Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans: 2008 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 2008 NFL season on 2008-12-14, the Houston Texans took care of business against the Tennessee Titans, pulling away with a 13–12 final that came down to the wire.

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

M. Schaub (Houston Texans) paced the passing game, with -1.15 total EPA, and -3.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, A. Johnson (Houston Texans) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +15.00 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-30.3% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Tennessee Titans changed the game: (2:00) 5-K.Collins pass incomplete deep left to 19-J.McCareins.

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 A. Johnson · Houston Texans · Receiving · +15.00 total EPA · 11 snaps · +1.36 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Gage · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +5.20 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.73 EPA/play
3. 3 O. Daniels · Houston Texans · Receiving · +4.88 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.22 EPA/play
4. 4 B. Jones · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +1.21 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
5. 5 K. Walter · Houston Texans · Receiving · +0.56 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
6. 6 S. Slaton · Houston Texans · Rushing · +0.34 total EPA · 24 snaps · +0.01 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Hall · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +0.20 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.20 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Dreessen · Houston Texans · Receiving · +0.15 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.07 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) (Q2 41:09)

Field goals

• Tennessee Titans — R. Bironas (Q1 53:42)
• Houston Texans — K. Brown (Q2 45:00)
• Tennessee Titans — R. Bironas (Q2 30:05)
• Tennessee Titans — R. Bironas (Q3 24:45)
• Houston Texans — K. Brown (Q4 11:49)
• Tennessee Titans — R. Bironas (Q4 5:27)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Tennessee Titans won the period 3–0. Tennessee Titans connected on a field goal from the HOU 8 (Q1 53:42) — (8:42) 2-R.Bironas 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-58-K.Amato, Holder-15-C.Hentrich..

The second quarter: Houston Texans won the period 10–3. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the TEN 14 (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) 3-K.Brown 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-C.Harris, Holder-1-M.Turk.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the TEN 13 (Q2 41:09) — (11:09) 8-M.Schaub pass short right to 80-A.Johnson for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the TEN 2 (Q2 41:03) — 3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-82-C.Harris, Holder-1-M.Turk.; Tennessee Titans connected on a field goal from the HOU 5 (Q2 30:05) — (:05) 2-R.Bironas 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-58-K.Amato, Holder-15-C.Hentrich..

The third quarter: Tennessee Titans won the period 3–0. Tennessee Titans connected on a field goal from the HOU 34 (Q3 24:45) — (9:45) 2-R.Bironas 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-58-K.Amato, Holder-15-C.Hentrich..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the TEN 6 (Q4 11:49) — (11:49) 3-K.Brown 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-C.Harris, Holder-1-M.Turk.; Tennessee Titans connected on a field goal from the HOU 16 (Q4 5:27) — (5:27) 2-R.Bironas 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-58-K.Amato, Holder-15-C.Hentrich..

Turning points

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

• Tennessee Titans (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) 5-K.Collins pass incomplete deep left to 19-J.McCareins. [WPA -30.3% · EPA -3.02]
• Houston Texans (Q1 56:50) — (11:50) 8-M.Schaub sacked at HOU 25 for -9 yards (90-J.Kearse). FUMBLES (90-J.Kearse), RECOVERED by TEN-92-A.Haynesworth at HOU 32. 92-A.Haynesworth to HOU 32 for no gain (44-V.Leach). [WPA -16.5% · EPA -5.65]
• Houston Texans (Q3 15:43) — (:43) 3-K.Brown 26 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-82-C.Harris, Holder-1-M.Turk. [WPA -14.5% · EPA -3.24]
• Houston Texans (Q2 43:53) — (13:53) 8-M.Schaub pass deep middle to 80-A.Johnson to TEN 24 for 65 yards (33-M.Griffin). [WPA +12.3% · EPA +4.20]
• Houston Texans (Q1 50:12) — (5:12) (Shotgun) 8-M.Schaub pass incomplete deep left to 83-K.Walter (24-C.Hope). PENALTY on TEN-95-W.Hayes, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced at HOU 49 - No Play. [WPA +11.8% · EPA +2.64]

Impact plays

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

• Houston Texans (Q1 56:50) — (11:50) 8-M.Schaub sacked at HOU 25 for -9 yards (90-J.Kearse). FUMBLES (90-J.Kearse), RECOVERED by TEN-92-A.Haynesworth at HOU 32. 92-A.Haynesworth to HOU 32 for no gain (44-V.Leach). [WPA -16.5% · EPA -5.65]
• Houston Texans (Q2 43:53) — (13:53) 8-M.Schaub pass deep middle to 80-A.Johnson to TEN 24 for 65 yards (33-M.Griffin). [WPA +12.3% · EPA +4.20]
• Houston Texans (Q3 15:43) — (:43) 3-K.Brown 26 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-82-C.Harris, Holder-1-M.Turk. [WPA -14.5% · EPA -3.24]
• Tennessee Titans (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) 5-K.Collins pass incomplete deep left to 19-J.McCareins. [WPA -30.3% · EPA -3.02]

Quarterback report card

M.Schaub led all passers in efficiency for Houston Texans, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• M.Schaub (Houston Texans) · 47 dropbacks · 48.9% completion · -3.3% CPOE · -0.02 EPA/play · -1.15 total EPA
• K.Collins (Tennessee Titans) · 37 dropbacks · 40.5% completion · -12.4% CPOE · -0.24 EPA/play · -9.01 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Tennessee Titans -0.13, Houston Texans -0.11) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Houston Texans: 13 drives, -10.70 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Tennessee Titans: 13 drives, -9.92 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.
• A. Johnson (Houston Texans) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• M. Schaub (HOU) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• K. Collins (TEN) 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. Tennessee Titans FG (+3) — Q1 53:42 · HOU 8 · Score 3-0
   (8:42) 2-R.Bironas 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-58-K.Amato, Holder-15-C.Hentrich.
2. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q2 45:00 · TEN 14 · Score 3-3
   (15:00) 3-K.Brown 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-C.Harris, Holder-1-M.Turk.
3. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q2 41:09 · TEN 13 · Score 3-9
   (11:09) 8-M.Schaub pass short right to 80-A.Johnson for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q2 41:03 · TEN 2 · Score 3-10
   3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-82-C.Harris, Holder-1-M.Turk.
5. Tennessee Titans FG (+3) — Q2 30:05 · HOU 5 · Score 6-10
   (:05) 2-R.Bironas 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-58-K.Amato, Holder-15-C.Hentrich.
6. Tennessee Titans FG (+3) — Q3 24:45 · HOU 34 · Score 9-10
   (9:45) 2-R.Bironas 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-58-K.Amato, Holder-15-C.Hentrich.
7. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q4 11:49 · TEN 6 · Score 9-13
   (11:49) 3-K.Brown 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-C.Harris, Holder-1-M.Turk.
8. Tennessee Titans FG (+3) — Q4 5:27 · HOU 16 · Score 12-13
   (5:27) 2-R.Bironas 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-58-K.Amato, Holder-15-C.Hentrich.