Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills: 2008 Week 14 Recap

Game story

In Week 14 of the 2008 NFL season on 2008-12-07, the Miami Dolphins took care of business against the Buffalo Bills, pulling away with a 16–3 final that built a comfortable lead.

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

J. Losman (Buffalo Bills) paced the passing game, with -10.73 total EPA, and -12.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Reed (Buffalo Bills) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.16 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-17.5% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Buffalo Bills changed the game: (2:54) 7-J.Losman pass short right intended for 83-L.Evans INTERCEPTED by 25-W.Allen at MIA 0. Touchback. Coverage in rear right corner of end zone. Buffalo challenged the runner was in bounds ruling,

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 J. Reed · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +7.16 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.43 EPA/play
2. 2 C. Pennington · Miami Dolphins · Passing · +6.71 total EPA · 31 snaps · +0.22 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Bess · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +5.24 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.58 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Fasano · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +3.02 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.01 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Martin · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +2.07 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.03 EPA/play
6. 6 L. Polite · Miami Dolphins · Rushing · +1.86 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.62 EPA/play
7. 7 R. Parrish · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +1.75 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.88 EPA/play
8. 8 R. Brown · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +1.68 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.84 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

• Miami Dolphins — A. Fasano (C. Pennington pass) (Q1 51:54)

Field goals

• Buffalo Bills — R. Lindell (Q1 47:45)
• Miami Dolphins — D. Carpenter (Q2 42:18)
• Miami Dolphins — D. Carpenter (Q2 30:25)
• Miami Dolphins — D. Carpenter (Q4 8:14)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 7–3. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the BUF 20 (Q1 51:54) — (6:54) 10-C.Pennington pass deep middle to 80-A.Fasano for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught 2 yds. into end zone, slanting from right.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q1 51:48) — 5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.; Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the MIA 22 (Q1 47:45) — (2:45) 9-R.Lindell 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-72-R.Neill, Holder-8-B.Moorman..

The second quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 6–0. Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the BUF 32 (Q2 42:18) — (12:18) 5-D.Carpenter 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields. Umpire Carl Madsen leaves field after play.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the BUF 17 (Q2 30:25) — (:25) 5-D.Carpenter 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields..

The fourth quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 3–0. Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the BUF 9 (Q4 8:14) — (8:14) 5-D.Carpenter 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields..

Turning points

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

• Buffalo Bills (Q3 17:54) — (2:54) 7-J.Losman pass short right intended for 83-L.Evans INTERCEPTED by 25-W.Allen at MIA 0. Touchback. Coverage in rear right corner of end zone. Buffalo challenged the runner was in bounds ruling, [WPA -17.5% · EPA -6.54]
• Buffalo Bills (Q3 25:35) — (10:35) (Shotgun) 7-J.Losman sacked at MIA 34 for -10 yards (56-C.Anderson). FUMBLES (56-C.Anderson), recovered by BUF-71-J.Peters at MIA 39. [WPA -12.0% · EPA -3.94]
• Buffalo Bills (Q3 27:00) — (12:00) 7-J.Losman pass short right to 82-J.Reed to MIA 29 for 10 yards (37-Y.Bell). Caught in flat at MIA 33; pass made after rollout. [WPA +9.3% · EPA +3.68]
• Buffalo Bills (Q3 18:55) — (3:55) (Shotgun) 7-J.Losman pass short right to 82-J.Reed to MIA 16 for 23 yards (33-N.Jones). Caught in flat at MIA 31. [WPA +8.0% · EPA +2.55]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 45:44) — (:44) (Shotgun) 10-C.Pennington pass deep middle to 88-D.Martin to MIA 46 for 18 yards (51-P.Posluszny, 43-B.Scott). Caught in coverage at MIA 46. [WPA +6.7% · EPA +2.76]

Impact plays

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

• Buffalo Bills (Q3 17:54) — (2:54) 7-J.Losman pass short right intended for 83-L.Evans INTERCEPTED by 25-W.Allen at MIA 0. Touchback. Coverage in rear right corner of end zone. Buffalo challenged the runner was in bounds ruling, [WPA -17.5% · EPA -6.54]
• Buffalo Bills (Q3 25:35) — (10:35) (Shotgun) 7-J.Losman sacked at MIA 34 for -10 yards (56-C.Anderson). FUMBLES (56-C.Anderson), recovered by BUF-71-J.Peters at MIA 39. [WPA -12.0% · EPA -3.94]
• Buffalo Bills (Q3 27:00) — (12:00) 7-J.Losman pass short right to 82-J.Reed to MIA 29 for 10 yards (37-Y.Bell). Caught in flat at MIA 33; pass made after rollout. [WPA +9.3% · EPA +3.68]
• Miami Dolphins (Q4 2:14) — (2:14) 5-D.Carpenter 48 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields. [WPA -0.7% · EPA -3.56]

Quarterback report card

J.Losman led all passers in efficiency for Buffalo Bills, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Losman (Buffalo Bills) · 35 dropbacks · 37.1% completion · -12.4% CPOE · -0.31 EPA/play · -10.73 total EPA
• C.Pennington (Miami Dolphins) · 31 dropbacks · 74.2% completion · +11.0% CPOE · +0.22 EPA/play · +6.71 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Miami Dolphins generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.04 vs -0.18), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Buffalo Bills: 10 drives, -11.32 total EPA, 1 scoring drives
• Miami Dolphins: 10 drives, +3.14 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Miami Dolphins leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• J. Reed (Buffalo Bills) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Losman (BUF) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• C. Pennington (MIA) 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. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q1 51:54 · BUF 20 · Score 6-0
   (6:54) 10-C.Pennington pass deep middle to 80-A.Fasano for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught 2 yds. into end zone, slanting from right.
2. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q1 51:48 · BUF 2 · Score 7-0
   5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.
3. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q1 47:45 · MIA 22 · Score 7-3
   (2:45) 9-R.Lindell 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-72-R.Neill, Holder-8-B.Moorman.
4. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q2 42:18 · BUF 32 · Score 10-3
   (12:18) 5-D.Carpenter 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields. Umpire Carl Madsen leaves field after play.
5. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q2 30:25 · BUF 17 · Score 13-3
   (:25) 5-D.Carpenter 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.
6. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q4 8:14 · BUF 9 · Score 16-3
   (8:14) 5-D.Carpenter 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.