Houston Texans vs. Tennessee Titans: 2023 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-12-17, the Houston Texans took care of business against the Tennessee Titans, pulling away with a 19–16 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 13 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Keenum (Houston Texans) paced the passing game, with -1.12 total EPA, and +0.5% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, N. Brown (Houston Texans) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +8.13 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+61.5% win probability) landed in overtime when Tennessee Titans changed the game: (1:49) 13-T.Zentner punts 38 yards to HOU 20, Center-46-M.Cox, fair catch by 82-S.Sims.

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 N. Brown · Houston Texans · Receiving · +8.13 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.74 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Schultz · Houston Texans · Receiving · +5.86 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.17 EPA/play
3. 3 C. Okonkwo · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +4.12 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.37 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Burks · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +4.06 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.35 EPA/play
5. 5 C. Moore · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +3.89 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.97 EPA/play
6. 6 N. Westbrook-Ikhine · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +2.16 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.08 EPA/play
7. 7 B. Jordan · Houston Texans · Receiving · +1.42 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.42 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Singletary · Houston Texans · Receiving · +0.74 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.15 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 — W. Levis (Q1 52:12)
• Tennessee Titans — E. Molden (Q2 44:05)
• Houston Texans — N. Brown (C. Keenum pass) (Q4 3:08)

Field goals

• Houston Texans — K. Fairbairn (Q2 30:03)
• Houston Texans — unlisted player (Q2 30:00)
• Houston Texans — K. Fairbairn (Q3 21:30)
• Houston Texans — K. Fairbairn (Q3 17:47)
• Tennessee Titans — N. Folk (Q4 7:33)
• Houston Texans — K. Fairbairn (OT 0:02)
• Houston Texans — unlisted player (OT 0:00)

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 6–0. Tennessee Titans found the end zone from the HOU 1 (Q1 52:12) — (7:12) (Shotgun) 8-W.Levis up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on HOU-25-D.King, Defensive Offside, declined..

The second quarter: Tennessee Titans won the period 7–6. Tennessee Titans found the end zone from the TEN 60 (Q2 44:05); Tennessee Titans added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q2 43:56) — 6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Cox, Holder-13-T.Zentner.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the TEN 5 (Q2 30:03) — (:03) 15-K.Fairbairn 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal (Q2 30:00) — END QUARTER 2.

The third quarter: Houston Texans won the period 6–0. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the TEN 9 (Q3 21:30) — (6:30) 15-K.Fairbairn 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the TEN 35 (Q3 17:47) — (2:47) 15-K.Fairbairn 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston..

The fourth quarter: Houston Texans won the period 7–3. Tennessee Titans connected on a field goal from the HOU 27 (Q4 7:33) — (7:33) 6-N.Folk 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-M.Cox, Holder-13-T.Zentner.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the TEN 3 (Q4 3:08) — (3:08) (Shotgun) 18-C.Keenum pass short middle to 85-N.Brown for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the TEN 15 (Q4 3:03) — 15-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston..

Overtime: Houston Texans won the period 6–0. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the TEN 36 (OT 0:02) — (:02) 15-K.Fairbairn 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal (OT 0:00) — END GAME.

Turning points

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

• Tennessee Titans (OT 1:49) — (1:49) 13-T.Zentner punts 38 yards to HOU 20, Center-46-M.Cox, fair catch by 82-S.Sims. [WPA +61.5% · EPA -0.33]
• Houston Texans (OT 0:02) — (:02) 15-K.Fairbairn 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston. [WPA +43.8% · EPA +1.31]
• Houston Texans (OT 4:24) — (4:24) 11-C.Johnston punts 47 yards to TEN 47, Center-46-J.Weeks. 12-M.Kinsey to HOU 46 for 7 yards (33-D.Ogunbowale). PENALTY on TEN-47-J.Domann, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at TEN 47. [WPA +43.4% · EPA +0.60]
• Houston Texans (OT 1:43) — (1:43) (Shotgun) 18-C.Keenum pass deep right to 26-D.Singletary pushed ob at TEN 39 for 41 yards (33-E.Garror). [WPA +28.8% · EPA +1.96]
• Tennessee Titans (OT 6:34) — (6:34) 13-T.Zentner punts 35 yards to HOU 27, Center-46-M.Cox, out of bounds. [WPA +27.9% · EPA -0.39]

