New England Patriots vs. New York Jets: 2005 Week 16 Recap

Game story

In Week 16 of the 2005 NFL season on 2005-12-26, the New England Patriots took care of business against the New York Jets, pulling away with a 31–21 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Brady (New England Patriots) paced the passing game, with +3.03 total EPA.

On the individual side, L. Coles (New York Jets) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +11.89 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-27.7% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New England Patriots changed the game: (4:31) 12-T.Brady pass intended for 87-D.Givens INTERCEPTED by 24-T.Law at NYJ 26. 24-T.Law for 74 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

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 L. Coles · New York Jets · Receiving · +11.89 total EPA · 5 snaps · +2.38 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Branch · New England Patriots · Receiving · +8.51 total EPA · 4 snaps · +2.13 EPA/play
3. 3 V. Testaverde · New York Jets · Passing · +6.34 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.91 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Brady · New England Patriots · Rushing · +5.17 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.72 EPA/play
5. 5 B. Watson · New England Patriots · Receiving · +4.40 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.20 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Cotchery · New York Jets · Receiving · +3.36 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.68 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Dillon · New England Patriots · Rushing · +3.16 total EPA · 27 snaps · +0.12 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Brady · New England Patriots · Passing · +3.03 total EPA · 35 snaps · +0.09 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 — M. Vrabel (T. Brady pass) (Q1 50:32)
• New York Jets — T. Law (Q1 49:31)
• New England Patriots — M. Vrabel (T. Brady pass) (Q2 36:11)
• New England Patriots — C. Dillon (Q2 30:41)
• New England Patriots — C. Dillon (Q3 20:43)
• New York Jets — L. Coles (B. Bollinger pass) (Q4 13:52)
• New York Jets — L. Coles (V. Testaverde pass) (Q4 2:17)

Field goals

• New England Patriots — A. Vinatieri (Q4 7:19)

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 NYJ 1 (Q1 50:32) — (5:32) 12-T.Brady pass to 50-M.Vrabel for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the NYJ 2 (Q1 50:27) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.; New York Jets found the end zone from the NYJ 31 (Q1 49:31) — (4:31) 12-T.Brady pass intended for 87-D.Givens INTERCEPTED by 24-T.Law at NYJ 26. 24-T.Law for 74 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Jets added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q1 49:18) — 1-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-7-B.Graham..

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 14–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the NYJ 2 (Q2 36:11) — (6:11) 12-T.Brady pass to 50-M.Vrabel for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the NYJ 2 (Q2 36:05) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the NYJ 1 (Q2 30:41) — (:41) 28-C.Dillon right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the NYJ 2 (Q2 30:37) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller..

The third quarter: New England Patriots won the period 7–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the NYJ 1 (Q3 20:43) — (5:43) 28-C.Dillon left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the NYJ 2 (Q3 20:36) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller..

The fourth quarter: New York Jets won the period 14–3. New York Jets found the end zone from the NE 11 (Q4 13:52) — (13:52) 5-B.Bollinger pass to 87-L.Coles for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Jets added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q4 13:52) — 1-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-7-B.Graham.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the NYJ 8 (Q4 7:19) — (7:19) 4-A.Vinatieri 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.; New York Jets found the end zone from the NE 27 (Q4 2:17) — (2:17) 16-V.Testaverde pass to 87-L.Coles for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Jets added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q4 2:10) — 1-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-7-B.Graham..

