Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins: 2009 Week 4 Recap

Game story

In Week 4 of the 2009 NFL season on 2009-10-04, the Miami Dolphins took care of business against the Buffalo Bills, pulling away with a 38–10 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Edwards (Buffalo Bills) paced the passing game, with -12.61 total EPA, and -5.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, R. Brown (Miami Dolphins) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.13 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-14.0% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Buffalo Bills changed the game: (11:31) (Shotgun) 5-T.Edwards pass short left intended for 82-J.Reed INTERCEPTED by 21-V.Davis at BUF 23. 21-V.Davis for 23 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 R. Brown · Miami Dolphins · Rushing · +7.13 total EPA · 20 snaps · +0.36 EPA/play
2. 2 R. Williams · Miami Dolphins · Rushing · +4.81 total EPA · 16 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
3. 3 G. Camarillo · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +3.21 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.64 EPA/play
4. 4 B. Hartline · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +2.15 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.07 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Ginn · Miami Dolphins · Rushing · +1.65 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.65 EPA/play
6. 6 P. Cobbs · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +1.43 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.43 EPA/play
7. 7 M. Lynch · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +1.32 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.22 EPA/play
8. 8 R. Williams · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +0.98 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.98 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

• Miami Dolphins — V. Davis (Q2 41:31)
• Miami Dolphins — R. Brown (Q2 34:29)
• Miami Dolphins — B. Hartline (C. Henne pass) (Q3 23:31)
• Miami Dolphins — R. Williams (Q3 17:45)
• Buffalo Bills — J. Reed (T. Edwards pass) (Q4 14:55)
• Miami Dolphins — R. Brown (Q4 3:49)

Field goals

• Miami Dolphins — D. Carpenter (Q2 41:42)
• Buffalo Bills — R. Lindell (Q2 38:52)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The second quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 17–3. Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the BUF 15 (Q2 41:42) — (11:42) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Carpenter 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the MIA 82 (Q2 41:31); Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q2 41:23) — (Kick formation) 5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.; Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the MIA 17 (Q2 38:52) — (8:52) (Field Goal formation) 9-R.Lindell 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the BUF 1 (Q2 34:29) — (4:29) 23-R.Brown right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q2 34:23) — 5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields..

The third quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 14–0. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the BUF 5 (Q3 23:31) — (8:31) 7-C.Henne pass short right to 82-B.Hartline for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q3 23:26) — (Kick formation) 5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the BUF 1 (Q3 17:45); Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q3 17:36) — 5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the MIA 3 (Q4 14:55) — (14:55) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 5-T.Edwards pass short right to 82-J.Reed for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q4 14:50) — (Kick formation) 9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the BUF 4 (Q4 3:49) — (3:49) 75 - N.Garner reports eligible. 23-R.Brown right end for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q4 3:43) — (Kick formation) 5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields..

Turning points

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

• Buffalo Bills (Q2 41:31) — (11:31) (Shotgun) 5-T.Edwards pass short left intended for 82-J.Reed INTERCEPTED by 21-V.Davis at BUF 23. 21-V.Davis for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -14.0% · EPA -7.16]
• Buffalo Bills (Q1 54:29) — (9:29) (Punt formation) PENALTY on MIA-26-L.Hilliard, Neutral Zone Infraction, 5 yards, enforced at MIA 41 - No Play. [WPA +11.8% · EPA +3.28]
• Buffalo Bills (Q1 53:45) — (8:45) (Field Goal formation) 9-R.Lindell 49 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-8-B.Moorman. [WPA -8.0% · EPA -3.81]
• Buffalo Bills (Q1 50:19) — (5:19) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 5-T.Edwards pass short middle to 23-M.Lynch to BUF 37 for 23 yards (29-T.Culver). [WPA +7.4% · EPA +2.68]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 44:19) — (14:19) 7-C.Henne pass short left to 38-P.Cobbs to BUF 35 for 10 yards (29-D.Florence). [WPA +6.7% · EPA +1.43]

Impact plays

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

• Buffalo Bills (Q2 41:31) — (11:31) (Shotgun) 5-T.Edwards pass short left intended for 82-J.Reed INTERCEPTED by 21-V.Davis at BUF 23. 21-V.Davis for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -14.0% · EPA -7.16]
• Buffalo Bills (Q3 22:50) — (7:50) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 5-T.Edwards pass short middle intended for 81-T.Owens INTERCEPTED by 25-W.Allen at BUF 48. 25-W.Allen to BUF 27 for 21 yards (22-F.Jackson). [WPA -3.4% · EPA -5.80]
• Buffalo Bills (Q4 14:55) — (14:55) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 5-T.Edwards pass short right to 82-J.Reed for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +1.3% · EPA +3.96]
• Buffalo Bills (Q1 53:45) — (8:45) (Field Goal formation) 9-R.Lindell 49 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-8-B.Moorman. [WPA -8.0% · EPA -3.81]

Quarterback report card

T.Edwards led all passers in efficiency for Buffalo Bills, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• T.Edwards (Buffalo Bills) · 33 dropbacks · 42.4% completion · -5.3% CPOE · -0.38 EPA/play · -12.61 total EPA
• C.Henne (Miami Dolphins) · 31 dropbacks · 45.2% completion · +5.0% CPOE · -0.10 EPA/play · -2.99 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Miami Dolphins held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.15 vs -0.22), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Buffalo Bills: 12 drives, -14.93 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Miami Dolphins: 12 drives, +13.28 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Miami Dolphins leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• R. Brown (Miami Dolphins) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• T. Edwards (BUF) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• C. Henne (MIA) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q2 41:42 · BUF 15 · Score 0-3
   (11:42) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Carpenter 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.
2. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 41:31 · MIA 82 · Score 0-9
   (11:31) (Shotgun) 5-T.Edwards pass short left intended for 82-J.Reed INTERCEPTED by 21-V.Davis at BUF 23. 21-V.Davis for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q2 41:23 · BUF 2 · Score 0-10
   (Kick formation) 5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.
4. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q2 38:52 · MIA 17 · Score 3-10
   (8:52) (Field Goal formation) 9-R.Lindell 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
5. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 34:29 · BUF 1 · Score 3-16
   (4:29) 23-R.Brown right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q2 34:23 · BUF 2 · Score 3-17
   5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.
7. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q3 23:31 · BUF 5 · Score 3-23
   (8:31) 7-C.Henne pass short right to 82-B.Hartline for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q3 23:26 · BUF 2 · Score 3-24
   (Kick formation) 5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.
9. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q3 17:45 · BUF 1 · Score 3-30
   (2:45) 75 - N.Garner reports eligible. 34-R.Williams left guard to BUF 1 for no gain (55-K.Mitchell). FUMBLES (55-K.Mitchell), and recovers at BUF -1. TOUCHDOWN
10. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q3 17:36 · BUF 2 · Score 3-31
    5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.
11. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q4 14:55 · MIA 3 · Score 9-31
    (14:55) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 5-T.Edwards pass short right to 82-J.Reed for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q4 14:50 · MIA 2 · Score 10-31
    (Kick formation) 9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
13. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q4 3:49 · BUF 4 · Score 10-37
    (3:49) 75 - N.Garner reports eligible. 23-R.Brown right end for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q4 3:43 · BUF 2 · Score 10-38
    (Kick formation) 5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.