New England Patriots vs. Houston Texans: 2019 Week 13 Recap

Game story

In Week 13 of the 2019 NFL season on 2019-12-01, the Houston Texans took care of business against the New England Patriots, pulling away with a 28–22 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

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 +4.98 total EPA, and -8.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Watson (Houston Texans) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +12.80 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-15.8% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New England Patriots changed the game: (2:05) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short left intended for 15-N.Harry INTERCEPTED by 21-B.Roby at NE 28. 21-B.Roby to NE 6 for 22 yards (12-T.Brady). PENALTY on HOU-21-B.Roby, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 1

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 D. Watson · Houston Texans · Passing · +12.80 total EPA · 31 snaps · +0.41 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Edelman · New England Patriots · Receiving · +8.56 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.78 EPA/play
3. 3 K. Stills · Houston Texans · Receiving · +5.61 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.40 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Brady · New England Patriots · Passing · +4.98 total EPA · 58 snaps · +0.09 EPA/play
5. 5 J. White · New England Patriots · Receiving · +4.66 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Johnson · Houston Texans · Receiving · +4.42 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.74 EPA/play
7. 7 B. Watson · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.29 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.29 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Hopkins · Houston Texans · Receiving · +3.19 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.40 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. Johnson (D. Watson pass) (Q1 45:45)
• Houston Texans — D. Fells (D. Watson pass) (Q2 36:26)
• Houston Texans — K. Stills (D. Watson pass) (Q3 20:49)
• New England Patriots — J. White (T. Brady pass) (Q3 15:17)
• Houston Texans — D. Watson (D. Hopkins pass) (Q4 9:58)
• New England Patriots — J. White (T. Brady pass) (Q4 3:49)
• New England Patriots — J. Edelman (T. Brady pass) (Q4 0:55)

Field goals

• New England Patriots — K. Forbath (Q1 52:07)

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 7–3. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the HOU 5 (Q1 52:07) — (7:07) 5-K.Forbath 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the NE 14 (Q1 45:45) — (:45) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short right to 25-D.Johnson for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q1 45:38) — 7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-B.Anger..

The second quarter: Houston Texans won the period 7–0. Houston Texans found the end zone from the NE 13 (Q2 36:26) — (6:26) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short left to 87-D.Fells for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q2 36:21) — 7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-B.Anger..

The third quarter: Houston Texans won the period 7–6. Houston Texans found the end zone from the NE 35 (Q3 20:49) — (5:49) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass deep left to 12-K.Stills for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q3 20:41) — 7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-B.Anger.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the HOU 12 (Q3 15:17) — (:17) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 28-J.White for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

The fourth quarter: New England Patriots won the period 13–7. Houston Texans found the end zone from the NE 6 (Q4 9:58); Houston Texans added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q4 9:53); New England Patriots found the end zone from the HOU 11 (Q4 3:49) — (3:49) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 28-J.White for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN [98-D.Reader].; New England Patriots found the end zone from the HOU 20 (Q4 0:55) — (:55) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep left to 11-J.Edelman for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q4 0:50) — 5-K.Forbath extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey..

Turning points

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

• New England Patriots (Q1 47:05) — (2:05) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short left intended for 15-N.Harry INTERCEPTED by 21-B.Roby at NE 28. 21-B.Roby to NE 6 for 22 yards (12-T.Brady). PENALTY on HOU-21-B.Roby, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 1 [WPA -15.8% · EPA -5.08]
• Houston Texans (Q1 48:41) — (3:41) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson sacked at HOU 46 for -6 yards (53-K.Van Noy). [WPA -8.3% · EPA -2.15]
• New England Patriots (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady scrambles right end to NE 41 for 13 yards (32-L.Johnson). [WPA +6.8% · EPA +2.10]
• Houston Texans (Q1 45:45) — (:45) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short right to 25-D.Johnson for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.7% · EPA +2.52]
• Houston Texans (Q1 50:49) — (5:49) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass deep middle to 10-D.Hopkins to HOU 48 for 17 yards (32-D.McCourty). [WPA +6.2% · EPA +2.14]

Impact plays

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

• New England Patriots (Q1 47:05) — (2:05) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short left intended for 15-N.Harry INTERCEPTED by 21-B.Roby at NE 28. 21-B.Roby to NE 6 for 22 yards (12-T.Brady). PENALTY on HOU-21-B.Roby, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 1 [WPA -15.8% · EPA -5.08]
• Houston Texans (Q3 20:49) — (5:49) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass deep left to 12-K.Stills for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +5.4% · EPA +4.33]
• New England Patriots (Q3 22:14) — (7:14) 12-T.Brady pass incomplete short left to 14-M.Sanu (24-J.Joseph). [WPA -3.7% · EPA -3.44]
• New England Patriots (Q3 17:01) — (2:01) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep right to 11-J.Edelman to HOU 25 for 44 yards (32-L.Johnson). [WPA +1.6% · EPA +3.37]

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) · 58 dropbacks · 41.4% completion · -8.6% CPOE · +0.09 EPA/play · +4.98 total EPA
• D.Watson (Houston Texans) · 31 dropbacks · 58.1% completion · -0.5% CPOE · +0.41 EPA/play · +12.80 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 (+0.12 vs +0.03), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Houston Texans: 11 drives, +8.48 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 10 drives, +2.73 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.
• D. Watson (Houston Texans) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• T. Brady (NE) 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 FG (+3) — Q1 52:07 · HOU 5 · Score 3-0
   (7:07) 5-K.Forbath 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.
2. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q1 45:45 · NE 14 · Score 3-6
   (:45) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short right to 25-D.Johnson for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q1 45:38 · NE 15 · Score 3-7
   7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-B.Anger.
4. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q2 36:26 · NE 13 · Score 3-13
   (6:26) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short left to 87-D.Fells for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q2 36:21 · NE 15 · Score 3-14
   7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-B.Anger.
6. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q3 20:49 · NE 35 · Score 3-20
   (5:49) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass deep left to 12-K.Stills for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q3 20:41 · NE 15 · Score 3-21
   7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-B.Anger.
8. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 15:17 · HOU 12 · Score 9-21
   (:17) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 28-J.White for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q4 9:58 · NE 6 · Score 9-27
   (9:58) (Shotgun) 10-D.Hopkins pass short right to 4-D.Watson for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN [27-J.Jackson]. Watson hands to Johnson, Johnson hands to Hopkins, Hopkins p
10. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q4 9:53 · NE 15 · Score 9-28
    7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-B.Anger. PENALTY on NE-29-J.Bethel, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced between downs.
11. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 3:49 · HOU 11 · Score 15-28
    (3:49) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 28-J.White for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN [98-D.Reader].
12. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 0:55 · HOU 20 · Score 21-28
    (:55) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep left to 11-J.Edelman for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 0:50 · HOU 15 · Score 22-28
    5-K.Forbath extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.