Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets: 2005 Week 17 Recap

Game story

In Week 17 of the 2005 NFL season on 2006-01-01, the New York Jets took care of business against the Buffalo Bills, pulling away with a 30–26 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 24 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

K. Holcomb (Buffalo Bills) paced the passing game, with -11.21 total EPA.

On the individual side, E. Moulds (Buffalo Bills) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.08 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+34.2% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when New York Jets changed the game: 9-R.Lindell kicks 65 yards from BUF 30 to NYJ 5. 22-J.Miller for 95 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 E. Moulds · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +9.08 total EPA · 8 snaps · +1.14 EPA/play
2. 2 L. Coles · New York Jets · Receiving · +6.61 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.65 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Cotchery · New York Jets · Receiving · +3.85 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.85 EPA/play
4. 4 L. Evans · Buffalo Bills · Rushing · +2.95 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.95 EPA/play
5. 5 L. Evans · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +2.56 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.28 EPA/play
6. 6 W. McGahee · Buffalo Bills · Rushing · +2.48 total EPA · 23 snaps · +0.11 EPA/play
7. 7 W. McGahee · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +2.20 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.10 EPA/play
8. 8 R. Parrish · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +2.15 total EPA · 4 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

• New York Jets — C. Houston (Q2 43:35)
• New York Jets — M. Brown (Q2 43:25)
• Buffalo Bills — E. Moulds (K. Holcomb pass) (Q2 34:03)
• Buffalo Bills — R. Parrish (K. Holcomb pass) (Q3 15:42)
• New York Jets — J. Miller (Q4 6:13)

Field goals

• Buffalo Bills — R. Lindell (Q1 55:14)
• New York Jets — M. Nugent (Q1 50:08)
• Buffalo Bills — R. Lindell (Q2 44:17)
• Buffalo Bills — R. Lindell (Q3 26:57)
• New York Jets — M. Nugent (Q3 20:29)
• New York Jets — M. Nugent (Q4 10:40)
• Buffalo Bills — R. Lindell (Q4 6:17)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the NYJ 3 (Q1 55:14) — (10:14) 9-R.Lindell 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; New York Jets connected on a field goal from the BUF 31 (Q1 50:08) — (5:08) 1-M.Nugent 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-7-B.Graham..

The second quarter: New York Jets won the period 14–10. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the NYJ 5 (Q2 44:17) — (14:17) 9-R.Lindell 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; New York Jets found the end zone from the BUF 3 (Q2 43:35) — (13:35) 34-C.Houston left tackle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Jets added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q2 43:31) — 1-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-7-B.Graham.; New York Jets found the end zone from the NYJ 70 (Q2 43:25) — (13:25) 10-K.Holcomb pass intended for 31-D.Shelton INTERCEPTED by 55-M.Brown at BUF 33. 55-M.Brown for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Jets added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q2 43:15) — 1-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-7-B.Graham.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the NYJ 22 (Q2 34:03) — (4:03) 10-K.Holcomb pass to 80-E.Moulds for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the NYJ 2 (Q2 33:57) — 9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman..

The third quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 10–3. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the NYJ 34 (Q3 26:57) — (11:57) 9-R.Lindell 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; New York Jets connected on a field goal from the BUF 7 (Q3 20:29) — (5:29) 1-M.Nugent 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-7-B.Graham.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the NYJ 3 (Q3 15:42) — (:42) 10-K.Holcomb pass to 11-R.Parrish for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the NYJ 2 (Q3 15:36) — 9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman..

The fourth quarter: New York Jets won the period 10–3. New York Jets connected on a field goal from the BUF 16 (Q4 10:40) — (10:40) 1-M.Nugent 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-7-B.Graham.; Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the NYJ 18 (Q4 6:17) — (6:17) 9-R.Lindell 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; New York Jets found the end zone from the BUF 30 (Q4 6:13) — 9-R.Lindell kicks 65 yards from BUF 30 to NYJ 5. 22-J.Miller for 95 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Jets added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q4 5:58) — 1-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-7-B.Graham..

Turning points

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

• New York Jets (Q4 6:13) — 9-R.Lindell kicks 65 yards from BUF 30 to NYJ 5. 22-J.Miller for 95 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +34.2% · EPA +6.38]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 43:25) — (13:25) 10-K.Holcomb pass intended for 31-D.Shelton INTERCEPTED by 55-M.Brown at BUF 33. 55-M.Brown for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -19.4% · EPA -7.51]
• Buffalo Bills (Q1 52:47) — (7:47) 10-K.Holcomb pass intended for 83-L.Evans INTERCEPTED by 24-T.Law (25-K.Rhodes) at NYJ 49. 24-T.Law to BUF 39 for 12 yards. Lateral to 25-K.Rhodes to BUF 30 for 9 yards (84-M.Campbell). PENALTY [WPA -14.3% · EPA -3.72]
• New York Jets (Q4 12:33) — (12:33) (Shotgun) 5-B.Bollinger pass to 87-L.Coles pushed ob at BUF 23 for 19 yards (22-N.Clements). [WPA +13.6% · EPA +2.52]
• New York Jets (Q3 23:14) — (8:14) 5-B.Bollinger pass to 89-J.Cotchery to BUF 19 for 45 yards (29-E.King). [WPA +12.7% · EPA +3.85]

Impact plays

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

• Buffalo Bills (Q2 43:25) — (13:25) 10-K.Holcomb pass intended for 31-D.Shelton INTERCEPTED by 55-M.Brown at BUF 33. 55-M.Brown for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -19.4% · EPA -7.51]
• New York Jets (Q4 6:13) — 9-R.Lindell kicks 65 yards from BUF 30 to NYJ 5. 22-J.Miller for 95 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +34.2% · EPA +6.38]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 40:56) — (10:56) 10-K.Holcomb pass intended for 84-M.Campbell INTERCEPTED by 24-T.Law at NYJ 18. 24-T.Law to BUF 40 for 42 yards (21-W.McGahee). [WPA -9.1% · EPA -5.85]
• New York Jets (Q3 23:14) — (8:14) 5-B.Bollinger pass to 89-J.Cotchery to BUF 19 for 45 yards (29-E.King). [WPA +12.7% · EPA +3.85]

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) · 42 dropbacks · 54.8% completion · -0.27 EPA/play · -11.21 total EPA
• B.Bollinger (New York Jets) · 26 dropbacks · 42.3% completion · -0.08 EPA/play · -2.07 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 +0.07, New York Jets +0.08) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Buffalo Bills: 12 drives, +6.53 total EPA, 7 scoring drives
• New York Jets: 13 drives, +5.72 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• New York Jets 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) — Q1 55:14 · NYJ 3 · Score 3-0
   (10:14) 9-R.Lindell 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
2. New York Jets FG (+3) — Q1 50:08 · BUF 31 · Score 3-3
   (5:08) 1-M.Nugent 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-7-B.Graham.
3. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q2 44:17 · NYJ 5 · Score 6-3
   (14:17) 9-R.Lindell 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
4. New York Jets TD (+6) — Q2 43:35 · BUF 3 · Score 6-9
   (13:35) 34-C.Houston left tackle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. New York Jets XP (+1) — Q2 43:31 · BUF 2 · Score 6-10
   1-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-7-B.Graham.
6. New York Jets TD (+6) — Q2 43:25 · NYJ 70 · Score 6-16
   (13:25) 10-K.Holcomb pass intended for 31-D.Shelton INTERCEPTED by 55-M.Brown at BUF 33. 55-M.Brown for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. New York Jets XP (+1) — Q2 43:15 · BUF 2 · Score 6-17
   1-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-7-B.Graham.
8. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q2 34:03 · NYJ 22 · Score 12-17
   (4:03) 10-K.Holcomb pass to 80-E.Moulds for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q2 33:57 · NYJ 2 · Score 13-17
   9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
10. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q3 26:57 · NYJ 34 · Score 16-17
    (11:57) 9-R.Lindell 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
11. New York Jets FG (+3) — Q3 20:29 · BUF 7 · Score 16-20
    (5:29) 1-M.Nugent 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-7-B.Graham.
12. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q3 15:42 · NYJ 3 · Score 22-20
    (:42) 10-K.Holcomb pass to 11-R.Parrish for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q3 15:36 · NYJ 2 · Score 23-20
    9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
14. New York Jets FG (+3) — Q4 10:40 · BUF 16 · Score 23-23
    (10:40) 1-M.Nugent 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-7-B.Graham.
15. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q4 6:17 · NYJ 18 · Score 26-23
    (6:17) 9-R.Lindell 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
16. New York Jets TD (+6) — Q4 6:13 · BUF 30 · Score 26-29
    9-R.Lindell kicks 65 yards from BUF 30 to NYJ 5. 22-J.Miller for 95 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
17. New York Jets XP (+1) — Q4 5:58 · BUF 2 · Score 26-30
    1-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-7-B.Graham.