Houston Texans vs. Tennessee Titans: 2003 Week 6 Recap

Game story

In Week 6 of the 2003 NFL season on 2003-10-12, the Tennessee Titans took care of business against the Houston Texans, pulling away with a 38–17 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Carr (Houston Texans) paced the passing game, with -3.44 total EPA.

On the individual side, S. McNair (Tennessee Titans) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +27.03 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+6.5% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Tennessee Titans changed the game: (7:43) (Shotgun) 9-S.McNair pass to 87-T.Calico pushed ob at HOU 43 for 26 yards (26-M.Stevens).

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 S. McNair · Tennessee Titans · Passing · +27.03 total EPA · 29 snaps · +0.93 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Mason · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +17.07 total EPA · 6 snaps · +2.85 EPA/play
3. 3 C. Bradford · Houston Texans · Receiving · +11.99 total EPA · 5 snaps · +2.40 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Calico · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +8.49 total EPA · 4 snaps · +2.12 EPA/play
5. 5 J. McCareins · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +4.98 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.49 EPA/play
6. 6 R. Holcombe · Tennessee Titans · Rushing · +3.68 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.23 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Johnson · Houston Texans · Receiving · +3.56 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.78 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Armstrong · Houston Texans · Receiving · +3.10 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.10 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

• Tennessee Titans — D. Mason (S. McNair pass) (Q1 55:43)
• Tennessee Titans — D. Mason (S. McNair pass) (Q1 51:19)
• Tennessee Titans — R. Holcombe (Q2 31:04)
• Houston Texans — C. Bradford (D. Carr pass) (Q3 27:31)
• Tennessee Titans — D. Mason (S. McNair pass) (Q4 14:54)
• Tennessee Titans — A. Dyson (Q4 13:15)
• Houston Texans — D. Armstrong (D. Carr pass) (Q4 9:12)

Field goals

• Houston Texans — K. Brown (Q2 30:03)
• Tennessee Titans — G. Anderson (Q3 18:49)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Tennessee Titans won the period 14–0. Tennessee Titans found the end zone from the HOU 32 (Q1 55:43) — (10:43) 9-S.McNair pass to 85-D.Mason for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tennessee Titans added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q1 55:38) — 1-G.Anderson extra point is GOOD, Center-67-T.Ackerman, Holder-15-C.Hentrich.; Tennessee Titans found the end zone from the HOU 46 (Q1 51:19) — (6:19) 9-S.McNair pass to 85-D.Mason for 46 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tennessee Titans added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q1 51:12) — 1-G.Anderson extra point is GOOD, Center-67-T.Ackerman, Holder-15-C.Hentrich..

The second quarter: Tennessee Titans won the period 7–3. Tennessee Titans found the end zone from the HOU 5 (Q2 31:04) — (1:04) 35-R.Holcombe right end for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tennessee Titans added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q2 30:57) — 1-G.Anderson extra point is GOOD, Center-67-T.Ackerman, Holder-15-C.Hentrich.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the TEN 11 (Q2 30:03) — (:03) (Field Goal formation) 3-K.Brown 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley..

The third quarter: Houston Texans won the period 7–3. Houston Texans found the end zone from the TEN 65 (Q3 27:31) — (12:31) 8-D.Carr pass to 85-C.Bradford for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the TEN 2 (Q3 27:20) — 3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.; Tennessee Titans connected on a field goal from the HOU 15 (Q3 18:49) — (3:49) (Field Goal formation) 1-G.Anderson 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-67-T.Ackerman, Holder-15-C.Hentrich..

The fourth quarter: Tennessee Titans won the period 14–7. Tennessee Titans found the end zone from the HOU 50 (Q4 14:54) — (14:54) 9-S.McNair pass to 85-D.Mason for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tennessee Titans added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q4 14:46) — 1-G.Anderson extra point is GOOD, Center-67-T.Ackerman, Holder-15-C.Hentrich.; Tennessee Titans found the end zone from the TEN 58 (Q4 13:15) — (13:15) 8-D.Carr pass intended for 37-D.Davis INTERCEPTED by 22-A.Dyson at TEN 49. 22-A.Dyson for 51 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tennessee Titans added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q4 13:03) — 1-G.Anderson extra point is GOOD, Center-67-T.Ackerman, Holder-15-C.Hentrich.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the TEN 13 (Q4 9:12) — (9:12) (No Huddle) 8-D.Carr pass to 87-D.Armstrong for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the TEN 2 (Q4 9:06) — 3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley..

