Miami Dolphins vs. New England Patriots: 2014 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 2014 NFL season on 2014-12-14, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Miami Dolphins, pulling away with a 41–13 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 24 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

R. Tannehill (Miami Dolphins) paced the passing game, with -1.69 total EPA, and +2.5% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Brady (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +11.23 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-25.4% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Miami Dolphins changed the game: (12:47) 9-C.Sturgis 41 yard field goal is BLOCKED (91-J.Collins), Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields, RECOVERED by NE-25-K.Arrington at NE 38. 25-K.Arrington for 62 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

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 · +11.23 total EPA · 37 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Wallace · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +10.79 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.54 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Edelman · New England Patriots · Receiving · +5.95 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.59 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Landry · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +4.60 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
5. 5 R. Gronkowski · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.70 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.46 EPA/play
6. 6 C. Clay · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +1.98 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
7. 7 S. Vereen · New England Patriots · Receiving · +0.95 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
8. 8 S. Vereen · New England Patriots · Rushing · +0.88 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.15 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 — K. Arrington (Q1 57:47)
• New England Patriots — S. Vereen (Q2 38:03)
• Miami Dolphins — M. Wallace (R. Tannehill pass) (Q2 30:11)
• New England Patriots — L. Blount (Q3 26:09)
• New England Patriots — R. Gronkowski (T. Brady pass) (Q3 19:35)
• New England Patriots — J. Edelman (T. Brady pass) (Q3 16:33)

Field goals

• Miami Dolphins — C. Sturgis (Q1 46:02)
• Miami Dolphins — C. Sturgis (Q2 34:31)
• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q3 19:46)
• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q4 6:24)

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 7–3. New England Patriots found the end zone from the NE 23 (Q1 57:47); New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q1 57:36) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the NE 6 (Q1 46:02) — (1:02) 9-C.Sturgis 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields..

The second quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 10–7. New England Patriots found the end zone from the MIA 3 (Q2 38:03) — (8:03) (Shotgun) 34-S.Vereen right tackle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q2 37:59) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the NE 35 (Q2 34:31) — (4:31) 9-C.Sturgis 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NE 32 (Q2 30:11); Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q2 30:05) — 9-C.Sturgis extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields..

The third quarter: New England Patriots won the period 24–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the MIA 3 (Q3 26:09) — (11:09) 77-N.Solder reported in as eligible. 29-L.Blount left tackle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q3 26:04) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the MIA 17 (Q3 19:46); New England Patriots found the end zone from the MIA 27 (Q3 19:35) — (4:35) 12-T.Brady pass deep left to 87-R.Gronkowski for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN [98-J.Odrick].; New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q3 19:30) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the MIA 6 (Q3 16:33) — (1:33) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 11-J.Edelman for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q3 16:29) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen. NE 24 3rd-quarter points, new franchise record..

The fourth quarter: New England Patriots won the period 3–0. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the MIA 18 (Q4 6:24) — (6:24) 3-S.Gostkowski 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen..

Turning points

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

• Miami Dolphins (Q1 57:47) — (12:47) 9-C.Sturgis 41 yard field goal is BLOCKED (91-J.Collins), Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields, RECOVERED by NE-25-K.Arrington at NE 38. 25-K.Arrington for 62 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -25.4% · EPA -9.32]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 60:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 17-R.Tannehill pass deep left to 11-M.Wallace to NE 30 for 50 yards (21-M.Butler). [WPA +11.0% · EPA +3.56]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 30:11) — (:11) (Shotgun) 17-R.Tannehill pass incomplete deep left to 11-M.Wallace [54-D.Hightower]. The Replay Official challenged the incomplete pass ruling, and the play was REVERSED. (Shotgun) 17-R.Tannehil [WPA +10.8% · EPA +5.21]
• New England Patriots (Q1 50:53) — (5:53) (No Huddle) 12-T.Brady pass short left intended for 19-B.LaFell INTERCEPTED by 93-J.Trusnik at MIA 34. 93-J.Trusnik to MIA 34 for no gain (63-D.Connolly; 66-B.Stork). [WPA -10.5% · EPA -4.92]
• New England Patriots (Q3 26:52) — (11:52) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady scrambles right tackle pushed ob at MIA 3 for 17 yards (35-W.Aikens). [WPA +10.2% · EPA +2.80]

