New Orleans Saints vs. Houston Texans: 2007 Week 11 Recap

Game story

In Week 11 of the 2007 NFL season on 2007-11-18, the Houston Texans took care of business against the New Orleans Saints, pulling away with a 23–10 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with -3.23 total EPA, and -1.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Colston (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +11.80 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+18.6% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Houston Texans changed the game: (10:54) 8-M.Schaub pass deep middle to 80-A.Johnson for 73 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

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 M. Colston · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +11.80 total EPA · 9 snaps · +1.31 EPA/play
2. 2 A. Johnson · Houston Texans · Receiving · +8.98 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.50 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Schaub · Houston Texans · Passing · +5.02 total EPA · 34 snaps · +0.15 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Patten · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.22 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.61 EPA/play
5. 5 R. Bush · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.21 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.27 EPA/play
6. 6 K. Walter · Houston Texans · Receiving · +3.18 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.06 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Henderson · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.79 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.79 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Dreessen · Houston Texans · Receiving · +2.70 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.70 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 — A. Johnson (M. Schaub pass) (Q1 55:54)
• New Orleans Saints — D. Henderson (D. Brees pass) (Q2 34:42)
• Houston Texans — J. Dreessen (M. Schaub pass) (Q2 32:16)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — O. Mare (Q1 57:13)
• Houston Texans — K. Brown (Q2 30:11)
• Houston Texans — K. Brown (Q4 12:27)
• Houston Texans — K. Brown (Q4 2:00)

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 Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the HOU 34 (Q1 57:13) — (12:13) 2-O.Mare 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the NO 73 (Q1 55:54) — (10:54) 8-M.Schaub pass deep middle to 80-A.Johnson for 73 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q1 55:44) — 3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk..

The second quarter: Houston Texans won the period 10–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the HOU 6 (Q2 34:42) — (4:42) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 19-D.Henderson for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q2 34:39) — 2-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the NO 10 (Q2 32:16) — (2:16) 8-M.Schaub pass short right to 85-J.Dreessen for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q2 32:10) — 3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the NO 18 (Q2 30:11) — (:11) 3-K.Brown 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk..

The fourth quarter: Houston Texans won the period 6–0. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the NO 35 (Q4 12:27) — (12:27) 3-K.Brown 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the NO 5 (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) 3-K.Brown 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk..

Turning points

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

• Houston Texans (Q1 55:54) — (10:54) 8-M.Schaub pass deep middle to 80-A.Johnson for 73 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +18.6% · EPA +5.54]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 50:13) — (5:13) 25-R.Bush up the middle to HOU 1 for 2 yards (96-E.Cochran). FUMBLES (96-E.Cochran), RECOVERED by HOU-24-C.Brown at HOU 1. 24-C.Brown to HOU 1 for no gain (25-R.Bush). New Orleans challenged th [WPA -14.5% · EPA -5.16]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 52:06) — (7:06) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep left to 12-M.Colston pushed ob at HOU 15 for 32 yards (34-V.Hutchins). [WPA +14.2% · EPA +4.09]
• Houston Texans (Q2 37:58) — (7:58) 33-A.Echemandu left tackle to HOU 42 for 2 yards (97-J.Cooper). FUMBLES (97-J.Cooper), RECOVERED by NO-91-W.Smith at HOU 45. 91-W.Smith to HOU 43 for 2 yards (74-E.Salaam). [WPA -14.1% · EPA -4.92]
• Houston Texans (Q1 58:47) — (13:47) (Shotgun) 8-M.Schaub pass short middle to 81-O.Daniels to HOU 38 for 5 yards (58-S.Shanle). FUMBLES (58-S.Shanle), RECOVERED by NO-55-S.Fujita at HOU 38. Houston challenged the fumble ruling, [WPA -13.0% · EPA -3.82]

Impact plays

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

• Houston Texans (Q1 55:54) — (10:54) 8-M.Schaub pass deep middle to 80-A.Johnson for 73 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +18.6% · EPA +5.54]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 50:13) — (5:13) 25-R.Bush up the middle to HOU 1 for 2 yards (96-E.Cochran). FUMBLES (96-E.Cochran), RECOVERED by HOU-24-C.Brown at HOU 1. 24-C.Brown to HOU 1 for no gain (25-R.Bush). New Orleans challenged th [WPA -14.5% · EPA -5.16]
• Houston Texans (Q2 37:58) — (7:58) 33-A.Echemandu left tackle to HOU 42 for 2 yards (97-J.Cooper). FUMBLES (97-J.Cooper), RECOVERED by NO-91-W.Smith at HOU 45. 91-W.Smith to HOU 43 for 2 yards (74-E.Salaam). [WPA -14.1% · EPA -4.92]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 13:28) — (13:28) 9-D.Brees pass short middle intended for 82-E.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 56-M.Greenwood at NO 41. 56-M.Greenwood to NO 38 for 3 yards (82-E.Johnson). [WPA -6.2% · EPA -4.36]

Quarterback report card

D.Brees led all passers in efficiency for New Orleans Saints, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Brees (New Orleans Saints) · 51 dropbacks · 64.7% completion · -1.4% CPOE · -0.06 EPA/play · -3.23 total EPA
• M.Schaub (Houston Texans) · 34 dropbacks · 61.8% completion · +1.8% CPOE · +0.15 EPA/play · +5.02 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 (-0.01 vs -0.16), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Houston Texans: 11 drives, -0.81 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 12 drives, -13.99 total EPA, 2 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.
• M. Colston (New Orleans Saints) 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. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q1 57:13 · HOU 34 · Score 3-0
   (12:13) 2-O.Mare 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.
2. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q1 55:54 · NO 73 · Score 3-6
   (10:54) 8-M.Schaub pass deep middle to 80-A.Johnson for 73 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q1 55:44 · NO 2 · Score 3-7
   3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk.
4. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 34:42 · HOU 6 · Score 9-7
   (4:42) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 19-D.Henderson for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 34:39 · HOU 2 · Score 10-7
   2-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-7-S.Weatherford.
6. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q2 32:16 · NO 10 · Score 10-13
   (2:16) 8-M.Schaub pass short right to 85-J.Dreessen for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q2 32:10 · NO 2 · Score 10-14
   3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk.
8. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q2 30:11 · NO 18 · Score 10-17
   (:11) 3-K.Brown 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk.
9. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q4 12:27 · NO 35 · Score 10-20
   (12:27) 3-K.Brown 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk.
10. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q4 2:00 · NO 5 · Score 10-23
    (2:00) 3-K.Brown 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-1-M.Turk.