Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills: 2005 Week 5 Recap

Game story

In Week 5 of the 2005 NFL season on 2005-10-09, the Buffalo Bills took care of business against the Miami Dolphins, pulling away with a 20–14 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 10 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

K. Holcomb (Buffalo Bills) paced the passing game, with +4.72 total EPA.

On the individual side, E. Moulds (Buffalo Bills) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.35 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-30.4% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Miami Dolphins changed the game: (1:47) (Shotgun) 11-G.Frerotte pass to 23-R.Brown to BUF 14 for 11 yards (22-N.Clements, 59-L.Fletcher). FUMBLES (22-N.Clements), RECOVERED by BUF-23-T.Vincent at BUF 18. Caught at BUF 24, right side.

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 · +6.35 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.91 EPA/play
2. 2 L. Evans · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +5.84 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.95 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Booker · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +5.42 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.81 EPA/play
4. 4 K. Holcomb · Buffalo Bills · Passing · +4.72 total EPA · 36 snaps · +0.13 EPA/play
5. 5 C. Chambers · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +4.48 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.12 EPA/play
6. 6 R. McMichael · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +4.27 total EPA · 1 snaps · +4.27 EPA/play
7. 7 G. Frerotte · Miami Dolphins · Rushing · +1.91 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.96 EPA/play
8. 8 W. Welker · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +1.56 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.78 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 — W. McGahee (Q1 56:28)
• Buffalo Bills — E. Moulds (K. Holcomb pass) (Q2 38:12)
• Miami Dolphins — W. Heller (G. Frerotte pass) (Q3 20:56)
• Miami Dolphins — R. McMichael (G. Frerotte pass) (Q4 8:25)

Field goals

• Buffalo Bills — R. Lindell (Q1 49:20)
• Buffalo Bills — R. Lindell (Q4 4:40)

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 10–0. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the MIA 1 (Q1 56:28) — (11:28) 21-W.McGahee up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q1 56:23) — 9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.; Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the MIA 6 (Q1 49:20) — (4:20) 9-R.Lindell 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman..

The second quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 7–0. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the MIA 2 (Q2 38:12) — (8:12) 10-K.Holcomb pass to 80-E.Moulds for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught in back of end zone, crossing to middle from right.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q2 38:08) — 9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman..

The third quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 7–0. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the BUF 1 (Q3 20:56) — (5:56) 11-G.Frerotte pass to 85-W.Heller for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Caught in back of end zone, over middle.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q3 20:50) — 10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-97-J.Denney, Holder-5-D.Jones..

The fourth quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 7–3. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the BUF 30 (Q4 8:25); Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q4 8:18) — 10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-97-J.Denney, Holder-5-D.Jones.; Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the MIA 29 (Q4 4:40) — (4:40) 9-R.Lindell 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman..

Turning points

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

• Miami Dolphins (Q4 1:47) — (1:47) (Shotgun) 11-G.Frerotte pass to 23-R.Brown to BUF 14 for 11 yards (22-N.Clements, 59-L.Fletcher). FUMBLES (22-N.Clements), RECOVERED by BUF-23-T.Vincent at BUF 18. Caught at BUF 24, right side. [WPA -30.4% · EPA -3.42]
• Buffalo Bills (Q4 0:30) — (:30) 8-B.Moorman punts 42 yards to MIA 38, Center-54-M.Schneck. 83-W.Welker to BUF 47 for 15 yards (50-L.Ezekiel). [WPA -15.9% · EPA -0.51]
• Buffalo Bills (Q1 57:34) — (12:34) (Shotgun) 10-K.Holcomb pass to 83-L.Evans pushed ob at MIA 1 for 49 yards (25-R.Howard). Caught at MIA 43, right side. Penalty on MIA-21-T.Daniels, Defensive Offside, declined. [WPA +15.4% · EPA +4.47]
• Miami Dolphins (Q4 8:25) — (8:25) 11-G.Frerotte pass to 81-R.McMichael for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught over middle at BUF 7. PENALTY on MIA-81-R.McMichael, Taunting, 15 yards, enforced between downs. Penalty to be assessed on k [WPA +12.4% · EPA +4.27]
• Miami Dolphins (Q4 0:21) — (:21) (Shotgun) 11-G.Frerotte sacked at MIA 46 for -7 yards (90-C.Kelsay). [WPA -10.7% · EPA -0.56]

Impact plays

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

• Buffalo Bills (Q4 9:45) — (9:45) (No Huddle) 10-K.Holcomb FUMBLES (Aborted) at BUF 35, RECOVERED by MIA-90-J.Zgonina at BUF 35. Fumble on attempted handoff to W.McGahee. [WPA -10.1% · EPA -5.13]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 35:09) — (5:09) 11-G.Frerotte pass intended for 86-M.Booker INTERCEPTED by 24-T.McGee at BUF -2. Touchback. Coverage in front left corner of end zone. [WPA -5.3% · EPA -4.72]
• Buffalo Bills (Q1 57:34) — (12:34) (Shotgun) 10-K.Holcomb pass to 83-L.Evans pushed ob at MIA 1 for 49 yards (25-R.Howard). Caught at MIA 43, right side. Penalty on MIA-21-T.Daniels, Defensive Offside, declined. [WPA +15.4% · EPA +4.47]
• Miami Dolphins (Q4 8:25) — (8:25) 11-G.Frerotte pass to 81-R.McMichael for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught over middle at BUF 7. PENALTY on MIA-81-R.McMichael, Taunting, 15 yards, enforced between downs. Penalty to be assessed on k [WPA +12.4% · EPA +4.27]

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) · 36 dropbacks · 55.6% completion · +0.13 EPA/play · +4.72 total EPA
• G.Frerotte (Miami Dolphins) · 36 dropbacks · 58.3% completion · -0.00 EPA/play · -0.07 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 (+0.07 vs +0.01), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Buffalo Bills: 11 drives, +5.84 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Miami Dolphins: 12 drives, +1.17 total EPA, 2 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.
• 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 TD (+6) — Q1 56:28 · MIA 1 · Score 0-6
   (11:28) 21-W.McGahee up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q1 56:23 · MIA 2 · Score 0-7
   9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
3. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q1 49:20 · MIA 6 · Score 0-10
   (4:20) 9-R.Lindell 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
4. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q2 38:12 · MIA 2 · Score 0-16
   (8:12) 10-K.Holcomb pass to 80-E.Moulds for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught in back of end zone, crossing to middle from right.
5. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q2 38:08 · MIA 2 · Score 0-17
   9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
6. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q3 20:56 · BUF 1 · Score 6-17
   (5:56) 11-G.Frerotte pass to 85-W.Heller for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Caught in back of end zone, over middle.
7. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q3 20:50 · BUF 2 · Score 7-17
   10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-97-J.Denney, Holder-5-D.Jones.
8. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q4 8:25 · BUF 30 · Score 13-17
   (8:25) 11-G.Frerotte pass to 81-R.McMichael for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught over middle at BUF 7. PENALTY on MIA-81-R.McMichael, Taunting, 15 yards, enforced be
9. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q4 8:18 · BUF 2 · Score 14-17
   10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-97-J.Denney, Holder-5-D.Jones.
10. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q4 4:40 · MIA 29 · Score 14-20
    (4:40) 9-R.Lindell 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.