Miami Dolphins vs. Detroit Lions: 2022 Week 8 Recap

Game story

In Week 8 of the 2022 NFL season on 2022-10-30, the Miami Dolphins took care of business against the Detroit Lions, pulling away with a 31–27 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 23 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Goff (Detroit Lions) paced the passing game, with +9.91 total EPA, and +1.1% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +22.35 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-12.0% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Detroit Lions changed the game: (2:59) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass incomplete deep right to 8-J.Reynolds.

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. Tagovailoa · Miami Dolphins · Passing · +22.35 total EPA · 42 snaps · +0.53 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Waddle · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +13.01 total EPA · 9 snaps · +1.45 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Goff · Detroit Lions · Passing · +9.91 total EPA · 42 snaps · +0.24 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Hill · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +9.23 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.66 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Sherfield · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +4.90 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.45 EPA/play
6. 6 K. Raymond · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +4.54 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.13 EPA/play
7. 7 A.St. Brown · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +4.52 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.45 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Hockenson · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +4.16 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.04 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

• Detroit Lions — unlisted player (Q1 58:03)
• Detroit Lions — D. Swift (J. Goff pass) (Q1 50:40)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Waddle (T. Tagovailoa pass) (Q1 45:55)
• Detroit Lions — C. Wilkins (Q2 43:49)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Waddle (T. Tagovailoa pass) (Q2 41:35)
• Miami Dolphins — A. Ingold (Q3 24:14)
• Miami Dolphins — M. Gesicki (T. Tagovailoa pass) (Q3 15:17)

Field goals

• Detroit Lions — M. Badgley (Q2 37:07)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Sanders (Q2 32:10)
• Detroit Lions — M. Badgley (Q2 30:03)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 14–7. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the MIA 7 (Q1 58:03) — (13:03) 30-Ja.Williams up the middle for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q1 57:59) — 17-M.Badgley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the MIA 7 (Q1 50:40) — (5:40) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass short middle to 32-D.Swift for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q1 50:36) — 17-M.Badgley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the DET 5 (Q1 45:55) — (:55) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short left to 17-J.Waddle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q1 45:50) — 7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-4-T.Morstead..

The second quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 13–10. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the MIA 1 (Q2 43:49) — (13:49) 30-Ja.Williams up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on MIA-94-C.Wilkins, Defensive Offside, declined.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q2 43:46) — 17-M.Badgley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the DET 29 (Q2 41:35) — (11:35) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass deep left to 17-J.Waddle for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q2 41:30) — 7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-4-T.Morstead.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the MIA 24 (Q2 37:07) — (7:07) 17-M.Badgley 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the DET 27 (Q2 32:10) — (2:10) 7-J.Sanders 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-4-T.Morstead.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the MIA 8 (Q2 30:03) — (:03) 17-M.Badgley 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox..

The third quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 14–0. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the DET 1 (Q3 24:14); Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q3 24:11) — 7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-4-T.Morstead.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the DET 11 (Q3 15:17); Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q3 15:12) — 7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-4-T.Morstead..

Turning points

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

• Detroit Lions (Q4 2:59) — (2:59) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass incomplete deep right to 8-J.Reynolds. [WPA -12.0% · EPA -3.41]
• Miami Dolphins (Q3 18:50) — (3:50) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa scrambles up the middle to DET 29 for 18 yards (1-J.Okudah). [WPA +11.3% · EPA +2.54]
• Miami Dolphins (Q3 15:17) — (:17) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short left to 88-M.Gesicki for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. MIA-74-L.Eichenberg was injured during the play. He is Out. [WPA +10.8% · EPA +2.53]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 41:35) — (11:35) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass deep left to 17-J.Waddle for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +9.8% · EPA +3.82]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 51:57) — (6:57) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass deep left to 88-T.Hockenson to MIA 12 for 58 yards (32-V.McKinley). [WPA +9.5% · EPA +4.13]

Impact plays

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

• Miami Dolphins (Q1 53:15) — (8:15) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short middle to 86-B.Sanders to DET 22 for 13 yards (31-K.Joseph). FUMBLES (31-K.Joseph), RECOVERED by DET-44-M.Rodriguez at DET 20. 44-M.Rodriguez to DET 22 for 2 [WPA -9.3% · EPA -4.98]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 51:57) — (6:57) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass deep left to 88-T.Hockenson to MIA 12 for 58 yards (32-V.McKinley). [WPA +9.5% · EPA +4.13]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 48:37) — (3:37) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass deep right to 10-T.Hill to DET 23 for 36 yards (41-A.Parker, 24-A.Oruwariye). [WPA +6.1% · EPA +4.12]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 41:35) — (11:35) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass deep left to 17-J.Waddle for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +9.8% · EPA +3.82]

Quarterback report card

J.Goff led all passers in efficiency for Detroit Lions, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Goff (Detroit Lions) · 42 dropbacks · 64.3% completion · +1.1% CPOE · +0.24 EPA/play · +9.91 total EPA
• T.Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins) · 42 dropbacks · 69.0% completion · +19.9% CPOE · +0.53 EPA/play · +22.35 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 (+0.24 vs +0.15), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Detroit Lions: 8 drives, +11.51 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Miami Dolphins: 8 drives, +18.69 total EPA, 5 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• T. Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• T. Tagovailoa (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. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q1 58:03 · MIA 7 · Score 0-6
   (13:03) 30-Ja.Williams up the middle for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q1 57:59 · MIA 15 · Score 0-7
   17-M.Badgley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
3. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q1 50:40 · MIA 7 · Score 0-13
   (5:40) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass short middle to 32-D.Swift for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q1 50:36 · MIA 15 · Score 0-14
   17-M.Badgley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
5. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q1 45:55 · DET 5 · Score 6-14
   (:55) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short left to 17-J.Waddle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q1 45:50 · DET 15 · Score 7-14
   7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-4-T.Morstead.
7. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 43:49 · MIA 1 · Score 7-20
   (13:49) 30-Ja.Williams up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on MIA-94-C.Wilkins, Defensive Offside, declined.
8. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 43:46 · MIA 15 · Score 7-21
   17-M.Badgley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
9. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 41:35 · DET 29 · Score 13-21
   (11:35) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass deep left to 17-J.Waddle for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q2 41:30 · DET 15 · Score 14-21
    7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-4-T.Morstead.
11. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 37:07 · MIA 24 · Score 14-24
    (7:07) 17-M.Badgley 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
12. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q2 32:10 · DET 27 · Score 17-24
    (2:10) 7-J.Sanders 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-4-T.Morstead.
13. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 30:03 · MIA 8 · Score 17-27
    (:03) 17-M.Badgley 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
14. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q3 24:14 · DET 1 · Score 23-27
    (9:14) (Shotgun) Direct snap to 30-A.Ingold. 30-A.Ingold up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on DET-24-A.Oruwariye, Defensive Offside, declined.
15. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q3 24:11 · DET 15 · Score 24-27
    7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-4-T.Morstead.
16. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q3 15:17 · DET 11 · Score 30-27
    (:17) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short left to 88-M.Gesicki for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. MIA-74-L.Eichenberg was injured during the play. He is Out.
17. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q3 15:12 · DET 15 · Score 31-27
    7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-4-T.Morstead.