Detroit Lions vs. Miami Dolphins: 2018 Week 7 Recap

Game story

In Week 7 of the 2018 NFL season on 2018-10-21, the Detroit Lions took care of business against the Miami Dolphins, pulling away with a 32–21 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Osweiler (Miami Dolphins) paced the passing game, with +10.05 total EPA, and +7.5% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Stafford (Detroit Lions) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +17.87 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+13.6% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Miami Dolphins changed the game: (7:15) 32-K.Drake left tackle for 54 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 M. Stafford · Detroit Lions · Passing · +17.87 total EPA · 28 snaps · +0.64 EPA/play
2. 2 B. Osweiler · Miami Dolphins · Passing · +10.05 total EPA · 38 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Roberts · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +8.50 total EPA · 3 snaps · +2.83 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Amendola · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +6.28 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.90 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Gesicki · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +3.79 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.26 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Grant · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +2.60 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.30 EPA/play
7. 7 K. Golladay · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +2.57 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.29 EPA/play
8. 8 K. Drake · Miami Dolphins · Rushing · +2.25 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.38 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

• Detroit Lions — M. Roberts (M. Stafford pass) (Q1 54:18)
• Miami Dolphins — K. Stills (B. Osweiler pass) (Q2 37:38)
• Detroit Lions — L. Blount (Q2 31:06)
• Miami Dolphins — K. Drake (Q3 22:15)
• Detroit Lions — M. Roberts (M. Stafford pass) (Q3 18:21)
• Miami Dolphins — D. Amendola (B. Osweiler pass) (Q4 6:08)

Field goals

• Detroit Lions — M. Prater (Q2 42:39)
• Detroit Lions — M. Prater (Q3 23:36)
• Detroit Lions — M. Prater (Q4 10:09)
• Detroit Lions — M. Prater (Q4 2:00)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 7–0. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the MIA 15 (Q1 54:18) — (9:18) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 80-M.Roberts for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q1 54:12) — (Kick formation) 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin..

The second quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 10–7. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the MIA 11 (Q2 42:39) — (12:39) (Field Goal formation) 5-M.Prater 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the DET 5 (Q2 37:38) — (7:38) (Shotgun) 8-B.Osweiler pass short right to 10-K.Stills for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q2 37:33); Detroit Lions found the end zone from the MIA 2 (Q2 31:06) — (1:06) 29-L.Blount left guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q2 31:02) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin..

The third quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 9–7. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the MIA 10 (Q3 23:36) — (8:36) (Field Goal formation) 5-M.Prater 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the DET 54 (Q3 22:15) — (7:15) 32-K.Drake left tackle for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q3 22:06) — 7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-M.Haack.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the MIA 4 (Q3 18:21) — (3:21) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 80-M.Roberts for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

The fourth quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 7–6. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the MIA 17 (Q4 10:09) — (10:09) (Field Goal formation) 5-M.Prater 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the DET 24 (Q4 6:08) — (6:08) (Shotgun) 8-B.Osweiler pass deep right to 80-D.Amendola for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q4 6:00) — 7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-M.Haack.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the MIA 31 (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) (Field Goal formation) 5-M.Prater 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin..

Turning points

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

• Miami Dolphins (Q3 22:15) — (7:15) 32-K.Drake left tackle for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.6% · EPA +4.71]
• Detroit Lions (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 33-K.Johnson right guard pushed ob at MIA 20 for 71 yards (20-R.Jones). [WPA +11.0% · EPA +4.89]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 55:32) — (10:32) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep right to 13-T.Jones pushed ob at MIA 19 for 26 yards (22-T.McDonald). [WPA +7.9% · EPA +2.03]
• Detroit Lions (Q2 31:57) — (1:57) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep right to 80-M.Roberts pushed ob at MIA 2 for 29 yards (55-J.Baker). [WPA +6.4% · EPA +3.49]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 54:18) — (9:18) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 80-M.Roberts for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.1% · EPA +2.48]

Impact plays

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

• Detroit Lions (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 33-K.Johnson right guard pushed ob at MIA 20 for 71 yards (20-R.Jones). [WPA +11.0% · EPA +4.89]
• Miami Dolphins (Q3 22:15) — (7:15) 32-K.Drake left tackle for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.6% · EPA +4.71]
• Detroit Lions (Q2 31:57) — (1:57) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep right to 80-M.Roberts pushed ob at MIA 2 for 29 yards (55-J.Baker). [WPA +6.4% · EPA +3.49]
• Miami Dolphins (Q4 6:08) — (6:08) (Shotgun) 8-B.Osweiler pass deep right to 80-D.Amendola for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +1.0% · EPA +3.33]

Quarterback report card

B.Osweiler led all passers in efficiency for Miami Dolphins, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• B.Osweiler (Miami Dolphins) · 38 dropbacks · 57.9% completion · +7.5% CPOE · +0.26 EPA/play · +10.05 total EPA
• M.Stafford (Detroit Lions) · 28 dropbacks · 64.3% completion · +15.5% CPOE · +0.64 EPA/play · +17.87 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Detroit Lions generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.32 vs +0.10), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Detroit Lions: 9 drives, +24.62 total EPA, 7 scoring drives
• Miami Dolphins: 9 drives, +7.53 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Detroit Lions leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• M. Stafford (Detroit Lions) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• B. Osweiler (MIA) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• M. Stafford (DET) 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. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q1 54:18 · MIA 15 · Score 6-0
   (9:18) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 80-M.Roberts for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q1 54:12 · MIA 15 · Score 7-0
   (Kick formation) 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
3. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 42:39 · MIA 11 · Score 10-0
   (12:39) (Field Goal formation) 5-M.Prater 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
4. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 37:38 · DET 5 · Score 10-6
   (7:38) (Shotgun) 8-B.Osweiler pass short right to 10-K.Stills for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q2 37:33 · DET 15 · Score 10-7
   7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-M.Haack. PENALTY on DET-91-A.Robinson, Illegal Formation, 5 yards, enforced between downs.
6. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 31:06 · MIA 2 · Score 16-7
   (1:06) 29-L.Blount left guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 31:02 · MIA 15 · Score 17-7
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
8. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q3 23:36 · MIA 10 · Score 20-7
   (8:36) (Field Goal formation) 5-M.Prater 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
9. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q3 22:15 · DET 54 · Score 20-13
   (7:15) 32-K.Drake left tackle for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q3 22:06 · DET 15 · Score 20-14
    7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-M.Haack.
11. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q3 18:21 · MIA 4 · Score 26-14
    (3:21) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 80-M.Roberts for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q4 10:09 · MIA 17 · Score 29-14
    (10:09) (Field Goal formation) 5-M.Prater 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
13. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q4 6:08 · DET 24 · Score 29-20
    (6:08) (Shotgun) 8-B.Osweiler pass deep right to 80-D.Amendola for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q4 6:00 · DET 15 · Score 29-21
    7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-M.Haack.
15. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q4 2:00 · MIA 31 · Score 32-21
    (2:00) (Field Goal formation) 5-M.Prater 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.