Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills: 2004 Week 6 Recap

Game story

In Week 6 of the 2004 NFL season on 2004-10-17, the Buffalo Bills took care of business against the Miami Dolphins, pulling away with a 20–13 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 10 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Fiedler (Miami Dolphins) paced the passing game, with -4.23 total EPA.

On the individual side, D. Bledsoe (Buffalo Bills) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +11.64 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-16.6% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Miami Dolphins changed the game: (8:22) 9-J.Fiedler pass intended for 44-R.Konrad INTERCEPTED by 51-T.Spikes at MIA 11. 51-T.Spikes for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on BUF, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs. P

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 D. Bledsoe · Buffalo Bills · Passing · +11.64 total EPA · 30 snaps · +0.39 EPA/play
2. 2 E. Moulds · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +7.15 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.43 EPA/play
3. 3 W. McGahee · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +5.76 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.92 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Thompson · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +3.94 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.94 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Campbell · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +3.55 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.89 EPA/play
6. 6 L. Evans · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +3.05 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.52 EPA/play
7. 7 S. Morris · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +2.59 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.29 EPA/play
8. 8 R. McMichael · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +2.43 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.81 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

• Buffalo Bills — T. Spikes (Q1 53:22)
• Miami Dolphins — D. Thompson (J. Fiedler pass) (Q2 30:58)
• Buffalo Bills — M. Campbell (D. Bledsoe pass) (Q3 22:48)

Field goals

• Miami Dolphins — M. Bryant (Q2 42:52)
• Buffalo Bills — R. Lindell (Q3 26:23)
• Miami Dolphins — M. Bryant (Q4 15:00)
• Buffalo Bills — R. Lindell (Q4 8:45)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 7–0. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the BUF 80 (Q1 53:22); Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q1 53:15) — 9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-54-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-B.Moorman..

The second quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 10–0. Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the BUF 29 (Q2 42:52) — (12:52) 5-M.Bryant 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-E.Perry, Holder-1-M.Turk.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the BUF 24 (Q2 30:58) — (:58) 9-J.Fiedler pass to 88-D.Thompson for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q2 30:52) — 5-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-89-E.Perry, Holder-1-M.Turk..

The third quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 10–0. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the MIA 25 (Q3 26:23) — (11:23) 9-R.Lindell 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the MIA 5 (Q3 22:48) — (7:48) 11-D.Bledsoe pass to 84-M.Campbell for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q3 22:43) — 9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-54-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-B.Moorman..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the BUF 9 (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) 5-M.Bryant 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-E.Perry, Holder-1-M.Turk.; Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the MIA 2 (Q4 8:45) — (8:45) 9-R.Lindell 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-B.Moorman..

Turning points

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

• Miami Dolphins (Q1 53:22) — (8:22) 9-J.Fiedler pass intended for 44-R.Konrad INTERCEPTED by 51-T.Spikes at MIA 11. 51-T.Spikes for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on BUF, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs. P [WPA -16.6% · EPA -6.42]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 30:58) — (:58) 9-J.Fiedler pass to 88-D.Thompson for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +11.3% · EPA +3.94]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 37:20) — (7:20) 9-R.Lindell 43 yard field goal is No Good, Short, Center-54-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-B.Moorman. [WPA -8.3% · EPA -3.06]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 39:59) — (9:59) (Shotgun) 11-D.Bledsoe pass to 21-W.McGahee to MIA 24 for 9 yards (55-J.Seau). Shovel pass at line [WPA +7.9% · EPA +2.98]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 59:23) — (14:23) 31-S.Morris up the middle to BUF 36 for 25 yards (43-I.Reese). [WPA +7.6% · EPA +1.87]

Impact plays

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

• Miami Dolphins (Q1 53:22) — (8:22) 9-J.Fiedler pass intended for 44-R.Konrad INTERCEPTED by 51-T.Spikes at MIA 11. 51-T.Spikes for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on BUF, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs. P [WPA -16.6% · EPA -6.42]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 30:58) — (:58) 9-J.Fiedler pass to 88-D.Thompson for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +11.3% · EPA +3.94]
• Buffalo Bills (Q4 1:00) — (1:00) 21-W.McGahee up the middle to MIA 1 for 3 yards (95-T.Bowens). [WPA +0.5% · EPA -3.52]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 37:20) — (7:20) 9-R.Lindell 43 yard field goal is No Good, Short, Center-54-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-B.Moorman. [WPA -8.3% · EPA -3.06]

Quarterback report card

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

• J.Fiedler (Miami Dolphins) · 30 dropbacks · 40.0% completion · -0.14 EPA/play · -4.23 total EPA
• D.Bledsoe (Buffalo Bills) · 30 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · +0.39 EPA/play · +11.64 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Buffalo Bills held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.03 vs -0.03), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Buffalo Bills: 10 drives, +1.84 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Miami Dolphins: 9 drives, -2.22 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Buffalo Bills 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. Bledsoe (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 TD (+6) — Q1 53:22 · BUF 80 · Score 0-6
   (8:22) 9-J.Fiedler pass intended for 44-R.Konrad INTERCEPTED by 51-T.Spikes at MIA 11. 51-T.Spikes for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on BUF, Unsportsmanlike Cond
2. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q1 53:15 · MIA 2 · Score 0-7
   9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-54-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
3. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q2 42:52 · BUF 29 · Score 3-7
   (12:52) 5-M.Bryant 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-E.Perry, Holder-1-M.Turk.
4. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 30:58 · BUF 24 · Score 9-7
   (:58) 9-J.Fiedler pass to 88-D.Thompson for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q2 30:52 · BUF 2 · Score 10-7
   5-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-89-E.Perry, Holder-1-M.Turk.
6. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q3 26:23 · MIA 25 · Score 10-10
   (11:23) 9-R.Lindell 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
7. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q3 22:48 · MIA 5 · Score 10-16
   (7:48) 11-D.Bledsoe pass to 84-M.Campbell for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q3 22:43 · MIA 2 · Score 10-17
   9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-54-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
9. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q4 15:00 · BUF 9 · Score 13-17
   (15:00) 5-M.Bryant 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-E.Perry, Holder-1-M.Turk.
10. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q4 8:45 · MIA 2 · Score 13-20
    (8:45) 9-R.Lindell 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-B.Moorman.