Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans: 2014 Week 17 Recap

Game story

In Week 17 of the 2014 NFL season on 2014-12-28, the Houston Texans took care of business against the Jacksonville Jaguars, pulling away with a 23–17 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Keenum (Houston Texans) paced the passing game, with -2.52 total EPA, and +0.7% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, A. Johnson (Houston Texans) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.94 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-30.2% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Jacksonville Jaguars changed the game: (1:26) (Shotgun) 5-B.Bortles pass incomplete short left to 84-C.Shorts [21-K.Lewis].

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 A. Johnson · Houston Texans · Receiving · +5.94 total EPA · 15 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
2. 2 C. Shorts · Jacksonville Jaguars · Passing · +2.59 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.59 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Todman · Jacksonville Jaguars · Receiving · +1.86 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Foster · Houston Texans · Receiving · +1.79 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.79 EPA/play
5. 5 A. Sanders · Jacksonville Jaguars · Receiving · +1.57 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.57 EPA/play
6. 6 R. Griffin · Houston Texans · Receiving · +1.56 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.56 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Blue · Houston Texans · Receiving · +1.16 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Todman · Jacksonville Jaguars · Rushing · +0.91 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.13 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 — A. Foster (C. Keenum pass) (Q1 55:27)
• Jacksonville Jaguars — D. Gratz (Q1 48:06)
• Houston Texans — A. Blue (Q2 36:39)
• Jacksonville Jaguars — J. Todman (C. Shorts pass) (Q3 19:52)
• Houston Texans — A. Johnson (C. Keenum pass) (Q4 13:39)

Field goals

• Jacksonville Jaguars — J. Scobee (Q1 51:07)
• Jacksonville Jaguars — A. Foster (Q1 50:55)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Jacksonville Jaguars won the period 13–7. Houston Texans found the end zone from the JAX 10 (Q1 55:27) — (10:27) (Shotgun) 7-C.Keenum pass short left to 23-A.Foster for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the JAX 2 (Q1 55:23) — 4-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.; Jacksonville Jaguars connected on a field goal from the HOU 35 (Q1 51:07) — (6:07) 10-J.Scobee 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Tinker, Holder-19-B.Anger.; Jacksonville Jaguars connected on a field goal from the JAX 78 (Q1 50:55) — (5:55) 23-A.Foster left tackle to HOU 34 for 12 yards (50-T.Smith; 37-J.Cyprien).; Jacksonville Jaguars found the end zone from the JAX 51 (Q1 48:06); Jacksonville Jaguars added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q1 47:55) — 10-J.Scobee extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Tinker, Holder-19-B.Anger..

The second quarter: Houston Texans won the period 7–0. Houston Texans found the end zone from the JAX 1 (Q2 36:39) — (6:39) 28-A.Blue left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. JAX-99-S.Marks was injured during the play. He is Out.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the JAX 2 (Q2 36:34) — 4-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler..

The third quarter: Jacksonville Jaguars won the period 7–0. Jacksonville Jaguars found the end zone from the HOU 23 (Q3 19:52); Jacksonville Jaguars added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q3 19:45) — 10-J.Scobee extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Tinker, Holder-19-B.Anger..

The fourth quarter: Houston Texans won the period 9–0. Houston Texans found the end zone from the JAX 8 (Q4 13:39) — (13:39) (Shotgun) 7-C.Keenum pass short right to 80-A.Johnson for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the JAX 2 (Q4 13:34) — 4-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.; Houston Texans registered a safety from the HOU 90 (Q4 5:51).

Turning points

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

• Jacksonville Jaguars (Q4 1:26) — (1:26) (Shotgun) 5-B.Bortles pass incomplete short left to 84-C.Shorts [21-K.Lewis]. [WPA -30.2% · EPA -2.03]
• Houston Texans (Q1 48:06) — (3:06) (Shotgun) 7-C.Keenum pass short middle intended for 10-D.Hopkins INTERCEPTED by 27-D.Gratz at JAX 45. 27-D.Gratz for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -22.6% · EPA -8.64]
• Houston Texans (Q3 20:03) — (5:03) (Shotgun) 7-C.Keenum sacked at HOU 25 for -6 yards (91-C.Clemons). FUMBLES (91-C.Clemons), RECOVERED by JAX-59-R.Davis at HOU 23. 59-R.Davis to HOU 23 for no gain (60-B.Jones). [WPA -19.9% · EPA -5.13]
• Jacksonville Jaguars (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 5-B.Bortles scrambles left end to HOU 10 for 34 yards (34-A.Bouye). HOU-34-A.Bouye was injured during the play. His return is Questionable. [WPA +16.1% · EPA +2.02]
• Jacksonville Jaguars (Q4 2:24) — (2:24) (Shotgun) 5-B.Bortles pass short middle to 84-C.Shorts to HOU 44 for 18 yards (26-D.Morris). [WPA +14.9% · EPA +2.57]

