Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans: 2007 Week 1 Recap

Game story

In Week 1 of the 2007 NFL season on 2007-09-09, the Houston Texans took care of business against the Kansas City Chiefs, pulling away with a 20–3 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 10 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Huard (Kansas City Chiefs) paced the passing game, with -14.99 total EPA, and -0.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, A. Johnson (Houston Texans) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.79 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+13.3% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Houston Texans changed the game: (6:13) 8-M.Schaub pass deep left to 80-A.Johnson for 77 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 A. Johnson · Houston Texans · Receiving · +6.79 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.97 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Jones · Houston Texans · Receiving · +4.34 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.17 EPA/play
3. 3 S. Parker · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +3.85 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.96 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Bowe · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +2.65 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.88 EPA/play
5. 5 L. Johnson · Kansas City Chiefs · Rushing · +1.95 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.20 EPA/play
6. 6 O. Daniels · Houston Texans · Receiving · +1.67 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.67 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Gonzalez · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +1.03 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.21 EPA/play
8. 8 L. Johnson · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +0.83 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.12 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. Johnson (M. Schaub pass) (Q2 36:13)
• Houston Texans — K. Wilson (D. Huard pass) (Q3 29:15)

Field goals

• Houston Texans — K. Brown (Q2 37:35)
• Kansas City Chiefs — J. Medlock (Q3 15:30)
• Houston Texans — K. Brown (Q4 5:05)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The second quarter: Houston Texans won the period 10–0. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the KC 8 (Q2 37:35) — (7:35) 3-K.Brown 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the KC 77 (Q2 36:13) — (6:13) 8-M.Schaub pass deep left to 80-A.Johnson for 77 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q2 36:01) — 3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk..

The third quarter: Houston Texans won the period 7–3. Houston Texans found the end zone from the HOU 58 (Q3 29:15); Houston Texans added 1 points from the KC 2 (Q3 29:01) — 3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the HOU 9 (Q3 15:30) — (:30) 7-J.Medlock 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-51-J.Darche, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..

The fourth quarter: Houston Texans won the period 3–0. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the KC 10 (Q4 5:05) — (5:05) 3-K.Brown 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk..

Turning points

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

• Houston Texans (Q2 36:13) — (6:13) 8-M.Schaub pass deep left to 80-A.Johnson for 77 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.3% · EPA +6.12]
• Houston Texans (Q2 41:32) — (11:32) 1-M.Turk punts 52 yards to KC 13, Center-48-B.Pittman. 85-E.Drummond to KC 28 for 15 yards (59-D.Ryans). FUMBLES (59-D.Ryans), touched at KC 28, RECOVERED by HOU-50-C.Anderson at KC 29. 50-C.A [WPA +13.1% · EPA +4.13]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 50:59) — (5:59) 7-J.Medlock 30 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-51-J.Darche, Holder-2-D.Colquitt. [WPA -12.1% · EPA -3.73]
• Houston Texans (Q1 46:08) — (1:08) 8-M.Schaub pass deep left intended for 80-A.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 44-J.Page (44-J.Page) at KC -4. Touchback. [WPA -11.2% · EPA -4.56]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 29:15) — (14:15) 11-D.Huard pass short right to 84-K.Wilson to KC 42 for no gain (21-J.Fletcher). FUMBLES (21-J.Fletcher), RECOVERED by HOU-90-M.Williams at KC 38. 90-M.Williams for 38 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Kansas [WPA -8.9% · EPA -7.10]

Impact plays

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

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 29:15) — (14:15) 11-D.Huard pass short right to 84-K.Wilson to KC 42 for no gain (21-J.Fletcher). FUMBLES (21-J.Fletcher), RECOVERED by HOU-90-M.Williams at KC 38. 90-M.Williams for 38 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Kansas [WPA -8.9% · EPA -7.10]
• Houston Texans (Q2 36:13) — (6:13) 8-M.Schaub pass deep left to 80-A.Johnson for 77 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.3% · EPA +6.12]
• Houston Texans (Q1 46:08) — (1:08) 8-M.Schaub pass deep left intended for 80-A.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 44-J.Page (44-J.Page) at KC -4. Touchback. [WPA -11.2% · EPA -4.56]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 3:20) — (3:20) 11-D.Huard pass short middle intended for 27-L.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 99-Travis.Johnson at KC 49. 99-Travis.Johnson to KC 49 for no gain (62-C.Wiegmann). [WPA -0.1% · EPA -4.21]

Quarterback report card

D.Huard led all passers in efficiency for Kansas City Chiefs, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Huard (Kansas City Chiefs) · 37 dropbacks · 59.5% completion · -0.4% CPOE · -0.41 EPA/play · -14.99 total EPA
• M.Schaub (Houston Texans) · 26 dropbacks · 61.5% completion · +7.2% CPOE · +0.03 EPA/play · +0.69 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 (+0.01 vs -0.24), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Houston Texans: 11 drives, +0.77 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Kansas City Chiefs: 9 drives, -16.64 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.
• A. Johnson (Houston Texans) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• M. Schaub (HOU) 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. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q2 37:35 · KC 8 · Score 0-3
   (7:35) 3-K.Brown 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk.
2. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q2 36:13 · KC 77 · Score 0-9
   (6:13) 8-M.Schaub pass deep left to 80-A.Johnson for 77 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q2 36:01 · KC 2 · Score 0-10
   3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk.
4. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q3 29:15 · HOU 58 · Score 0-16
   (14:15) 11-D.Huard pass short right to 84-K.Wilson to KC 42 for no gain (21-J.Fletcher). FUMBLES (21-J.Fletcher), RECOVERED by HOU-90-M.Williams at KC 38. 90-M.
5. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q3 29:01 · KC 2 · Score 0-17
   3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk.
6. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q3 15:30 · HOU 9 · Score 3-17
   (:30) 7-J.Medlock 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-51-J.Darche, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
7. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q4 5:05 · KC 10 · Score 3-20
   (5:05) 3-K.Brown 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk.