Cleveland Browns vs. Dallas Cowboys: 2004 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2004 NFL season on 2004-09-19, the Dallas Cowboys took care of business against the Cleveland Browns, pulling away with a 19–12 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 12 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

V. Testaverde (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with -1.32 total EPA.

On the individual side, J. Witten (Dallas Cowboys) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.15 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-21.4% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Cleveland Browns changed the game: (6:32) 5-J.Garcia pass intended for 80-K.Winslow INTERCEPTED by 59-D.Nguyen at DAL 27. 59-D.Nguyen to DAL 46 for 19 yards (5-J.Garcia). The interception by Nguyen is the fourth of his career and his f

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. Witten · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +5.15 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.86 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Glenn · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +5.11 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.85 EPA/play
3. 3 A. Bryant · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +4.38 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.46 EPA/play
4. 4 K. Johnson · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +4.18 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.09 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Coakley · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +3.53 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.53 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Davis · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +3.44 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.15 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Garcia · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +2.23 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.56 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Jackson · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +2.14 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.71 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 — J. Robinson (V. Testaverde pass) (Q1 52:52)
• Dallas Cowboys — E. George (Q3 18:23)

Field goals

• Cleveland Browns — P. Dawson (Q2 45:00)
• Cleveland Browns — P. Dawson (Q2 37:19)
• Dallas Cowboys — B. Cundiff (Q2 31:43)
• Cleveland Browns — unlisted player (Q2 30:00)
• Cleveland Browns — P. Dawson (Q4 14:27)

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 7–0. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the CLE 1 (Q1 52:52); Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the CLE 2 (Q1 52:49) — 3-B.Cundiff extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Robinson, Holder-9-T.Romo..

The second quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 9–3. Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the DAL 28 (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) 4-P.Dawson 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-8-D.Frost.; Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the DAL 5 (Q2 37:19) — (7:19) 4-P.Dawson 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-8-D.Frost.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the CLE 12 (Q2 31:43) — (1:43) 3-B.Cundiff 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-85-J.Robinson, Holder-9-T.Romo.; Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal (Q2 30:00) — END QUARTER 2.

The third quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 7–0. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the CLE 3 (Q3 18:23) — (3:23) 27-E.George up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the CLE 2 (Q3 18:18) — 3-B.Cundiff extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Robinson, Holder-9-T.Romo..

The fourth quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 3–2. Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the DAL 5 (Q4 14:27) — (14:27) 4-P.Dawson 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-8-D.Frost.; Dallas Cowboys registered a safety from the DAL 99 (Q4 0:09).

Turning points

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

• Cleveland Browns (Q3 21:32) — (6:32) 5-J.Garcia pass intended for 80-K.Winslow INTERCEPTED by 59-D.Nguyen at DAL 27. 59-D.Nguyen to DAL 46 for 19 yards (5-J.Garcia). The interception by Nguyen is the fourth of his career and his f [WPA -21.4% · EPA -5.51]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 15:42) — (:42) 16-V.Testaverde pass intended for 83-T.Glenn INTERCEPTED by 37-A.Henry at CLE 27. 37-A.Henry pushed ob at DAL 22 for 51 yards (82-J.Witten). [WPA -15.3% · EPA -6.31]
• Cleveland Browns (Q4 5:39) — (5:39) 5-J.Garcia pass intended for 81-Q.Morgan INTERCEPTED by 41-T.Newman at DAL 41. 41-T.Newman ran ob at CLE 38 for 21 yards. Newman intercepted the pass right side of the field. [WPA -15.2% · EPA -4.93]
• Cleveland Browns (Q2 40:56) — (10:56) (Shotgun) 5-J.Garcia pass incomplete to 87-A.Davis (41-T.Newman). PENALTY on DAL-41-T.Newman, Defensive Pass Interference, 30 yards, enforced at CLE 32 - No Play. [WPA +12.5% · EPA +3.30]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 11:18) — (11:18) 16-V.Testaverde pass intended for 83-T.Glenn INTERCEPTED by 33-D.McCutcheon at CLE 37. 33-D.McCutcheon to CLE 39 for 2 yards (83-T.Glenn). Testaverde's pass thrown right sideline. [WPA -11.5% · EPA -3.27]

Impact plays

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 15:42) — (:42) 16-V.Testaverde pass intended for 83-T.Glenn INTERCEPTED by 37-A.Henry at CLE 27. 37-A.Henry pushed ob at DAL 22 for 51 yards (82-J.Witten). [WPA -15.3% · EPA -6.31]
• Cleveland Browns (Q3 21:32) — (6:32) 5-J.Garcia pass intended for 80-K.Winslow INTERCEPTED by 59-D.Nguyen at DAL 27. 59-D.Nguyen to DAL 46 for 19 yards (5-J.Garcia). The interception by Nguyen is the fourth of his career and his f [WPA -21.4% · EPA -5.51]
• Cleveland Browns (Q4 5:39) — (5:39) 5-J.Garcia pass intended for 81-Q.Morgan INTERCEPTED by 41-T.Newman at DAL 41. 41-T.Newman ran ob at CLE 38 for 21 yards. Newman intercepted the pass right side of the field. [WPA -15.2% · EPA -4.93]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 48:46) — (3:46) 21-J.Jones left tackle to CLE 40 for 3 yards (98-E.Ekuban). FUMBLES (98-E.Ekuban), RECOVERED by CLE-98-E.Ekuban at CLE 40. 98-E.Ekuban to CLE 45 for 5 yards. Play Challenged by DAL and Upheld. [WPA -10.8% · EPA -4.72]

Quarterback report card

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

• V.Testaverde (Dallas Cowboys) · 37 dropbacks · 62.2% completion · -0.04 EPA/play · -1.32 total EPA
• J.Garcia (Cleveland Browns) · 31 dropbacks · 25.8% completion · -0.49 EPA/play · -15.09 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 (-0.11 vs -0.18), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Cleveland Browns: 13 drives, -13.89 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Dallas Cowboys: 12 drives, -9.49 total EPA, 3 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• J. Witten (Dallas Cowboys) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

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

1. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q1 52:52 · CLE 1 · Score 0-6
   (7:52) 16-V.Testaverde pass to 85-J.Robinson for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Fake handoff middle; pass caught right corner of the end zone; 3 career catches all for touc
2. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q1 52:49 · CLE 2 · Score 0-7
   3-B.Cundiff extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Robinson, Holder-9-T.Romo.
3. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q2 45:00 · DAL 28 · Score 3-7
   (15:00) 4-P.Dawson 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-8-D.Frost.
4. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q2 37:19 · DAL 5 · Score 6-7
   (7:19) 4-P.Dawson 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-8-D.Frost.
5. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q2 31:43 · CLE 12 · Score 6-10
   (1:43) 3-B.Cundiff 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-85-J.Robinson, Holder-9-T.Romo.
6. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q2 30:00 · Score 9-10
   END QUARTER 2
7. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q3 18:23 · CLE 3 · Score 9-16
   (3:23) 27-E.George up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q3 18:18 · CLE 2 · Score 9-17
   3-B.Cundiff extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Robinson, Holder-9-T.Romo.
9. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q4 14:27 · DAL 5 · Score 12-17
   (14:27) 4-P.Dawson 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-8-D.Frost.
10. Dallas Cowboys Safety (+2) — Q4 0:09 · DAL 99 · Score 12-19
    (:09) (Shotgun) 5-J.Garcia pass incomplete to 80-K.Winslow. Pass thrown left sideline at the Cleveland 15. PENALTY on CLE-73-J.Gonzalez, Offensive Holding, 1 ya