New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins: 2023 Week 8 Recap

Game story

In Week 8 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-10-29, the Miami Dolphins took care of business against the New England Patriots, pulling away with a 31–17 final that built a comfortable lead.

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

T. Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins) paced the passing game, with +16.05 total EPA, and -0.7% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +16.05 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-17.8% win probability) landed in the second quarter when New England Patriots changed the game: (2:00) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short left intended for 84-K.Bourne INTERCEPTED by 5-J.Ramsey [43-A.Van Ginkel] at MIA 11. 5-J.Ramsey ran ob at NE 40 for 49 yards (81-D.Douglas).

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. Tagovailoa · Miami Dolphins · Passing · +16.05 total EPA · 51 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Waddle · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +10.24 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.85 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Hill · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +4.77 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.37 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Smith-Schuster · New England Patriots · Receiving · +4.10 total EPA · 1 snaps · +4.10 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Smythe · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +2.85 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.95 EPA/play
6. 6 P. Brown · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.76 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.38 EPA/play
7. 7 H. Henry · New England Patriots · Receiving · +1.40 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play
8. 8 C. Wilson · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +0.89 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.89 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 — K. Bourne (M. Jones pass) (Q1 48:39)
• Miami Dolphins — T. Hill (T. Tagovailoa pass) (Q1 45:28)
• Miami Dolphins — C. Wilson (T. Tagovailoa pass) (Q2 36:14)
• Miami Dolphins — R. Mostert (Q3 22:38)
• New England Patriots — J. Smith-Schuster (M. Jones pass) (Q4 8:33)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Waddle (T. Tagovailoa pass) (Q4 2:49)

Field goals

• Miami Dolphins — J. Sanders (Q2 30:29)
• New England Patriots — C. Ryland (Q3 27:49)

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 24 (Q1 48:39) — (3:39) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short middle to 84-K.Bourne for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q1 48:32) — 37-C.Ryland extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NE 42 (Q1 45:28) — (:28) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass deep left to 10-T.Hill for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q1 45:22) — 7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey..

The second quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 10–0. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NE 1 (Q2 36:14) — (6:14) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short middle to 11-C.Wilson for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q2 36:10) — 7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the NE 12 (Q2 30:29) — (:29) 7-J.Sanders 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey..

The third quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 7–3. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the MIA 20 (Q3 27:49) — (12:49) 37-C.Ryland 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NE 1 (Q3 22:38) — (7:38) (Shotgun) 31-R.Mostert left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q3 22:35) — 7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey..

The fourth quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 13–7. New England Patriots found the end zone from the MIA 3 (Q4 8:33) — (8:33) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short right to 7-J.Smith-Schuster for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q4 8:30) — 37-C.Ryland extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NE 31 (Q4 2:49) — (2:49) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass deep middle to 17-J.Waddle for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NE 15 (Q4 2:43) — 7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey..

Turning points

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

• New England Patriots (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short left intended for 84-K.Bourne INTERCEPTED by 5-J.Ramsey [43-A.Van Ginkel] at MIA 11. 5-J.Ramsey ran ob at NE 40 for 49 yards (81-D.Douglas). [WPA -17.8% · EPA -6.82]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 45:28) — (:28) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass deep left to 10-T.Hill for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +14.5% · EPA +4.19]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 41:14) — (11:14) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa scrambles up the middle to NE 34 for 8 yards (23-K.Dugger; 48-Ja.Tavai). [WPA +12.2% · EPA +3.29]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 49:37) — (4:37) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short right intended for 10-T.Hill INTERCEPTED by 23-K.Dugger at MIA 45. 23-K.Dugger pushed ob at MIA 30 for 15 yards (10-T.Hill). [WPA -12.0% · EPA -3.85]
• Miami Dolphins (Q3 30:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa FUMBLES (Aborted) at MIA 19, touched at MIA 21, RECOVERED by NE-33-A.Jennings at MIA 19. [WPA -11.4% · EPA -6.11]

Impact plays

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

• New England Patriots (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short left intended for 84-K.Bourne INTERCEPTED by 5-J.Ramsey [43-A.Van Ginkel] at MIA 11. 5-J.Ramsey ran ob at NE 40 for 49 yards (81-D.Douglas). [WPA -17.8% · EPA -6.82]
• Miami Dolphins (Q3 30:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa FUMBLES (Aborted) at MIA 19, touched at MIA 21, RECOVERED by NE-33-A.Jennings at MIA 19. [WPA -11.4% · EPA -6.11]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 45:28) — (:28) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass deep left to 10-T.Hill for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +14.5% · EPA +4.19]
• New England Patriots (Q4 8:33) — (8:33) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short right to 7-J.Smith-Schuster for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.5% · EPA +4.10]

Quarterback report card

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

• T.Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins) · 51 dropbacks · 58.8% completion · -0.7% CPOE · +0.31 EPA/play · +16.05 total EPA
• M.Jones (New England Patriots) · 33 dropbacks · 57.6% completion · -0.7% CPOE · -0.29 EPA/play · -9.64 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 (+0.03 vs -0.15), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Miami Dolphins: 11 drives, +2.28 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 11 drives, -10.65 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.
• T. Tagovailoa (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 48:39 · MIA 24 · Score 6-0
   (3:39) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short middle to 84-K.Bourne for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q1 48:32 · MIA 15 · Score 7-0
   37-C.Ryland extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer.
3. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q1 45:28 · NE 42 · Score 7-6
   (:28) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass deep left to 10-T.Hill for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q1 45:22 · NE 15 · Score 7-7
   7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
5. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 36:14 · NE 1 · Score 7-13
   (6:14) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short middle to 11-C.Wilson for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q2 36:10 · NE 15 · Score 7-14
   7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
7. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q2 30:29 · NE 12 · Score 7-17
   (:29) 7-J.Sanders 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
8. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q3 27:49 · MIA 20 · Score 10-17
   (12:49) 37-C.Ryland 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer.
9. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q3 22:38 · NE 1 · Score 10-23
   (7:38) (Shotgun) 31-R.Mostert left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q3 22:35 · NE 15 · Score 10-24
    7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
11. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 8:33 · MIA 3 · Score 16-24
    (8:33) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short right to 7-J.Smith-Schuster for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 8:30 · MIA 15 · Score 17-24
    37-C.Ryland extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer.
13. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q4 2:49 · NE 31 · Score 17-30
    (2:49) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass deep middle to 17-J.Waddle for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Miami Dolphins TD (+7) — Q4 2:43 · NE 15 · Score 17-31
    7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey.