New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins: 2019 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2019 NFL season on 2019-09-15, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Miami Dolphins, pulling away with a 43–0 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Brady (New England Patriots) paced the passing game, with +16.16 total EPA, and +9.0% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Brady (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +16.16 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+8.1% win probability) landed in the second quarter when New England Patriots changed the game: (6:38) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep left to 13-P.Dorsett to NE 46 for 18 yards (21-E.Rowe).

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. Brady · New England Patriots · Passing · +16.16 total EPA · 36 snaps · +0.45 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Edelman · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.87 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.97 EPA/play
3. 3 J. White · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.80 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.95 EPA/play
4. 4 P. Dorsett · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.69 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.23 EPA/play
5. 5 R. Burkhead · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.22 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.61 EPA/play
6. 6 M. LaCosse · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.19 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.09 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Hurns · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +2.11 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.06 EPA/play
8. 8 A. Brown · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.05 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.26 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 — S. Michel (Q1 52:49)
• New England Patriots — A. Brown (T. Brady pass) (Q2 31:24)
• New England Patriots — T. Brady (Q3 17:22)
• New England Patriots — S. Gilmore (Q4 10:56)
• New England Patriots — J. Collins (Q4 9:13)
• New England Patriots — J. White (T. Brady pass) (Q4 2:15)

Field goals

• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q3 23:49)

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 1 (Q1 52:49) — (7:49) 26-S.Michel left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q1 52:46) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey..

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 6–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the MIA 20 (Q2 31:24) — (1:24) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep left to 17-A.Brown for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

The third quarter: New England Patriots won the period 10–0. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the MIA 10 (Q3 23:49) — (8:49) (Field Goal formation) 3-S.Gostkowski 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the MIA 1 (Q3 17:22) — (2:22) 12-T.Brady up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q3 17:18) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey..

The fourth quarter: New England Patriots won the period 20–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the NE 49 (Q4 10:56); New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q4 10:45) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the NE 38 (Q4 9:13); New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q4 8:57) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the MIA 10 (Q4 2:15) — (2:15) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 28-J.White for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

Turning points

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

• New England Patriots (Q2 36:38) — (6:38) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep left to 13-P.Dorsett to NE 46 for 18 yards (21-E.Rowe). [WPA +8.1% · EPA +2.78]
• New England Patriots (Q2 38:32) — (8:32) (Field Goal formation) 3-S.Gostkowski 48 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey. [WPA -7.9% · EPA -3.46]
• New England Patriots (Q1 57:58) — (12:58) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 17-A.Brown to MIA 39 for 18 yards (29-M.Fitzpatrick). [WPA +6.0% · EPA +1.70]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 37:42) — (7:42) (Shotgun) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass incomplete short left to 32-K.Drake (70-A.Butler). [WPA -4.8% · EPA -1.76]
• New England Patriots (Q2 37:30) — (7:30) 12-T.Brady sacked at NE 28 for -7 yards (95-J.Jenkins). [WPA -4.2% · EPA -1.43]

Impact plays

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

• Miami Dolphins (Q4 9:13) — (9:13) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short left intended for 27-K.Ballage INTERCEPTED by 58-J.Collins at NE 31. 58-J.Collins for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +0.0% · EPA -10.40]
• Miami Dolphins (Q4 10:56) — (10:56) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short right intended for 11-D.Parker INTERCEPTED by 24-S.Gilmore at NE 46. 24-S.Gilmore for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -0.3% · EPA -9.06]
• New England Patriots (Q4 5:51) — (5:51) 26-S.Michel left tackle to NE 38 for 2 yards (29-M.Fitzpatrick, 94-C.Wilkins). FUMBLES (29-M.Fitzpatrick), RECOVERED by MIA-29-M.Fitzpatrick at NE 41. 29-M.Fitzpatrick to NE 41 for no gain (46- [WPA +0.0% · EPA -4.62]
• New England Patriots (Q4 2:15) — (2:15) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 28-J.White for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +0.0% · EPA +3.62]

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) · 36 dropbacks · 55.6% completion · +9.0% CPOE · +0.45 EPA/play · +16.16 total EPA
• R.Fitzpatrick (Miami Dolphins) · 27 dropbacks · 40.7% completion · -17.6% CPOE · -1.18 EPA/play · -31.80 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, New England Patriots generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.08 vs -0.59), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Miami Dolphins: 13 drives, -45.48 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 13 drives, +6.66 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• New England Patriots leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• T. Brady (New England Patriots) 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.
• R. Fitzpatrick (MIA) 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. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q1 52:49 · MIA 1 · Score 6-0
   (7:49) 26-S.Michel left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q1 52:46 · MIA 15 · Score 7-0
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.
3. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 31:24 · MIA 20 · Score 13-0
   (1:24) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep left to 17-A.Brown for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q3 23:49 · MIA 10 · Score 16-0
   (8:49) (Field Goal formation) 3-S.Gostkowski 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.
5. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 17:22 · MIA 1 · Score 22-0
   (2:22) 12-T.Brady up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
6. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 17:18 · MIA 15 · Score 23-0
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.
7. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 10:56 · NE 49 · Score 29-0
   (10:56) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short right intended for 11-D.Parker INTERCEPTED by 24-S.Gilmore at NE 46. 24-S.Gilmore for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 10:45 · MIA 15 · Score 30-0
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.
9. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 9:13 · NE 38 · Score 36-0
   (9:13) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 14-R.Fitzpatrick pass short left intended for 27-K.Ballage INTERCEPTED by 58-J.Collins at NE 31. 58-J.Collins for 69 yards, TOUCHDOW
10. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 8:57 · MIA 15 · Score 37-0
    3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-7-J.Bailey.
11. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 2:15 · MIA 10 · Score 43-0
    (2:15) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 28-J.White for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.