San Francisco 49ers vs. Houston Texans: 2017 Week 14 Recap

Game story

In Week 14 of the 2017 NFL season on 2017-12-10, the San Francisco 49ers took care of business against the Houston Texans, pulling away with a 26–16 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 19 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Garoppolo (San Francisco 49ers) paced the passing game, with +13.15 total EPA, and +5.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Garoppolo (San Francisco 49ers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +13.15 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+18.7% win probability) landed in the third quarter when San Francisco 49ers changed the game: (4:22) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo pass short middle to 88-G.Celek to HOU 20 for 61 yards (35-E.Pleasant).

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 J. Garoppolo · San Francisco 49ers · Passing · +13.15 total EPA · 38 snaps · +0.35 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Hopkins · Houston Texans · Receiving · +6.40 total EPA · 16 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
3. 3 G. Celek · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +5.43 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.36 EPA/play
4. 4 K. Juszczyk · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +4.84 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.21 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Yates · Houston Texans · Passing · +3.73 total EPA · 32 snaps · +0.12 EPA/play
6. 6 M. Goodwin · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +3.72 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
7. 7 K. Bourne · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +2.42 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.21 EPA/play
8. 8 A. Ellington · Houston Texans · Receiving · +1.08 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.54 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

• San Francisco 49ers — C. Hyde (Q2 32:39)
• Houston Texans — D. Hopkins (T. Yates pass) (Q2 30:59)
• Houston Texans — D. Hopkins (T. Yates pass) (Q3 27:18)
• San Francisco 49ers — G. Celek (J. Garoppolo pass) (Q3 16:58)

Field goals

• Houston Texans — K. Fairbairn (Q1 54:08)
• San Francisco 49ers — R. Gould (Q2 36:36)
• San Francisco 49ers — R. Gould (Q2 30:02)
• San Francisco 49ers — R. Gould (Q3 23:15)
• San Francisco 49ers — R. Gould (Q4 3:54)

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 SF 37 (Q1 54:08) — (9:08) 7-K.Fairbairn 55 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler..

The second quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 13–6. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the HOU 34 (Q2 36:36) — (6:36) 9-R.Gould 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the HOU 2 (Q2 32:39) — (2:39) (Shotgun) 28-C.Hyde right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q2 32:32) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the SF 7 (Q2 30:59) — (:59) (Shotgun) 2-T.Yates pass short middle to 10-D.Hopkins for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the HOU 17 (Q2 30:02) — (:02) 9-R.Gould 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion..

The third quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 10–7. Houston Texans found the end zone from the SF 29 (Q3 27:18) — (12:18) 2-T.Yates pass deep left to 10-D.Hopkins for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the SF 15 (Q3 27:11) — 7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the HOU 7 (Q3 23:15) — (8:15) 9-R.Gould 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the HOU 6 (Q3 16:58) — (1:58) 10-J.Garoppolo pass short left to 88-G.Celek for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q3 16:53) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion..

The fourth quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 3–0. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the HOU 23 (Q4 3:54) — (3:54) 9-R.Gould 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion..

Turning points

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

• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 19:22) — (4:22) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo pass short middle to 88-G.Celek to HOU 20 for 61 yards (35-E.Pleasant). [WPA +18.7% · EPA +5.30]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 50:33) — (5:33) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo pass deep left intended for 81-T.Taylor INTERCEPTED by 25-K.Jackson at HOU 23. 25-K.Jackson to HOU 25 for 2 yards (88-G.Celek). PENALTY on SF-88-G.Celek, Horse Collar T [WPA -15.5% · EPA -5.32]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 16:58) — (1:58) 10-J.Garoppolo pass short left to 88-G.Celek for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +10.6% · EPA +1.45]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 35:11) — (5:11) 10-J.Garoppolo pass deep left to 44-K.Juszczyk to HOU 37 for 29 yards (21-M.Gilchrist) [90-J.Clowney]. [WPA +10.5% · EPA +2.42]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 14:23) — (14:23) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo pass incomplete deep left to 11-M.Goodwin. PENALTY on HOU-30-K.Johnson, Defensive Pass Interference, 27 yards, enforced at SF 15 - No Play. [WPA +10.0% · EPA +2.89]

Impact plays

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

• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 50:33) — (5:33) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo pass deep left intended for 81-T.Taylor INTERCEPTED by 25-K.Jackson at HOU 23. 25-K.Jackson to HOU 25 for 2 yards (88-G.Celek). PENALTY on SF-88-G.Celek, Horse Collar T [WPA -15.5% · EPA -5.32]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 19:22) — (4:22) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo pass short middle to 88-G.Celek to HOU 20 for 61 yards (35-E.Pleasant). [WPA +18.7% · EPA +5.30]
• Houston Texans (Q4 5:52) — (5:52) (Shotgun) 2-T.Yates pass short right to 10-D.Hopkins to HOU 26 for 5 yards (38-A.Colbert). FUMBLES (38-A.Colbert), RECOVERED by SF-59-A.Lynch at HOU 32. 59-A.Lynch to HOU 32 for no gain (89-S.A [WPA -8.3% · EPA -4.03]
• Houston Texans (Q1 47:52) — (2:52) 26-L.Miller up the middle to SF 42 for -2 yards (90-E.Mitchell, 35-E.Reid). [WPA -8.5% · EPA -3.52]

Quarterback report card

J.Garoppolo led all passers in efficiency for San Francisco 49ers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Garoppolo (San Francisco 49ers) · 38 dropbacks · 52.6% completion · +5.3% CPOE · +0.35 EPA/play · +13.15 total EPA
• T.Yates (Houston Texans) · 32 dropbacks · 43.8% completion · -5.4% CPOE · +0.12 EPA/play · +3.73 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, San Francisco 49ers generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.05 vs -0.12), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Houston Texans: 12 drives, -9.89 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 13 drives, +4.48 total EPA, 6 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• San Francisco 49ers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• J. Garoppolo (San Francisco 49ers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Garoppolo (SF) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• T. Yates (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. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q1 54:08 · SF 37 · Score 0-3
   (9:08) 7-K.Fairbairn 55 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
2. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q2 36:36 · HOU 34 · Score 3-3
   (6:36) 9-R.Gould 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion.
3. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q2 32:39 · HOU 2 · Score 9-3
   (2:39) (Shotgun) 28-C.Hyde right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q2 32:32 · HOU 15 · Score 10-3
   9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion.
5. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q2 30:59 · SF 7 · Score 10-9
   (:59) (Shotgun) 2-T.Yates pass short middle to 10-D.Hopkins for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q2 30:02 · HOU 17 · Score 13-9
   (:02) 9-R.Gould 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion.
7. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q3 27:18 · SF 29 · Score 13-15
   (12:18) 2-T.Yates pass deep left to 10-D.Hopkins for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q3 27:11 · SF 15 · Score 13-16
   7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-9-S.Lechler.
9. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q3 23:15 · HOU 7 · Score 16-16
   (8:15) 9-R.Gould 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion.
10. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q3 16:58 · HOU 6 · Score 22-16
    (1:58) 10-J.Garoppolo pass short left to 88-G.Celek for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q3 16:53 · HOU 15 · Score 23-16
    9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion.
12. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q4 3:54 · HOU 23 · Score 26-16
    (3:54) 9-R.Gould 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion.