New England Patriots vs. Houston Texans: 2015 Week 14 Recap

Game story

In Week 14 of the 2015 NFL season on 2015-12-13, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Houston Texans, pulling away with a 27–6 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 13 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Brady (New England Patriots) paced the passing game, with +3.96 total EPA, and +5.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, R. Gronkowski (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.73 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+12.4% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Houston Texans changed the game: (4:51) (Shotgun) 7-B.Hoyer pass deep right to 85-N.Washington to NE 25 for 49 yards (21-M.Butler).

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 R. Gronkowski · New England Patriots · Receiving · +7.73 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.93 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Brady · New England Patriots · Passing · +3.96 total EPA · 36 snaps · +0.11 EPA/play
3. 3 K. Martin · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.96 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.99 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Hopkins · Houston Texans · Receiving · +2.45 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.41 EPA/play
5. 5 J. White · New England Patriots · Rushing · +1.94 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.94 EPA/play
6. 6 N. Washington · Houston Texans · Receiving · +1.47 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.37 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Amendola · New England Patriots · Receiving · +1.42 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.18 EPA/play
8. 8 C. Polk · Houston Texans · Receiving · +1.25 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.63 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 — K. Martin (T. Brady pass) (Q1 52:28)
• New England Patriots — R. Gronkowski (T. Brady pass) (Q2 30:19)
• New England Patriots — J. White (Q4 12:08)

Field goals

• Houston Texans — N. Novak (Q1 47:42)
• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q2 42:18)
• Houston Texans — N. Novak (Q2 39:30)
• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q3 26:52)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: New England Patriots won the period 7–3. New England Patriots found the end zone from the HOU 2 (Q1 52:28); New England Patriots added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q1 52:22) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the NE 20 (Q1 47:42) — (2:42) 8-N.Novak 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler..

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 10–3. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the HOU 25 (Q2 42:18) — (12:18) 3-S.Gostkowski 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the NE 27 (Q2 39:30) — (9:30) 8-N.Novak 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the HOU 1 (Q2 30:19) — (:19) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 87-R.Gronkowski for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q2 30:14) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen..

The third quarter: New England Patriots won the period 3–0. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the HOU 31 (Q3 26:52) — (11:52) 3-S.Gostkowski 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen..

The fourth quarter: New England Patriots won the period 7–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the HOU 2 (Q4 12:08) — (12:08) (Shotgun) 28-J.White up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q4 12:04) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen..

Turning points

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

• Houston Texans (Q1 49:51) — (4:51) (Shotgun) 7-B.Hoyer pass deep right to 85-N.Washington to NE 25 for 49 yards (21-M.Butler). [WPA +12.4% · EPA +4.72]
• Houston Texans (Q3 25:46) — (10:46) 9-S.Lechler punts 44 yards to NE 22, Center-46-J.Weeks. 82-K.Martin MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by HOU-51-J.Simon at NE 21. HOU-34-A.Bouye was injured during the play. His return is Probable. [WPA +9.6% · EPA +5.41]
• New England Patriots (Q1 54:30) — (9:30) 12-T.Brady pass deep left to 87-R.Gronkowski to HOU 7 for 45 yards (59-W.Mercilus). [WPA +8.3% · EPA +3.18]
• New England Patriots (Q2 37:32) — (7:32) 38-B.Bolden left end to NE 49 for 11 yards (51-J.Simon). [WPA +6.6% · EPA +1.44]
• New England Patriots (Q1 52:28) — (7:28) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 82-K.Martin for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN [99-J.Watt]. PENALTY on HOU-99-J.Watt, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced between downs. Penalty on HOU-27-Q.Demp [WPA +5.8% · EPA +1.87]

Impact plays

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

• Houston Texans (Q4 13:37) — (13:37) (Shotgun) 7-B.Hoyer sacked at HOU 11 for -7 yards (93-J.Sheard). FUMBLES (93-J.Sheard) [93-J.Sheard], RECOVERED by NE-90-M.Brown at HOU 7. 90-M.Brown to HOU 7 for no gain (79-B.Brooks). [WPA -3.6% · EPA -6.51]
• Houston Texans (Q3 25:46) — (10:46) 9-S.Lechler punts 44 yards to NE 22, Center-46-J.Weeks. 82-K.Martin MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by HOU-51-J.Simon at NE 21. HOU-34-A.Bouye was injured during the play. His return is Probable. [WPA +9.6% · EPA +5.41]
• Houston Texans (Q1 49:51) — (4:51) (Shotgun) 7-B.Hoyer pass deep right to 85-N.Washington to NE 25 for 49 yards (21-M.Butler). [WPA +12.4% · EPA +4.72]
• Houston Texans (Q4 9:24) — (9:24) (Shotgun) 7-B.Hoyer sacked at NE 38 for -4 yards (72-A.Hicks). HOU-7-B.Hoyer was injured during the play. He is Out. [WPA -0.5% · EPA -3.62]

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) · 36 dropbacks · 61.1% completion · +5.4% CPOE · +0.11 EPA/play · +3.96 total EPA
• B.Hoyer (Houston Texans) · 29 dropbacks · 37.9% completion · -7.2% CPOE · -0.67 EPA/play · -19.53 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 (+0.03 vs -0.32), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Houston Texans: 13 drives, -22.49 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 12 drives, +2.64 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.
• R. Gronkowski (New England Patriots) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• T. Brady (NE) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• 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. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q1 52:28 · HOU 2 · Score 6-0
   (7:28) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 82-K.Martin for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN [99-J.Watt]. PENALTY on HOU-99-J.Watt, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced
2. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q1 52:22 · HOU 15 · Score 7-0
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
3. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q1 47:42 · NE 20 · Score 7-3
   (2:42) 8-N.Novak 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
4. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 42:18 · HOU 25 · Score 10-3
   (12:18) 3-S.Gostkowski 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
5. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q2 39:30 · NE 27 · Score 10-6
   (9:30) 8-N.Novak 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
6. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 30:19 · HOU 1 · Score 16-6
   (:19) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 87-R.Gronkowski for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
7. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 30:14 · HOU 15 · Score 17-6
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
8. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q3 26:52 · HOU 31 · Score 20-6
   (11:52) 3-S.Gostkowski 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
9. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 12:08 · HOU 2 · Score 26-6
   (12:08) (Shotgun) 28-J.White up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 12:04 · HOU 15 · Score 27-6
    3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.