Miami Dolphins vs. New England Patriots: 2008 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2008 NFL season on 2008-09-21, the Miami Dolphins took care of business against the New England Patriots, pulling away with a 38–13 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Cassel (New England Patriots) paced the passing game, with -9.66 total EPA, and -4.5% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, C. Pennington (Miami Dolphins) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +15.50 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-11.5% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New England Patriots changed the game: (6:20) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass short middle INTERCEPTED by 94-R.Starks [97-P.Merling] at MIA 18. 94-R.Starks to MIA 26 for 8 yards (70-L.Mankins).

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 C. Pennington · Miami Dolphins · Passing · +15.50 total EPA · 20 snaps · +0.77 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Gaffney · New England Patriots · Receiving · +8.10 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.35 EPA/play
3. 3 A. Fasano · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +8.05 total EPA · 3 snaps · +2.68 EPA/play
4. 4 R. Brown · Miami Dolphins · Rushing · +7.80 total EPA · 17 snaps · +0.46 EPA/play
5. 5 G. Camarillo · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +4.62 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.16 EPA/play
6. 6 R. Brown · Miami Dolphins · Passing · +3.33 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.33 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Ginn · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +3.02 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.60 EPA/play
8. 8 W. Welker · New England Patriots · Rushing · +2.25 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.25 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 — R. Brown (Q1 47:32)
• Miami Dolphins — R. Brown (Q2 38:23)
• Miami Dolphins — R. Brown (Q2 31:03)
• Miami Dolphins — A. Fasano (R. Brown pass) (Q3 20:51)
• New England Patriots — J. Gaffney (M. Cassel pass) (Q3 18:24)
• Miami Dolphins — R. Brown (Q4 15:00)

Field goals

• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q2 41:36)
• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q2 34:58)
• Miami Dolphins — D. Carpenter (Q4 6:13)

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 7–0. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NE 2 (Q1 47:32) — (2:32) 23-R.Brown right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. direct snap to Brown; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q1 47:29) — 5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields..

The second quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 14–6. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the MIA 19 (Q2 41:36) — (11:36) 3-S.Gostkowski 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-6-C.Hanson.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NE 15 (Q2 38:23) — (8:23) 23-R.Brown left guard for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q2 38:19) — 5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the MIA 26 (Q2 34:58) — (4:58) 3-S.Gostkowski 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-6-C.Hanson.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NE 5 (Q2 31:03) — (1:03) 23-R.Brown right guard for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. direct snap to 23-Brown; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q2 30:59) — 5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NE 19 (Q3 20:51) — (5:51) 23-R.Brown pass deep left to 80-A.Fasano for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN. direct snap to 23-Brown; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q3 20:46) — 5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the MIA 5 (Q3 18:24) — (3:24) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass short middle to 10-J.Gaffney for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q3 18:20) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-6-C.Hanson..

The fourth quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 10–0. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NE 62 (Q4 15:00); Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q4 14:49) — 5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the NE 21 (Q4 6:13) — (6:13) 5-D.Carpenter 39 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.

• New England Patriots (Q1 51:20) — (6:20) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass short middle INTERCEPTED by 94-R.Starks [97-P.Merling] at MIA 18. 94-R.Starks to MIA 26 for 8 yards (70-L.Mankins). [WPA -11.5% · EPA -3.77]
• New England Patriots (Q2 43:43) — (13:43) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass short left to 10-J.Gaffney to MIA 25 for 12 yards (21-A.Goodman, 37-Y.Bell). [WPA +10.1% · EPA +3.10]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 50:27) — (5:27) 10-C.Pennington pass short middle to 80-A.Fasano to NE 46 for 24 yards (31-B.Meriweather, 37-R.Harrison). [WPA +7.9% · EPA +2.71]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 41:26) — (11:26) 10-C.Pennington pass deep left to 83-G.Camarillo to NE 46 for 33 yards (51-J.Mayo). [WPA +6.6% · EPA +2.11]
• New England Patriots (Q2 42:11) — (12:11) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass short left to 33-K.Faulk to MIA 19 for 2 yards (37-Y.Bell). [WPA -5.3% · EPA -1.13]

Impact plays

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

• Miami Dolphins (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) 23-R.Brown up the middle for 62 yards, TOUCHDOWN. direct snap to 23-Brown Penalty on NE-50-M.Vrabel, Unnecessary Roughness, offsetting. Penalty on MIA-34-R.Williams, Personal Foul, offsetting. [WPA +1.9% · EPA +5.72]
• New England Patriots (Q3 18:24) — (3:24) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass short middle to 10-J.Gaffney for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +3.6% · EPA +4.02]
• New England Patriots (Q1 51:20) — (6:20) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass short middle INTERCEPTED by 94-R.Starks [97-P.Merling] at MIA 18. 94-R.Starks to MIA 26 for 8 yards (70-L.Mankins). [WPA -11.5% · EPA -3.77]
• New England Patriots (Q4 14:20) — (14:20) 16-M.Cassel scrambles up the middle to NE 45 for 1 yard (55-J.Porter). FUMBLES (55-J.Porter), RECOVERED by MIA-97-P.Merling at NE 49. [WPA -0.3% · EPA -3.66]

Quarterback report card

M.Cassel led all passers in efficiency for New England Patriots, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• M.Cassel (New England Patriots) · 39 dropbacks · 48.7% completion · -4.5% CPOE · -0.25 EPA/play · -9.66 total EPA
• C.Pennington (Miami Dolphins) · 20 dropbacks · 85.0% completion · +20.2% CPOE · +0.77 EPA/play · +15.50 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 (+0.36 vs -0.03), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Miami Dolphins: 10 drives, +26.42 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 11 drives, -2.42 total EPA, 3 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.
• C. Pennington (Miami Dolphins) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• M. Cassel (NE) 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 47:32 · NE 2 · Score 6-0
   (2:32) 23-R.Brown right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. direct snap to Brown
2. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q1 47:29 · NE 2 · Score 7-0
   5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.
3. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 41:36 · MIA 19 · Score 7-3
   (11:36) 3-S.Gostkowski 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-6-C.Hanson.
4. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 38:23 · NE 15 · Score 13-3
   (8:23) 23-R.Brown left guard for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q2 38:19 · NE 2 · Score 14-3
   5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.
6. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 34:58 · MIA 26 · Score 14-6
   (4:58) 3-S.Gostkowski 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-6-C.Hanson.
7. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 31:03 · NE 5 · Score 20-6
   (1:03) 23-R.Brown right guard for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. direct snap to 23-Brown
8. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q2 30:59 · NE 2 · Score 21-6
   5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.
9. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q3 20:51 · NE 19 · Score 27-6
   (5:51) 23-R.Brown pass deep left to 80-A.Fasano for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN. direct snap to 23-Brown
10. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q3 20:46 · NE 2 · Score 28-6
    5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.
11. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 18:24 · MIA 5 · Score 28-12
    (3:24) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass short middle to 10-J.Gaffney for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 18:20 · MIA 2 · Score 28-13
    3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-6-C.Hanson.
13. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q4 15:00 · NE 62 · Score 34-13
    (15:00) 23-R.Brown up the middle for 62 yards, TOUCHDOWN. direct snap to 23-Brown Penalty on NE-50-M.Vrabel, Unnecessary Roughness, offsetting. Penalty on MIA-3
14. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q4 14:49 · NE 2 · Score 35-13
    5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.
15. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q4 6:13 · NE 21 · Score 38-13
    (6:13) 5-D.Carpenter 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.