Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals: 2001 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 2001 NFL season on 2001-12-23, the Arizona Cardinals took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 17–10 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

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

J. Plummer (Arizona Cardinals) paced the passing game, with -6.19 total EPA.

On the individual side, F. Sanders (Arizona Cardinals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.44 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-24.0% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (13:28) 17-Q.Carter pass intended for 42-T.Hambrick INTERCEPTED by 57-R.McKinnon at DAL 24. 57-R.McKinnon for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass tipped by Marcus Bell.

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 F. Sanders · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +4.44 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.48 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Galloway · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +3.31 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.10 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Lucky · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +3.06 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.53 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Mitchell · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +2.26 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.56 EPA/play
5. 5 R. Swinton · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +1.80 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.36 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Hambrick · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +1.61 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Harris · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +0.41 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.10 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Wiley · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +0.36 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.12 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 — R. McKinnon (Q2 43:28)
• Dallas Cowboys — R. Swinton (Q. Carter pass) (Q2 41:52)
• Arizona Cardinals — M. Pittman (Q2 34:55)

Field goals

• Dallas Cowboys — J. Hilbert (Q1 45:10)
• Arizona Cardinals — C. Oglesby (Q2 30:27)

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 3–0. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the ARI 9 (Q1 45:10) — (:10) 9-J.Hilbert 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-M.Solwold, Holder-4-M.Knorr..

The second quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 17–7. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the ARI 80 (Q2 43:28); Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q2 43:19) — 1-C.Oglesby extra point is GOOD, Center-86-T.Junkin, Holder-10-S.Player.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the ARI 45 (Q2 41:52) — (11:52) 17-Q.Carter pass to 80-R.Swinton for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q2 41:43) — 9-J.Hilbert extra point is GOOD, Center-45-M.Solwold, Holder-4-M.Knorr.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the DAL 1 (Q2 34:55) — (4:55) 32-M.Pittman left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q2 34:52) — 1-C.Oglesby extra point is GOOD, Center-86-T.Junkin, Holder-10-S.Player.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the DAL 17 (Q2 30:27) — (:27) 1-C.Oglesby 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-T.Junkin, Holder-10-S.Player..

Turning points

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 43:28) — (13:28) 17-Q.Carter pass intended for 42-T.Hambrick INTERCEPTED by 57-R.McKinnon at DAL 24. 57-R.McKinnon for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass tipped by Marcus Bell. [WPA -24.0% · EPA -6.76]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 36:34) — (6:34) (Shotgun) 16-J.Plummer pass to 81-F.Sanders to DAL 1 for 58 yards (38-D.Hawthorne). [WPA +20.8% · EPA +5.27]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 49:11) — (4:11) 17-Q.Carter right end to ARI 1 for no gain (78-M.Tosi). FUMBLES (78-M.Tosi), ball out of bounds in End Zone, Touchback. Roll out option. [WPA -14.1% · EPA -4.04]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 41:52) — (11:52) 17-Q.Carter pass to 80-R.Swinton for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.7% · EPA +4.80]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 3:23) — (3:23) 9-J.Hilbert 41 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-45-M.Solwold, Holder-4-M.Knorr. [WPA -13.2% · EPA -3.08]

Impact plays

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 43:28) — (13:28) 17-Q.Carter pass intended for 42-T.Hambrick INTERCEPTED by 57-R.McKinnon at DAL 24. 57-R.McKinnon for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass tipped by Marcus Bell. [WPA -24.0% · EPA -6.76]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 36:34) — (6:34) (Shotgun) 16-J.Plummer pass to 81-F.Sanders to DAL 1 for 58 yards (38-D.Hawthorne). [WPA +20.8% · EPA +5.27]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 41:52) — (11:52) 17-Q.Carter pass to 80-R.Swinton for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.7% · EPA +4.80]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 49:11) — (4:11) 17-Q.Carter right end to ARI 1 for no gain (78-M.Tosi). FUMBLES (78-M.Tosi), ball out of bounds in End Zone, Touchback. Roll out option. [WPA -14.1% · EPA -4.04]

Quarterback report card

J.Plummer led all passers in efficiency for Arizona Cardinals, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Plummer (Arizona Cardinals) · 32 dropbacks · 53.1% completion · -0.19 EPA/play · -6.19 total EPA
• Q.Carter (Dallas Cowboys) · 30 dropbacks · 53.3% completion · -0.16 EPA/play · -4.90 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 (Dallas Cowboys -0.16, Arizona Cardinals -0.13) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Arizona Cardinals: 12 drives, -9.21 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• Dallas Cowboys: 13 drives, -14.53 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• F. Sanders (Arizona Cardinals) 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 FG (+3) — Q1 45:10 · ARI 9 · Score 3-0
   (:10) 9-J.Hilbert 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-M.Solwold, Holder-4-M.Knorr.
2. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 43:28 · ARI 80 · Score 3-6
   (13:28) 17-Q.Carter pass intended for 42-T.Hambrick INTERCEPTED by 57-R.McKinnon at DAL 24. 57-R.McKinnon for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass tipped by Marcus Bell.
3. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 43:19 · DAL 2 · Score 3-7
   1-C.Oglesby extra point is GOOD, Center-86-T.Junkin, Holder-10-S.Player.
4. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 41:52 · ARI 45 · Score 9-7
   (11:52) 17-Q.Carter pass to 80-R.Swinton for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 41:43 · ARI 2 · Score 10-7
   9-J.Hilbert extra point is GOOD, Center-45-M.Solwold, Holder-4-M.Knorr.
6. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 34:55 · DAL 1 · Score 10-13
   (4:55) 32-M.Pittman left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 34:52 · DAL 2 · Score 10-14
   1-C.Oglesby extra point is GOOD, Center-86-T.Junkin, Holder-10-S.Player.
8. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 30:27 · DAL 17 · Score 10-17
   (:27) 1-C.Oglesby 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-T.Junkin, Holder-10-S.Player.