New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins: 2009 Week 13 Recap

Game story

In Week 13 of the 2009 NFL season on 2009-12-06, the Miami Dolphins took care of business against the New England Patriots, pulling away with a 22–21 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Henne (Miami Dolphins) paced the passing game, with +11.79 total EPA, and -2.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, C. Henne (Miami Dolphins) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +11.79 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-28.2% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when New England Patriots changed the game: (:42) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle INTERCEPTED by 52-C.Crowder [91-C.Wake] at NE 40. 52-C.Crowder to NE 38 for 2 yards. Play Challenged by Replay Assistant and Upheld.

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 C. Henne · Miami Dolphins · Passing · +11.79 total EPA · 54 snaps · +0.22 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Brady · New England Patriots · Passing · +10.65 total EPA · 30 snaps · +0.35 EPA/play
3. 3 W. Welker · New England Patriots · Receiving · +8.98 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.69 EPA/play
4. 4 S. Aiken · New England Patriots · Receiving · +6.52 total EPA · 3 snaps · +2.17 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Bess · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +5.53 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.39 EPA/play
6. 6 B. Hartline · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +3.74 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.53 EPA/play
7. 7 K. Faulk · New England Patriots · Rushing · +2.76 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.92 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Ginn · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +2.62 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.87 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 — R. Moss (T. Brady pass) (Q1 56:48)
• New England Patriots — K. Faulk (Q2 45:00)
• Miami Dolphins — D. Bess (C. Henne pass) (Q2 41:10)
• New England Patriots — S. Aiken (T. Brady pass) (Q3 27:16)
• Miami Dolphins — B. Hartline (C. Henne pass) (Q3 18:25)

Field goals

• Miami Dolphins — D. Carpenter (Q2 30:06)
• Miami Dolphins — D. Carpenter (Q3 25:04)
• Miami Dolphins — D. Carpenter (Q4 1:07)

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 MIA 58 (Q1 56:48); New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q1 56:38) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Ingram, Holder-6-C.Hanson..

The second quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 10–7. New England Patriots found the end zone from the MIA 6 (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 33-K.Faulk left guard for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q2 44:56) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Ingram, Holder-6-C.Hanson.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NE 13 (Q2 41:10) — (11:10) (Shotgun) 7-C.Henne pass short right to 15-D.Bess for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q2 41:03) — 5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the NE 11 (Q2 30:06) — (:06) 5-D.Carpenter 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields..

The third quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 9–7. New England Patriots found the end zone from the MIA 81 (Q3 27:16) — (12:16) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep right to 88-S.Aiken for 81 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q3 27:02) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Ingram, Holder-6-C.Hanson.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the NE 6 (Q3 25:04) — (10:04) 5-D.Carpenter 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NE 7 (Q3 18:25) — (3:25) 7-C.Henne pass short left to 82-B.Hartline for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

The fourth quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 3–0. Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the NE 23 (Q4 1:07) — (1:07) 5-D.Carpenter 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields..

Turning points

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

• New England Patriots (Q4 0:42) — (:42) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle INTERCEPTED by 52-C.Crowder [91-C.Wake] at NE 40. 52-C.Crowder to NE 38 for 2 yards. Play Challenged by Replay Assistant and Upheld. [WPA -28.2% · EPA -2.03]
• New England Patriots (Q4 9:45) — (9:45) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short right intended for 81-R.Moss INTERCEPTED by 21-V.Davis at MIA -7. Touchback. [WPA -23.4% · EPA -5.79]
• Miami Dolphins (Q4 2:09) — (2:09) (Shotgun) 7-C.Henne pass short right to 83-G.Camarillo to NE 28 for 13 yards (28-D.Butler). [WPA +21.3% · EPA +2.83]
• New England Patriots (Q3 27:16) — (12:16) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep right to 88-S.Aiken for 81 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +19.7% · EPA +7.29]
• Miami Dolphins (Q4 4:50) — (4:50) (Shotgun) 7-C.Henne pass incomplete short middle to 15-D.Bess (28-D.Butler). [WPA -18.9% · EPA -2.71]

Impact plays

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

• New England Patriots (Q3 27:16) — (12:16) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep right to 88-S.Aiken for 81 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +19.7% · EPA +7.29]
• New England Patriots (Q4 9:45) — (9:45) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short right intended for 81-R.Moss INTERCEPTED by 21-V.Davis at MIA -7. Touchback. [WPA -23.4% · EPA -5.79]
• New England Patriots (Q1 56:48) — (11:48) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 81-R.Moss for 58 yards, TOUCHDOWN [94-R.Starks]. NE-12-T.Brady was injured during the play. His return is Questionable. [WPA +15.9% · EPA +5.42]
• New England Patriots (Q2 33:53) — (3:53) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep middle to 83-W.Welker to MIA 15 for 58 yards (37-Y.Bell). MIA-99-J.Taylor was injured during the play. His return is Questionable. [WPA +12.8% · EPA +4.36]

Quarterback report card

C.Henne led all passers in efficiency for Miami Dolphins, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• C.Henne (Miami Dolphins) · 54 dropbacks · 53.7% completion · -2.9% CPOE · +0.22 EPA/play · +11.79 total EPA
• T.Brady (New England Patriots) · 30 dropbacks · 63.3% completion · +5.9% CPOE · +0.35 EPA/play · +10.65 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (New England Patriots +0.09, Miami Dolphins +0.06) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Miami Dolphins: 12 drives, +5.72 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 12 drives, +6.65 total EPA, 3 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• C. Henne (Miami Dolphins) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• T. Brady (NE) 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 56:48 · MIA 58 · Score 6-0
   (11:48) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 81-R.Moss for 58 yards, TOUCHDOWN [94-R.Starks]. NE-12-T.Brady was injured during the play. His return is Questionable.
2. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q1 56:38 · MIA 2 · Score 7-0
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Ingram, Holder-6-C.Hanson.
3. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 45:00 · MIA 6 · Score 13-0
   (15:00) (Shotgun) 33-K.Faulk left guard for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 44:56 · MIA 2 · Score 14-0
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Ingram, Holder-6-C.Hanson.
5. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 41:10 · NE 13 · Score 14-6
   (11:10) (Shotgun) 7-C.Henne pass short right to 15-D.Bess for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q2 41:03 · NE 2 · Score 14-7
   5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.
7. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q2 30:06 · NE 11 · Score 14-10
   (:06) 5-D.Carpenter 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.
8. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 27:16 · MIA 81 · Score 20-10
   (12:16) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep right to 88-S.Aiken for 81 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 27:02 · MIA 2 · Score 21-10
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Ingram, Holder-6-C.Hanson.
10. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q3 25:04 · NE 6 · Score 21-13
    (10:04) 5-D.Carpenter 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.
11. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q3 18:25 · NE 7 · Score 21-19
    (3:25) 7-C.Henne pass short left to 82-B.Hartline for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q4 1:07 · NE 23 · Score 21-22
    (1:07) 5-D.Carpenter 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.