Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals: 2010 Week 16 Recap

Game story

In Week 16 of the 2010 NFL season on 2010-12-25, the Arizona Cardinals took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 27–26 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Skelton (Arizona Cardinals) paced the passing game, with +0.35 total EPA, and -20.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Witten (Dallas Cowboys) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +3.01 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+28.9% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (1:47) (Shotgun) 7-S.McGee pass deep right to 19-M.Austin for 37 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. Witten · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +3.01 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.27 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Barber · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +3.00 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.37 EPA/play
3. 3 S. McGee · Dallas Cowboys · Passing · +2.94 total EPA · 22 snaps · +0.13 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Roberts · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +2.92 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
5. 5 S. Hurd · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.20 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.10 EPA/play
6. 6 F. Jones · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +1.04 total EPA · 16 snaps · +0.07 EPA/play
7. 7 F. Jones · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +0.83 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.83 EPA/play
8. 8 R. Maui'a · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +0.71 total EPA · 1 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

• Arizona Cardinals — D. Rodgers-Cromartie (Q1 57:56)
• Arizona Cardinals — G. Toler (Q1 53:36)
• Arizona Cardinals — A. Roberts (J. Skelton pass) (Q2 42:11)
• Dallas Cowboys — J. Witten (J. Kitna pass) (Q2 35:15)
• Dallas Cowboys — M. Barber (Q3 17:06)
• Dallas Cowboys — M. Austin (S. McGee pass) (Q4 1:47)

Field goals

• Dallas Cowboys — D. Buehler (Q2 42:54)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Buehler (Q3 21:53)
• Arizona Cardinals — J. Feely (Q4 3:50)
• Arizona Cardinals — J. Feely (Q4 0:10)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 14–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the ARI 76 (Q1 57:56); Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q1 57:47) — 4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the ARI 39 (Q1 53:36) — (8:36) 3-J.Kitna pass short right intended for 11-R.Williams INTERCEPTED by 28-G.Toler at ARI 34. 28-G.Toler for 66 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q1 53:24) — 4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham..

The second quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 10–7. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the ARI 24 (Q2 42:54) — (12:54) 18-D.Buehler 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the DAL 74 (Q2 42:11); Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q2 41:57) — 4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the ARI 2 (Q2 35:15) — (5:15) (Shotgun) 3-J.Kitna pass short left to 82-J.Witten for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q2 35:11) — 18-D.Buehler extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar..

The third quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 10–0. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the ARI 35 (Q3 21:53) — (6:53) 18-D.Buehler 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the ARI 24 (Q3 17:06); Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q3 16:58) — 18-D.Buehler extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 6–6. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the DAL 31 (Q4 3:50) — (3:50) 4-J.Feely 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the ARI 37 (Q4 1:47) — (1:47) (Shotgun) 7-S.McGee pass deep right to 19-M.Austin for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the DAL 30 (Q4 0:10).

Turning points

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 1:47) — (1:47) (Shotgun) 7-S.McGee pass deep right to 19-M.Austin for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +28.9% · EPA +4.66]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 0:10) — (:10) 4-J.Feely 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham. PENALTY on ARI, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs. [WPA +28.5% · EPA +0.81]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 0:01) — (:01) (Shotgun) 7-S.McGee pass short right to 19-M.Austin to DAL 24 for 15 yards. FUMBLES, touched at DAL 22, RECOVERED by ARI-25-K.Rhodes at DAL 24. 25-K.Rhodes to DAL 24 for no gain (11-R.Williams). [WPA -19.8% · EPA +0.07]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 53:36) — (8:36) 3-J.Kitna pass short right intended for 11-R.Williams INTERCEPTED by 28-G.Toler at ARI 34. 28-G.Toler for 66 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -17.8% · EPA -10.17]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 57:56) — (12:56) (Shotgun) 3-J.Kitna pass short left intended for 19-M.Austin INTERCEPTED by 29-D.Rodgers-Cromartie at DAL 32. 29-D.Rodgers-Cromartie for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -17.6% · EPA -6.94]

Impact plays

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 53:36) — (8:36) 3-J.Kitna pass short right intended for 11-R.Williams INTERCEPTED by 28-G.Toler at ARI 34. 28-G.Toler for 66 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -17.8% · EPA -10.17]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 57:56) — (12:56) (Shotgun) 3-J.Kitna pass short left intended for 19-M.Austin INTERCEPTED by 29-D.Rodgers-Cromartie at DAL 32. 29-D.Rodgers-Cromartie for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -17.6% · EPA -6.94]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 42:11) — (12:11) 19-J.Skelton pass deep left to 12-A.Roberts for 74 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on DAL-21-M.Jenkins, Defensive Pass Interference, declined. [WPA +4.7% · EPA +5.72]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 1:47) — (1:47) (Shotgun) 7-S.McGee pass deep right to 19-M.Austin for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +28.9% · EPA +4.66]

Quarterback report card

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

• J.Skelton (Arizona Cardinals) · 28 dropbacks · 39.3% completion · -20.2% CPOE · +0.01 EPA/play · +0.35 total EPA
• J.Kitna (Dallas Cowboys) · 26 dropbacks · 46.2% completion · -4.7% CPOE · -0.36 EPA/play · -9.43 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 -0.01, Arizona Cardinals -0.05) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Arizona Cardinals: 14 drives, -3.49 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Dallas Cowboys: 13 drives, -1.51 total EPA, 7 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.
• J. Witten (Dallas Cowboys) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Skelton (ARI) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• J. Kitna (DAL) 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. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q1 57:56 · ARI 76 · Score 0-6
   (12:56) (Shotgun) 3-J.Kitna pass short left intended for 19-M.Austin INTERCEPTED by 29-D.Rodgers-Cromartie at DAL 32. 29-D.Rodgers-Cromartie for 32 yards, TOUCH
2. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q1 57:47 · DAL 2 · Score 0-7
   4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.
3. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q1 53:36 · ARI 39 · Score 0-13
   (8:36) 3-J.Kitna pass short right intended for 11-R.Williams INTERCEPTED by 28-G.Toler at ARI 34. 28-G.Toler for 66 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q1 53:24 · DAL 2 · Score 0-14
   4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.
5. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q2 42:54 · ARI 24 · Score 3-14
   (12:54) 18-D.Buehler 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar.
6. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 42:11 · DAL 74 · Score 3-20
   (12:11) 19-J.Skelton pass deep left to 12-A.Roberts for 74 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on DAL-21-M.Jenkins, Defensive Pass Interference, declined.
7. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 41:57 · DAL 2 · Score 3-21
   4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.
8. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 35:15 · ARI 2 · Score 9-21
   (5:15) (Shotgun) 3-J.Kitna pass short left to 82-J.Witten for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 35:11 · ARI 2 · Score 10-21
   18-D.Buehler extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar.
10. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q3 21:53 · ARI 35 · Score 13-21
    (6:53) 18-D.Buehler 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar.
11. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q3 17:06 · ARI 24 · Score 19-21
    (2:06) 24-M.Barber right tackle for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on DAL-24-M.Barber, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs.
12. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q3 16:58 · ARI 2 · Score 20-21
    18-D.Buehler extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar.
13. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q4 3:50 · DAL 31 · Score 20-24
    (3:50) 4-J.Feely 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.
14. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 1:47 · ARI 37 · Score 26-24
    (1:47) (Shotgun) 7-S.McGee pass deep right to 19-M.Austin for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q4 0:10 · DAL 30 · Score 26-27
    (:10) 4-J.Feely 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham. PENALTY on ARI, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs.