Arizona Cardinals vs. Dallas Cowboys: 2020 Week 6 Recap

Game story

In Week 6 of the 2020 NFL season on 2020-10-19, the Arizona Cardinals took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 38–10 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 24 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

A. Dalton (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with -7.36 total EPA, and -4.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, K. Drake (Arizona Cardinals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.45 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-10.2% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (2:44) (Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton pass short middle to 21-E.Elliott to ARI 49 for no gain (32-B.Baker). FUMBLES (32-B.Baker), RECOVERED by ARI-97-J.Phillips at ARI 46.

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 K. Drake · Arizona Cardinals · Rushing · +9.45 total EPA · 20 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play
2. 2 C. Kirk · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +7.63 total EPA · 3 snaps · +2.54 EPA/play
3. 3 K. Murray · Arizona Cardinals · Rushing · +5.94 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.74 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Cooper · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +4.52 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.45 EPA/play
5. 5 K. Murray · Arizona Cardinals · Passing · +4.41 total EPA · 29 snaps · +0.15 EPA/play
6. 6 N. Brown · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +3.76 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.88 EPA/play
7. 7 L. Fitzgerald · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +2.10 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.52 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Hopkins · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +1.64 total EPA · 8 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

• Arizona Cardinals — C. Kirk (K. Murray pass) (Q2 43:04)
• Arizona Cardinals — K. Drake (Q2 40:35)
• Arizona Cardinals — C. Kirk (K. Murray pass) (Q2 34:53)
• Arizona Cardinals — K. Murray (Q3 22:58)
• Dallas Cowboys — A. Cooper (A. Dalton pass) (Q4 2:52)
• Arizona Cardinals — K. Drake (Q4 2:00)

Field goals

• Dallas Cowboys — G. Zuerlein (Q2 30:13)
• Arizona Cardinals — Z. Gonzalez (Q4 8:58)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The second quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 21–3. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the DAL 6 (Q2 43:04) — (13:04) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short middle to 13-C.Kirk for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Short shovel pass to Kirk in the backfield; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q2 42:58) — 5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the DAL 1 (Q2 40:35) — (10:35) (Shotgun) 41-K.Drake up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q2 40:31) — 5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the DAL 80 (Q2 34:53) — (4:53) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass deep right to 13-C.Kirk for 80 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q2 34:43) — 5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the ARI 16 (Q2 30:13) — (:13) 2-G.Zuerlein 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..

The third quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 7–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the DAL 1 (Q3 22:58) — (7:58) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q3 22:53) — 5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The fourth quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 10–7. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the DAL 8 (Q4 8:58) — (8:58) 5-Z.Gonzalez 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the ARI 1 (Q4 2:52) — (2:52) 14-A.Dalton pass short left to 19-A.Cooper for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN [97-J.Phillips].; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q4 2:48) — 2-G.Zuerlein extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the DAL 69 (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) 41-K.Drake up the middle for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q4 1:49) — 5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee..

Turning points

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 47:44) — (2:44) (Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton pass short middle to 21-E.Elliott to ARI 49 for no gain (32-B.Baker). FUMBLES (32-B.Baker), RECOVERED by ARI-97-J.Phillips at ARI 46. [WPA -10.2% · EPA -4.89]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 42:19) — (12:19) 21-E.Elliott left tackle to DAL 28 for 2 yards (97-J.Phillips). FUMBLES (97-J.Phillips), RECOVERED by ARI-33-B.Murphy at DAL 30. 33-B.Murphy to DAL 27 for 3 yards (86-D.Schultz; 52-C.Williams) [WPA -10.1% · EPA -5.12]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 44:10) — (14:10) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray left end ran ob at DAL 7 for 11 yards (25-X.Woods). [WPA +8.1% · EPA +2.13]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 47:27) — (2:27) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray scrambles left end to DAL 44 for 10 yards (54-J.Smith). [WPA +6.8% · EPA +2.03]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 41:26) — (11:26) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short left to 11-L.Fitzgerald pushed ob at DAL 17 for 11 yards (30-A.Brown). Injury update: Zack Martin is in concussion protocol; his return is questionable. [WPA +6.3% · EPA +2.04]

Impact plays

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) 41-K.Drake up the middle for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +0.1% · EPA +6.76]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 34:53) — (4:53) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass deep right to 13-C.Kirk for 80 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +3.5% · EPA +6.31]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 13:20) — (13:20) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton pass short right intended for 19-A.Cooper INTERCEPTED by 32-B.Baker at ARI 10. 32-B.Baker to DAL 39 for 51 yards (14-A.Dalton; 21-E.Elliott). The Replay Offici [WPA -0.4% · EPA -5.14]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 42:19) — (12:19) 21-E.Elliott left tackle to DAL 28 for 2 yards (97-J.Phillips). FUMBLES (97-J.Phillips), RECOVERED by ARI-33-B.Murphy at DAL 30. 33-B.Murphy to DAL 27 for 3 yards (86-D.Schultz; 52-C.Williams) [WPA -10.1% · EPA -5.12]

Quarterback report card

A.Dalton led all passers in efficiency for Dallas Cowboys, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• A.Dalton (Dallas Cowboys) · 64 dropbacks · 53.1% completion · -4.6% CPOE · -0.11 EPA/play · -7.36 total EPA
• K.Murray (Arizona Cardinals) · 29 dropbacks · 31.0% completion · -24.5% CPOE · +0.15 EPA/play · +4.41 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Arizona Cardinals generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.23 vs -0.17), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Arizona Cardinals: 11 drives, +17.82 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Dallas Cowboys: 11 drives, -17.94 total EPA, 2 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Arizona Cardinals leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• K. Drake (Arizona Cardinals) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• A. Dalton (DAL) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• K. Murray (ARI) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 43:04 · DAL 6 · Score 6-0
   (13:04) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short middle to 13-C.Kirk for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Short shovel pass to Kirk in the backfield
2. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 42:58 · DAL 15 · Score 7-0
   5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee.
3. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 40:35 · DAL 1 · Score 13-0
   (10:35) (Shotgun) 41-K.Drake up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 40:31 · DAL 15 · Score 14-0
   5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee.
5. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 34:53 · DAL 80 · Score 20-0
   (4:53) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass deep right to 13-C.Kirk for 80 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 34:43 · DAL 15 · Score 21-0
   5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee.
7. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q2 30:13 · ARI 16 · Score 21-3
   (:13) 2-G.Zuerlein 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
8. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q3 22:58 · DAL 1 · Score 27-3
   (7:58) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q3 22:53 · DAL 15 · Score 28-3
   5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee.
10. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q4 8:58 · DAL 8 · Score 31-3
    (8:58) 5-Z.Gonzalez 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee.
11. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 2:52 · ARI 1 · Score 31-9
    (2:52) 14-A.Dalton pass short left to 19-A.Cooper for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN [97-J.Phillips].
12. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q4 2:48 · ARI 15 · Score 31-10
    2-G.Zuerlein extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
13. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 2:00 · DAL 69 · Score 37-10
    (2:00) 41-K.Drake up the middle for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q4 1:49 · DAL 15 · Score 38-10
    5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee.