Game story
In Week 17 of the 2008 NFL season on 2008-12-28, the Miami Dolphins took care of business against the New York Jets, pulling away with a 24–17 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.
The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 23 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.
B. Favre (New York Jets) paced the passing game, with -6.76 total EPA, and -9.2% completion percentage over expected.
On the individual side, L. Coles (New York Jets) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +8.56 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.
The momentum swing (-28.7% win probability) landed in the second quarter when New York Jets changed the game: (2:12) (Shotgun) 4-B.Favre pass short right intended for 20-T.Jones INTERCEPTED by 97-P.Merling at NYJ 25. 97-P.Merling for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Line score
Final score and points by quarter.
| Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | — | — | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 14 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| New York Jets | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
Stars of the game
Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.
- 1 L. Coles · New York Jets · Receiving · +8.56 total EPA · 4 snaps · +2.14 EPA/play
- 2 T. Ginn · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +6.79 total EPA · 2 snaps · +3.39 EPA/play
- 3 J. Cotchery · New York Jets · Receiving · +6.70 total EPA · 3 snaps · +2.23 EPA/play
- 4 A. Fasano · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +5.29 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.76 EPA/play
- 5 L. Washington · New York Jets · Rushing · +3.58 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.36 EPA/play
- 6 C. Stuckey · New York Jets · Receiving · +3.26 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.82 EPA/play
- 7 L. Washington · New York Jets · Receiving · +1.90 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
- 8 R. Williams · Miami Dolphins · Rushing · +1.78 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.18 EPA/play
Player of the game
FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.
L. Coles — NYJ · Receiving
L. Coles posted the highest total EPA (+8.56) in the game, making the biggest overall impact on New York Jets's efficiency. Across 4 counted snaps, they averaged +2.14 EPA per play.
The signature play (-8.03 EPA) came from New York Jets: (2:12) (Shotgun) 4-B.Favre pass short right intended for 20-T.Jones INTERCEPTED by 97-P.Merling at NYJ 25. 97-P.Merling for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals
Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.
Touchdowns
- New York Jets — L. Coles (B. Favre pass)
- Miami Dolphins — T. Ginn (C. Pennington pass)
- Miami Dolphins — P. Merling
- New York Jets — L. Washington
- Miami Dolphins — A. Fasano (C. Pennington pass)
Field goals
- New York Jets — J. Feely
- Miami Dolphins — D. Carpenter
How it unfolded, quarter by quarter
A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.
The second quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 14–9. New York Jets found the end zone from the MIA 13 (Q2 36:55) — (6:55) 4-B.Favre pass short right to 87-L.Coles for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NYJ 27 (Q2 32:25) — (2:25) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-C.Pennington pass deep left to 19-T.Ginn for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the NYJ 2 (Q2 32:18) — 5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the MIA 71 (Q2 32:12); Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the NYJ 2 (Q2 32:03) — 5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.; New York Jets connected on a field goal from the MIA 10 (Q2 30:04) — (:04) 3-J.Feely 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-6-R.Hodges..
The third quarter: New York Jets won the period 8–7. New York Jets found the end zone from the MIA 10 (Q3 25:35) — (10:35) 29-L.Washington right guard for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Jets registered a safety from the MIA 2 (Q3 25:33) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 4-B.Favre pass to 89-J.Cotchery is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NYJ 20 (Q3 22:16) — (7:16) 10-C.Pennington pass deep right to 80-A.Fasano for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the NYJ 2 (Q3 22:16) — 5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields..
The fourth quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 3–0. Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the NYJ 30 (Q4 9:25) — (9:25) 5-D.Carpenter 48 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 York Jets (Q2 32:12) — (2:12) (Shotgun) 4-B.Favre pass short right intended for 20-T.Jones INTERCEPTED by 97-P.Merling at NYJ 25. 97-P.Merling for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- New York Jets (Q4 4:59) — (4:59) (No Huddle) 4-B.Favre pass short left intended for 83-C.Stuckey INTERCEPTED by 21-A.Goodman at MIA 25. 21-A.Goodman to MIA 28 for 3 yards (87-L.Coles).
- Miami Dolphins (Q3 27:40) — (12:40) (Punt formation) 2-B.Fields Aborted. 92-J.Denney FUMBLES at NYJ 47, recovered by MIA-2-B.Fields at MIA 28. 2-B.Fields to MIA 28 for no gain (15-W.Wright).
- New York Jets (Q2 39:51) — (9:51) (Shotgun) 4-B.Favre pass deep middle to 89-J.Cotchery to MIA 28 for 26 yards (37-Y.Bell) [97-P.Merling].
- New York Jets (Q4 12:49) — (12:49) 6-R.Hodges punt is BLOCKED by 56-C.Anderson, Center-85-J.Dearth, RECOVERED by MIA-38-P.Cobbs at MIA 43. 38-P.Cobbs to NYJ 49 for 8 yards (96-D.Bowens).
Impact plays
Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.
- New York Jets (Q2 32:12) — (2:12) (Shotgun) 4-B.Favre pass short right intended for 20-T.Jones INTERCEPTED by 97-P.Merling at NYJ 25. 97-P.Merling for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- Miami Dolphins (Q2 40:44) — (10:44) 10-C.Pennington sacked at NYJ 49 for -7 yards (99-B.Thomas). FUMBLES (99-B.Thomas), RECOVERED by NYJ-57-J.Trusnik at NYJ 49. 57-J.Trusnik to NYJ 49 for no gain (10-C.Pennington).
