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Buffalo Bills

HC Sean McDermott
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Miami Dolphins

HC Adam Gase
Sunday 2017-12-31 · 16:25 Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens US ☀️ Clear Spread -2.5 O/U 41.5

Win Probability

BUF
37.9%
MIA
62.1%
☀️ Clear

Confidence: <strong>clear edge</strong> Bands are honesty-checked against held-out seasons, not a feeling about this game — see the <a href="/track-record">full track record</a>.

Key Insights

  • BUF offense: -0.196 EPA/play over its last 8 games (32nd in the league)
  • MIA offense: -0.107 EPA/play over its last 8 games (25th in the league)
  • MIA defense: +0.042 EPA/play allowed over its last 8 games (26th in the league)
  • BUF defense: +0.072 EPA/play allowed over its last 8 games (31st in the league)
  • Jay Cutler (MIA) has only 1 prior start in the data — thin sample
  • QB edge to BUF: Jay Cutler (MIA) -0.025 vs Tyrod Taylor (BUF) -0.006 EPA/dropback

Predicted Final Score

BUF 20
MIA 23
Projected margin: MIA by 3 Projected total: 43

Typical error on unseen games: ±10.2 pts on margin, ±10.7 pts on total (held-out 2025). Treat this as a range, not a prediction to the point — see the <a href="/track-record">full track record</a>.

Injury Report — Week 17

BUF

Shareece Wright CB Out Concussion
Ryan Groy G Questionable Illness
Deonte Thompson WR Questionable Back

MIA

Laremy Tunsil T Doubtful Ankle
Matt Moore QB Doubtful Foot
Damien Williams RB Doubtful Shoulder
Michael Thomas S Questionable Not Injury Related
Cameron Wake DE Questionable Illness
MarQueis Gray TE Questionable Hip
Charles Harris DE Questionable Thigh
Neville Hewitt LB Questionable Hamstring
DeVante Parker WR Questionable Ankle
Alterraun Verner CB Questionable Hamstring
T.J. McDonald S Questionable Shoulder

Pulled fresh for 2017 week 17 specifically, not a cached snapshot — this changes every week as new reports come in.

Actual Result

BUF 22
MIA 16

Prediction missed by 9 pts on margin, 5 pts on total.

Scoring Summary

  • Q1 10:20 TD BUF (10:20) 5-T.Taylor pass deep right to 84-N.O'Leary for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN. BUF 6 – MIA 0
  • Q2 14:50 FG BUF (14:50) (Field Goal formation) 4-S.Hauschka 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt. BUF 10 – MIA 0
  • Q3 10:21 FG BUF (10:21) (Field Goal formation) 4-S.Hauschka 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt. BUF 13 – MIA 0
  • Q3 07:10 TD BUF (7:10) 95-K.Williams and 72-R.Groy reported in as eligible. 95-K.Williams up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. BUF 19 – MIA 0
  • Q3 02:34 FG MIA (2:34) (Field Goal formation) 1-C.Parkey 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-16-M.Haack. BUF 19 – MIA 3
  • Q4 11:45 FG BUF (11:45) (Field Goal formation) 4-S.Hauschka 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt. BUF 22 – MIA 3
  • Q4 06:21 TD MIA (6:21) (Shotgun) 9-D.Fales pass short middle to 14-J.Landry for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on MIA-14-J.Landry, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs. Penalty on MIA-14-J.Landry, Disqualification, offsetting. Penalty on MIA-32-K.Drake, Disqualification, offsetting. Penalty on BUF-92-A.Washington, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, offsetting. Penalty on BUF-24-L.Johnson, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, offsetting. Penalty on MIA-14-J.Landry, Unnecessary Roughness, offsetting. Penalty on MIA-32-K.Drake, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, offsetting. Penalty on MIA-10-K.Stills, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, offsetting. The Replay Official reviewed the runner broke the plane ruling, and the play was Upheld. The ruling on the field stands. BUF 22 – MIA 9
  • Q4 02:00 TD MIA (2:00) (Shotgun) 9-D.Fales left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. BUF 22 – MIA 15

Fourth-Down Decisions

  • Q1 MIA 4th & 7 at the 72
    Chose PUNT ✓ matched the model
    p(convert) 39%

    (13:33) (Punt formation) 16-M.Haack punts 44 yards to BUF 28, Center-92-J.Denney, out of bounds.

