Atlanta Falcons vs. Dallas Cowboys: 2021 Week 10 Recap

Game story

In Week 10 of the 2021 NFL season on 2021-11-14, the Dallas Cowboys took care of business against the Atlanta Falcons, pulling away with a 43–3 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 29 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with +27.45 total EPA, and +10.7% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +27.45 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+10.6% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (:19) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short right to 88-C.Lamb to ATL 12 for 21 yards (24-A.Terrell).

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 D. Prescott · Dallas Cowboys · Passing · +27.45 total EPA · 34 snaps · +0.81 EPA/play
2. 2 C. Lamb · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +11.65 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.66 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Gallup · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +4.21 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.84 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Cooper · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +3.82 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.96 EPA/play
5. 5 W. Gallman · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.29 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.65 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Pollard · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +1.21 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.17 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Lamb · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +1.07 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.07 EPA/play
8. 8 N. Brown · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +1.00 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.00 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

• Dallas Cowboys — C. Lamb (D. Prescott pass) (Q1 56:48)
• Dallas Cowboys — E. Elliott (Q2 43:27)
• Dallas Cowboys — E. Elliott (Q2 38:12)
• Dallas Cowboys — C. Lamb (D. Prescott pass) (Q2 31:15)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Colquitt (Q2 30:44)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Prescott (Q3 15:38)

Field goals

• Atlanta Falcons — Y. Koo (Q1 53:27)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 7–3. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the ATL 13 (Q1 56:48) — (11:48) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left to 88-C.Lamb for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the ATL 15 (Q1 56:42) — 3-L.Hajrullahu extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.McQuaide, Holder-5-B.Anger.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the DAL 17 (Q1 53:27) — (8:27) 7-Y.Koo 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-12-D.Colquitt..

The second quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 29–0. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the ATL 1 (Q2 43:27) — (13:27) 21-E.Elliott up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the ATL 15 (Q2 43:24) — 3-L.Hajrullahu extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.McQuaide, Holder-5-B.Anger.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the ATL 2 (Q2 38:12) — (8:12) 21-E.Elliott left guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the ATL 15 (Q2 38:07) — 3-L.Hajrullahu extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.McQuaide, Holder-5-B.Anger.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the ATL 9 (Q2 31:15) — (1:15) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left to 88-C.Lamb for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN [93-J.Vaughters].; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the ATL 15 (Q2 31:10) — 3-L.Hajrullahu extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.McQuaide, Holder-5-B.Anger.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the DAL 83 (Q2 30:44) — (:44) 12-D.Colquitt punt is BLOCKED by 92-D.Armstrong, Center-47-J.Harris, RECOVERED by DAL-25-N.Wright at ATL -1. TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys registered a safety from the ATL 1 (Q2 30:37) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 21-E.Elliott rushes up the middle. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..

The third quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 7–0. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the ATL 4 (Q3 15:38) — (:38) 4-D.Prescott scrambles left end for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the ATL 15 (Q3 15:31) — 3-L.Hajrullahu extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.McQuaide, Holder-5-B.Anger..

Turning points

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 45:19) — (:19) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short right to 88-C.Lamb to ATL 12 for 21 yards (24-A.Terrell). [WPA +10.6% · EPA +3.70]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 59:24) — (14:24) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left to 88-C.Lamb pushed ob at ATL 33 for 37 yards (21-D.Harmon). [WPA +9.3% · EPA +2.72]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 49:12) — (4:12) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass incomplete short right to 14-R.Gage (26-J.Lewis). [WPA -6.0% · EPA -3.50]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 56:48) — (11:48) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left to 88-C.Lamb for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +5.8% · EPA +2.72]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 50:39) — (5:39) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short middle to 84-C.Patterson to DAL 35 for 14 yards (30-A.Brown; 42-K.Neal). [WPA +5.7% · EPA +0.97]

Impact plays

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 30:44) — (:44) 12-D.Colquitt punt is BLOCKED by 92-D.Armstrong, Center-47-J.Harris, RECOVERED by DAL-25-N.Wright at ATL -1. TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -3.5% · EPA -6.41]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 21:40) — (6:40) 21-E.Elliott left tackle to ATL 18 for 7 yards (27-R.Grant). FUMBLES (27-R.Grant), RECOVERED by ATL-22-F.Moreau at ATL 15. Penalty on DAL-52-C.Williams, Offensive Holding, declined. [WPA -0.0% · EPA -4.86]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q3 20:34) — (5:34) 2-M.Ryan pass deep left intended for 8-K.Pitts INTERCEPTED by 7-T.Diggs at ATL 47. 7-T.Diggs to ATL 47 for no gain (8-K.Pitts). [WPA -0.0% · EPA -4.55]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q3 24:54) — (9:54) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short right intended for 17-O.Zaccheaus INTERCEPTED by 30-A.Brown at DAL 30. 30-A.Brown to DAL 30 for no gain (17-O.Zaccheaus). [WPA -0.0% · EPA -4.30]

Quarterback report card

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

• D.Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) · 34 dropbacks · 70.6% completion · +10.7% CPOE · +0.81 EPA/play · +27.45 total EPA
• M.Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) · 23 dropbacks · 39.1% completion · -23.5% CPOE · -0.65 EPA/play · -14.91 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Dallas Cowboys held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.12 vs -0.48), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Atlanta Falcons: 12 drives, -32.90 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• Dallas Cowboys: 12 drives, +11.36 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Dallas Cowboys leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• D. Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Prescott (DAL) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• M. Ryan (ATL) 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. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q1 56:48 · ATL 13 · Score 0-6
   (11:48) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left to 88-C.Lamb for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q1 56:42 · ATL 15 · Score 0-7
   3-L.Hajrullahu extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.McQuaide, Holder-5-B.Anger.
3. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q1 53:27 · DAL 17 · Score 3-7
   (8:27) 7-Y.Koo 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-12-D.Colquitt.
4. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 43:27 · ATL 1 · Score 3-13
   (13:27) 21-E.Elliott up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 43:24 · ATL 15 · Score 3-14
   3-L.Hajrullahu extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.McQuaide, Holder-5-B.Anger.
6. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 38:12 · ATL 2 · Score 3-20
   (8:12) 21-E.Elliott left guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 38:07 · ATL 15 · Score 3-21
   3-L.Hajrullahu extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.McQuaide, Holder-5-B.Anger.
8. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 31:15 · ATL 9 · Score 3-27
   (1:15) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left to 88-C.Lamb for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN [93-J.Vaughters].
9. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 31:10 · ATL 15 · Score 3-28
   3-L.Hajrullahu extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.McQuaide, Holder-5-B.Anger.
10. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 30:44 · DAL 83 · Score 3-34
    (:44) 12-D.Colquitt punt is BLOCKED by 92-D.Armstrong, Center-47-J.Harris, RECOVERED by DAL-25-N.Wright at ATL -1. TOUCHDOWN.
11. Dallas Cowboys Safety (+2) — Q2 30:37 · ATL 1 · Score 3-36
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 21-E.Elliott rushes up the middle. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
12. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q3 15:38 · ATL 4 · Score 3-42
    (:38) 4-D.Prescott scrambles left end for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q3 15:31 · ATL 15 · Score 3-43
    3-L.Hajrullahu extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.McQuaide, Holder-5-B.Anger.