New England Patriots vs. Houston Texans: 2003 Week 12 Recap

Game story

In Week 12 of the 2003 NFL season on 2003-11-23, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Houston Texans, pulling away with a 23–20 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Brady (New England Patriots) paced the passing game, with +1.99 total EPA.

On the individual side, K. Faulk (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.04 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-45.2% win probability) landed in overtime when New England Patriots changed the game: (12:54) 4-A.Vinatieri 37 yard field goal is BLOCKED (41-R.Walker), Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter, recovered by NE-82-D.Graham at HOU 27. 82-D.Graham to HOU 27 for no gain (54-T.Evans).

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 K. Faulk · New England Patriots · Receiving · +9.04 total EPA · 8 snaps · +1.13 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Graham · New England Patriots · Receiving · +6.34 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.59 EPA/play
3. 3 B. Johnson · New England Patriots · Receiving · +5.17 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.03 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Johnson · Houston Texans · Receiving · +5.12 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.28 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Stokes · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.46 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.46 EPA/play
6. 6 C. Bradford · Houston Texans · Receiving · +3.31 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.65 EPA/play
7. 7 B. Miller · Houston Texans · Receiving · +2.80 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.80 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Branch · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.45 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.49 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

• New England Patriots — B. Johnson (T. Brady pass) (Q2 43:21)
• Houston Texans — A. Johnson (T. Banks pass) (Q3 19:05)
• Houston Texans — B. Miller (T. Banks pass) (Q4 6:55)
• New England Patriots — D. Graham (T. Brady pass) (Q4 0:40)

Field goals

• Houston Texans — K. Brown (Q1 47:39)
• New England Patriots — A. Vinatieri (Q2 35:58)
• New England Patriots — A. Vinatieri (Q4 15:00)
• Houston Texans — K. Brown (Q4 3:15)
• New England Patriots — A. Vinatieri (OT 0:45)

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 3–0. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the NE 1 (Q1 47:39) — (2:39) 3-K.Brown 19 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley..

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 10–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the HOU 27 (Q2 43:21) — (13:21) 12-T.Brady pass to 81-B.Johnson for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 6 yards after catch.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q2 43:12) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the HOU 3 (Q2 35:58) — (5:58) 4-A.Vinatieri 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter..

The third quarter: Houston Texans won the period 7–0. Houston Texans found the end zone from the NE 10 (Q3 19:05) — (4:05) 12-T.Banks pass to 80-A.Johnson for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q3 19:01) — 3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 10–10. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the HOU 14 (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) 4-A.Vinatieri 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the NE 16 (Q4 6:55) — (6:55) 12-T.Banks pass to 82-B.Miller for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 2 yards after catch.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q4 6:49) — 3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the NE 12 (Q4 3:15) — (3:15) 3-K.Brown 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the HOU 4 (Q4 0:40); New England Patriots added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q4 0:40) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter..

Overtime: New England Patriots won the period 3–0. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the HOU 10 (OT 0:45) — (:45) 4-A.Vinatieri 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter..

Turning points

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

• New England Patriots (OT 12:54) — (12:54) 4-A.Vinatieri 37 yard field goal is BLOCKED (41-R.Walker), Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter, recovered by NE-82-D.Graham at HOU 27. 82-D.Graham to HOU 27 for no gain (54-T.Evans). [WPA -45.2% · EPA -3.47]
• Houston Texans (OT 4:28) — (4:28) 7-C.Stanley punts 26 yards to NE 14, Center-48-B.Pittman, fair catch by 33-K.Faulk. Punt hang time 3.44 seconds. [WPA +37.6% · EPA -0.67]
• Houston Texans (OT 14:55) — (14:55) 12-T.Banks pass intended for 85-C.Bradford INTERCEPTED by 50-M.Vrabel at HOU 27. 50-M.Vrabel to HOU 23 for 4 yards (77-T.Washington). [WPA -36.3% · EPA -4.23]
• New England Patriots (Q4 9:10) — (9:10) 12-T.Brady sacked at HOU 36 for -5 yards (52-K.Wong). FUMBLES (52-K.Wong), touched at HOU 36, RECOVERED by HOU-56-J.Foreman at HOU 36. 56-J.Foreman ran ob at NE 31 for 33 yards (35-P.Pass). Pla [WPA -32.3% · EPA -7.33]
• Houston Texans (OT 5:17) — (5:17) 37-D.Davis left end to NE 40 for -5 yards (55-W.McGinest). [WPA -23.0% · EPA -1.75]

Impact plays

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

• New England Patriots (Q4 9:10) — (9:10) 12-T.Brady sacked at HOU 36 for -5 yards (52-K.Wong). FUMBLES (52-K.Wong), touched at HOU 36, RECOVERED by HOU-56-J.Foreman at HOU 36. 56-J.Foreman ran ob at NE 31 for 33 yards (35-P.Pass). Pla [WPA -32.3% · EPA -7.33]
• New England Patriots (Q3 19:43) — (4:43) 12-T.Brady pass intended for 17-D.Ward INTERCEPTED by 42-M.Coleman (53-S.Orr) at NE 40. 42-M.Coleman pushed ob at NE 11 for 29 yards (17-D.Ward). [WPA -16.8% · EPA -5.34]
• Houston Texans (OT 14:55) — (14:55) 12-T.Banks pass intended for 85-C.Bradford INTERCEPTED by 50-M.Vrabel at HOU 27. 50-M.Vrabel to HOU 23 for 4 yards (77-T.Washington). [WPA -36.3% · EPA -4.23]
• New England Patriots (Q4 4:59) — (4:59) 13-K.Walter punt is BLOCKED by 41-R.Walker, Center-66-L.Paxton, recovered by NE-13-K.Walter at NE 20. 13-K.Walter to NE 20 for no gain (32-J.Wells). [WPA -7.1% · EPA -3.52]

Quarterback report card

T.Brady led all passers in efficiency for New England Patriots, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• T.Brady (New England Patriots) · 52 dropbacks · 55.8% completion · +0.04 EPA/play · +1.99 total EPA
• T.Banks (Houston Texans) · 28 dropbacks · 35.7% completion · -0.38 EPA/play · -10.55 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, New England Patriots generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.11 vs -0.20), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Houston Texans: 16 drives, -15.55 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 15 drives, -12.76 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• New England Patriots 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.
• K. Faulk (New England Patriots) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

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

1. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q1 47:39 · NE 1 · Score 0-3
   (2:39) 3-K.Brown 19 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
2. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 43:21 · HOU 27 · Score 6-3
   (13:21) 12-T.Brady pass to 81-B.Johnson for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 6 yards after catch.
3. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 43:12 · HOU 2 · Score 7-3
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
4. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 35:58 · HOU 3 · Score 10-3
   (5:58) 4-A.Vinatieri 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
5. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q3 19:05 · NE 10 · Score 10-9
   (4:05) 12-T.Banks pass to 80-A.Johnson for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q3 19:01 · NE 2 · Score 10-10
   3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
7. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q4 15:00 · HOU 14 · Score 13-10
   (15:00) 4-A.Vinatieri 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
8. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q4 6:55 · NE 16 · Score 13-16
   (6:55) 12-T.Banks pass to 82-B.Miller for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 2 yards after catch.
9. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q4 6:49 · NE 2 · Score 13-17
   3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
10. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q4 3:15 · NE 12 · Score 13-20
    (3:15) 3-K.Brown 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
11. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 0:40 · HOU 4 · Score 19-20
    (:40) 12-T.Brady pass to 82-D.Graham for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on HOU-52-K.Wong, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced between downs.
12. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 0:40 · HOU 2 · Score 20-20
    4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.
13. New England Patriots FG (+3) — OT 0:45 · HOU 10 · Score 23-20
    (:45) 4-A.Vinatieri 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-13-K.Walter.