Turning points

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

• New England Patriots (Q1 49:31) — (4:31) 12-T.Brady pass intended for 87-D.Givens INTERCEPTED by 24-T.Law at NYJ 26. 24-T.Law for 74 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -27.7% · EPA -10.11]
• New York Jets (Q1 50:19) — (5:19) 5-B.Bollinger pass intended for 88-D.Jolley INTERCEPTED by 22-A.Samuel at NYJ 49. 22-A.Samuel to NYJ 34 for 15 yards (34-C.Houston). FUMBLES (34-C.Houston), RECOVERED by NYJ-34-C.Houston at NYJ [WPA -12.7% · EPA -5.07]
• New England Patriots (Q2 39:44) — (9:44) (Run formation) 28-C.Dillon left tackle to NYJ 39 for 2 yards (55-M.Brown). PENALTY on NYJ-70-L.Legree, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced at NYJ 41 - No Play. [WPA +9.1% · EPA +2.42]
• New England Patriots (Q1 54:45) — (9:45) 12-T.Brady up the middle to NYJ 41 for 2 yards (93-J.Reed). [WPA +8.3% · EPA +2.40]
• New York Jets (Q2 35:59) — (5:59) 5-B.Bollinger sacked at NYJ 23 for -10 yards (50-M.Vrabel). Penalty on NYJ-78-J.Goodwin, Face Mask (15 Yards), declined. [WPA -5.5% · EPA -1.57]

Impact plays

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

• New England Patriots (Q1 49:31) — (4:31) 12-T.Brady pass intended for 87-D.Givens INTERCEPTED by 24-T.Law at NYJ 26. 24-T.Law for 74 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -27.7% · EPA -10.11]
• New York Jets (Q1 50:19) — (5:19) 5-B.Bollinger pass intended for 88-D.Jolley INTERCEPTED by 22-A.Samuel at NYJ 49. 22-A.Samuel to NYJ 34 for 15 yards (34-C.Houston). FUMBLES (34-C.Houston), RECOVERED by NYJ-34-C.Houston at NYJ [WPA -12.7% · EPA -5.07]
• New York Jets (Q4 2:17) — (2:17) 16-V.Testaverde pass to 87-L.Coles for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +0.4% · EPA +4.80]
• New York Jets (Q4 13:52) — (13:52) 5-B.Bollinger pass to 87-L.Coles for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +2.1% · EPA +4.10]

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) · 35 dropbacks · 51.4% completion · +0.09 EPA/play · +3.03 total EPA
• B.Bollinger (New York Jets) · 26 dropbacks · 42.3% completion · -0.34 EPA/play · -8.79 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 (+0.09 vs -0.08), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• New England Patriots: 11 drives, +8.77 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• New York Jets: 10 drives, -4.91 total EPA, 2 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.
• L. Coles (New York Jets) 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 50:32 · NYJ 1 · Score 6-0
   (5:32) 12-T.Brady pass to 50-M.Vrabel for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q1 50:27 · NYJ 2 · Score 7-0
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.
3. New York Jets TD (+6) — Q1 49:31 · NYJ 31 · Score 7-6
   (4:31) 12-T.Brady pass intended for 87-D.Givens INTERCEPTED by 24-T.Law at NYJ 26. 24-T.Law for 74 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. New York Jets XP (+1) — Q1 49:18 · NE 2 · Score 7-7
   1-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-7-B.Graham.
5. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 36:11 · NYJ 2 · Score 13-7
   (6:11) 12-T.Brady pass to 50-M.Vrabel for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 36:05 · NYJ 2 · Score 14-7
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.
7. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 30:41 · NYJ 1 · Score 20-7
   (:41) 28-C.Dillon right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
8. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 30:37 · NYJ 2 · Score 21-7
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.
9. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 20:43 · NYJ 1 · Score 27-7
   (5:43) 28-C.Dillon left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
10. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 20:36 · NYJ 2 · Score 28-7
    4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.
11. New York Jets TD (+6) — Q4 13:52 · NE 11 · Score 28-13
    (13:52) 5-B.Bollinger pass to 87-L.Coles for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. New York Jets XP (+1) — Q4 13:52 · NE 2 · Score 28-14
    1-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-7-B.Graham.
13. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q4 7:19 · NYJ 8 · Score 31-14
    (7:19) 4-A.Vinatieri 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-J.Miller.
14. New York Jets TD (+6) — Q4 2:17 · NE 27 · Score 31-20
    (2:17) 16-V.Testaverde pass to 87-L.Coles for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. New York Jets XP (+1) — Q4 2:10 · NE 2 · Score 31-21
    1-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dearth, Holder-7-B.Graham.