New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins: 2017 Week 14 Recap

Game story

In Week 14 of the 2017 NFL season on 2017-12-11, the Miami Dolphins took care of business against the New England Patriots, pulling away with a 27–20 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

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

T. Brady (New England Patriots) paced the passing game, with -4.29 total EPA, and -4.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Cutler (Miami Dolphins) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.68 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+10.6% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Miami Dolphins changed the game: (11:01) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 11-D.Parker pushed ob at NE 21 for 15 yards (24-S.Gilmore).

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. Cutler · Miami Dolphins · Passing · +5.68 total EPA · 43 snaps · +0.13 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Amendola · New England Patriots · Receiving · +4.61 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.51 EPA/play
3. 3 K. Drake · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +4.43 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.74 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Lewis · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.73 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.75 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Landry · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +2.58 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Grant · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +1.90 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.48 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Parker · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +1.87 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
8. 8 R. Burkhead · New England Patriots · Receiving · +1.83 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.37 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. Burkhead (Q2 36:24)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Landry (J. Cutler pass) (Q2 33:39)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Grant (J. Cutler pass) (Q3 26:09)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Landry (J. Cutler pass) (Q3 19:48)
• New England Patriots — J. White (T. Brady pass) (Q4 13:09)

Field goals

• Miami Dolphins — C. Parkey (Q1 54:05)
• Miami Dolphins — C. Parkey (Q1 48:53)
• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q2 30:06)
• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q4 0:57)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 6–0. Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the NE 12 (Q1 54:05) — (9:05) (Field Goal formation) 1-C.Parkey 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-16-M.Haack.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the NE 26 (Q1 48:53) — (3:53) (Field Goal formation) 1-C.Parkey 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-16-M.Haack..

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 10–7. New England Patriots found the end zone from the MIA 3 (Q2 36:24) — (6:24) 68-L.Waddle reported in as eligible. 34-R.Burkhead left tackle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q2 36:18) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NE 5 (Q2 33:39) — (3:39) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 14-J.Landry for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q2 33:33) — 1-C.Parkey extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-16-M.Haack.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the MIA 28 (Q2 30:06) — (:06) (Field Goal formation) 3-S.Gostkowski 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen..

The third quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 14–0. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NE 25 (Q3 26:09) — (11:09) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep left to 19-J.Grant for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q3 26:03) — 1-C.Parkey extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-16-M.Haack.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NE 4 (Q3 19:48) — (4:48) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short middle to 14-J.Landry for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q3 19:43) — 1-C.Parkey extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-16-M.Haack..

The fourth quarter: New England Patriots won the period 10–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the MIA 3 (Q4 13:09) — (13:09) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 28-J.White for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q4 13:05) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the MIA 15 (Q4 0:57) — (:57) (Field Goal formation) 3-S.Gostkowski 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen..

Turning points

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

• Miami Dolphins (Q1 56:01) — (11:01) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 11-D.Parker pushed ob at NE 21 for 15 yards (24-S.Gilmore). [WPA +10.6% · EPA +2.31]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 35:30) — (5:30) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep right to 32-K.Drake ran ob at NE 16 for 47 yards. [WPA +9.4% · EPA +2.85]
• New England Patriots (Q3 29:19) — (14:19) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady sacked at NE 14 for -8 yards (97-J.Phillips). [WPA -6.5% · EPA -1.66]
• New England Patriots (Q2 36:29) — (6:29) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass incomplete deep left to 14-B.Cooks. PENALTY on MIA-25-X.Howard, Defensive Pass Interference, 20 yards, enforced at MIA 23 - No Play. [WPA +6.4% · EPA +2.48]
• Miami Dolphins (Q3 26:09) — (11:09) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep left to 19-J.Grant for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.3% · EPA +2.96]

Impact plays

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

• New England Patriots (Q4 1:55) — (1:55) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep right to 80-D.Amendola to MIA 1 for 23 yards (47-K.Alonso). The Replay Official reviewed the short of the line to gain ruling, and the play was Upheld. The ruling [WPA +4.1% · EPA +3.23]
• Miami Dolphins (Q3 26:09) — (11:09) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep left to 19-J.Grant for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.3% · EPA +2.96]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 35:30) — (5:30) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep right to 32-K.Drake ran ob at NE 16 for 47 yards. [WPA +9.4% · EPA +2.85]
• New England Patriots (Q2 36:29) — (6:29) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass incomplete deep left to 14-B.Cooks. PENALTY on MIA-25-X.Howard, Defensive Pass Interference, 20 yards, enforced at MIA 23 - No Play. [WPA +6.4% · EPA +2.48]

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) · 51 dropbacks · 47.1% completion · -4.2% CPOE · -0.08 EPA/play · -4.29 total EPA
• J.Cutler (Miami Dolphins) · 43 dropbacks · 58.1% completion · +8.6% CPOE · +0.13 EPA/play · +5.68 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 (+0.02 vs -0.07), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Miami Dolphins: 14 drives, +1.77 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 13 drives, -5.48 total EPA, 4 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.
• J. Cutler (Miami Dolphins) 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.
• J. Cutler (MIA) 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. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q1 54:05 · NE 12 · Score 0-3
   (9:05) (Field Goal formation) 1-C.Parkey 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-16-M.Haack.
2. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q1 48:53 · NE 26 · Score 0-6
   (3:53) (Field Goal formation) 1-C.Parkey 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-16-M.Haack.
3. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 36:24 · MIA 3 · Score 6-6
   (6:24) 68-L.Waddle reported in as eligible. 34-R.Burkhead left tackle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 36:18 · MIA 15 · Score 7-6
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
5. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 33:39 · NE 5 · Score 7-12
   (3:39) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 14-J.Landry for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q2 33:33 · NE 15 · Score 7-13
   1-C.Parkey extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-16-M.Haack.
7. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 30:06 · MIA 28 · Score 10-13
   (:06) (Field Goal formation) 3-S.Gostkowski 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
8. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q3 26:09 · NE 25 · Score 10-19
   (11:09) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep left to 19-J.Grant for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q3 26:03 · NE 15 · Score 10-20
   1-C.Parkey extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-16-M.Haack.
10. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q3 19:48 · NE 4 · Score 10-26
    (4:48) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short middle to 14-J.Landry for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q3 19:43 · NE 15 · Score 10-27
    1-C.Parkey extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-16-M.Haack.
12. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 13:09 · MIA 3 · Score 16-27
    (13:09) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 28-J.White for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 13:05 · MIA 15 · Score 17-27
    3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
14. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q4 0:57 · MIA 15 · Score 20-27
    (:57) (Field Goal formation) 3-S.Gostkowski 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.