Impact plays

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

• Houston Texans (Q2 44:05) — (14:05) (Shotgun) 18-C.Keenum pass short left intended for 33-D.Ogunbowale INTERCEPTED by 24-E.Molden at HOU 44. 24-E.Molden for 44 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -11.9% · EPA -7.11]
• Tennessee Titans (Q1 53:10) — (8:10) (Shotgun) 8-W.Levis pass deep left to 15-N.Westbrook-Ikhine to HOU 1 for 33 yards (21-S.Nelson). Penalty on HOU-98-S.Rankins, Defensive Offside, declined. Houston challenged the pass completion [WPA +8.8% · EPA +3.74]
• Tennessee Titans (Q3 27:24) — (12:24) 8-W.Levis pass deep left intended for 10-D.Hopkins INTERCEPTED by 21-S.Nelson at HOU 40. 21-S.Nelson pushed ob at HOU 40 for no gain (10-D.Hopkins). [WPA -8.0% · EPA -3.67]
• Houston Texans (Q2 42:26) — (12:26) (Shotgun) 18-C.Keenum pass deep left to 85-N.Brown to HOU 33 for 22 yards (35-K.Wallace, 23-T.Avery). [WPA +3.2% · EPA +3.03]

Quarterback report card

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

• C.Keenum (Houston Texans) · 43 dropbacks · 53.5% completion · +0.5% CPOE · -0.03 EPA/play · -1.12 total EPA
• W.Levis (Tennessee Titans) · 36 dropbacks · 47.2% completion · +7.9% CPOE · -0.11 EPA/play · -3.99 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 (-0.07 vs -0.16), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Houston Texans: 13 drives, -6.28 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Tennessee Titans: 13 drives, -12.52 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• N. Brown (Houston Texans) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• W. Levis (TEN) 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. Tennessee Titans TD (+6) — Q1 52:12 · HOU 1 · Score 0-6
   (7:12) (Shotgun) 8-W.Levis up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on HOU-25-D.King, Defensive Offside, declined.
2. Tennessee Titans TD (+6) — Q2 44:05 · TEN 60 · Score 0-12
   (14:05) (Shotgun) 18-C.Keenum pass short left intended for 33-D.Ogunbowale INTERCEPTED by 24-E.Molden at HOU 44. 24-E.Molden for 44 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Tennessee Titans XP (+1) — Q2 43:56 · HOU 15 · Score 0-13
   6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Cox, Holder-13-T.Zentner.
4. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q2 30:03 · TEN 5 · Score 3-13
   (:03) 15-K.Fairbairn 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.
5. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q2 30:00 · Score 3-13
   END QUARTER 2
6. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q3 21:30 · TEN 9 · Score 6-13
   (6:30) 15-K.Fairbairn 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.
7. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q3 17:47 · TEN 35 · Score 9-13
   (2:47) 15-K.Fairbairn 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.
8. Tennessee Titans FG (+3) — Q4 7:33 · HOU 27 · Score 9-16
   (7:33) 6-N.Folk 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-M.Cox, Holder-13-T.Zentner.
9. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q4 3:08 · TEN 3 · Score 15-16
   (3:08) (Shotgun) 18-C.Keenum pass short middle to 85-N.Brown for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q4 3:03 · TEN 15 · Score 16-16
    15-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.
11. Houston Texans FG (+3) — OT 0:02 · TEN 36 · Score 19-16
    (:02) 15-K.Fairbairn 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.
12. Houston Texans FG (+3) — OT 0:00 · Score 19-16
    END GAME