Carolina Panthers vs. Dallas Cowboys: 2015 Week 12 Recap

Game story

In Week 12 of the 2015 NFL season on 2015-11-26, the Carolina Panthers took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 33–14 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 13 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Newton (Carolina Panthers) paced the passing game, with +3.44 total EPA, and -4.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Cotchery (Carolina Panthers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +8.39 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-18.5% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (14:15) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle intended for 82-J.Witten INTERCEPTED by 20-K.Coleman at DAL 36. 20-K.Coleman for 36 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 J. Cotchery · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +8.39 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.40 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Cassel · Dallas Cowboys · Passing · +5.29 total EPA · 23 snaps · +0.23 EPA/play
3. 3 C. Newton · Carolina Panthers · Passing · +3.44 total EPA · 33 snaps · +0.10 EPA/play
4. 4 C. Beasley · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +3.32 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play
5. 5 G. Olsen · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +3.06 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.34 EPA/play
6. 6 M. Tolbert · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +1.98 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.49 EPA/play
7. 7 D. McFadden · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +1.60 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.23 EPA/play
8. 8 R. Turbin · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +0.62 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.31 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

• Carolina Panthers — K. Coleman (Q1 59:15)
• Carolina Panthers — L. Kuechly (Q2 32:47)
• Carolina Panthers — C. Newton (Q3 15:25)
• Dallas Cowboys — C. Beasley (M. Cassel pass) (Q4 4:27)

Field goals

• Carolina Panthers — G. Gano (Q1 53:14)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q1 46:25)
• Carolina Panthers — G. Gano (Q2 33:32)
• Carolina Panthers — G. Gano (Q2 30:03)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q3 22:53)
• Carolina Panthers — G. Gano (Q4 10:27)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 10–3. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the CAR 76 (Q1 59:15); Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q1 59:01) — 9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the DAL 31 (Q1 53:14) — (8:14) (Field Goal formation) 9-G.Gano 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the CAR 3 (Q1 46:25) — (1:25) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..

The second quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 13–0. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the DAL 25 (Q2 33:32) — (3:32) (Field Goal formation) 9-G.Gano 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the CAR 83 (Q2 32:47); Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q2 32:36) — 9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the DAL 7 (Q2 30:03) — (:03) (Field Goal formation) 9-G.Gano 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman..

The third quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 7–3. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the CAR 30 (Q3 22:53) — (7:53) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the DAL 4 (Q3 15:25) — (:25) 1-C.Newton up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q3 15:18) — 9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman..

The fourth quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 8–3. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the DAL 32 (Q4 10:27) — (10:27) (Field Goal formation) 9-G.Gano 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the CAR 2 (Q4 4:27) — (4:27) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass short right to 11-C.Beasley for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys registered a safety from the CAR 2 (Q4 4:23) — (Pass formation) TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 16-M.Cassel pass to 20-D.McFadden is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..

Turning points

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 59:15) — (14:15) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle intended for 82-J.Witten INTERCEPTED by 20-K.Coleman at DAL 36. 20-K.Coleman for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -18.5% · EPA -7.09]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 32:47) — (2:47) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short right intended for 83-T.Williams INTERCEPTED by 59-L.Kuechly at DAL 32. 59-L.Kuechly for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -8.9% · EPA -7.13]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 57:35) — (12:35) (Punt formation) 6-C.Jones punts 50 yards to CAR 22, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, fair catch by 19-T.Ginn. [WPA +8.2% · EPA +0.27]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 45:33) — (:33) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep left to 88-G.Olsen to CAR 44 for 24 yards (39-B.Carr). Pass complete on a slant pattern. Dallas challenged the pass completion ruling, and the play was Upheld. The [WPA +8.1% · EPA +2.70]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 56:04) — (11:04) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep left to 82-J.Cotchery to DAL 49 for 24 yards (42-B.Church) [94-R.Gregory]. Pass complete on a seam route. [WPA +6.5% · EPA +2.66]

Impact plays

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 32:47) — (2:47) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short right intended for 83-T.Williams INTERCEPTED by 59-L.Kuechly at DAL 32. 59-L.Kuechly for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -8.9% · EPA -7.13]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 59:15) — (14:15) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle intended for 82-J.Witten INTERCEPTED by 20-K.Coleman at DAL 36. 20-K.Coleman for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -18.5% · EPA -7.09]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 32:36) — (2:36) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep middle intended for 82-J.Witten INTERCEPTED by 59-L.Kuechly at DAL 46. 59-L.Kuechly to DAL 29 for 17 yards (83-T.Williams). [WPA -4.2% · EPA -4.45]
• Carolina Panthers (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) (Field Goal formation) 9-G.Gano 43 yard field goal is BLOCKED (98-T.Crawford), Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman, RECOVERED by DAL-50-S.Lee at DAL 20. 50-S.Lee to CAR 45 for 35 yards (92-D [WPA +0.0% · EPA -3.65]

Quarterback report card

C.Newton led all passers in efficiency for Carolina Panthers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• C.Newton (Carolina Panthers) · 33 dropbacks · 48.5% completion · -4.2% CPOE · +0.10 EPA/play · +3.44 total EPA
• M.Cassel (Dallas Cowboys) · 23 dropbacks · 56.5% completion · +8.5% CPOE · +0.23 EPA/play · +5.29 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Carolina Panthers generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.05 vs -0.27), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Carolina Panthers: 11 drives, +4.59 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Dallas Cowboys: 10 drives, -19.36 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Carolina Panthers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• J. Cotchery (Carolina Panthers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• C. Newton (CAR) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• M. Cassel (DAL) 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. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q1 59:15 · CAR 76 · Score 6-0
   (14:15) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle intended for 82-J.Witten INTERCEPTED by 20-K.Coleman at DAL 36. 20-K.Coleman for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q1 59:01 · DAL 15 · Score 7-0
   9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
3. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q1 53:14 · DAL 31 · Score 10-0
   (8:14) (Field Goal formation) 9-G.Gano 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
4. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q1 46:25 · CAR 3 · Score 10-3
   (1:25) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
5. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q2 33:32 · DAL 25 · Score 13-3
   (3:32) (Field Goal formation) 9-G.Gano 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
6. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q2 32:47 · CAR 83 · Score 19-3
   (2:47) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short right intended for 83-T.Williams INTERCEPTED by 59-L.Kuechly at DAL 32. 59-L.Kuechly for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q2 32:36 · DAL 15 · Score 20-3
   9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
8. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q2 30:03 · DAL 7 · Score 23-3
   (:03) (Field Goal formation) 9-G.Gano 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
9. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q3 22:53 · CAR 30 · Score 23-6
   (7:53) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
10. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q3 15:25 · DAL 4 · Score 29-6
    (:25) 1-C.Newton up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q3 15:18 · DAL 15 · Score 30-6
    9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
12. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q4 10:27 · DAL 32 · Score 33-6
    (10:27) (Field Goal formation) 9-G.Gano 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
13. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 4:27 · CAR 2 · Score 33-12
    (4:27) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass short right to 11-C.Beasley for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Dallas Cowboys Safety (+2) — Q4 4:23 · CAR 2 · Score 33-14
    (Pass formation) TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 16-M.Cassel pass to 20-D.McFadden is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.