New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks: 2014 Conf. Championship Recap

Game story

In the Conf. Championship of the 2014 NFL season on 2015-02-01, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Seattle Seahawks, pulling away with a 28–24 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 28 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Brady (New England Patriots) paced the passing game, with +14.64 total EPA, and +8.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Brady (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +14.64 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-57.3% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Seattle Seahawks changed the game: (:26) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short right intended for 83-R.Lockette INTERCEPTED by 21-M.Butler at NE -1. 21-M.Butler to NE 2 for 3 yards (83-R.Lockette). PENALTY on NE, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 1 y

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 · +14.64 total EPA · 53 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
2. 2 C. Matthews · Seattle Seahawks · Receiving · +11.29 total EPA · 5 snaps · +2.26 EPA/play
3. 3 R. Wilson · Seattle Seahawks · Passing · +7.13 total EPA · 26 snaps · +0.27 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Edelman · New England Patriots · Receiving · +5.48 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.46 EPA/play
5. 5 R. Gronkowski · New England Patriots · Receiving · +4.39 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.44 EPA/play
6. 6 S. Vereen · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.99 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.33 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Amendola · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.93 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
8. 8 B. LaFell · New England Patriots · Receiving · +1.43 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.20 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 — B. LaFell (T. Brady pass) (Q2 39:51)
• Seattle Seahawks — M. Lynch (Q2 32:22)
• New England Patriots — R. Gronkowski (T. Brady pass) (Q2 30:36)
• Seattle Seahawks — C. Matthews (R. Wilson pass) (Q2 30:06)
• Seattle Seahawks — D. Baldwin (R. Wilson pass) (Q3 20:00)
• New England Patriots — D. Amendola (T. Brady pass) (Q4 8:00)
• New England Patriots — J. Edelman (T. Brady pass) (Q4 2:06)

Field goals

• Seattle Seahawks — S. Hauschka (Q3 26:13)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The second quarter: The quarter finished even at 14–14. New England Patriots found the end zone from the SEA 11 (Q2 39:51) — (9:51) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 19-B.LaFell for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the SEA 2 (Q2 39:47) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.; Seattle Seahawks found the end zone from the NE 3 (Q2 32:22) — (2:22) (Shotgun) 24-M.Lynch right tackle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Seattle Seahawks added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q2 32:16) — 4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-49-C.Gresham, Holder-9-J.Ryan.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the SEA 22 (Q2 30:36) — (:36) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep right to 87-R.Gronkowski for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the SEA 2 (Q2 30:31) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.; Seattle Seahawks found the end zone from the NE 11 (Q2 30:06) — (:06) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short left to 13-C.Matthews for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Seattle Seahawks added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q2 30:02) — 4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-49-C.Gresham, Holder-9-J.Ryan..

The third quarter: Seattle Seahawks won the period 10–0. Seattle Seahawks connected on a field goal from the NE 8 (Q3 26:13) — (11:13) 4-S.Hauschka 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-C.Gresham, Holder-9-J.Ryan.; Seattle Seahawks found the end zone from the NE 3 (Q3 20:00); Seattle Seahawks added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q3 19:54) — 4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-49-C.Gresham, Holder-9-J.Ryan..

The fourth quarter: New England Patriots won the period 14–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the SEA 4 (Q4 8:00) — (8:00) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 80-D.Amendola for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the SEA 2 (Q4 7:55) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the SEA 3 (Q4 2:06) — (2:06) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 11-J.Edelman for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the SEA 2 (Q4 2:02) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen..

