Miami Dolphins vs. New England Patriots: 2010 Week 17 Recap

Game story

In Week 17 of the 2010 NFL season on 2011-01-02, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Miami Dolphins, pulling away with a 38–7 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Thigpen (Miami Dolphins) paced the passing game, with +3.08 total EPA, and -11.0% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Brady (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +12.20 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-9.6% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New England Patriots changed the game: (8:58) 39-D.Woodhead up the middle to NE 34 for no gain (70-K.Langford). FUMBLES (70-K.Langford), RECOVERED by MIA-96-P.Soliai at NE 34.

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. Brady · New England Patriots · Passing · +12.20 total EPA · 17 snaps · +0.72 EPA/play
2. 2 R. Gronkowski · New England Patriots · Receiving · +8.91 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.89 EPA/play
3. 3 B. Hoyer · New England Patriots · Passing · +8.00 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.62 EPA/play
4. 4 B. Tate · New England Patriots · Receiving · +6.00 total EPA · 3 snaps · +2.00 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Edelman · New England Patriots · Receiving · +4.05 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.81 EPA/play
6. 6 B. Marshall · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +3.31 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Price · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.14 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.78 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Thigpen · Miami Dolphins · Passing · +3.08 total EPA · 26 snaps · +0.12 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

• New England Patriots — R. Gronkowski (T. Brady pass) (Q1 55:40)
• New England Patriots — B. Green-Ellis (Q1 49:15)
• New England Patriots — J. Edelman (Q2 30:40)
• New England Patriots — A. Crumpler (T. Brady pass) (Q3 26:36)
• New England Patriots — B. Tate (B. Hoyer pass) (Q3 21:39)
• Miami Dolphins — D. Bess (T. Thigpen pass) (Q4 2:17)

Field goals

• New England Patriots — S. Graham (Q2 31:45)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: New England Patriots won the period 14–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the MIA 13 (Q1 55:40); New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q1 55:36) — 5-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the MIA 1 (Q1 49:15) — (4:15) 42-B.Green-Ellis left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q1 49:12) — 5-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko..

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 10–0. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the MIA 10 (Q2 31:45) — (1:45) 5-S.Graham 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the NE 67 (Q2 30:40); New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q2 30:18) — 5-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko..

The third quarter: New England Patriots won the period 14–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the MIA 10 (Q3 26:36); New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q3 26:30) — 5-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the MIA 42 (Q3 21:39); New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q3 21:33) — 5-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko..

The fourth quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 7–0. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NE 21 (Q4 2:17) — (2:17) 16-T.Thigpen pass deep left to 15-D.Bess for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q4 2:11) — 5-D.Carpenter extra point 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 53:58) — (8:58) 39-D.Woodhead up the middle to NE 34 for no gain (70-K.Langford). FUMBLES (70-K.Langford), RECOVERED by MIA-96-P.Soliai at NE 34. [WPA -9.6% · EPA -4.66]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 34:37) — (4:37) (Shotgun) 34-R.Williams left guard to NE 41 for no gain (98-E.Moore). FUMBLES (98-E.Moore), RECOVERED by NE-50-R.Ninkovich at NE 41. [WPA -6.4% · EPA -4.61]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 51:08) — (6:08) 5-D.Carpenter 40 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields. [WPA -5.6% · EPA -3.86]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 58:12) — (13:12) 7-C.Henne pass short right intended for 19-B.Marshall INTERCEPTED by 32-D.McCourty at MIA 47. 32-D.McCourty to MIA 47 for no gain. [WPA -4.6% · EPA -2.49]
• New England Patriots (Q1 57:24) — (12:24) (Shotgun) Direct snap to 39-D.Woodhead. 39-D.Woodhead right end to MIA 21 for 19 yards (24-S.Smith). [WPA +4.5% · EPA +1.99]

Impact plays

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

• Miami Dolphins (Q2 30:40) — (:40) 2-B.Fields punts 61 yards to NE 6, Center-92-J.Denney. 11-J.Edelman for 94 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Patriots 9th non-offensive TD of season, ties franchise record ('61). NE 11-Edelman longest punt retu [WPA -4.1% · EPA -6.85]
• New England Patriots (Q1 53:58) — (8:58) 39-D.Woodhead up the middle to NE 34 for no gain (70-K.Langford). FUMBLES (70-K.Langford), RECOVERED by MIA-96-P.Soliai at NE 34. [WPA -9.6% · EPA -4.66]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 34:37) — (4:37) (Shotgun) 34-R.Williams left guard to NE 41 for no gain (98-E.Moore). FUMBLES (98-E.Moore), RECOVERED by NE-50-R.Ninkovich at NE 41. [WPA -6.4% · EPA -4.61]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 51:08) — (6:08) 5-D.Carpenter 40 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields. [WPA -5.6% · EPA -3.86]

Quarterback report card

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

• T.Thigpen (Miami Dolphins) · 26 dropbacks · 38.5% completion · -11.0% CPOE · +0.12 EPA/play · +3.08 total EPA
• C.Henne (Miami Dolphins) · 19 dropbacks · 31.6% completion · -18.8% CPOE · -0.32 EPA/play · -6.17 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

New England Patriots held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.14 vs -0.23), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Miami Dolphins: 12 drives, -17.90 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 12 drives, +12.89 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• New England Patriots leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• T. Brady (New England Patriots) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• T. Thigpen (MIA) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• C. Henne (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. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q1 55:40 · MIA 13 · Score 0-6
   (10:40) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 87-R.Gronkowski for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN. NE 87-Gronkowski now has 10 TD receptions, new Patriots rookie record.
2. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q1 55:36 · MIA 2 · Score 0-7
   5-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.
3. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q1 49:15 · MIA 1 · Score 0-13
   (4:15) 42-B.Green-Ellis left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
4. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q1 49:12 · MIA 2 · Score 0-14
   5-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.
5. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 31:45 · MIA 10 · Score 0-17
   (1:45) 5-S.Graham 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.
6. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 30:40 · NE 67 · Score 0-23
   (:40) 2-B.Fields punts 61 yards to NE 6, Center-92-J.Denney. 11-J.Edelman for 94 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Patriots 9th non-offensive TD of season, ties franchise recor
7. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 30:18 · MIA 2 · Score 0-24
   5-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.
8. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 26:36 · MIA 10 · Score 0-30
   (11:36) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 82-A.Crumpler for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. NE 12-Brady 261st career TD pass, ties Dave Krieg for 10th place all-tim
9. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 26:30 · MIA 2 · Score 0-31
   5-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.
10. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 21:39 · MIA 42 · Score 0-37
    (6:39) 8-B.Hoyer pass deep left to 19-B.Tate for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN [96-P.Soliai]. PENALTY on MIA-96-P.Soliai, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced between
11. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 21:33 · MIA 2 · Score 0-38
    5-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-48-M.Katula, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.
12. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q4 2:17 · NE 21 · Score 6-38
    (2:17) 16-T.Thigpen pass deep left to 15-D.Bess for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q4 2:11 · NE 2 · Score 7-38
    5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.