New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills: 2013 Week 1 Recap

Game story

In Week 1 of the 2013 NFL season on 2013-09-08, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Buffalo Bills, pulling away with a 23–21 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Brady (New England Patriots) paced the passing game, with +6.50 total EPA, and -6.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Amendola (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.23 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-27.9% win probability) landed in the second quarter when New England Patriots changed the game: (8:40) 22-S.Ridley up the middle to BUF 25 for -1 yards (50-K.Alonso). FUMBLES (50-K.Alonso), RECOVERED by BUF-25-D.Searcy at BUF 26. 25-D.Searcy for 74 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Assistant challeng

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 D. Amendola · New England Patriots · Receiving · +9.23 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.66 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Edelman · New England Patriots · Receiving · +8.34 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.93 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Brady · New England Patriots · Passing · +6.50 total EPA · 56 snaps · +0.12 EPA/play
4. 4 F. Jackson · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +5.03 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.01 EPA/play
5. 5 S. Vereen · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.81 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
6. 6 F. Jackson · Buffalo Bills · Rushing · +2.02 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.16 EPA/play
7. 7 R. Woods · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +1.99 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.99 EPA/play
8. 8 S. Vereen · New England Patriots · Rushing · +1.98 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.14 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 — J. Edelman (T. Brady pass) (Q1 55:51)
• Buffalo Bills — S. Ridley (Q2 38:40)
• New England Patriots — J. Edelman (T. Brady pass) (Q2 32:00)
• Buffalo Bills — R. Woods (E. Manuel pass) (Q2 30:39)
• Buffalo Bills — S. Johnson (E. Manuel pass) (Q3 26:09)

Field goals

• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q1 49:51)
• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q4 10:52)
• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q4 0:09)

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 10–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the BUF 9 (Q1 55:51) — (10:51) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 11-J.Edelman for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught in back of end zone.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q1 55:46) — 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 BUF 30 (Q1 49:51) — (4:51) 3-S.Gostkowski 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen..

The second quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 14–7. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the BUF 24 (Q2 38:40); Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q2 38:25) — 2-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-S.Powell.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the BUF 8 (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 11-J.Edelman for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught 6 yds. into end zone, crossing from right.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q2 31:55) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the NE 18 (Q2 30:39) — (:39) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 3-E.Manuel pass deep right to 10-R.Woods for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught in back corner of end zone.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q2 30:34) — 2-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-S.Powell..

The third quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 7–0. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the NE 18 (Q3 26:09); Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q3 26:03) — 2-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-S.Powell..

The fourth quarter: New England Patriots won the period 6–0. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the BUF 15 (Q4 10:52) — (10:52) 3-S.Gostkowski 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the BUF 17 (Q4 0:09) — (:09) 3-S.Gostkowski 35 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.

• New England Patriots (Q2 38:40) — (8:40) 22-S.Ridley up the middle to BUF 25 for -1 yards (50-K.Alonso). FUMBLES (50-K.Alonso), RECOVERED by BUF-25-D.Searcy at BUF 26. 25-D.Searcy for 74 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Assistant challeng [WPA -27.9% · EPA -11.31]
• New England Patriots (Q3 19:21) — (4:21) 12-T.Brady FUMBLES (Aborted) at BUF 2, RECOVERED by BUF-50-K.Alonso at BUF 1. 50-K.Alonso to BUF 14 for 13 yards (29-L.Blount). The Replay Assistant challenged the fumble ruling, and the play w [WPA -19.2% · EPA -4.31]
• New England Patriots (Q4 0:09) — (:09) 3-S.Gostkowski 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen. [WPA +17.9% · EPA +0.37]
• New England Patriots (Q4 1:20) — (1:20) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 80-D.Amendola to BUF 29 for 10 yards (23-A.Williams). Caught at BUF 30. [WPA +15.9% · EPA +1.33]
• Buffalo Bills (Q4 0:05) — (:05) (Shotgun) 3-E.Manuel pass short middle to 22-F.Jackson to BUF 32 for 12 yards. FUMBLES, recovered by BUF-3-E.Manuel at BUF 29. 3-E.Manuel to BUF 29 for no gain (37-A.Dennard). [WPA -15.5% · EPA +0.02]

