2. [WPA +14.9% · EPA +3.87]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 30:25) — (:25) 11-A.Smith pass to 85-B.Lloyd for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +11.1% · EPA +3.52]

Quarterback report card

A.Smith led all passers in efficiency for San Francisco 49ers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• A.Smith (San Francisco 49ers) · 39 dropbacks · 41.0% completion · -0.11 EPA/play · -4.32 total EPA
• T.Banks (Houston Texans) · 25 dropbacks · 56.0% completion · -0.15 EPA/play · -3.69 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 -0.16, San Francisco 49ers -0.13) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Houston Texans: 15 drives, -13.20 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 15 drives, -14.18 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• San Francisco 49ers 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.
• B. Lloyd (San Francisco 49ers) 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 FG (+3) — Q1 54:18 · SF 3 · Score 3-0
   (9:18) 3-K.Brown 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
2. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q1 49:48 · SF 3 · Score 9-0
   (4:48) 34-V.Morency up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q1 49:43 · SF 2 · Score 10-0
   3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
4. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q2 30:25 · HOU 14 · Score 10-6
   (:25) 11-A.Smith pass to 85-B.Lloyd for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q2 30:18 · HOU 2 · Score 10-7
   6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
6. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q3 22:38 · HOU 24 · Score 10-10
   (7:38) 6-J.Nedney 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
7. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q3 20:56 · SF 25 · Score 16-10
   (5:56) (Shotgun) 12-T.Banks pass to 85-C.Bradford for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 2.
8. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q3 20:50 · SF 2 · Score 17-10
   3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
9. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q3 15:20 · SF 66 · Score 17-16
   (:20) (Shotgun) 12-T.Banks pass intended for 11-D.Morgan INTERCEPTED by 20-M.Adams at HOU 40. 20-M.Adams for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q3 15:10 · HOU 2 · Score 17-17
    6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
11. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — OT 3:55 · HOU 15 · Score 17-20
    (3:55) 6-J.Nedney 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.