Impact plays

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

• Houston Texans (Q1 48:06) — (3:06) (Shotgun) 7-C.Keenum pass short middle intended for 10-D.Hopkins INTERCEPTED by 27-D.Gratz at JAX 45. 27-D.Gratz for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -22.6% · EPA -8.64]
• Houston Texans (Q3 20:03) — (5:03) (Shotgun) 7-C.Keenum sacked at HOU 25 for -6 yards (91-C.Clemons). FUMBLES (91-C.Clemons), RECOVERED by JAX-59-R.Davis at HOU 23. 59-R.Davis to HOU 23 for no gain (60-B.Jones). [WPA -19.9% · EPA -5.13]
• Jacksonville Jaguars (Q3 24:58) — (9:58) 10-J.Scobee 51 yard field goal is No Good, Hit Left Upright, Center-46-C.Tinker, Holder-19-B.Anger. [WPA -9.0% · EPA -4.06]
• Houston Texans (Q1 56:09) — (11:09) (Shotgun) 7-C.Keenum pass short middle to 13-D.Johnson pushed ob at JAX 10 for 34 yards (27-D.Gratz). [WPA +8.4% · EPA +2.65]

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) · 46 dropbacks · 54.3% completion · +0.7% CPOE · -0.05 EPA/play · -2.52 total EPA
• B.Bortles (Jacksonville Jaguars) · 43 dropbacks · 32.6% completion · -25.3% CPOE · -0.23 EPA/play · -9.73 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Houston Texans held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.07 vs -0.15), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Houston Texans: 13 drives, -7.00 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Jacksonville Jaguars: 12 drives, -10.37 total EPA, 3 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.
• A. Johnson (Houston Texans) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• B. Bortles (JAX) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q1 55:27 · JAX 10 · Score 0-6
   (10:27) (Shotgun) 7-C.Keenum pass short left to 23-A.Foster for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q1 55:23 · JAX 2 · Score 0-7
   4-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars FG (+3) — Q1 51:07 · HOU 35 · Score 3-7
   (6:07) 10-J.Scobee 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Tinker, Holder-19-B.Anger.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars FG (+3) — Q1 50:55 · JAX 78 · Score 3-7
   (5:55) 23-A.Foster left tackle to HOU 34 for 12 yards (50-T.Smith; 37-J.Cyprien).
5. Jacksonville Jaguars TD (+6) — Q1 48:06 · JAX 51 · Score 9-7
   (3:06) (Shotgun) 7-C.Keenum pass short middle intended for 10-D.Hopkins INTERCEPTED by 27-D.Gratz at JAX 45. 27-D.Gratz for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Jacksonville Jaguars XP (+1) — Q1 47:55 · HOU 2 · Score 10-7
   10-J.Scobee extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Tinker, Holder-19-B.Anger.
7. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q2 36:39 · JAX 1 · Score 10-13
   (6:39) 28-A.Blue left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. JAX-99-S.Marks was injured during the play. He is Out.
8. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q2 36:34 · JAX 2 · Score 10-14
   4-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars TD (+6) — Q3 19:52 · HOU 23 · Score 16-14
   (4:52) 84-C.Shorts pass deep right to 30-J.Todman for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN. (Touchdown was a result of a lateral from #5 to #84 and then a pass.)
10. Jacksonville Jaguars XP (+1) — Q3 19:45 · HOU 2 · Score 17-14
    10-J.Scobee extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Tinker, Holder-19-B.Anger.
11. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q4 13:39 · JAX 8 · Score 17-20
    (13:39) (Shotgun) 7-C.Keenum pass short right to 80-A.Johnson for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q4 13:34 · JAX 2 · Score 17-21
    4-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
13. Houston Texans Safety (+2) — Q4 5:51 · HOU 90 · Score 17-23
    (5:51) (Shotgun) 5-B.Bortles sacked in End Zone for -10 yards, SAFETY (99-J.Watt). The Replay Official challenged the safety ruling, and the play was Upheld. Th