Impact plays

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

• New England Patriots (Q2 38:40) — (8:40) 22-S.Ridley up the middle to BUF 25 for -1 yards (50-K.Alonso). FUMBLES (50-K.Alonso), RECOVERED by BUF-25-D.Searcy at BUF 26. 25-D.Searcy for 74 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Assistant challeng [WPA -27.9% · EPA -11.31]
• New England Patriots (Q3 19:21) — (4:21) 12-T.Brady FUMBLES (Aborted) at BUF 2, RECOVERED by BUF-50-K.Alonso at BUF 1. 50-K.Alonso to BUF 14 for 13 yards (29-L.Blount). The Replay Assistant challenged the fumble ruling, and the play w [WPA -19.2% · EPA -4.31]
• Buffalo Bills (Q1 56:41) — (11:41) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 28-C.Spiller left tackle to BUF 13 for 2 yards (25-K.Arrington). FUMBLES (25-K.Arrington), RECOVERED by NE-93-T.Kelly at BUF 16. 93-T.Kelly to BUF 16 for no gain (60-K.Urb [WPA -14.8% · EPA -4.12]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 33:53) — (3:53) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 3-E.Manuel pass short right to 88-M.Goodwin to BUF 38 for 3 yards (25-K.Arrington) [93-T.Kelly]. FUMBLES (25-K.Arrington), RECOVERED by NE-50-R.Ninkovich at BUF 35. 50-R.Ni [WPA -11.9% · EPA -4.04]

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) · 56 dropbacks · 51.8% completion · -6.6% CPOE · +0.12 EPA/play · +6.50 total EPA
• E.Manuel (Buffalo Bills) · 32 dropbacks · 56.2% completion · +4.9% CPOE · -0.08 EPA/play · -2.66 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 (-0.07 vs -0.13), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Buffalo Bills: 15 drives, -11.23 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 15 drives, -7.58 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• D. Amendola (New England Patriots) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• T. Brady (NE) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• E. Manuel (BUF) 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. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q1 55:51 · BUF 9 · Score 6-0
   (10:51) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 11-J.Edelman for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught in back of end zone.
2. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q1 55:46 · BUF 2 · Score 7-0
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.
3. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q1 49:51 · BUF 30 · Score 10-0
   (4:51) 3-S.Gostkowski 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.
4. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q2 38:40 · BUF 24 · Score 10-6
   (8:40) 22-S.Ridley up the middle to BUF 25 for -1 yards (50-K.Alonso). FUMBLES (50-K.Alonso), RECOVERED by BUF-25-D.Searcy at BUF 26. 25-D.Searcy for 74 yards,
5. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q2 38:25 · NE 2 · Score 10-7
   2-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-S.Powell.
6. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 32:00 · BUF 8 · Score 16-7
   (2:00) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 11-J.Edelman for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught 6 yds. into end zone, crossing from right.
7. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 31:55 · BUF 2 · Score 17-7
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.
8. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q2 30:39 · NE 18 · Score 17-13
   (:39) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 3-E.Manuel pass deep right to 10-R.Woods for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught in back corner of end zone.
9. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q2 30:34 · NE 2 · Score 17-14
   2-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-S.Powell.
10. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q3 26:09 · NE 18 · Score 17-20
    (11:09) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 3-E.Manuel pass deep left to 13-S.Johnson for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught in rear corner of end zone. The Replay Assistant challeng
11. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q3 26:03 · NE 2 · Score 17-21
    2-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-65-G.Sanborn, Holder-6-S.Powell.
12. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q4 10:52 · BUF 15 · Score 20-21
    (10:52) 3-S.Gostkowski 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.
13. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q4 0:09 · BUF 17 · Score 23-21
    (:09) 3-S.Gostkowski 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.