Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans: 2016 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2016 NFL season on 2016-09-18, the Houston Texans took care of business against the Kansas City Chiefs, pulling away with a 19–12 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 18 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

A. Smith (Kansas City Chiefs) paced the passing game, with -8.39 total EPA, and -11.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, W. Fuller (Houston Texans) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.25 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-18.5% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Kansas City Chiefs changed the game: (2:00) (Shotgun) 32-S.Ware up the middle to HOU 40 for 9 yards (27-Q.Demps). FUMBLES (27-Q.Demps), RECOVERED by HOU-30-K.Johnson at HOU 33. 30-K.Johnson to KC 14 for 53 yards (17-C.Conley).

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 W. Fuller · Houston Texans · Receiving · +9.25 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.32 EPA/play
2. 2 L. Miller · Houston Texans · Receiving · +2.47 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.24 EPA/play
3. 3 S. Anderson · Houston Texans · Receiving · +2.01 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.67 EPA/play
4. 4 S. Ware · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +1.72 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.57 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Hopkins · Houston Texans · Receiving · +1.69 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.15 EPA/play
6. 6 C. Conley · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +0.80 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.20 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Grimes · Houston Texans · Receiving · +0.23 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.08 EPA/play
8. 8 B. Osweiler · Houston Texans · Passing · +0.11 total EPA · 36 snaps · +0.00 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 — D. Hopkins (B. Osweiler pass) (Q1 53:08)

Field goals

• Kansas City Chiefs — C. Santos (Q2 45:00)
• Houston Texans — N. Novak (Q2 34:19)
• Houston Texans — N. Novak (Q2 31:24)
• Kansas City Chiefs — C. Santos (Q4 15:00)
• Houston Texans — N. Novak (Q4 9:37)
• Houston Texans — A. Smith (Q4 9:27)
• Kansas City Chiefs — C. Santos (Q4 7:38)
• Houston Texans — N. Novak (Q4 3:00)
• Kansas City Chiefs — C. Santos (Q4 0:52)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Houston Texans won the period 7–0. Houston Texans found the end zone from the KC 27 (Q1 53:08); Houston Texans added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q1 53:01) — 8-N.Novak extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler..

The second quarter: Houston Texans won the period 6–3. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the HOU 36 (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) 5-C.Santos 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the KC 14 (Q2 34:19) — (4:19) 8-N.Novak 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the KC 6 (Q2 31:24) — (1:24) 8-N.Novak 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 9–9. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the HOU 25 (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) 5-C.Santos 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the KC 13 (Q4 9:37) — (9:37) 8-N.Novak 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the HOU 69 (Q4 9:27) — (9:27) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass deep right to 32-S.Ware to HOU 35 for 34 yards (21-A.Bouye).; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the HOU 17 (Q4 7:38) — (7:38) 5-C.Santos 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the KC 26 (Q4 3:00) — (3:00) 8-N.Novak 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler. (The Field Goal was deflected by #92.); Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the HOU 12 (Q4 0:52) — (:52) 5-C.Santos 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..

Turning points

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

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 32-S.Ware up the middle to HOU 40 for 9 yards (27-Q.Demps). FUMBLES (27-Q.Demps), RECOVERED by HOU-30-K.Johnson at HOU 33. 30-K.Johnson to KC 14 for 53 yards (17-C.Conley). [WPA -18.5% · EPA -6.54]
• Houston Texans (Q1 55:55) — (10:55) (Shotgun) 17-B.Osweiler pass short right intended for 13-B.Miller INTERCEPTED by 22-M.Peters at KC 0. 22-M.Peters to KC 19 for 19 yards (26-L.Miller). [WPA -15.8% · EPA -5.58]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 53:15) — (8:15) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith FUMBLES (Aborted) at KC 38, RECOVERED by HOU-99-J.Watt at KC 27. 99-J.Watt to KC 27 for no gain (11-A.Smith). (The Ball was fumbled by the QB after initiating contact with [WPA -13.8% · EPA -5.26]
• Houston Texans (Q1 57:30) — (12:30) (Shotgun) 17-B.Osweiler pass deep right to 15-W.Fuller to KC 3 for 53 yards (29-E.Berry; 22-M.Peters). [WPA +10.2% · EPA +3.53]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 43:49) — (13:49) 32-S.Ware up the middle pushed ob at HOU 44 for 25 yards (29-A.Hal). [WPA +8.4% · EPA +2.16]

Impact plays

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

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 32-S.Ware up the middle to HOU 40 for 9 yards (27-Q.Demps). FUMBLES (27-Q.Demps), RECOVERED by HOU-30-K.Johnson at HOU 33. 30-K.Johnson to KC 14 for 53 yards (17-C.Conley). [WPA -18.5% · EPA -6.54]
• Houston Texans (Q3 17:56) — (2:56) (Shotgun) 17-B.Osweiler pass short right intended for 10-D.Hopkins INTERCEPTED by 22-M.Peters at KC 21. 22-M.Peters pushed ob at KC 49 for 28 yards (26-L.Miller). [WPA -7.0% · EPA -6.27]
• Houston Texans (Q1 55:55) — (10:55) (Shotgun) 17-B.Osweiler pass short right intended for 13-B.Miller INTERCEPTED by 22-M.Peters at KC 0. 22-M.Peters to KC 19 for 19 yards (26-L.Miller). [WPA -15.8% · EPA -5.58]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 53:15) — (8:15) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith FUMBLES (Aborted) at KC 38, RECOVERED by HOU-99-J.Watt at KC 27. 99-J.Watt to KC 27 for no gain (11-A.Smith). (The Ball was fumbled by the QB after initiating contact with [WPA -13.8% · EPA -5.26]

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) · 45 dropbacks · 44.4% completion · -11.9% CPOE · -0.19 EPA/play · -8.39 total EPA
• B.Osweiler (Houston Texans) · 36 dropbacks · 52.8% completion · -3.0% CPOE · +0.00 EPA/play · +0.11 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 (-0.17 vs -0.25), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Houston Texans: 14 drives, -14.83 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Kansas City Chiefs: 13 drives, -21.00 total EPA, 4 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.
• W. Fuller (Houston Texans) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• A. Smith (KC) 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 53:08 · KC 27 · Score 0-6
   (8:08) (Shotgun) 17-B.Osweiler pass deep right to 10-D.Hopkins for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on KC-22-M.Peters, Defensive Pass Interference, declined.
2. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q1 53:01 · KC 15 · Score 0-7
   8-N.Novak extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
3. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 45:00 · HOU 36 · Score 3-7
   (15:00) 5-C.Santos 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
4. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q2 34:19 · KC 14 · Score 3-10
   (4:19) 8-N.Novak 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
5. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q2 31:24 · KC 6 · Score 3-13
   (1:24) 8-N.Novak 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
6. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q4 15:00 · HOU 25 · Score 6-13
   (15:00) 5-C.Santos 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
7. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q4 9:37 · KC 13 · Score 6-16
   (9:37) 8-N.Novak 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
8. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q4 9:27 · HOU 69 · Score 6-16
   (9:27) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass deep right to 32-S.Ware to HOU 35 for 34 yards (21-A.Bouye).
9. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q4 7:38 · HOU 17 · Score 9-16
   (7:38) 5-C.Santos 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
10. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q4 3:00 · KC 26 · Score 9-19
    (3:00) 8-N.Novak 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler. (The Field Goal was deflected by #92.)
11. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q4 0:52 · HOU 12 · Score 12-19
    (:52) 5-C.Santos 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.