Cleveland Browns vs. Dallas Cowboys: 2012 Week 11 Recap

Game story

In Week 11 of the 2012 NFL season on 2012-11-18, the Dallas Cowboys took care of business against the Cleveland Browns, pulling away with a 23–20 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 24 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Romo (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with +5.28 total EPA, and +5.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, B. Watson (Cleveland Browns) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +8.14 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-40.5% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (1:23) (Punt formation) 2-B.Moorman punts 49 yards to CLE 47, Center-91-L.Ladouceur. 16-J.Cribbs to DAL 32 for 21 yards (89-J.Phillips). PENALTY on DAL-89-J.Phillips, Horse Collar Tackle, 15 yards, en

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 B. Watson · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +8.14 total EPA · 8 snaps · +1.02 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Bryant · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +6.58 total EPA · 15 snaps · +0.44 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Romo · Dallas Cowboys · Passing · +5.28 total EPA · 69 snaps · +0.08 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Richardson · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +3.48 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.43 EPA/play
5. 5 G. Little · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +2.76 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.69 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Witten · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.47 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
7. 7 B. Weeden · Cleveland Browns · Passing · +2.46 total EPA · 37 snaps · +0.07 EPA/play
8. 8 L. Vickers · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.11 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.11 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

• Cleveland Browns — B. Watson (B. Weeden pass) (Q1 49:07)
• Dallas Cowboys — F. Jones (Q4 13:54)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bryant (T. Romo pass) (Q4 6:54)
• Cleveland Browns — B. Watson (B. Weeden pass) (Q4 1:10)

Field goals

• Cleveland Browns — P. Dawson (Q2 42:13)
• Cleveland Browns — P. Dawson (Q2 35:18)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q3 19:22)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q4 0:06)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (OT 6:13)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 7–0. Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the DAL 10 (Q1 49:07); Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q1 49:01).

The second quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 6–0. Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the DAL 33 (Q2 42:13) — (12:13) (Field Goal formation) 4-P.Dawson 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-C.Yount, Holder-2-R.Hodges.; Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the DAL 18 (Q2 35:18) — (5:18) (Field Goal formation) 4-P.Dawson 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-C.Yount, Holder-2-R.Hodges..

The third quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 3–0. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the CLE 26 (Q3 19:22) — (4:22) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-2-B.Moorman..

The fourth quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 17–7. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the CLE 2 (Q4 13:54) — (13:54) 28-F.Jones right tackle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the CLE 2 (Q4 13:49); Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the CLE 28 (Q4 6:54) — (6:54) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep left to 88-D.Bryant for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN [95-J.Parker].; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the CLE 2 (Q4 6:46) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-2-B.Moorman.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the DAL 17 (Q4 1:10) — (1:10) (Shotgun) 3-B.Weeden pass deep middle to 82-B.Watson for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete on skinny post.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q4 1:07) — 4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-57-C.Yount, Holder-2-R.Hodges.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the CLE 14 (Q4 0:06) — (:06) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-2-B.Moorman..

Overtime: Dallas Cowboys won the period 3–0. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the CLE 20 (OT 6:13) — (6:13) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-2-B.Moorman..

Turning points

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 1:23) — (1:23) (Punt formation) 2-B.Moorman punts 49 yards to CLE 47, Center-91-L.Ladouceur. 16-J.Cribbs to DAL 32 for 21 yards (89-J.Phillips). PENALTY on DAL-89-J.Phillips, Horse Collar Tackle, 15 yards, en [WPA -40.5% · EPA -2.77]
• Cleveland Browns (Q4 1:47) — (1:47) 3-B.Weeden pass incomplete short left to 84-J.Cameron. Pass incomplete left corner of the end zone; Sensabaugh closest defender. [WPA -38.2% · EPA -4.06]
• Dallas Cowboys (OT 12:50) — (12:50) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle to 19-M.Austin to CLE 49 for 13 yards (37-J.Bademosi). Pass complete on a slant. [WPA +22.9% · EPA +2.37]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 0:29) — (:29) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass incomplete deep left to 17-D.Harris. DAL-17-D.Harris was injured during the play. His return is Probable. PENALTY on CLE-24-S.Brown, Defensive Pass Interference, 35 yards [WPA +22.8% · EPA +2.24]
• Cleveland Browns (Q4 4:47) — (4:47) 3-B.Weeden pass deep middle to 13-J.Gordon to DAL 23 for 23 yards (43-G.Sensabaugh). Pass complete on post pattern. [WPA +19.6% · EPA +1.96]