  • Q1 MIA 4th & 7 at the 29
    Chose GO Model wanted KICK instead — cost +0.43 EP
    p(convert) 34% p(FG) 76%

    (7:27) (Shotgun) 9-D.Fales pass short left to 11-D.Parker to BUF 22 for 7 yards (23-M.Hyde).

  • Q1 MIA 4th & 3 at the 15
    Chose GO ✓ matched the model
    p(convert) 46% p(FG) 94%

    (4:41) (Shotgun) 9-D.Fales pass incomplete short right to 85-A.Derby (24-L.Johnson).

  • Q2 BUF 4th & 5 at the 5
    Chose KICK ✓ matched the model
    p(convert) 34% p(FG) 98%

    (14:50) (Field Goal formation) 4-S.Hauschka 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.

  • Q2 MIA 4th & 13 at the 81
    Chose PUNT ✓ matched the model
    p(convert) 31%

    (12:53) (Punt formation) 16-M.Haack punts 49 yards to BUF 32, Center-92-J.Denney. 15-B.Tate to BUF 32 for no gain (21-J.Lucas). PENALTY on BUF-24-L.Johnson, Illegal Use of Hands, 10 yards, enforced at BUF 32.

  • Q2 BUF 4th & 15 at the 48
    Chose PUNT ✓ matched the model
    p(convert) 24% p(FG) 28%

    (9:32) (Punt formation) 6-C.Schmidt punts 48 yards to end zone, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Touchback. PENALTY on BUF-69-R.Ferguson, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at MIA 20.

  • Q2 MIA 4th & 7 at the 54
    Chose PUNT ✓ matched the model
    p(convert) 37%

    (6:09) (Punt formation) 16-M.Haack punts 38 yards to BUF 16, Center-92-J.Denney, fair catch by 15-B.Tate.

  • Q2 BUF 4th & 6 at the 70
    Chose PUNT ✓ matched the model
    p(convert) 40%

    (2:16) (Punt formation) 6-C.Schmidt punts 50 yards to MIA 20, Center-69-R.Ferguson. 19-J.Grant to MIA 22 for 2 yards (30-L.Pitts).

  • Q2 MIA 4th & 1 at the 69
    Chose PUNT Model wanted GO instead — cost +1.00 EP
    p(convert) 70%

    (1:42) (Punt formation) 16-M.Haack punts 55 yards to BUF 14, Center-92-J.Denney. 15-B.Tate pushed ob at BUF 28 for 14 yards (16-M.Haack). PENALTY on BUF-44-D.Lacey, Illegal Block Above the Waist, 10 yards, enforced at BUF 28.

  • Q2 BUF 4th & 8 at the 42
    Chose PUNT Model wanted KICK instead — cost +0.42 EP
    p(convert) 32% p(FG) 43%

    (:22) (Punt formation) 6-C.Schmidt punts 40 yards to MIA 2, Center-69-R.Ferguson, downed by BUF-29-S.Thomas.

  • Q3 BUF 4th & 5 at the 31
    Chose KICK ✓ matched the model
    p(convert) 38% p(FG) 72%

    (10:21) (Field Goal formation) 4-S.Hauschka 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.

  • Q3 MIA 4th & 8 at the 37
    Chose GO ✓ matched the model
    p(convert) 33% p(FG) 57%

    (8:49) (Shotgun) 9-D.Fales pass incomplete short right. PENALTY on MIA-9-D.Fales, Intentional Grounding, 13 yards, enforced at BUF 37.

  • Q3 MIA 4th & 12 at the 18
    Chose KICK ✓ matched the model
    p(convert) 25% p(FG) 91%

    (2:34) (Field Goal formation) 1-C.Parkey 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-16-M.Haack.

  • Q4 BUF 4th & 1 at the 15
    Chose KICK Model wanted GO instead — cost +1.25 EP
    p(convert) 62% p(FG) 94%

    (11:45) (Field Goal formation) 4-S.Hauschka 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.

  • Q4 BUF 4th & 13 at the 70
    Chose PUNT ✓ matched the model
    p(convert) 28%

    (5:01) (Punt formation) 6-C.Schmidt punts 48 yards to MIA 22, Center-69-R.Ferguson. 19-J.Grant to MIA 32 for 10 yards (42-P.DiMarco; 50-R.Humber).