Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills: 2014 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2014 NFL season on 2014-09-14, the Buffalo Bills took care of business against the Miami Dolphins, pulling away with a 29–10 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 24 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

R. Tannehill (Miami Dolphins) paced the passing game, with -5.12 total EPA, and -4.0% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, S. Watkins (Buffalo Bills) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +8.74 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+15.2% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Buffalo Bills changed the game: 9-C.Sturgis kicks 67 yards from MIA 35 to BUF -2. 28-C.Spiller for 102 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on BUF, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs. Penalty for sideline interference.

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 S. Watkins · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +8.74 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.79 EPA/play
2. 2 E. Manuel · Buffalo Bills · Passing · +6.42 total EPA · 27 snaps · +0.24 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Wallace · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +2.65 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.33 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Landry · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +2.01 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.33 EPA/play
5. 5 S. Chandler · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +1.78 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.89 EPA/play
6. 6 B. Gibson · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +1.16 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.29 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Spiller · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +1.08 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.08 EPA/play
8. 8 O. Darkwa · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +1.05 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.35 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 — C. Spiller (Q3 24:35)
• Miami Dolphins — M. Wallace (R. Tannehill pass) (Q3 18:19)
• Buffalo Bills — S. Watkins (E. Manuel pass) (Q3 15:22)

Field goals

• Buffalo Bills — D. Carpenter (Q1 49:51)
• Buffalo Bills — D. Carpenter (Q1 45:25)
• Buffalo Bills — D. Carpenter (Q2 40:26)
• Miami Dolphins — C. Sturgis (Q3 24:39)
• Buffalo Bills — D. Carpenter (Q4 10:35)
• Buffalo Bills — D. Carpenter (Q4 1:58)

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 6–0. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the MIA 10 (Q1 49:51) — (4:51) 2-D.Carpenter 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.; Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the MIA 9 (Q1 45:25) — (:25) 2-D.Carpenter 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-C.Schmidt..

The second quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 3–0. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the MIA 13 (Q2 40:26) — (10:26) 2-D.Carpenter 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-C.Schmidt..

The third quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 14–10. Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the BUF 16 (Q3 24:39) — (9:39) 9-C.Sturgis 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the MIA 35 (Q3 24:35); Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q3 24:23) — 2-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the BUF 7 (Q3 18:19) — (3:19) 17-R.Tannehill pass short left to 11-M.Wallace for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught 6 yds. into end zone, near sideline.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q3 18:15) — 9-C.Sturgis extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the MIA 12 (Q3 15:22) — (:22) (Shotgun) 3-E.Manuel pass short right to 14-S.Watkins for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at MIA 11, crossing to right.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q3 15:13) — 2-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-C.Schmidt..

The fourth quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 6–0. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the MIA 14 (Q4 10:35) — (10:35) 2-D.Carpenter 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.; Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the MIA 20 (Q4 1:58) — (1:58) 2-D.Carpenter 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-C.Schmidt..

Turning points

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

• Buffalo Bills (Q3 24:35) — 9-C.Sturgis kicks 67 yards from MIA 35 to BUF -2. 28-C.Spiller for 102 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on BUF, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs. Penalty for sideline interference. [WPA +15.2% · EPA +6.02]
• Buffalo Bills (Q1 53:23) — (8:23) (Shotgun) 3-E.Manuel pass short right to 22-F.Jackson pushed ob at MIA 27 for 28 yards (27-J.Wilson). [WPA +10.7% · EPA +2.73]
• Buffalo Bills (Q1 58:12) — (13:12) (Shotgun) 3-E.Manuel pass deep left to 14-S.Watkins to MIA 45 for 28 yards (27-J.Wilson, 31-M.Thomas). [WPA +8.6% · EPA +2.94]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 47:23) — (2:23) 2-B.Fields punt is BLOCKED by 26-A.Dixon, Center-92-J.Denney, recovered by MIA-34-D.Williams at MIA 17. 34-D.Williams to MIA 31 for 14 yards (57-T.Powell). [WPA -7.7% · EPA -3.01]
• Miami Dolphins (Q3 18:19) — (3:19) 17-R.Tannehill pass short left to 11-M.Wallace for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught 6 yds. into end zone, near sideline. [WPA +7.1% · EPA +1.78]

Impact plays

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

• Buffalo Bills (Q3 24:35) — 9-C.Sturgis kicks 67 yards from MIA 35 to BUF -2. 28-C.Spiller for 102 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on BUF, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs. Penalty for sideline interference. [WPA +15.2% · EPA +6.02]
• Buffalo Bills (Q4 5:56) — (5:56) 6-C.Schmidt punts 41 yards to MIA 9, Center-65-G.Sanborn. 14-J.Landry MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by BUF-58-R.Johnson at MIA 17. [WPA +0.5% · EPA +4.65]
• Buffalo Bills (Q4 4:19) — (4:19) 2-D.Carpenter 31 yard field goal is No Good, Hit Left Upright, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-C.Schmidt. [WPA -0.4% · EPA -3.47]
• Miami Dolphins (Q3 22:52) — (7:52) (Shotgun) 17-R.Tannehill pass short middle to 14-J.Landry to BUF 33 for 8 yards (37-N.Robey). [WPA +3.6% · EPA +3.46]

Quarterback report card

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

• R.Tannehill (Miami Dolphins) · 59 dropbacks · 52.5% completion · -4.0% CPOE · -0.09 EPA/play · -5.12 total EPA
• E.Manuel (Buffalo Bills) · 27 dropbacks · 59.3% completion · -0.9% CPOE · +0.24 EPA/play · +6.42 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 -0.17), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Buffalo Bills: 13 drives, +2.01 total EPA, 7 scoring drives
• Miami Dolphins: 12 drives, -17.11 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.
• S. Watkins (Buffalo Bills) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• R. Tannehill (MIA) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q1 49:51 · MIA 10 · Score 0-3
   (4:51) 2-D.Carpenter 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.
2. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q1 45:25 · MIA 9 · Score 0-6
   (:25) 2-D.Carpenter 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.
3. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q2 40:26 · MIA 13 · Score 0-9
   (10:26) 2-D.Carpenter 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.
4. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q3 24:39 · BUF 16 · Score 3-9
   (9:39) 9-C.Sturgis 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.
5. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q3 24:35 · MIA 35 · Score 3-15
   9-C.Sturgis kicks 67 yards from MIA 35 to BUF -2. 28-C.Spiller for 102 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on BUF, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between dow
6. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q3 24:23 · MIA 2 · Score 3-16
   2-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.
7. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q3 18:19 · BUF 7 · Score 9-16
   (3:19) 17-R.Tannehill pass short left to 11-M.Wallace for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught 6 yds. into end zone, near sideline.
8. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q3 18:15 · BUF 2 · Score 10-16
   9-C.Sturgis extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.
9. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q3 15:22 · MIA 12 · Score 10-22
   (:22) (Shotgun) 3-E.Manuel pass short right to 14-S.Watkins for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at MIA 11, crossing to right.
10. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q3 15:13 · MIA 2 · Score 10-23
    2-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.
11. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q4 10:35 · MIA 14 · Score 10-26
    (10:35) 2-D.Carpenter 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.
12. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q4 1:58 · MIA 20 · Score 10-29
    (1:58) 2-D.Carpenter 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.