- New York Jets (Q4 4:59) — (4:59) (No Huddle) 4-B.Favre pass short left intended for 83-C.Stuckey INTERCEPTED by 21-A.Goodman at MIA 25. 21-A.Goodman to MIA 28 for 3 yards (87-L.Coles).
- Miami Dolphins (Q3 27:40) — (12:40) (Punt formation) 2-B.Fields Aborted. 92-J.Denney FUMBLES at NYJ 47, recovered by MIA-2-B.Fields at MIA 28. 2-B.Fields to MIA 28 for no gain (15-W.Wright).
Quarterback report card
B.Favre led all passers in efficiency for New York Jets, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.
- B.Favre (New York Jets) · 40 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -9.2% CPOE · -0.17 EPA/play · -6.76 total EPA
- C.Pennington (Miami Dolphins) · 31 dropbacks · 71.0% completion · +11.6% CPOE · +0.02 EPA/play · +0.71 total EPA
Team stats comparison
Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.
| Stat | Miami Dolphins | New York Jets |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive EPA/play | +0.010 | -0.114 |
| Offensive success rate | 46.8% | 43.2% |
| Pass EPA/play | +0.010 | -0.162 |
| Rush EPA/play | -0.030 | -0.114 |
| Defensive EPA/play | +0.114 | -0.010 |
| Defensive success rate | 56.8% | 53.2% |
By the numbers
Despite the final score, Miami Dolphins generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.01 vs -0.11), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.
- Miami Dolphins: 11 drives, +0.74 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
- New York Jets: 13 drives, -9.20 total EPA, 4 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.
- L. Coles (New York Jets) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
- B. Favre (NYJ) 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.
- New York Jets TD (+6) — Q2 36:55 · MIA 13 · Score 0-6
(6:55) 4-B.Favre pass short right to 87-L.Coles for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 32:25 · NYJ 27 · Score 6-6
(2:25) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-C.Pennington pass deep left to 19-T.Ginn for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q2 32:18 · NYJ 2 · Score 7-6
5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields. - Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 32:12 · MIA 71 · Score 13-6
(2:12) (Shotgun) 4-B.Favre pass short right intended for 20-T.Jones INTERCEPTED by 97-P.Merling at NYJ 25. 97-P.Merling for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q2 32:03 · NYJ 2 · Score 14-6
5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields. - New York Jets FG (+3) — Q2 30:04 · MIA 10 · Score 14-9
(:04) 3-J.Feely 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-6-R.Hodges. - New York Jets TD (+6) — Q3 25:35 · MIA 10 · Score 14-15
(10:35) 29-L.Washington right guard for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - New York Jets Safety (+2) — Q3 25:33 · MIA 2 · Score 14-17
TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 4-B.Favre pass to 89-J.Cotchery is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS. - Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q3 22:16 · NYJ 20 · Score 20-17
(7:16) 10-C.Pennington pass deep right to 80-A.Fasano for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q3 22:16 · NYJ 2 · Score 21-17
5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields. - Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q4 9:25 · NYJ 30 · Score 24-17
(9:25) 5-D.Carpenter 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Miami Dolphins vs New York Jets?
The Miami Dolphins beat the New York Jets 24-17 in Week 17, 2008 on 2008-12-28.
What was the final score of Miami Dolphins vs New York Jets?
The final score was Miami Dolphins 24, New York Jets 17 (MIA 24-17 NYJ) in Week 17, 2008 on 2008-12-28.
What was the score by quarter in Miami Dolphins vs New York Jets?
Q2: Miami Dolphins 14, New York Jets 9; Q3: Miami Dolphins 7, New York Jets 8; Q4: Miami Dolphins 3, New York Jets 0; Final: Miami Dolphins 24, New York Jets 17.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals in Miami Dolphins vs New York Jets?
New York Jets touchdown — L. Coles (B. Favre pass) (Q2 36:55) Miami Dolphins touchdown — T. Ginn (C. Pennington pass) (Q2 32:25) Miami Dolphins touchdown — P. Merling (Q2 32:12) New York Jets touchdown — L. Washington (Q3 25:35) Miami Dolphins touchdown — A. Fasano (C. Pennington pass) (Q3 22:16) New York Jets field goal — J. Feely (Q2 30:04, 3 pts) Miami Dolphins field goal — D. Carpenter (Q4 9:25, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.
How did the quarterbacks play in Miami Dolphins vs New York Jets?
B. Favre (New York Jets), 50.0% completion, -9.2% CPOE, -0.17 EPA per dropback, -6.76 total passing EPA. C. Pennington (Miami Dolphins), 71.0% completion, +11.6% CPOE, +0.02 EPA per dropback, +0.71 total passing EPA.
Who was the most impactful player in Miami Dolphins vs New York Jets?
L. Coles (New York Jets) led the game in total EPA with +8.56 on receiving plays. across 4 snaps. The top single-play swing was (-8.03 EPA): (2:12) (Shotgun) 4-B.Favre pass short right intended for 20-T.Jones INTERCEPTED by 97-P.Merling at NYJ 25. 97-P.Merling for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.. The biggest win-probability swing was -28.7%.
Was Miami Dolphins vs New York Jets a close game?
Yes — the margin was 7 points. Miami Dolphins won 24-17 in a game that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.
Season records after this game
Miami Dolphins
Entered 10-5 Now 11-5 W
New York Jets
Entered 9-6 Now 9-7 L
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