Impact plays

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

• Miami Dolphins (Q1 57:47) — (12:47) 9-C.Sturgis 41 yard field goal is BLOCKED (91-J.Collins), Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields, RECOVERED by NE-25-K.Arrington at NE 38. 25-K.Arrington for 62 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -25.4% · EPA -9.32]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 38:56) — (8:56) (Shotgun) 17-R.Tannehill pass deep middle intended for 10-B.Gibson INTERCEPTED by 30-D.Harmon at NE 32. 30-D.Harmon pushed ob at MIA 8 for 60 yards (64-S.Satele). [WPA -10.2% · EPA -5.82]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 30:11) — (:11) (Shotgun) 17-R.Tannehill pass incomplete deep left to 11-M.Wallace [54-D.Hightower]. The Replay Official challenged the incomplete pass ruling, and the play was REVERSED. (Shotgun) 17-R.Tannehil [WPA +10.8% · EPA +5.21]
• New England Patriots (Q1 50:53) — (5:53) (No Huddle) 12-T.Brady pass short left intended for 19-B.LaFell INTERCEPTED by 93-J.Trusnik at MIA 34. 93-J.Trusnik to MIA 34 for no gain (63-D.Connolly; 66-B.Stork). [WPA -10.5% · EPA -4.92]

Quarterback report card

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

• R.Tannehill (Miami Dolphins) · 54 dropbacks · 53.7% completion · +2.5% CPOE · -0.03 EPA/play · -1.69 total EPA
• T.Brady (New England Patriots) · 37 dropbacks · 56.8% completion · -0.7% CPOE · +0.30 EPA/play · +11.23 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 (+0.13 vs -0.19), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Miami Dolphins: 12 drives, -18.44 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 13 drives, +10.28 total EPA, 6 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.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q1 57:47 · NE 23 · Score 0-6
   (12:47) 9-C.Sturgis 41 yard field goal is BLOCKED (91-J.Collins), Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields, RECOVERED by NE-25-K.Arrington at NE 38. 25-K.Arrington
2. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q1 57:36 · MIA 2 · Score 0-7
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.
3. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q1 46:02 · NE 6 · Score 3-7
   (1:02) 9-C.Sturgis 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.
4. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 38:03 · MIA 3 · Score 3-13
   (8:03) (Shotgun) 34-S.Vereen right tackle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 37:59 · MIA 2 · Score 3-14
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.
6. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q2 34:31 · NE 35 · Score 6-14
   (4:31) 9-C.Sturgis 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.
7. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 30:11 · NE 32 · Score 12-14
   (:11) (Shotgun) 17-R.Tannehill pass incomplete deep left to 11-M.Wallace [54-D.Hightower]. The Replay Official challenged the incomplete pass ruling, and the pl
8. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q2 30:05 · NE 2 · Score 13-14
   9-C.Sturgis extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.
9. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 26:09 · MIA 3 · Score 13-20
   (11:09) 77-N.Solder reported in as eligible. 29-L.Blount left tackle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 26:04 · MIA 2 · Score 13-21
    3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.
11. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q3 19:46 · MIA 17 · Score 13-24
    (4:46) 3-S.Gostkowski 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen. NE 3-Gostkowski now has 1,160 career points, new franchise record (Vinati
12. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 19:35 · MIA 27 · Score 13-30
    (4:35) 12-T.Brady pass deep left to 87-R.Gronkowski for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN [98-J.Odrick].
13. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 19:30 · MIA 2 · Score 13-31
    3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.
14. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 16:33 · MIA 6 · Score 13-37
    (1:33) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 11-J.Edelman for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 16:29 · MIA 2 · Score 13-38
    3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen. NE 24 3rd-quarter points, new franchise record.
16. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q4 6:24 · MIA 18 · Score 13-41
    (6:24) 3-S.Gostkowski 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.