Miami Dolphins vs. Kansas City Chiefs: 2017 Week 16 Recap

Game story

In Week 16 of the 2017 NFL season on 2017-12-24, the Kansas City Chiefs took care of business against the Miami Dolphins, pulling away with a 29–13 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 27 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

A. Smith (Kansas City Chiefs) paced the passing game, with +15.71 total EPA, and +4.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, A. Smith (Kansas City Chiefs) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +15.71 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+13.2% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Kansas City Chiefs changed the game: (15:00) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass deep middle to 10-T.Hill to MIA 13 for 52 yards (28-B.McCain).

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 A. Smith · Kansas City Chiefs · Passing · +15.71 total EPA · 45 snaps · +0.35 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Grant · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +6.49 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.08 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Kelce · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +5.89 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.74 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Hill · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +5.42 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.77 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Harris · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +2.35 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.34 EPA/play
6. 6 O. Charles · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +1.95 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.95 EPA/play
7. 7 C. West · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +1.48 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.37 EPA/play
8. 8 A. Wilson · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · -0.17 total EPA · 8 snaps · -0.02 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

• Kansas City Chiefs — T. Kelce (A. Smith pass) (Q2 43:04)
• Kansas City Chiefs — K. Hunt (Q2 33:41)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Grant (J. Cutler pass) (Q2 33:34)

Field goals

• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q1 54:45)
• Miami Dolphins — C. Parkey (Q1 48:33)
• Miami Dolphins — C. Parkey (Q2 38:14)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q2 30:11)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q3 25:27)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q4 12:19)
• Kansas City Chiefs — H. Butker (Q4 3:46)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the MIA 13 (Q1 54:45) — (9:45) 7-H.Butker 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the KC 26 (Q1 48:33) — (3:33) 1-C.Parkey 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-16-M.Haack..

The second quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 17–10. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the MIA 9 (Q2 43:04) — (13:04) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short right to 87-T.Kelce for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q2 43:00) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the KC 10 (Q2 38:14) — (8:14) 1-C.Parkey 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-16-M.Haack.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the MIA 1 (Q2 33:41) — (3:41) (Shotgun) 27-K.Hunt up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q2 33:37) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the KC 65 (Q2 33:34) — (3:34) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short left to 19-J.Grant for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the KC 15 (Q2 33:22) — 1-C.Parkey extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-16-M.Haack.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the MIA 14 (Q2 30:11) — (:11) 7-H.Butker 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..

The third quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 3–0. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the MIA 3 (Q3 25:27) — (10:27) 7-H.Butker 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..

The fourth quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 6–0. Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the MIA 11 (Q4 12:19) — (12:19) 7-H.Butker 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.; Kansas City Chiefs connected on a field goal from the MIA 31 (Q4 3:46) — (3:46) 7-H.Butker 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..

Turning points

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

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass deep middle to 10-T.Hill to MIA 13 for 52 yards (28-B.McCain). [WPA +13.2% · EPA +4.86]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 33:34) — (3:34) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short left to 19-J.Grant for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +10.6% · EPA +5.53]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 36:47) — (6:47) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith scrambles left end pushed ob at MIA 45 for 10 yards (20-R.Jones). PENALTY on MIA-25-X.Howard, Defensive Holding, 5 yards, enforced at MIA 45. [WPA +7.3% · EPA +2.12]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 58:11) — (13:11) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 14-J.Landry to KC 45 for 8 yards (56-D.Johnson). FUMBLES (56-D.Johnson), RECOVERED by KC-22-M.Peters at KC 45. 22-M.Peters pushed ob at KC 45 for no ga [WPA -7.3% · EPA -3.83]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 53:07) — (8:07) 6-J.Cutler pass short middle to 11-D.Parker to KC 43 for 10 yards (20-S.Nelson; 59-R.Ragland). [WPA +7.0% · EPA +0.79]

Impact plays

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

• Miami Dolphins (Q2 33:34) — (3:34) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short left to 19-J.Grant for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +10.6% · EPA +5.53]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass deep middle to 10-T.Hill to MIA 13 for 52 yards (28-B.McCain). [WPA +13.2% · EPA +4.86]
• Miami Dolphins (Q3 17:12) — (2:12) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 10-K.Stills to KC 43 for 17 yards (22-M.Peters). FUMBLES (22-M.Peters), RECOVERED by KC-38-R.Parker at KC 46. 38-R.Parker pushed ob at KC 46 for no gain [WPA -4.7% · EPA -4.02]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 58:11) — (13:11) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 14-J.Landry to KC 45 for 8 yards (56-D.Johnson). FUMBLES (56-D.Johnson), RECOVERED by KC-22-M.Peters at KC 45. 22-M.Peters pushed ob at KC 45 for no ga [WPA -7.3% · EPA -3.83]

Quarterback report card

A.Smith led all passers in efficiency for Kansas City Chiefs, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• A.Smith (Kansas City Chiefs) · 45 dropbacks · 55.6% completion · +4.2% CPOE · +0.35 EPA/play · +15.71 total EPA
• J.Cutler (Miami Dolphins) · 39 dropbacks · 48.7% completion · -9.4% CPOE · -0.15 EPA/play · -5.75 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Kansas City Chiefs held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.06 vs -0.17), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Kansas City Chiefs: 11 drives, +5.45 total EPA, 7 scoring drives
• Miami Dolphins: 11 drives, -12.15 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Kansas City Chiefs leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• A. Smith (Kansas City Chiefs) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• A. Smith (KC) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• 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. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q1 54:45 · MIA 13 · Score 0-3
   (9:45) 7-H.Butker 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
2. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q1 48:33 · KC 26 · Score 3-3
   (3:33) 1-C.Parkey 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-16-M.Haack.
3. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q2 43:04 · MIA 9 · Score 3-9
   (13:04) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short right to 87-T.Kelce for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q2 43:00 · MIA 15 · Score 3-10
   7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
5. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q2 38:14 · KC 10 · Score 6-10
   (8:14) 1-C.Parkey 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-16-M.Haack.
6. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q2 33:41 · MIA 1 · Score 6-16
   (3:41) (Shotgun) 27-K.Hunt up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q2 33:37 · MIA 15 · Score 6-17
   7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
8. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 33:34 · KC 65 · Score 12-17
   (3:34) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short left to 19-J.Grant for 65 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q2 33:22 · KC 15 · Score 13-17
   1-C.Parkey extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-16-M.Haack.
10. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q2 30:11 · MIA 14 · Score 13-20
    (:11) 7-H.Butker 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
11. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q3 25:27 · MIA 3 · Score 13-23
    (10:27) 7-H.Butker 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
12. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q4 12:19 · MIA 11 · Score 13-26
    (12:19) 7-H.Butker 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
13. Kansas City Chiefs FG (+3) — Q4 3:46 · MIA 31 · Score 13-29
    (3:46) 7-H.Butker 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.