Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans: 2015 Week 1 Recap

Game story

In Week 1 of the 2015 NFL season on 2015-09-13, the Kansas City Chiefs took care of business against the Houston Texans, pulling away with a 27–20 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 30 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

A. Smith (Kansas City Chiefs) paced the passing game, with +5.10 total EPA, and +1.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +11.52 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-16.7% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Houston Texans changed the game: (11:14) 7-B.Hoyer pass short right intended for 10-D.Hopkins INTERCEPTED by 22-M.Peters at HOU 13. 22-M.Peters to HOU 13 for no gain (10-D.Hopkins).

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 T. Kelce · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +11.52 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.92 EPA/play
2. 2 R. Mallett · Houston Texans · Passing · +7.22 total EPA · 17 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
3. 3 A. Smith · Kansas City Chiefs · Passing · +5.10 total EPA · 39 snaps · +0.13 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Hopkins · Houston Texans · Receiving · +3.70 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
5. 5 N. Washington · Houston Texans · Receiving · +3.06 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Charles · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +2.31 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.29 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Fiedorowicz · Houston Texans · Receiving · +0.93 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.93 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Thomas · Kansas City Chiefs · Rushing · +0.75 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.75 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

• Kansas City Chiefs — T. Kelce (A. Smith pass) (Q1 55:27)
• Kansas City Chiefs — T. Kelce (A. Smith pass) (Q1 49:39)
• Houston Texans — D. Hopkins (B. Hoyer pass) (Q1 45:51)
• Kansas City Chiefs — J. Charles (A. Smith pass) (Q2 35:01)
• Houston Texans — D. Hopkins (R. Mallett pass) (Q4 4:16)

Field goals

• Kansas City Chiefs — C. Santos (Q2 40:29)
• Kansas City Chiefs — C. Santos (Q2 36:25)
• Houston Texans — R. Bullock (Q2 30:13)
• Houston Texans — R. Bullock (Q4 1:28)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 14–6. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the HOU 10 (Q1 55:27) — (10:27) 11-A.Smith pass short middle to 87-T.Kelce for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q1 55:22) — 5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the HOU 42 (Q1 49:39) — (4:39) 11-A.Smith pass short left to 87-T.Kelce for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q1 49:28) — 5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the KC 4 (Q1 45:51) — (:51) (Shotgun) 7-B.Hoyer pass short right to 10-D.Hopkins for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

The second quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 13–3. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the HOU 9 (Q2 40:29) — (10:29) 5-C.Santos 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the HOU 30 (Q2 36:25) — (6:25) 5-C.Santos 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the HOU 7 (Q2 35:01) — (5:01) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short left to 25-J.Charles for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q2 34:55) — 5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the KC 16 (Q2 30:13) — (:13) 4-R.Bullock 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler..

The fourth quarter: Houston Texans won the period 30–0. Houston Texans found the end zone from the KC 8 (Q4 4:16) — (4:16) (Shotgun) 15-R.Mallett pass short right to 10-D.Hopkins for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans registered a safety from the KC 2 (Q4 4:07) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 15-R.Mallett pass to 10-D.Hopkins is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the KC 66 (Q4 1:54) — (1:54) (Shotgun) 15-R.Mallett pass short right to 18-C.Shorts pushed ob at KC 46 for 20 yards (22-M.Peters).; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the KC 29 (Q4 1:28) — (1:28) 4-R.Bullock 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the HOU 50 (Q4 1:22) — (1:22) 11-A.Smith kneels to KC 49 for -1 yards..

