New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills: 2005 Week 14 Recap

Game story

In Week 14 of the 2005 NFL season on 2005-12-11, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Buffalo Bills, pulling away with a 35–7 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

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

T. Brady (New England Patriots) paced the passing game, with +18.47 total EPA.

On the individual side, T. Brady (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +18.47 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-10.3% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Buffalo Bills changed the game: (9:12) 7-J.Losman pass intended for 89-S.Aiken INTERCEPTED by 22-A.Samuel at NE -4. Touchback. Coverage along left sideline, receiver overthrown.

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 · +18.47 total EPA · 41 snaps · +0.45 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Branch · New England Patriots · Receiving · +8.13 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.63 EPA/play
3. 3 K. Faulk · New England Patriots · Receiving · +6.83 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.14 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Givens · New England Patriots · Receiving · +5.87 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.96 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Brown · New England Patriots · Receiving · +4.98 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.83 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Reed · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +4.98 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.49 EPA/play
7. 7 L. Evans · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +4.26 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.06 EPA/play
8. 8 B. Watson · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.08 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.03 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 — T. Brady (Q1 50:40)
• New England Patriots — C. Dillon (Q2 38:20)
• New England Patriots — T. Brown (T. Brady pass) (Q3 20:32)
• New England Patriots — C. Fauria (T. Brady pass) (Q4 8:24)
• New England Patriots — J. Sanders (Q4 2:52)
• Buffalo Bills — J. Reed (J. Losman pass) (Q4 2:29)

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 7–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the BUF 3 (Q1 50:40) — (5:40) 12-T.Brady up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q1 50:33) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller..

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 7–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the BUF 12 (Q2 38:20) — (8:20) 28-C.Dillon right guard for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q2 38:13) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller..

The third quarter: New England Patriots won the period 7–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the BUF 5 (Q3 20:32) — (5:32) 12-T.Brady pass to 80-T.Brown for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. WR screen right, caught at BUF 6.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q3 20:27) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller..

The fourth quarter: New England Patriots won the period 14–7. New England Patriots found the end zone from the BUF 2 (Q4 8:24) — (8:24) 12-T.Brady pass to 88-C.Fauria for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught in back of end zone, right side.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q4 8:18) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the NE 49 (Q4 2:52); New England Patriots added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q4 2:43) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the NE 51 (Q4 2:29); Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q4 2:14) — 9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman..

Turning points

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

• Buffalo Bills (Q1 54:12) — (9:12) 7-J.Losman pass intended for 89-S.Aiken INTERCEPTED by 22-A.Samuel at NE -4. Touchback. Coverage along left sideline, receiver overthrown. [WPA -10.3% · EPA -3.02]
• Buffalo Bills (Q1 55:38) — (10:38) 7-J.Losman pass to 83-L.Evans to NE 10 for 58 yards (24-M.Stone). Caught along right sideline at NE 25. [WPA +9.5% · EPA +3.27]
• New England Patriots (Q1 52:15) — (7:15) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass to 83-D.Branch to BUF 33 for 22 yards (22-N.Clements). Caught over middle at BUF 36. [WPA +9.3% · EPA +2.13]
• New England Patriots (Q3 24:50) — (9:50) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass intended for 34-M.Cloud INTERCEPTED by 59-L.Fletcher at BUF 10. 59-L.Fletcher to BUF 30 for 20 yards (83-D.Branch). Pass tipped by receiver before interception at BUF [WPA -6.9% · EPA -5.76]
• New England Patriots (Q2 30:14) — (:14) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass intended for 87-D.Givens INTERCEPTED by 22-N.Clements at BUF -2. Touchback. Coverage in front left corner of end zone. [WPA -6.7% · EPA -3.15]

Impact plays

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

• Buffalo Bills (Q4 2:52) — (2:52) (Shotgun) 7-J.Losman pass INTERCEPTED by 36-J.Sanders (54-T.Bruschi) at BUF 39. 36-J.Sanders for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass tipped at line by T.Bruschi before INT. [WPA +0.0% · EPA -9.18]
• New England Patriots (Q3 24:50) — (9:50) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass intended for 34-M.Cloud INTERCEPTED by 59-L.Fletcher at BUF 10. 59-L.Fletcher to BUF 30 for 20 yards (83-D.Branch). Pass tipped by receiver before interception at BUF [WPA -6.9% · EPA -5.76]
• Buffalo Bills (Q4 2:29) — (2:29) (Shotgun) 7-J.Losman pass to 82-J.Reed for 51 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught over middle at NE 49, crossed to left and down sideline; cut back inside at NE 15 to end zone. [WPA +0.0% · EPA +5.30]
• Buffalo Bills (Q1 55:38) — (10:38) 7-J.Losman pass to 83-L.Evans to NE 10 for 58 yards (24-M.Stone). Caught along right sideline at NE 25. [WPA +9.5% · EPA +3.27]

Quarterback report card

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

• T.Brady (New England Patriots) · 41 dropbacks · 70.7% completion · +0.45 EPA/play · +18.47 total EPA
• J.Losman (Buffalo Bills) · 31 dropbacks · 32.3% completion · -0.44 EPA/play · -13.76 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, New England Patriots generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.15 vs -0.25), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Buffalo Bills: 13 drives, -15.31 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 12 drives, +16.21 total EPA, 4 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 50:40 · BUF 3 · Score 6-0
   (5:40) 12-T.Brady up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q1 50:33 · BUF 2 · Score 7-0
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.
3. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 38:20 · BUF 12 · Score 13-0
   (8:20) 28-C.Dillon right guard for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 38:13 · BUF 2 · Score 14-0
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.
5. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 20:32 · BUF 5 · Score 20-0
   (5:32) 12-T.Brady pass to 80-T.Brown for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. WR screen right, caught at BUF 6.
6. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 20:27 · BUF 2 · Score 21-0
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.
7. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 8:24 · BUF 2 · Score 27-0
   (8:24) 12-T.Brady pass to 88-C.Fauria for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught in back of end zone, right side.
8. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 8:18 · BUF 2 · Score 28-0
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.
9. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 2:52 · NE 49 · Score 34-0
   (2:52) (Shotgun) 7-J.Losman pass INTERCEPTED by 36-J.Sanders (54-T.Bruschi) at BUF 39. 36-J.Sanders for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass tipped at line by T.Bruschi be
10. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 2:43 · BUF 2 · Score 35-0
    4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.
11. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q4 2:29 · NE 51 · Score 35-6
    (2:29) (Shotgun) 7-J.Losman pass to 82-J.Reed for 51 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught over middle at NE 49, crossed to left and down sideline; cut back inside at NE 15
12. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q4 2:14 · NE 2 · Score 35-7
    9-R.Lindell extra point is GOOD, Center-54-M.Schneck, Holder-8-B.Moorman.