Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens: 2011 Wild Card Recap

Game story

In the Wild Card of the 2011 NFL season on 2012-01-15, the Baltimore Ravens took care of business against the Houston Texans, pulling away with a 20–13 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Yates (Houston Texans) paced the passing game, with -6.72 total EPA, and -9.8% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, A. Boldin (Baltimore Ravens) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.86 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+22.1% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Baltimore Ravens changed the game: (11:25) (Punt formation) 4-S.Koch punts 64 yards to HOU 13, Center-46-M.Cox. 12-J.Jones to HOU 13 for no gain (29-Ca.Williams). FUMBLES (29-Ca.Williams), RECOVERED by BAL-22-J.Smith at HOU 6. 22-J.Smi

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. Boldin · Baltimore Ravens · Receiving · +4.86 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.61 EPA/play
2. 2 L. Evans · Baltimore Ravens · Receiving · +2.70 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.70 EPA/play
3. 3 O. Daniels · Houston Texans · Receiving · +2.13 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.71 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Foster · Houston Texans · Receiving · +1.71 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.34 EPA/play
5. 5 K. Wilson · Baltimore Ravens · Receiving · +1.32 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.32 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Foster · Houston Texans · Rushing · +0.80 total EPA · 27 snaps · +0.03 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Yates · Houston Texans · Rushing · +0.00 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.00 EPA/play
8. 8 R. Williams · Baltimore Ravens · Rushing · -0.33 total EPA · 6 snaps · -0.05 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

• Baltimore Ravens — K. Wilson (J. Flacco pass) (Q1 54:57)
• Baltimore Ravens — A. Boldin (J. Flacco pass) (Q1 46:13)
• Houston Texans — A. Foster (Q2 34:52)

Field goals

• Houston Texans — N. Rackers (Q1 57:29)
• Baltimore Ravens — B. Cundiff (Q1 51:09)
• Houston Texans — N. Rackers (Q2 41:46)
• Baltimore Ravens — B. Cundiff (Q4 2:56)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Baltimore Ravens won the period 17–3. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the BAL 21 (Q1 57:29) — (12:29) (Field Goal formation) 4-N.Rackers 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-1-M.Turk.; Baltimore Ravens found the end zone from the HOU 1 (Q1 54:57) — (9:57) 5-J.Flacco pass short right to 87-K.Wilson for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Baltimore Ravens added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q1 54:51) — 7-B.Cundiff extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Cox, Holder-4-S.Koch.; Baltimore Ravens connected on a field goal from the HOU 30 (Q1 51:09) — (6:09) (Field Goal formation) 7-B.Cundiff 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-M.Cox, Holder-4-S.Koch.; Baltimore Ravens found the end zone from the HOU 10 (Q1 46:13) — (1:13) 5-J.Flacco pass short right to 81-A.Boldin for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Baltimore Ravens added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q1 46:08) — 7-B.Cundiff extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Cox, Holder-4-S.Koch..

The second quarter: Houston Texans won the period 10–0. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the BAL 15 (Q2 41:46) — (11:46) (Field Goal formation) 4-N.Rackers 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-1-M.Turk.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the BAL 1 (Q2 34:52) — (4:52) #75 - Newton reports as eligible. 23-A.Foster right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the BAL 2 (Q2 34:48) — 4-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-1-M.Turk..

The fourth quarter: Baltimore Ravens won the period 3–0. Baltimore Ravens connected on a field goal from the HOU 26 (Q4 2:56) — (2:56) (Field Goal formation) 7-B.Cundiff 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-M.Cox, Holder-4-S.Koch..