Turning points

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

• Houston Texans (Q1 56:14) — (11:14) 7-B.Hoyer pass short right intended for 10-D.Hopkins INTERCEPTED by 22-M.Peters at HOU 13. 22-M.Peters to HOU 13 for no gain (10-D.Hopkins). [WPA -16.7% · EPA -5.18]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 49:39) — (4:39) 11-A.Smith pass short left to 87-T.Kelce for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +8.1% · EPA +3.97]
• Houston Texans (Q1 45:51) — (:51) (Shotgun) 7-B.Hoyer pass short right to 10-D.Hopkins for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.4% · EPA +1.41]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 53:04) — (8:04) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short right to 25-J.Charles to KC 31 for 17 yards (35-E.Pleasant). [WPA +6.5% · EPA +2.80]
• Houston Texans (Q1 54:45) — (9:45) (Shotgun) 7-B.Hoyer pass deep left to 85-N.Washington pushed ob at HOU 42 for 19 yards (91-T.Hali). [WPA +4.6% · EPA +1.75]

Impact plays

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

• Houston Texans (Q1 56:14) — (11:14) 7-B.Hoyer pass short right intended for 10-D.Hopkins INTERCEPTED by 22-M.Peters at HOU 13. 22-M.Peters to HOU 13 for no gain (10-D.Hopkins). [WPA -16.7% · EPA -5.18]
• Houston Texans (Q2 35:09) — (5:09) (Shotgun) 7-B.Hoyer sacked at HOU 7 for -9 yards (50-J.Houston). FUMBLES (50-J.Houston) [50-J.Houston], RECOVERED by KC-97-A.Bailey at HOU 7. 97-A.Bailey to HOU 7 for no gain (72-D.Newton). [WPA -3.1% · EPA -4.50]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 49:39) — (4:39) 11-A.Smith pass short left to 87-T.Kelce for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +8.1% · EPA +3.97]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 6:16) — (6:16) 5-C.Santos 51 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt. [WPA -0.3% · EPA -3.83]

Quarterback report card

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

• A.Smith (Kansas City Chiefs) · 39 dropbacks · 56.4% completion · +1.3% CPOE · +0.13 EPA/play · +5.10 total EPA
• B.Hoyer (Houston Texans) · 38 dropbacks · 47.4% completion · -10.8% CPOE · -0.32 EPA/play · -12.23 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Kansas City Chiefs generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.05 vs -0.17), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Houston Texans: 14 drives, -15.58 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Kansas City Chiefs: 15 drives, -4.39 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Kansas City Chiefs 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.
• T. Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• B. Hoyer (HOU) 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. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q1 55:27 · HOU 10 · Score 6-0
   (10:27) 11-A.Smith pass short middle to 87-T.Kelce for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q1 55:22 · HOU 15 · Score 7-0
   5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
3. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q1 49:39 · HOU 42 · Score 13-0
   (4:39) 11-A.Smith pass short left to 87-T.Kelce for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q1 49:28 · HOU 15 · Score 14-0
   5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
5. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q1 45:51 · KC 4 · Score 14-6
   (:51) (Shotgun) 7-B.Hoyer pass short right to 10-D.Hopkins for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 40:29 · HOU 9 · Score 17-6
   (10:29) 5-C.Santos 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
7. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 36:25 · HOU 30 · Score 20-6
   (6:25) 5-C.Santos 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
8. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q2 35:01 · HOU 7 · Score 26-6
   (5:01) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short left to 25-J.Charles for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q2 34:55 · HOU 15 · Score 27-6
   5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
10. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q2 30:13 · KC 16 · Score 27-9
    (:13) 4-R.Bullock 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
11. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q4 4:16 · KC 8 · Score 27-15
    (4:16) (Shotgun) 15-R.Mallett pass short right to 10-D.Hopkins for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Houston Texans Safety (+2) — Q4 4:07 · KC 2 · Score 27-17
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 15-R.Mallett pass to 10-D.Hopkins is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
13. Houston Texans TD (+8) — Q4 1:54 · KC 66 · Score 27-17
    (1:54) (Shotgun) 15-R.Mallett pass short right to 18-C.Shorts pushed ob at KC 46 for 20 yards (22-M.Peters).
14. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q4 1:28 · KC 29 · Score 27-20
    (1:28) 4-R.Bullock 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
15. Houston Texans TD (+11) — Q4 1:22 · HOU 50 · Score 27-20
    (1:22) 11-A.Smith kneels to KC 49 for -1 yards.