New England Patriots vs. Carolina Panthers: 2005 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2005 NFL season on 2005-09-18, the Carolina Panthers took care of business against the New England Patriots, pulling away with a 27–17 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Brady (New England Patriots) paced the passing game, with -3.00 total EPA.

On the individual side, T. Brown (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.42 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+20.5% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New England Patriots changed the game: (4:12) 12-T.Brady pass to 80-T.Brown pushed ob at CAR 1 for 71 yards (23-K.Lucas).CAR-23-K.Lucas was injured during the play. His return is Probable.

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. Brown · New England Patriots · Receiving · +7.42 total EPA · 3 snaps · +2.47 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Branch · New England Patriots · Receiving · +4.63 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.58 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Givens · New England Patriots · Receiving · +4.36 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.87 EPA/play
4. 4 R. Proehl · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +4.21 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.40 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Foster · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +2.60 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.60 EPA/play
6. 6 K. Faulk · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.06 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.69 EPA/play
7. 7 S. Smith · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +1.89 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Dwight · New England Patriots · Receiving · +1.81 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.91 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 — D. Graham (T. Brady pass) (Q1 48:43)
• Carolina Panthers — S. Davis (Q1 46:20)
• Carolina Panthers — S. Davis (Q2 31:48)
• New England Patriots — M. Vrabel (Q3 21:19)
• Carolina Panthers — S. Davis (Q4 14:51)

Field goals

• Carolina Panthers — J. Kasay (Q2 34:27)
• Carolina Panthers — J. Kasay (Q3 27:21)
• New England Patriots — A. Vinatieri (Q3 21:35)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. New England Patriots found the end zone from the CAR 1 (Q1 48:43) — (3:43) 12-T.Brady pass to 82-D.Graham for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q1 48:40) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the NE 1 (Q1 46:20) — (1:20) 48-S.Davis left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q1 46:13) — 4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker..

The second quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 10–0. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the NE 33 (Q2 34:27) — (4:27) 4-J.Kasay 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the NE 1 (Q2 31:48) — (1:48) 48-S.Davis right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q2 31:45) — 4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker..

The third quarter: New England Patriots won the period 10–3. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the NE 35 (Q3 27:21) — (12:21) 4-J.Kasay 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the CAR 27 (Q3 21:35) — (6:35) 4-A.Vinatieri 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the NE 75 (Q3 21:19) — (6:19) 17-J.Delhomme pass INTERCEPTED by 50-M.Vrabel at CAR 24. 50-M.Vrabel for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q3 21:08) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller..

The fourth quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 7–0. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the NE 1 (Q4 14:51) — (14:51) 48-S.Davis right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q4 14:46) — 4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker..

Turning points

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

• New England Patriots (Q1 49:12) — (4:12) 12-T.Brady pass to 80-T.Brown pushed ob at CAR 1 for 71 yards (23-K.Lucas).CAR-23-K.Lucas was injured during the play. His return is Probable. [WPA +20.5% · EPA +6.25]
• Carolina Panthers (Q3 21:19) — (6:19) 17-J.Delhomme pass INTERCEPTED by 50-M.Vrabel at CAR 24. 50-M.Vrabel for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -16.4% · EPA -8.24]
• New England Patriots (Q3 16:20) — (1:20) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady sacked at NE 22 for -11 yards (93-M.Rucker). FUMBLES (93-M.Rucker), RECOVERED by CAR-90-J.Peppers at NE 22. 90-J.Peppers to NE 12 for 10 yards (72-M.Light). [WPA -11.7% · EPA -4.25]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 47:12) — (2:12) (Shotgun) 17-J.Delhomme pass to 81-R.Proehl to NE 1 for 41 yards (37-R.Harrison). [WPA +9.1% · EPA +3.33]
• New England Patriots (Q2 39:11) — (9:11) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass intended for 80-T.Brown INTERCEPTED by 54-W.Witherspoon at CAR 28. 54-W.Witherspoon to CAR 28 for no gain (80-T.Brown). [WPA -8.8% · EPA -3.76]

Impact plays

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

• Carolina Panthers (Q3 21:19) — (6:19) 17-J.Delhomme pass INTERCEPTED by 50-M.Vrabel at CAR 24. 50-M.Vrabel for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -16.4% · EPA -8.24]
• New England Patriots (Q1 49:12) — (4:12) 12-T.Brady pass to 80-T.Brown pushed ob at CAR 1 for 71 yards (23-K.Lucas).CAR-23-K.Lucas was injured during the play. His return is Probable. [WPA +20.5% · EPA +6.25]
• New England Patriots (Q3 16:20) — (1:20) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady sacked at NE 22 for -11 yards (93-M.Rucker). FUMBLES (93-M.Rucker), RECOVERED by CAR-90-J.Peppers at NE 22. 90-J.Peppers to NE 12 for 10 yards (72-M.Light). [WPA -11.7% · EPA -4.25]
• New England Patriots (Q2 32:27) — (2:27) 8-J.Miller punts 49 yards to CAR 11, Center-66-L.Paxton. 20-C.Gamble to NE 13 for 76 yards (84-B.Watson). [WPA -8.7% · EPA -4.05]

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) · 50 dropbacks · 46.0% completion · -0.06 EPA/play · -3.00 total EPA
• J.Delhomme (Carolina Panthers) · 30 dropbacks · 36.7% completion · -0.21 EPA/play · -6.24 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Carolina Panthers held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.03 vs -0.12), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Carolina Panthers: 14 drives, -2.55 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 14 drives, -10.35 total EPA, 2 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Carolina Panthers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• T. Brown (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 48:43 · CAR 1 · Score 6-0
   (3:43) 12-T.Brady pass to 82-D.Graham for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q1 48:40 · CAR 2 · Score 7-0
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.
3. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q1 46:20 · NE 1 · Score 7-6
   (1:20) 48-S.Davis left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q1 46:13 · NE 2 · Score 7-7
   4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.
5. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q2 34:27 · NE 33 · Score 7-10
   (4:27) 4-J.Kasay 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.
6. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q2 31:48 · NE 1 · Score 7-16
   (1:48) 48-S.Davis right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q2 31:45 · NE 2 · Score 7-17
   4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.
8. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q3 27:21 · NE 35 · Score 7-20
   (12:21) 4-J.Kasay 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.
9. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q3 21:35 · CAR 27 · Score 10-20
   (6:35) 4-A.Vinatieri 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.
10. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 21:19 · NE 75 · Score 16-20
    (6:19) 17-J.Delhomme pass INTERCEPTED by 50-M.Vrabel at CAR 24. 50-M.Vrabel for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 21:08 · CAR 2 · Score 17-20
    4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.
12. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q4 14:51 · NE 1 · Score 17-26
    (14:51) 48-S.Davis right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q4 14:46 · NE 2 · Score 17-27
    4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.