Miami Dolphins vs. New England Patriots: 2023 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-09-17, the Miami Dolphins took care of business against the New England Patriots, pulling away with a 24–17 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Jones (New England Patriots) paced the passing game, with -4.13 total EPA, and +7.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +12.27 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-9.5% win probability) landed in the third quarter when New England Patriots changed the game: (:57) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass deep right intended for 1-D.Parker INTERCEPTED by 25-X.Howard at MIA 3. 25-X.Howard pushed ob at MIA 3 for no gain (1-D.Parker).

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 · +12.27 total EPA · 33 snaps · +0.37 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Waddle · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +6.03 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.00 EPA/play
3. 3 R. Mostert · Miami Dolphins · Rushing · +5.44 total EPA · 18 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
4. 4 H. Henry · New England Patriots · Receiving · +4.95 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.71 EPA/play
5. 5 B. Berrios · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +2.63 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.88 EPA/play
6. 6 R. Cracraft · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +1.94 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.97 EPA/play
7. 7 S. Ahmed · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +1.83 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.61 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Jones · New England Patriots · Rushing · +1.83 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.46 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. Mostert (Q2 39:43)
• Miami Dolphins — T. Hill (T. Tagovailoa pass) (Q2 30:15)
• New England Patriots — H. Henry (M. Jones pass) (Q4 11:27)
• Miami Dolphins — R. Mostert (Q4 8:51)
• New England Patriots — R. Stevenson (Q4 5:29)

Field goals

• Miami Dolphins — J. Sanders (Q1 48:04)
• New England Patriots — C. Ryland (Q2 31:53)

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 3–0. Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the NE 4 (Q1 48:04) — (3:04) 7-J.Sanders 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey..

The second quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 14–3. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NE 8 (Q2 39:43) — (9:43) (Shotgun) 31-R.Mostert left end for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q2 39:39) — 7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the MIA 31 (Q2 31:53) — (1:53) 37-C.Ryland 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NE 2 (Q2 30:15) — (:15) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short right to 10-T.Hill for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q2 30:11) — 7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey..

The fourth quarter: New England Patriots won the period 14–7. New England Patriots found the end zone from the MIA 6 (Q4 11:27) — (11:27) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short right to 85-H.Henry for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q4 11:21) — 37-C.Ryland extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NE 43 (Q4 8:51) — (8:51) (Shotgun) 31-R.Mostert left guard for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q4 8:45) — 7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the MIA 2 (Q4 5:29) — (5:29) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 38-R.Stevenson right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q4 5:25) — 37-C.Ryland extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer..

Turning points

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

• New England Patriots (Q3 15:57) — (:57) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass deep right intended for 1-D.Parker INTERCEPTED by 25-X.Howard at MIA 3. 25-X.Howard pushed ob at MIA 3 for no gain (1-D.Parker). [WPA -9.5% · EPA -4.42]
• New England Patriots (Q1 45:10) — (:10) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short middle to 81-D.Douglas to MIA 29 for 10 yards (2-B.Chubb). FUMBLES (2-B.Chubb), RECOVERED by MIA-21-D.Elliott at MIA 27. [WPA -9.3% · EPA -3.07]
• Miami Dolphins (Q4 2:19) — (2:19) 7-J.Sanders 55 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey. [WPA -8.3% · EPA -2.97]
• Miami Dolphins (Q4 10:04) — (10:04) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass deep left intended for 10-T.Hill INTERCEPTED by 6-C.Gonzalez [9-M.Judon] at NE 14. 6-C.Gonzalez to NE 14 for no gain (10-T.Hill). [WPA -8.1% · EPA -2.62]
• New England Patriots (Q4 1:00) — (1:00) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short left to 88-M.Gesicki to MIA 34 for -1 yards [2-B.Chubb]. Lateral to 69-C.Strange to MIA 29 for 5 yards (8-J.Holland; 43-A.Van Ginkel). The Replay Official review [WPA -7.2% · EPA -1.98]

Impact plays

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

• Miami Dolphins (Q3 18:39) — (3:39) 7-J.Sanders 49 yard field goal is BLOCKED (41-B.Schooler), Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey, RECOVERED by NE-23-K.Dugger at NE 47. 23-K.Dugger to MIA 49 for 4 yards (94-C.Wilkins). [WPA -4.1% · EPA -4.49]
• New England Patriots (Q3 15:57) — (:57) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass deep right intended for 1-D.Parker INTERCEPTED by 25-X.Howard at MIA 3. 25-X.Howard pushed ob at MIA 3 for no gain (1-D.Parker). [WPA -9.5% · EPA -4.42]
• Miami Dolphins (Q4 8:51) — (8:51) (Shotgun) 31-R.Mostert left guard for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +5.1% · EPA +3.98]
• New England Patriots (Q4 12:24) — (12:24) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones scrambles right end ran ob at MIA 17 for 18 yards (8-J.Holland). PENALTY on MIA-25-X.Howard, Defensive Holding, 5 yards, enforced at MIA 17. [WPA +5.3% · EPA +3.23]

Quarterback report card

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

• M.Jones (New England Patriots) · 50 dropbacks · 62.0% completion · +7.4% CPOE · -0.08 EPA/play · -4.13 total EPA
• T.Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins) · 33 dropbacks · 63.6% completion · +8.0% CPOE · +0.37 EPA/play · +12.27 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 (+0.07 vs -0.04), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Miami Dolphins: 11 drives, +5.32 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 11 drives, -3.04 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.
• 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.
• M. Jones (NE) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• 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. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q1 48:04 · NE 4 · Score 3-0
   (3:04) 7-J.Sanders 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
2. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 39:43 · NE 8 · Score 9-0
   (9:43) (Shotgun) 31-R.Mostert left end for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q2 39:39 · NE 15 · Score 10-0
   7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
4. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 31:53 · MIA 31 · Score 10-3
   (1:53) 37-C.Ryland 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer.
5. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 30:15 · NE 2 · Score 16-3
   (:15) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short right to 10-T.Hill for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q2 30:11 · NE 15 · Score 17-3
   7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
7. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 11:27 · MIA 6 · Score 17-9
   (11:27) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short right to 85-H.Henry for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 11:21 · MIA 15 · Score 17-10
   37-C.Ryland extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer.
9. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q4 8:51 · NE 43 · Score 23-10
   (8:51) (Shotgun) 31-R.Mostert left guard for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q4 8:45 · NE 15 · Score 24-10
    7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
11. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 5:29 · MIA 2 · Score 24-16
    (5:29) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 38-R.Stevenson right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 5:25 · MIA 15 · Score 24-17
    37-C.Ryland extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer.