New England Patriots vs. Detroit Lions: 2018 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2018 NFL season on 2018-09-23, the Detroit Lions took care of business against the New England Patriots, pulling away with a 26–10 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Stafford (Detroit Lions) paced the passing game, with +5.17 total EPA, and +2.8% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Stafford (Detroit Lions) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.17 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+8.5% win probability) landed in the third quarter when New England Patriots changed the game: (10:10) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 28-J.White for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

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 M. Stafford · Detroit Lions · Passing · +5.17 total EPA · 39 snaps · +0.13 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Jones · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +4.42 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.74 EPA/play
3. 3 R. Gronkowski · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.96 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.59 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Riddick · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +2.91 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.97 EPA/play
5. 5 K. Golladay · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +2.82 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
6. 6 R. Burkhead · New England Patriots · Receiving · +1.38 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.46 EPA/play
7. 7 G. Tate · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +1.37 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.17 EPA/play
8. 8 L. Blount · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +1.20 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.60 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

• Detroit Lions — K. Golladay (M. Stafford pass) (Q2 44:17)
• New England Patriots — J. White (T. Brady pass) (Q3 25:10)
• Detroit Lions — M. Jones (M. Stafford pass) (Q3 18:53)

Field goals

• Detroit Lions — M. Prater (Q1 51:00)
• Detroit Lions — M. Prater (Q2 35:02)
• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q2 30:44)
• Detroit Lions — M. Prater (Q4 12:48)
• Detroit Lions — M. Prater (Q4 2:00)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 3–0. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the NE 21 (Q1 51:00) — (6:00) 5-M.Prater 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin..

The second quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 10–3. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the NE 4 (Q2 44:17); Detroit Lions added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q2 44:12) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the NE 7 (Q2 35:02) — (5:02) 5-M.Prater 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the DET 18 (Q2 30:44) — (:44) 3-S.Gostkowski 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. New England Patriots found the end zone from the DET 10 (Q3 25:10) — (10:10) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 28-J.White for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q3 25:03) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the NE 33 (Q3 18:53) — (3:53) 9-M.Stafford pass deep right to 11-M.Jones for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q3 18:45) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin..

The fourth quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 6–0. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the NE 14 (Q4 12:48) — (12:48) 5-M.Prater 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the NE 12 (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) 5-M.Prater 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin..

Turning points

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

• New England Patriots (Q3 25:10) — (10:10) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 28-J.White for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +8.5% · EPA +3.14]
• Detroit Lions (Q3 18:53) — (3:53) 9-M.Stafford pass deep right to 11-M.Jones for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.9% · EPA +2.81]
• Detroit Lions (Q3 23:39) — (8:39) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short left to 19-K.Golladay ran ob at DET 42 for 16 yards (30-J.McCourty). [WPA +6.9% · EPA +2.26]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 54:12) — (9:12) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep middle to 15-G.Tate to NE 30 for 18 yards (31-J.Jones). [WPA +6.3% · EPA +1.65]
• Detroit Lions (Q3 28:42) — (13:42) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep middle intended for 82-L.Willson INTERCEPTED by 51-J.Bentley at NE 48. 51-J.Bentley to NE 48 for no gain (82-L.Willson). [WPA -6.2% · EPA -3.76]

Impact plays

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

• Detroit Lions (Q3 28:42) — (13:42) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep middle intended for 82-L.Willson INTERCEPTED by 51-J.Bentley at NE 48. 51-J.Bentley to NE 48 for no gain (82-L.Willson). [WPA -6.2% · EPA -3.76]
• New England Patriots (Q3 25:10) — (10:10) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 28-J.White for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +8.5% · EPA +3.14]
• New England Patriots (Q4 3:23) — (3:23) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass incomplete deep right to 13-P.Dorsett. NE-13-P.Dorsett was injured during the play. [WPA -0.6% · EPA -3.03]
• New England Patriots (Q4 7:39) — (7:39) 12-T.Brady pass deep middle intended for 13-P.Dorsett INTERCEPTED by 23-D.Slay at DET 15. 23-D.Slay to DET 49 for 34 yards (26-S.Michel). PENALTY on DET-32-T.Wilson, Illegal Blindside Block, 15 [WPA -3.4% · EPA -2.83]

Quarterback report card

M.Stafford led all passers in efficiency for Detroit Lions, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• M.Stafford (Detroit Lions) · 39 dropbacks · 69.2% completion · +2.8% CPOE · +0.13 EPA/play · +5.17 total EPA
• T.Brady (New England Patriots) · 28 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -7.8% CPOE · -0.39 EPA/play · -10.87 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Detroit Lions held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.05 vs -0.24), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Detroit Lions: 10 drives, +4.06 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 10 drives, -14.98 total EPA, 2 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Detroit Lions leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• M. Stafford (Detroit Lions) 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.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q1 51:00 · NE 21 · Score 0-3
   (6:00) 5-M.Prater 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
2. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 44:17 · NE 4 · Score 0-9
   (14:17) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 19-K.Golladay to NE 1 for 3 yards (24-S.Gilmore). FUMBLES (24-S.Gilmore), ball out of bounds at NE 1. Detroit challenge
3. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 44:12 · NE 15 · Score 0-10
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
4. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 35:02 · NE 7 · Score 0-13
   (5:02) 5-M.Prater 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
5. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 30:44 · DET 18 · Score 3-13
   (:44) 3-S.Gostkowski 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
6. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 25:10 · DET 10 · Score 9-13
   (10:10) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 28-J.White for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 25:03 · DET 15 · Score 10-13
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
8. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q3 18:53 · NE 33 · Score 10-19
   (3:53) 9-M.Stafford pass deep right to 11-M.Jones for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q3 18:45 · NE 15 · Score 10-20
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
10. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q4 12:48 · NE 14 · Score 10-23
    (12:48) 5-M.Prater 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
11. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q4 2:00 · NE 12 · Score 10-26
    (2:00) 5-M.Prater 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.