Turning points

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

• Seattle Seahawks (Q4 0:26) — (:26) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short right intended for 83-R.Lockette INTERCEPTED by 21-M.Butler at NE -1. 21-M.Butler to NE 2 for 3 yards (83-R.Lockette). PENALTY on NE, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 1 y [WPA -57.3% · EPA -5.54]
• Seattle Seahawks (Q4 1:14) — (1:14) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass deep right to 15-J.Kearse pushed ob at NE 5 for 33 yards (21-M.Butler). [WPA +23.8% · EPA +2.71]
• Seattle Seahawks (Q4 1:41) — (1:41) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short right to 83-R.Lockette to NE 38 for 11 yards (26-L.Ryan). [WPA +17.2% · EPA +1.38]
• New England Patriots (Q1 46:50) — (1:50) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short left intended for 11-J.Edelman INTERCEPTED by 20-J.Lane [72-M.Bennett] at SEA 0. 20-J.Lane pushed ob at SEA 14 for 14 yards (11-J.Edelman). SEA-20-J.Lane was inj [WPA -15.5% · EPA -4.20]
• New England Patriots (Q4 2:06) — (2:06) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 11-J.Edelman for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +12.2% · EPA +1.49]

Impact plays

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

• Seattle Seahawks (Q4 0:26) — (:26) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short right intended for 83-R.Lockette INTERCEPTED by 21-M.Butler at NE -1. 21-M.Butler to NE 2 for 3 yards (83-R.Lockette). PENALTY on NE, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 1 y [WPA -57.3% · EPA -5.54]
• Seattle Seahawks (Q2 30:06) — (:06) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short left to 13-C.Matthews for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +12.0% · EPA +4.35]
• New England Patriots (Q1 46:50) — (1:50) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short left intended for 11-J.Edelman INTERCEPTED by 20-J.Lane [72-M.Bennett] at SEA 0. 20-J.Lane pushed ob at SEA 14 for 14 yards (11-J.Edelman). SEA-20-J.Lane was inj [WPA -15.5% · EPA -4.20]
• Seattle Seahawks (Q3 28:48) — (13:48) 3-R.Wilson pass deep left to 13-C.Matthews pushed ob at NE 17 for 45 yards (32-D.McCourty). [WPA +9.0% · EPA +3.29]

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) · 53 dropbacks · 69.8% completion · +8.3% CPOE · +0.28 EPA/play · +14.64 total EPA
• R.Wilson (Seattle Seahawks) · 26 dropbacks · 46.2% completion · +12.2% CPOE · +0.27 EPA/play · +7.13 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (New England Patriots +0.14, Seattle Seahawks +0.10) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• New England Patriots: 12 drives, +12.36 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Seattle Seahawks: 11 drives, +7.33 total EPA, 4 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• 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. Wilson (SEA) 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. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 39:51 · SEA 11 · Score 6-0
   (9:51) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 19-B.LaFell for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 39:47 · SEA 2 · Score 7-0
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.
3. Seattle Seahawks TD (+6) — Q2 32:22 · NE 3 · Score 7-6
   (2:22) (Shotgun) 24-M.Lynch right tackle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Seattle Seahawks XP (+1) — Q2 32:16 · NE 2 · Score 7-7
   4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-49-C.Gresham, Holder-9-J.Ryan.
5. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 30:36 · SEA 22 · Score 13-7
   (:36) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep right to 87-R.Gronkowski for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 30:31 · SEA 2 · Score 14-7
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.
7. Seattle Seahawks TD (+6) — Q2 30:06 · NE 11 · Score 14-13
   (:06) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short left to 13-C.Matthews for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Seattle Seahawks XP (+1) — Q2 30:02 · NE 2 · Score 14-14
   4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-49-C.Gresham, Holder-9-J.Ryan.
9. Seattle Seahawks FG (+3) — Q3 26:13 · NE 8 · Score 14-17
   (11:13) 4-S.Hauschka 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-C.Gresham, Holder-9-J.Ryan.
10. Seattle Seahawks TD (+6) — Q3 20:00 · NE 3 · Score 14-23
    (5:00) 3-R.Wilson pass short right to 89-D.Baldwin for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on SEA-89-D.Baldwin, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between down
11. Seattle Seahawks XP (+1) — Q3 19:54 · NE 2 · Score 14-24
    4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-49-C.Gresham, Holder-9-J.Ryan.
12. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 8:00 · SEA 4 · Score 20-24
    (8:00) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 80-D.Amendola for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 7:55 · SEA 2 · Score 21-24
    3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.
14. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 2:06 · SEA 3 · Score 27-24
    (2:06) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 11-J.Edelman for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 2:02 · SEA 2 · Score 28-24
    3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-6-R.Allen.