New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins: 2024 Week 12 Recap

Game story

In Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season on 2024-11-24, the Miami Dolphins took care of business against the New England Patriots, pulling away with a 34–15 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 30 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Maye (New England Patriots) paced the passing game, with -10.93 total EPA, and -5.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +13.66 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-8.6% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New England Patriots changed the game: (3:13) 13-J.Slye 45 yard field goal is No Good, Hit Right Upright, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer.

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 · +13.66 total EPA · 43 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Waddle · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +11.34 total EPA · 9 snaps · +1.26 EPA/play
3. 3 A. Hooper · New England Patriots · Receiving · +7.88 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.97 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Smith · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +5.20 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Achane · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +5.06 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.26 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Hill · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +2.36 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.39 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Douglas · New England Patriots · Receiving · +1.68 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.24 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Hasty · New England Patriots · Rushing · +1.13 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.13 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

• Miami Dolphins — J. Smith (T. Tagovailoa pass) (Q2 44:16)
• Miami Dolphins — D. Achane (T. Tagovailoa pass) (Q2 37:55)
• Miami Dolphins — D. Achane (T. Tagovailoa pass) (Q2 31:55)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Waddle (T. Tagovailoa pass) (Q3 16:44)
• New England Patriots — A. Hooper (D. Maye pass) (Q4 13:54)
• New England Patriots — J. Wright (Q4 10:22)

Field goals

• Miami Dolphins — J. Sanders (Q2 30:05)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Sanders (Q4 3:38)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Sanders (Q4 3:33)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The second quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 30–0. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NE 7 (Q2 44:16) — (14:16) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short middle to 9-J.Smith for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q2 44:10) — 7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Addington, Holder-16-J.Bailey.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NE 9 (Q2 37:55) — (7:55) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short left to 28-D.Achane for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q2 37:50) — 7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Addington, Holder-16-J.Bailey.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NE 11 (Q2 31:55) — (1:55) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short right to 28-D.Achane for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NE 15 (Q2 31:50) — 7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Addington, Holder-16-J.Bailey. ** Injury Update: NE-16-S.Takitaki has returned to the game.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the NE 3 (Q2 30:05) — (:05) 7-J.Sanders 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Addington, Holder-16-J.Bailey..

The third quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 7–0. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the NE 23 (Q3 16:44) — (1:44) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short middle to 17-J.Waddle for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q3 16:37) — 7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Addington, Holder-16-J.Bailey..

The fourth quarter: New England Patriots won the period 15–6. New England Patriots found the end zone from the MIA 38 (Q4 13:54) — (13:54) (Shotgun) 10-D.Maye pass deep middle to 81-A.Hooper for 38 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q4 13:43) — 13-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the NE 34 (Q4 10:22); New England Patriots registered a safety from the MIA 2 (Q4 10:10); Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the NE 33 (Q4 3:38) — (3:38) 7-J.Sanders 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Addington, Holder-16-J.Bailey.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the MIA 35 (Q4 3:33) — 7-J.Sanders kicks 65 yards from MIA 35 to end zone, Touchback to the NE 30..

Turning points

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

• New England Patriots (Q1 48:13) — (3:13) 13-J.Slye 45 yard field goal is No Good, Hit Right Upright, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer. [WPA -8.6% · EPA -3.91]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 44:16) — (14:16) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short middle to 9-J.Smith for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.7% · EPA +2.81]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 47:28) — (2:28) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short right to 17-J.Waddle pushed ob at NE 29 for 24 yards (31-J.Jones). [WPA +6.2% · EPA +1.39]
• New England Patriots (Q1 52:24) — (7:24) (Shotgun) 10-D.Maye pass short right to 4-A.Gibson pushed ob at 50 for 14 yards (21-J.Poyer). [WPA +5.9% · EPA +1.65]
• New England Patriots (Q1 49:05) — (4:05) (Shotgun) 10-D.Maye pass incomplete deep right to 81-A.Hooper (6-A.Walker). PENALTY on NE-75-D.Jacobs, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at MIA 20 - No Play. Penalty on NE-81-A.Hooper, Offe [WPA -4.4% · EPA -1.14]

