Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills: 2017 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 2017 NFL season on 2017-12-17, the Buffalo Bills took care of business against the Miami Dolphins, pulling away with a 24–16 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Cutler (Miami Dolphins) paced the passing game, with -10.50 total EPA, and -6.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Taylor (Buffalo Bills) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.35 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+8.6% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Buffalo Bills changed the game: (6:10) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor pass deep right to 25-L.McCoy for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at goal line, slanting to sideline.

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 T. Taylor · Buffalo Bills · Passing · +7.35 total EPA · 35 snaps · +0.21 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Landry · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +6.54 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.50 EPA/play
3. 3 L. McCoy · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +4.87 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.97 EPA/play
4. 4 K. Drake · Miami Dolphins · Rushing · +2.33 total EPA · 16 snaps · +0.15 EPA/play
5. 5 N. O'Leary · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +2.30 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.15 EPA/play
6. 6 B. Tate · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +1.87 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.87 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Cadet · Buffalo Bills · Rushing · +1.24 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Cadet · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +1.21 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.21 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 — L. McCoy (Q1 55:16)
• Buffalo Bills — L. McCoy (T. Taylor pass) (Q2 36:10)
• Buffalo Bills — T. Taylor (Q2 30:40)
• Miami Dolphins — K. Drake (Q4 8:02)

Field goals

• Miami Dolphins — C. Parkey (Q1 48:20)
• Miami Dolphins — C. Parkey (Q2 39:20)
• Buffalo Bills — S. Hauschka (Q3 20:44)
• Miami Dolphins — C. Parkey (Q4 0:43)

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 7–3. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the MIA 4 (Q1 55:16) — (10:16) 25-L.McCoy right guard for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on MIA-75-C.Malveaux, Defensive Offside, declined.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q1 55:12) — 4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the BUF 9 (Q1 48:20) — (3:20) 1-C.Parkey 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-16-M.Haack..

The second quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 14–3. Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the BUF 23 (Q2 39:20) — (9:20) 1-C.Parkey 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-16-M.Haack.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the MIA 16 (Q2 36:10) — (6:10) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor pass deep right to 25-L.McCoy for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at goal line, slanting to sideline.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q2 36:05) — 4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the MIA 9 (Q2 30:40) — (:40) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor left end for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q2 30:33) — 4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt..

The third quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 3–0. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the MIA 16 (Q3 20:44) — (5:44) 4-S.Hauschka 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt..

The fourth quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 10–0. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the BUF 1 (Q4 8:02) — (8:02) 32-K.Drake up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the BUF 15 (Q4 7:57) — 1-C.Parkey extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-16-M.Haack.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the BUF 8 (Q4 0:43) — (:43) 1-C.Parkey 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-16-M.Haack..

Turning points

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

• Buffalo Bills (Q2 36:10) — (6:10) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor pass deep right to 25-L.McCoy for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at goal line, slanting to sideline. [WPA +8.6% · EPA +2.98]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 37:52) — (7:52) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor pass short middle to 85-C.Clay to MIA 37 for 21 yards (22-T.McDonald, 47-K.Alonso). Caught at BUF 46, slanting from left. Ran back to left after catch. [WPA +7.0% · EPA +2.27]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 50:58) — (5:58) 32-K.Drake right end pushed ob at BUF 13 for 31 yards (23-M.Hyde). [WPA +5.8% · EPA +2.51]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 43:30) — (13:30) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler scrambles left guard to BUF 38 for 6 yards (55-J.Hughes). [WPA +5.3% · EPA +1.35]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 34:41) — (4:41) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short middle to 14-J.Landry to MIA 39 for 13 yards (24-L.Johnson). Caught at MIA 34, crossing from right. [WPA +5.3% · EPA +1.82]

Impact plays

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

• Miami Dolphins (Q3 23:01) — (8:01) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short left intended for 10-K.Stills INTERCEPTED by 20-S.Wright at BUF 23. 20-S.Wright to MIA 31 for 46 yards. FUMBLES, and recovers at MIA 24. 20-S.Wright to MIA 23 fo [WPA -2.0% · EPA -4.54]
• Buffalo Bills (Q3 26:23) — (11:23) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor pass incomplete deep left to 85-C.Clay. Overthrown, receiver near sideline at MIA 3. [WPA -1.3% · EPA -3.01]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 36:10) — (6:10) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor pass deep right to 25-L.McCoy for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at goal line, slanting to sideline. [WPA +8.6% · EPA +2.98]
• Buffalo Bills (Q4 9:46) — (9:46) 6-C.Schmidt punts 42 yards to MIA 48, Center-69-R.Ferguson. 19-J.Grant to BUF 26 for 26 yards (44-D.Lacey). PENALTY on BUF-44-D.Lacey, Horse Collar Tackle, 13 yards, enforced at BUF 26. [WPA -1.5% · EPA -2.90]

Quarterback report card

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

• J.Cutler (Miami Dolphins) · 54 dropbacks · 51.9% completion · -6.4% CPOE · -0.19 EPA/play · -10.50 total EPA
• T.Taylor (Buffalo Bills) · 35 dropbacks · 48.6% completion · -0.6% CPOE · +0.21 EPA/play · +7.35 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 (-0.02 vs -0.08), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Buffalo Bills: 12 drives, -1.87 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Miami Dolphins: 12 drives, -7.18 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.
• T. Taylor (Buffalo Bills) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Cutler (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 TD (+6) — Q1 55:16 · MIA 4 · Score 0-6
   (10:16) 25-L.McCoy right guard for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on MIA-75-C.Malveaux, Defensive Offside, declined.
2. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q1 55:12 · MIA 15 · Score 0-7
   4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.
3. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q1 48:20 · BUF 9 · Score 3-7
   (3:20) 1-C.Parkey 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-16-M.Haack.
4. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q2 39:20 · BUF 23 · Score 6-7
   (9:20) 1-C.Parkey 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-16-M.Haack.
5. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q2 36:10 · MIA 16 · Score 6-13
   (6:10) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor pass deep right to 25-L.McCoy for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at goal line, slanting to sideline.
6. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q2 36:05 · MIA 15 · Score 6-14
   4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.
7. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q2 30:40 · MIA 9 · Score 6-20
   (:40) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor left end for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q2 30:33 · MIA 15 · Score 6-21
   4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.
9. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q3 20:44 · MIA 16 · Score 6-24
   (5:44) 4-S.Hauschka 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.
10. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q4 8:02 · BUF 1 · Score 12-24
    (8:02) 32-K.Drake up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q4 7:57 · BUF 15 · Score 13-24
    1-C.Parkey extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-16-M.Haack.
12. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q4 0:43 · BUF 8 · Score 16-24
    (:43) 1-C.Parkey 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-16-M.Haack.