Turning points

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

• Baltimore Ravens (Q1 56:25) — (11:25) (Punt formation) 4-S.Koch punts 64 yards to HOU 13, Center-46-M.Cox. 12-J.Jones to HOU 13 for no gain (29-Ca.Williams). FUMBLES (29-Ca.Williams), RECOVERED by BAL-22-J.Smith at HOU 6. 22-J.Smi [WPA +22.1% · EPA +7.83]
• Houston Texans (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 13-T.Yates pass deep right intended for 80-A.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 20-E.Reed at BAL 4. 20-E.Reed to BAL 4 for no gain (80-A.Johnson). Ed Reed's 8th career interception of post-season [WPA -17.2% · EPA -2.59]
• Baltimore Ravens (Q4 10:22) — (10:22) (Shotgun) 5-J.Flacco sacked at BAL 16 for -12 yards (sack split by 58-B.Reed and 99-J.Watt). [WPA -9.8% · EPA -1.93]
• Houston Texans (Q1 48:21) — (3:21) 13-T.Yates pass short right intended for 80-A.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 21-L.Webb at HOU 35. 21-L.Webb to HOU 34 for 1 yard (80-A.Johnson). [WPA -9.2% · EPA -3.91]
• Baltimore Ravens (Q3 16:59) — (1:59) #76 Jah Reid reports as eligible. 27-R.Rice left guard to HOU 1 for no gain (52-T.Dobbins). [WPA -8.5% · EPA -3.05]

Impact plays

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

• Baltimore Ravens (Q1 56:25) — (11:25) (Punt formation) 4-S.Koch punts 64 yards to HOU 13, Center-46-M.Cox. 12-J.Jones to HOU 13 for no gain (29-Ca.Williams). FUMBLES (29-Ca.Williams), RECOVERED by BAL-22-J.Smith at HOU 6. 22-J.Smi [WPA +22.1% · EPA +7.83]
• Houston Texans (Q1 48:21) — (3:21) 13-T.Yates pass short right intended for 80-A.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 21-L.Webb at HOU 35. 21-L.Webb to HOU 34 for 1 yard (80-A.Johnson). [WPA -9.2% · EPA -3.91]
• Houston Texans (Q3 20:59) — (5:59) (Field Goal formation) 4-N.Rackers 50 yard field goal is No Good, Short, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-1-M.Turk. Ball hits bottom of cross bar. [WPA -7.9% · EPA -3.59]
• Baltimore Ravens (Q3 16:59) — (1:59) #76 Jah Reid reports as eligible. 27-R.Rice left guard to HOU 1 for no gain (52-T.Dobbins). [WPA -8.5% · EPA -3.05]

Quarterback report card

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

• T.Yates (Houston Texans) · 35 dropbacks · 48.6% completion · -9.8% CPOE · -0.19 EPA/play · -6.72 total EPA
• J.Flacco (Baltimore Ravens) · 32 dropbacks · 43.8% completion · -5.4% CPOE · -0.18 EPA/play · -5.63 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Baltimore Ravens held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.01 vs -0.08), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Baltimore Ravens: 15 drives, -1.08 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Houston Texans: 14 drives, -6.11 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Baltimore Ravens 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. Boldin (Baltimore Ravens) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• T. Yates (HOU) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• J. Flacco (BAL) 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 57:29 · BAL 21 · Score 3-0
   (12:29) (Field Goal formation) 4-N.Rackers 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-1-M.Turk.
2. Baltimore Ravens TD (+6) — Q1 54:57 · HOU 1 · Score 3-6
   (9:57) 5-J.Flacco pass short right to 87-K.Wilson for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Baltimore Ravens XP (+1) — Q1 54:51 · HOU 2 · Score 3-7
   7-B.Cundiff extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Cox, Holder-4-S.Koch.
4. Baltimore Ravens FG (+3) — Q1 51:09 · HOU 30 · Score 3-10
   (6:09) (Field Goal formation) 7-B.Cundiff 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-M.Cox, Holder-4-S.Koch.
5. Baltimore Ravens TD (+6) — Q1 46:13 · HOU 10 · Score 3-16
   (1:13) 5-J.Flacco pass short right to 81-A.Boldin for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Baltimore Ravens XP (+1) — Q1 46:08 · HOU 2 · Score 3-17
   7-B.Cundiff extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Cox, Holder-4-S.Koch.
7. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q2 41:46 · BAL 15 · Score 6-17
   (11:46) (Field Goal formation) 4-N.Rackers 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-1-M.Turk.
8. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q2 34:52 · BAL 1 · Score 12-17
   (4:52) #75 - Newton reports as eligible. 23-A.Foster right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q2 34:48 · BAL 2 · Score 13-17
   4-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-1-M.Turk.
10. Baltimore Ravens FG (+3) — Q4 2:56 · HOU 26 · Score 13-20
    (2:56) (Field Goal formation) 7-B.Cundiff 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-M.Cox, Holder-4-S.Koch.