Impact plays

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

• Miami Dolphins (Q4 10:22) — (10:22) (Shotgun) 25-J.Wright up the middle to NE 37 for -3 yards (15-M.Mapu). FUMBLES (15-M.Mapu), RECOVERED by NE-0-C.Gonzalez at NE 37. 0-C.Gonzalez for 63 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -0.6% · EPA -10.22]
• New England Patriots (Q4 13:54) — (13:54) (Shotgun) 10-D.Maye pass deep middle to 81-A.Hooper for 38 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +0.0% · EPA +7.26]
• New England Patriots (Q3 17:27) — (2:27) (Shotgun) 10-D.Maye sacked at NE 36 for -14 yards (92-Z.Sieler). FUMBLES (92-Z.Sieler) [92-Z.Sieler], RECOVERED by MIA-20-J.Brooks at NE 37. 20-J.Brooks to NE 25 for 12 yards (74-M.Jordan). [WPA -0.4% · EPA -6.16]
• New England Patriots (Q4 5:19) — (5:19) (Shotgun) 10-D.Maye pass short right intended for 4-A.Gibson INTERCEPTED by 11-T.Dodson at MIA 46. 11-T.Dodson to MIA 46 for no gain (4-A.Gibson). [WPA -1.5% · EPA -4.74]

Quarterback report card

D.Maye led all passers in efficiency for New England Patriots, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Maye (New England Patriots) · 51 dropbacks · 43.1% completion · -5.9% CPOE · -0.21 EPA/play · -10.93 total EPA
• T.Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins) · 43 dropbacks · 67.4% completion · +3.4% CPOE · +0.32 EPA/play · +13.66 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 -0.20), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Miami Dolphins: 13 drives, +2.59 total EPA, 7 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 13 drives, -18.01 total EPA, 1 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.
• D. Maye (NE) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• T. Tagovailoa (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 TD (+6) — Q2 44:16 · NE 7 · Score 0-6
   (14:16) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short middle to 9-J.Smith for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q2 44:10 · NE 15 · Score 0-7
   7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Addington, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
3. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 37:55 · NE 9 · Score 0-13
   (7:55) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short left to 28-D.Achane for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q2 37:50 · NE 15 · Score 0-14
   7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Addington, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
5. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 31:55 · NE 11 · Score 0-20
   (1:55) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short right to 28-D.Achane for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Miami Dolphins TD (+7) — Q2 31:50 · NE 15 · Score 0-21
   7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Addington, Holder-16-J.Bailey. ** Injury Update: NE-16-S.Takitaki has returned to the game.
7. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q2 30:05 · NE 3 · Score 0-24
   (:05) 7-J.Sanders 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Addington, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
8. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q3 16:44 · NE 23 · Score 0-30
   (1:44) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short middle to 17-J.Waddle for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q3 16:37 · NE 15 · Score 0-31
   7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Addington, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
10. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 13:54 · MIA 38 · Score 6-31
    (13:54) (Shotgun) 10-D.Maye pass deep middle to 81-A.Hooper for 38 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 13:43 · MIA 15 · Score 7-31
    13-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer.
12. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 10:22 · NE 34 · Score 13-31
    (10:22) (Shotgun) 25-J.Wright up the middle to NE 37 for -3 yards (15-M.Mapu). FUMBLES (15-M.Mapu), RECOVERED by NE-0-C.Gonzalez at NE 37. 0-C.Gonzalez for 63 y
13. New England Patriots Safety (+2) — Q4 10:10 · MIA 2 · Score 15-31
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 10-D.Maye pass to 38-R.Stevenson is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS. Caught by 9-K.Boutte. Lateraled to 38-R.Stevenson
14. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q4 3:38 · NE 33 · Score 15-34
    (3:38) 7-J.Sanders 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Addington, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
15. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q4 3:33 · MIA 35 · Score 15-34
    7-J.Sanders kicks 65 yards from MIA 35 to end zone, Touchback to the NE 30.