Impact plays

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

• Cleveland Browns (Q4 5:52) — (5:52) (Shotgun) 3-B.Weeden sacked at CLE 18 for -11 yards (93-A.Spencer). FUMBLES (93-A.Spencer) [93-A.Spencer], RECOVERED by DAL-93-A.Spencer at CLE 18. [WPA -14.6% · EPA -5.38]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 5:10) — (5:10) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo sacked at CLE 38 for -10 yards (92-F.Rucker). FUMBLES (92-F.Rucker) [92-F.Rucker], RECOVERED by CLE-53-C.Robertson at CLE 35. 53-C.Robertson to CLE 35 for no gain (78-J.Parne [WPA -14.7% · EPA -4.96]
• Cleveland Browns (Q4 1:47) — (1:47) 3-B.Weeden pass incomplete short left to 84-J.Cameron. Pass incomplete left corner of the end zone; Sensabaugh closest defender. [WPA -38.2% · EPA -4.06]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 6:54) — (6:54) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep left to 88-D.Bryant for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN [95-J.Parker]. [WPA +18.3% · EPA +3.80]

Quarterback report card

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

• T.Romo (Dallas Cowboys) · 69 dropbacks · 50.7% completion · +5.6% CPOE · +0.08 EPA/play · +5.28 total EPA
• B.Weeden (Cleveland Browns) · 37 dropbacks · 54.1% completion · -6.5% CPOE · +0.07 EPA/play · +2.46 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Cleveland Browns -0.03, Dallas Cowboys -0.03) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Cleveland Browns: 13 drives, -2.92 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Dallas Cowboys: 13 drives, -3.29 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• B. Watson (Cleveland Browns) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• T. Romo (DAL) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• B. Weeden (CLE) 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. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q1 49:07 · DAL 10 · Score 6-0
   (4:07) (Shotgun) 3-B.Weeden pass short middle to 82-B.Watson for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Assistant challenged the pass completion ruling, and the play w
2. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q1 49:01 · DAL 2 · Score 7-0
   4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-57-C.Yount, Holder-2-R.Hodges. PENALTY on DAL-43-G.Sensabaugh, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced between downs.
3. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q2 42:13 · DAL 33 · Score 10-0
   (12:13) (Field Goal formation) 4-P.Dawson 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-C.Yount, Holder-2-R.Hodges.
4. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q2 35:18 · DAL 18 · Score 13-0
   (5:18) (Field Goal formation) 4-P.Dawson 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-C.Yount, Holder-2-R.Hodges.
5. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q3 19:22 · CLE 26 · Score 13-3
   (4:22) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-2-B.Moorman.
6. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 13:54 · CLE 2 · Score 13-9
   (13:54) 28-F.Jones right tackle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q4 13:49 · CLE 2 · Score 13-10
   5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-2-B.Moorman. Injury update: Charlie Peprah has been taken to the locker room for further evaluatio
8. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 6:54 · CLE 28 · Score 13-16
   (6:54) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep left to 88-D.Bryant for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN [95-J.Parker].
9. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q4 6:46 · CLE 2 · Score 13-17
   5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-2-B.Moorman.
10. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q4 1:10 · DAL 17 · Score 19-17
    (1:10) (Shotgun) 3-B.Weeden pass deep middle to 82-B.Watson for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete on skinny post.
11. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q4 1:07 · DAL 2 · Score 20-17
    4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-57-C.Yount, Holder-2-R.Hodges.
12. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q4 0:06 · CLE 14 · Score 20-20
    (:06) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-2-B.Moorman.
13. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — OT 6:13 · CLE 20 · Score 20-23
    (6:13) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-2-B.Moorman.