New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins: 2001 Week 4 Recap

Game story

In Week 4 of the 2001 NFL season on 2001-10-07, the Miami Dolphins took care of business against the New England Patriots, pulling away with a 30–10 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

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 -9.15 total EPA.

On the individual side, J. Weaver (Miami Dolphins) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.21 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-19.5% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Miami Dolphins changed the game: (12:57) 9-J.Fiedler pass intended for 86-O.Gadsden INTERCEPTED by 50-M.Vrabel at MIA 25. 50-M.Vrabel to MIA 10 for 15 yards (9-J.Fiedler).

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 J. Weaver · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +4.21 total EPA · 1 snaps · +4.21 EPA/play
2. 2 L. Smith · Miami Dolphins · Rushing · +1.93 total EPA · 30 snaps · +0.06 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Ward · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +1.74 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.74 EPA/play
4. 4 J. McKnight · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +1.67 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.56 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Fiedler · Miami Dolphins · Rushing · +1.10 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.37 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Smith · New England Patriots · Rushing · +1.02 total EPA · 15 snaps · +0.07 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Patten · New England Patriots · Receiving · +0.63 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Edwards · New England Patriots · Rushing · +0.51 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.17 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 — A. Smith (Q1 57:09)
• Miami Dolphins — L. Smith (Q1 48:45)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Weaver (J. Fiedler pass) (Q2 30:14)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Taylor (Q3 15:06)

Field goals

• Miami Dolphins — O. Mare (Q2 44:33)
• New England Patriots — A. Vinatieri (Q2 36:45)
• Miami Dolphins — O. Mare (Q3 23:02)
• Miami Dolphins — O. Mare (Q4 2:12)

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 MIA 9 (Q1 57:09) — (12:09) 32-A.Smith right end for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q1 57:03) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-10-L.Johnson.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NE 7 (Q1 48:45) — (3:45) 26-L.Smith right end for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q1 48:39) — 10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-89-E.Perry, Holder-1-M.Turk..

The second quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 10–3. Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the NE 1 (Q2 44:33) — (14:33) 10-O.Mare 19 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-E.Perry, Holder-1-M.Turk.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the MIA 19 (Q2 36:45) — (6:45) 4-A.Vinatieri 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-10-L.Johnson.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NE 14 (Q2 30:14) — (:14) 9-J.Fiedler pass to 82-J.Weaver for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q2 30:07) — 10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-89-E.Perry, Holder-1-M.Turk..

The third quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 10–0. Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the NE 15 (Q3 23:02) — (8:02) 10-O.Mare 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-E.Perry, Holder-1-M.Turk.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the MIA 85 (Q3 15:06) — (:06) 12-T.Brady FUMBLES (Aborted) at NE 14, RECOVERED by MIA-99-J.Taylor at NE 1. 99-J.Taylor for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the NE 7 (Q3 15:00) — 10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-89-E.Perry, Holder-1-M.Turk..

The fourth quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 3–0. Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the NE 9 (Q4 2:12) — (2:12) 10-O.Mare 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-H.Irwin, Holder-1-M.Turk..

Turning points

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

• Miami Dolphins (Q1 57:57) — (12:57) 9-J.Fiedler pass intended for 86-O.Gadsden INTERCEPTED by 50-M.Vrabel at MIA 25. 50-M.Vrabel to MIA 10 for 15 yards (9-J.Fiedler). [WPA -19.5% · EPA -5.41]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 45:23) — (:23) 1-M.Turk punts 31 yards to NE 10, Center-89-E.Perry. 80-T.Brown MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by MIA-21-T.Cousin at NE 9. [WPA +13.0% · EPA +4.59]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 30:14) — (:14) 9-J.Fiedler pass to 82-J.Weaver for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +9.8% · EPA +4.21]
• New England Patriots (Q3 15:06) — (:06) 12-T.Brady FUMBLES (Aborted) at NE 14, RECOVERED by MIA-99-J.Taylor at NE 1. 99-J.Taylor for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -9.3% · EPA -6.11]
• New England Patriots (Q2 37:21) — (7:21) 12-T.Brady sacked at MIA 19 for -5 yards (92-D.Gardener). [WPA -8.0% · EPA -1.53]

Impact plays

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

• New England Patriots (Q3 15:06) — (:06) 12-T.Brady FUMBLES (Aborted) at NE 14, RECOVERED by MIA-99-J.Taylor at NE 1. 99-J.Taylor for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -9.3% · EPA -6.11]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 57:57) — (12:57) 9-J.Fiedler pass intended for 86-O.Gadsden INTERCEPTED by 50-M.Vrabel at MIA 25. 50-M.Vrabel to MIA 10 for 15 yards (9-J.Fiedler). [WPA -19.5% · EPA -5.41]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 45:23) — (:23) 1-M.Turk punts 31 yards to NE 10, Center-89-E.Perry. 80-T.Brown MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by MIA-21-T.Cousin at NE 9. [WPA +13.0% · EPA +4.59]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 30:14) — (:14) 9-J.Fiedler pass to 82-J.Weaver for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +9.8% · EPA +4.21]

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) · 31 dropbacks · 38.7% completion · -0.30 EPA/play · -9.15 total EPA
• J.Fiedler (Miami Dolphins) · 25 dropbacks · 44.0% completion · -0.06 EPA/play · -1.62 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Miami Dolphins held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.08 vs -0.16), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Miami Dolphins: 12 drives, +7.00 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 11 drives, -11.45 total EPA, 2 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.
• J. Weaver (Miami Dolphins) 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 57:09 · MIA 9 · Score 6-0
   (12:09) 32-A.Smith right end for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q1 57:03 · MIA 2 · Score 7-0
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-10-L.Johnson.
3. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q1 48:45 · NE 7 · Score 7-6
   (3:45) 26-L.Smith right end for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q1 48:39 · NE 2 · Score 7-7
   10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-89-E.Perry, Holder-1-M.Turk.
5. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q2 44:33 · NE 1 · Score 7-10
   (14:33) 10-O.Mare 19 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-E.Perry, Holder-1-M.Turk.
6. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 36:45 · MIA 19 · Score 10-10
   (6:45) 4-A.Vinatieri 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-10-L.Johnson.
7. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 30:14 · NE 14 · Score 10-16
   (:14) 9-J.Fiedler pass to 82-J.Weaver for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q2 30:07 · NE 2 · Score 10-17
   10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-89-E.Perry, Holder-1-M.Turk.
9. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q3 23:02 · NE 15 · Score 10-20
   (8:02) 10-O.Mare 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-E.Perry, Holder-1-M.Turk.
10. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q3 15:06 · MIA 85 · Score 10-26
    (:06) 12-T.Brady FUMBLES (Aborted) at NE 14, RECOVERED by MIA-99-J.Taylor at NE 1. 99-J.Taylor for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q3 15:00 · NE 7 · Score 10-27
    10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-89-E.Perry, Holder-1-M.Turk.
12. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q4 2:12 · NE 9 · Score 10-30
    (2:12) 10-O.Mare 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-H.Irwin, Holder-1-M.Turk.