Game story
In Week 8 of the 2008 NFL season on 2008-10-26, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Los Angeles Rams, pulling away with a 23–16 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.
The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 13 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.
M. Cassel (New England Patriots) paced the passing game, with +2.12 total EPA, and +3.8% completion percentage over expected.
On the individual side, D. Avery (Los Angeles Rams) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +12.20 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.
The momentum swing (+20.2% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Los Angeles Rams changed the game: (14:24) 10-M.Bulger pass deep left to 17-D.Avery for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN. LA 10-Bulger 69-yard completion is longest of his career.
Line score
Final score and points by quarter.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | — | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams | 3 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 16 |
| New England Patriots | 7 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 23 |
Stars of the game
Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.
- 1 D. Avery · Los Angeles Rams · Receiving · +12.20 total EPA · 6 snaps · +2.03 EPA/play
- 2 W. Welker · New England Patriots · Receiving · +7.89 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.13 EPA/play
- 3 R. Moss · New England Patriots · Receiving · +6.30 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.90 EPA/play
- 4 K. Burton · Los Angeles Rams · Receiving · +5.01 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.50 EPA/play
- 5 K. Faulk · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.79 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.95 EPA/play
- 6 D. Hall · Los Angeles Rams · Receiving · +3.14 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.79 EPA/play
- 7 T. Holt · Los Angeles Rams · Receiving · +2.36 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.79 EPA/play
- 8 M. Cassel · New England Patriots · Passing · +2.12 total EPA · 40 snaps · +0.05 EPA/play
Player of the game
FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.
D. Avery — LA · Receiving
D. Avery posted the highest total EPA (+12.20) in the game, making the biggest overall impact on Los Angeles Rams's efficiency. Across 6 counted snaps, they averaged +2.03 EPA per play.
The signature play (+6.55 EPA) came from Los Angeles Rams: (14:24) 10-M.Bulger pass deep left to 17-D.Avery for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN. LA 10-Bulger 69-yard completion is longest of his career.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals
Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.
Touchdowns
- New England Patriots — B. Green-Ellis
- Los Angeles Rams — D. Avery (M. Bulger pass)
- New England Patriots — K. Faulk (M. Cassel pass)
Field goals
- Los Angeles Rams — J. Brown
- New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski
- New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski
- Los Angeles Rams — J. Brown
- Los Angeles Rams — J. Brown
- New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski
How it unfolded, quarter by quarter
A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.
The opening quarter: New England Patriots won the period 7–3. Los Angeles Rams connected on a field goal from the NE 2 (Q1 53:53) — (8:53) 3-J.Brown 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-C.Massey, Holder-5-D.Jones.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the LA 2 (Q1 46:50) — (1:50) NE 50-Vrabel eligible. 42-B.Green-Ellis right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the LA 2 (Q1 46:43) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-6-C.Hanson..
The second quarter: Los Angeles Rams won the period 7–6. Los Angeles Rams found the end zone from the NE 69 (Q2 44:24) — (14:24) 10-M.Bulger pass deep left to 17-D.Avery for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN. LA 10-Bulger 69-yard completion is longest of his career.; Los Angeles Rams added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q2 44:14) — 3-J.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-45-C.Massey, Holder-5-D.Jones.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the LA 12 (Q2 31:53) — (1:53) 3-S.Gostkowski 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-6-C.Hanson.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the LA 9 (Q2 30:01) — (:01) 3-S.Gostkowski 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-6-C.Hanson..
The third quarter: Los Angeles Rams won the period 3–0. Los Angeles Rams connected on a field goal from the NE 26 (Q3 23:08) — (8:08) 3-J.Brown 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-C.Massey, Holder-5-D.Jones..
The fourth quarter: New England Patriots won the period 10–3. Los Angeles Rams connected on a field goal from the NE 7 (Q4 12:28) — (12:28) 3-J.Brown 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-C.Massey, Holder-5-D.Jones.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the LA 24 (Q4 8:29) — (8:29) 3-S.Gostkowski 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-6-C.Hanson.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the LA 15 (Q4 3:19) — (3:19) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass short left to 33-K.Faulk for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN. NE 16-Cassel 267 pass yards, new career best.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the LA 2 (Q4 3:13) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-6-C.Hanson..
Turning points
Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.
- Los Angeles Rams (Q2 44:24) — (14:24) 10-M.Bulger pass deep left to 17-D.Avery for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN. LA 10-Bulger 69-yard completion is longest of his career.
- New England Patriots (Q3 26:37) — (11:37) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass deep left intended for 81-R.Moss INTERCEPTED by 21-O.Atogwe at LA 44. 21-O.Atogwe to NE 43 for 13 yards (33-K.Faulk). LA-21 Atogwe's 11ith interception in the last 1
- New England Patriots (Q4 3:19) — (3:19) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass short left to 33-K.Faulk for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN. NE 16-Cassel 267 pass yards, new career best.
- Los Angeles Rams (Q4 1:26) — (1:26) (Shotgun) 10-M.Bulger pass deep right intended for 14-K.Burton INTERCEPTED by 21-D.O'Neal at NE 16. 21-D.O'Neal to LA 37 for 47 yards (10-M.Bulger).
- New England Patriots (Q4 6:44) — (6:44) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass short middle to 81-R.Moss to LA 38 for 23 yards (31-J.Craft).
Impact plays
Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.
- Los Angeles Rams (Q2 44:24) — (14:24) 10-M.Bulger pass deep left to 17-D.Avery for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN. LA 10-Bulger 69-yard completion is longest of his career.
- New England Patriots (Q3 21:10) — (6:10) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass deep left intended for 83-W.Welker INTERCEPTED by 34-F.Brown at LA 26. 34-F.Brown pushed ob at LA 42 for 16 yards (42-B.Green-Ellis).
- Los Angeles Rams (Q4 1:26) — (1:26) (Shotgun) 10-M.Bulger pass deep right intended for 14-K.Burton INTERCEPTED by 21-D.O'Neal at NE 16. 21-D.O'Neal to LA 37 for 47 yards (10-M.Bulger).
- New England Patriots (Q3 26:37) — (11:37) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass deep left intended for 81-R.Moss INTERCEPTED by 21-O.Atogwe at LA 44. 21-O.Atogwe to NE 43 for 13 yards (33-K.Faulk). LA-21 Atogwe's 11ith interception in the last 1
Quarterback report card
M.Cassel led all passers in efficiency for New England Patriots, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.
- M.Cassel (New England Patriots) · 40 dropbacks · 52.5% completion · +3.8% CPOE · +0.05 EPA/play · +2.12 total EPA
- M.Bulger (Los Angeles Rams) · 39 dropbacks · 46.2% completion · -3.8% CPOE · +0.05 EPA/play · +1.79 total EPA
Team stats comparison
Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.
| Stat | Los Angeles Rams | New England Patriots |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive EPA/play | -0.052 | -0.003 |
| Offensive success rate | 33.7% | 52.5% |
| Pass EPA/play | +0.046 | +0.053 |
| Rush EPA/play | -0.110 | -0.135 |
| Defensive EPA/play | +0.003 | +0.052 |
| Defensive success rate | 47.5% | 66.3% |
By the numbers
Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Los Angeles Rams -0.05, New England Patriots -0.00) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.
- Los Angeles Rams: 12 drives, -4.45 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
- New England Patriots: 12 drives, -0.23 total EPA, 5 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.
- D. Avery (Los Angeles Rams) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
- M. Cassel (NE) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
- M. Bulger (LA) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
Every scoring play
Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.
