Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots: 2005 Week 8 Recap

Game story

In Week 8 of the 2005 NFL season on 2005-10-30, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Buffalo Bills, pulling away with a 21–16 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

K. Holcomb (Buffalo Bills) paced the passing game, with +1.28 total EPA.

On the individual side, E. Moulds (Buffalo Bills) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.45 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-34.0% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Buffalo Bills changed the game: (6:20) 10-K.Holcomb sacked at BUF 23 for -9 yards (59-R.Colvin). FUMBLES (59-R.Colvin), RECOVERED by NE-59-R.Colvin at BUF 23. 59-R.Colvin to BUF 23 for no gain (66-B.Anderson).

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 E. Moulds · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +9.45 total EPA · 9 snaps · +1.05 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Branch · New England Patriots · Receiving · +7.71 total EPA · 3 snaps · +2.57 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Givens · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.62 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.52 EPA/play
4. 4 S. Williams · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +3.54 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.18 EPA/play
5. 5 R. Parrish · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +2.73 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.73 EPA/play
6. 6 C. Dillon · New England Patriots · Rushing · +1.91 total EPA · 18 snaps · +0.11 EPA/play
7. 7 W. McGahee · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +1.88 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.94 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Shelton · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +1.88 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.88 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

• New England Patriots — D. Branch (T. Brady pass) (Q3 27:38)
• Buffalo Bills — E. Moulds (K. Holcomb pass) (Q3 26:19)
• New England Patriots — C. Dillon (Q4 7:11)
• New England Patriots — C. Dillon (Q4 5:38)

Field goals

• Buffalo Bills — R. Lindell (Q2 38:45)
• Buffalo Bills — R. Lindell (Q4 13:06)
• Buffalo Bills — R. Lindell (Q4 10:13)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The second quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 3–0. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the NE 4 (Q2 38:45) — (8:45) 9-R.Lindell 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. New England Patriots found the end zone from the BUF 33 (Q3 27:38) — (12:38) 12-T.Brady pass to 83-D.Branch for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q3 27:32) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the NE 55 (Q3 26:19) — (11:19) 10-K.Holcomb pass to 80-E.Moulds for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q3 26:09) — 9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman..

The fourth quarter: New England Patriots won the period 14–6. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the NE 17 (Q4 13:06) — (13:06) 9-R.Lindell 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the NE 23 (Q4 10:13) — (10:13) 9-R.Lindell 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the BUF 1 (Q4 7:11) — (7:11) NE 90-Klecko eligible. 28-C.Dillon right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q4 7:06) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the BUF 1 (Q4 5:38) — (5:38) NE 90-Klecko eligible. 28-C.Dillon left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q4 5:32) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller..

Turning points

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

• Buffalo Bills (Q4 6:20) — (6:20) 10-K.Holcomb sacked at BUF 23 for -9 yards (59-R.Colvin). FUMBLES (59-R.Colvin), RECOVERED by NE-59-R.Colvin at BUF 23. 59-R.Colvin to BUF 23 for no gain (66-B.Anderson). [WPA -34.0% · EPA -4.79]
• Buffalo Bills (Q3 26:19) — (11:19) 10-K.Holcomb pass to 80-E.Moulds for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +18.3% · EPA +5.37]
• Buffalo Bills (Q3 21:31) — (6:31) 10-K.Holcomb pass intended for 80-E.Moulds INTERCEPTED by 22-A.Samuel at BUF 45. 22-A.Samuel to BUF 45 for no gain (80-E.Moulds). [WPA -14.8% · EPA -4.12]
• New England Patriots (Q4 12:55) — (12:55) 12-T.Brady sacked at NE 29 for -5 yards (94-A.Schobel). FUMBLES (94-A.Schobel), RECOVERED by BUF-93-L.Sape at NE 29. [WPA -14.8% · EPA -5.21]
• Buffalo Bills (Q4 2:03) — (2:03) (Shotgun) 10-K.Holcomb pass to 80-E.Moulds to NE 40 for no gain (32-H.Poteat, 50-M.Vrabel). [WPA -12.8% · EPA -1.61]

Impact plays

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

• Buffalo Bills (Q3 26:19) — (11:19) 10-K.Holcomb pass to 80-E.Moulds for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +18.3% · EPA +5.37]
• New England Patriots (Q4 12:55) — (12:55) 12-T.Brady sacked at NE 29 for -5 yards (94-A.Schobel). FUMBLES (94-A.Schobel), RECOVERED by BUF-93-L.Sape at NE 29. [WPA -14.8% · EPA -5.21]
• New England Patriots (Q2 44:25) — (14:25) 35-P.Pass left end to BUF 45 for -2 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by BUF-94-A.Schobel at BUF 47. 94-A.Schobel to BUF 47 for no gain (83-D.Branch).NE-35-P.Pass was injured during the play. His retu [WPA -11.9% · EPA -4.88]
• Buffalo Bills (Q4 6:20) — (6:20) 10-K.Holcomb sacked at BUF 23 for -9 yards (59-R.Colvin). FUMBLES (59-R.Colvin), RECOVERED by NE-59-R.Colvin at BUF 23. 59-R.Colvin to BUF 23 for no gain (66-B.Anderson). [WPA -34.0% · EPA -4.79]

Quarterback report card

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

• K.Holcomb (Buffalo Bills) · 37 dropbacks · 54.1% completion · +0.03 EPA/play · +1.28 total EPA
• T.Brady (New England Patriots) · 24 dropbacks · 58.3% completion · +0.02 EPA/play · +0.60 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 (Buffalo Bills +0.00, New England Patriots +0.02) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Buffalo Bills: 12 drives, +0.03 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 11 drives, +1.49 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• New England Patriots 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.
• E. Moulds (Buffalo Bills) 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. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q2 38:45 · NE 4 · Score 3-0
   (8:45) 9-R.Lindell 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
2. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 27:38 · BUF 33 · Score 3-6
   (12:38) 12-T.Brady pass to 83-D.Branch for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 27:32 · BUF 2 · Score 3-7
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.
4. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q3 26:19 · NE 55 · Score 9-7
   (11:19) 10-K.Holcomb pass to 80-E.Moulds for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q3 26:09 · NE 2 · Score 10-7
   9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
6. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q4 13:06 · NE 17 · Score 13-7
   (13:06) 9-R.Lindell 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
7. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q4 10:13 · NE 23 · Score 16-7
   (10:13) 9-R.Lindell 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
8. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 7:11 · BUF 1 · Score 16-13
   (7:11) NE 90-Klecko eligible. 28-C.Dillon right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
9. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 7:06 · BUF 2 · Score 16-14
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.
10. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 5:38 · BUF 1 · Score 16-20
    (5:38) NE 90-Klecko eligible. 28-C.Dillon left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
11. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 5:32 · BUF 2 · Score 16-21
    4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.