Turning points

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

• Tennessee Titans (Q1 52:43) — (7:43) (Shotgun) 9-S.McNair pass to 87-T.Calico pushed ob at HOU 43 for 26 yards (26-M.Stevens). [WPA +6.5% · EPA +2.72]
• Tennessee Titans (Q2 42:01) — (12:01) 9-S.McNair FUMBLES (Aborted) at HOU 39, RECOVERED by HOU-50-C.Clemons at HOU 38. [WPA -5.8% · EPA -4.37]
• Tennessee Titans (Q1 56:30) — (11:30) 9-S.McNair pass to 83-D.Bennett to HOU 32 for 11 yards (52-K.Wong). [WPA +5.8% · EPA +1.19]
• Houston Texans (Q2 41:10) — (11:10) 8-D.Carr pass intended for 85-C.Bradford INTERCEPTED by 50-R.Boiman at TEN 31. 50-R.Boiman to TEN 41 for 10 yards (34-S.Mack). [WPA -5.8% · EPA -4.68]
• Tennessee Titans (Q1 55:43) — (10:43) 9-S.McNair pass to 85-D.Mason for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +5.6% · EPA +3.20]

Impact plays

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

• Houston Texans (Q4 13:15) — (13:15) 8-D.Carr pass intended for 37-D.Davis INTERCEPTED by 22-A.Dyson at TEN 49. 22-A.Dyson for 51 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -1.4% · EPA -8.35]
• Houston Texans (Q3 27:31) — (12:31) 8-D.Carr pass to 85-C.Bradford for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +3.4% · EPA +6.13]
• Tennessee Titans (Q4 14:54) — (14:54) 9-S.McNair pass to 85-D.Mason for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +2.1% · EPA +5.52]
• Tennessee Titans (Q1 51:19) — (6:19) 9-S.McNair pass to 85-D.Mason for 46 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +4.6% · EPA +4.83]

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) · 45 dropbacks · 55.6% completion · -0.08 EPA/play · -3.44 total EPA
• S.McNair (Tennessee Titans) · 29 dropbacks · 62.1% completion · +0.93 EPA/play · +27.03 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Tennessee Titans held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.28 vs +0.04), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Houston Texans: 12 drives, +3.27 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Tennessee Titans: 12 drives, +22.06 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Tennessee Titans leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• S. McNair (Tennessee Titans) 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. Tennessee Titans TD (+6) — Q1 55:43 · HOU 32 · Score 0-6
   (10:43) 9-S.McNair pass to 85-D.Mason for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Tennessee Titans XP (+1) — Q1 55:38 · HOU 2 · Score 0-7
   1-G.Anderson extra point is GOOD, Center-67-T.Ackerman, Holder-15-C.Hentrich.
3. Tennessee Titans TD (+6) — Q1 51:19 · HOU 46 · Score 0-13
   (6:19) 9-S.McNair pass to 85-D.Mason for 46 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Tennessee Titans XP (+1) — Q1 51:12 · HOU 2 · Score 0-14
   1-G.Anderson extra point is GOOD, Center-67-T.Ackerman, Holder-15-C.Hentrich.
5. Tennessee Titans TD (+6) — Q2 31:04 · HOU 5 · Score 0-20
   (1:04) 35-R.Holcombe right end for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Tennessee Titans XP (+1) — Q2 30:57 · HOU 2 · Score 0-21
   1-G.Anderson extra point is GOOD, Center-67-T.Ackerman, Holder-15-C.Hentrich.
7. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q2 30:03 · TEN 11 · Score 3-21
   (:03) (Field Goal formation) 3-K.Brown 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
8. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q3 27:31 · TEN 65 · Score 9-21
   (12:31) 8-D.Carr pass to 85-C.Bradford for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q3 27:20 · TEN 2 · Score 10-21
   3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
10. Tennessee Titans FG (+3) — Q3 18:49 · HOU 15 · Score 10-24
    (3:49) (Field Goal formation) 1-G.Anderson 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-67-T.Ackerman, Holder-15-C.Hentrich.
11. Tennessee Titans TD (+6) — Q4 14:54 · HOU 50 · Score 10-30
    (14:54) 9-S.McNair pass to 85-D.Mason for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Tennessee Titans XP (+1) — Q4 14:46 · HOU 2 · Score 10-31
    1-G.Anderson extra point is GOOD, Center-67-T.Ackerman, Holder-15-C.Hentrich.
13. Tennessee Titans TD (+6) — Q4 13:15 · TEN 58 · Score 10-37
    (13:15) 8-D.Carr pass intended for 37-D.Davis INTERCEPTED by 22-A.Dyson at TEN 49. 22-A.Dyson for 51 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Tennessee Titans XP (+1) — Q4 13:03 · HOU 2 · Score 10-38
    1-G.Anderson extra point is GOOD, Center-67-T.Ackerman, Holder-15-C.Hentrich.
15. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q4 9:12 · TEN 13 · Score 16-38
    (9:12) (No Huddle) 8-D.Carr pass to 87-D.Armstrong for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
16. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q4 9:06 · TEN 2 · Score 17-38
    3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.