- Los Angeles Rams FG (+3) — Q1 53:53 · NE 2 · Score 3-0
(8:53) 3-J.Brown 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-C.Massey, Holder-5-D.Jones. - New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q1 46:50 · LA 2 · Score 3-6
(1:50) NE 50-Vrabel eligible. 42-B.Green-Ellis right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q1 46:43 · LA 2 · Score 3-7
3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-6-C.Hanson. - Los Angeles Rams TD (+6) — Q2 44:24 · NE 69 · Score 9-7
(14:24) 10-M.Bulger pass deep left to 17-D.Avery for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN. LA 10-Bulger 69-yard completion is longest of his career. - Los Angeles Rams XP (+1) — Q2 44:14 · NE 2 · Score 10-7
3-J.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-45-C.Massey, Holder-5-D.Jones. - New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 31:53 · LA 12 · Score 10-10
(1:53) 3-S.Gostkowski 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-6-C.Hanson. - New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 30:01 · LA 9 · Score 10-13
(:01) 3-S.Gostkowski 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-6-C.Hanson. - Los Angeles Rams FG (+3) — Q3 23:08 · NE 26 · Score 13-13
(8:08) 3-J.Brown 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-C.Massey, Holder-5-D.Jones. - Los Angeles Rams FG (+3) — Q4 12:28 · NE 7 · Score 16-13
(12:28) 3-J.Brown 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-C.Massey, Holder-5-D.Jones. - New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q4 8:29 · LA 24 · Score 16-16
(8:29) 3-S.Gostkowski 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-6-C.Hanson. - New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 3:19 · LA 15 · Score 16-22
(3:19) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass short left to 33-K.Faulk for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN. NE 16-Cassel 267 pass yards, new career best. - New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 3:13 · LA 2 · Score 16-23
3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-6-C.Hanson.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Los Angeles Rams vs New England Patriots?
The New England Patriots beat the Los Angeles Rams 23-16 in Week 8, 2008 on 2008-10-26.
What was the final score of Los Angeles Rams vs New England Patriots?
The final score was Los Angeles Rams 16, New England Patriots 23 (LA 16-23 NE) in Week 8, 2008 on 2008-10-26.
What was the score by quarter in Los Angeles Rams vs New England Patriots?
Q1: Los Angeles Rams 3, New England Patriots 7; Q2: Los Angeles Rams 7, New England Patriots 6; Q3: Los Angeles Rams 3, New England Patriots 0; Q4: Los Angeles Rams 3, New England Patriots 10; Final: Los Angeles Rams 16, New England Patriots 23.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals in Los Angeles Rams vs New England Patriots?
New England Patriots touchdown — B. Green-Ellis (Q1 46:50) Los Angeles Rams touchdown — D. Avery (M. Bulger pass) (Q2 44:24) New England Patriots touchdown — K. Faulk (M. Cassel pass) (Q4 3:19) Los Angeles Rams field goal — J. Brown (Q1 53:53, 3 pts) New England Patriots field goal — S. Gostkowski (Q2 31:53, 3 pts) New England Patriots field goal — S. Gostkowski (Q2 30:01, 3 pts) Los Angeles Rams field goal — J. Brown (Q3 23:08, 3 pts) Los Angeles Rams field goal — J. Brown (Q4 12:28, 3 pts) New England Patriots field goal — S. Gostkowski (Q4 8:29, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.
How did the quarterbacks play in Los Angeles Rams vs New England Patriots?
M. Cassel (New England Patriots), 52.5% completion, +3.8% CPOE, +0.05 EPA per dropback, +2.12 total passing EPA. M. Bulger (Los Angeles Rams), 46.2% completion, -3.8% CPOE, +0.05 EPA per dropback, +1.79 total passing EPA.
Who was the most impactful player in Los Angeles Rams vs New England Patriots?
D. Avery (Los Angeles Rams) led the game in total EPA with +12.20 on receiving plays. across 6 snaps. The top single-play swing was (+6.55 EPA): (14:24) 10-M.Bulger pass deep left to 17-D.Avery for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN. LA 10-Bulger 69-yard completion is longest of his career.. The biggest win-probability swing was +20.2%.
Was Los Angeles Rams vs New England Patriots a close game?
Yes — the margin was 7 points. New England Patriots won 23-16 in a game that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.
Season records after this game
Los Angeles Rams
Entered 2-4 Now 2-5 L
New England Patriots
Entered 4-2 Now 5-2 W
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