Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals: 2023 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-09-24, the Arizona Cardinals took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 28–16 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 25 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with -1.73 total EPA, and -3.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Gallup (Dallas Cowboys) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.89 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+11.9% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Arizona Cardinals changed the game: (14:36) (Shotgun) 9-J.Dobbs left end to DAL 29 for 44 yards (26-D.Bland).

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 M. Gallup · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +5.89 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.84 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Brown · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +5.52 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.69 EPA/play
3. 3 Mi. Wilson · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +5.46 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.73 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Dobbs · Arizona Cardinals · Passing · +4.98 total EPA · 30 snaps · +0.17 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Pollard · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +4.79 total EPA · 23 snaps · +0.21 EPA/play
6. 6 R. Moore · Arizona Cardinals · Rushing · +3.37 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.12 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Conner · Arizona Cardinals · Rushing · +2.86 total EPA · 15 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play
8. 8 R. Dowdle · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.84 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.95 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 — J. Conner (Q1 51:16)
• Arizona Cardinals — R. Moore (Q2 42:38)
• Dallas Cowboys — R. Dowdle (D. Prescott pass) (Q2 35:40)
• Arizona Cardinals — M. Brown (J. Dobbs pass) (Q4 7:27)

Field goals

• Arizona Cardinals — M. Prater (Q1 57:35)
• Dallas Cowboys — B. Aubrey (Q1 46:52)
• Arizona Cardinals — M. Prater (Q2 31:31)
• Arizona Cardinals — M. Prater (Q2 31:28)
• Arizona Cardinals — M. Prater (Q2 30:04)
• Arizona Cardinals — unlisted player (Q2 30:00)
• Dallas Cowboys — B. Aubrey (Q3 24:30)
• Dallas Cowboys — B. Aubrey (Q4 9:36)

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 9–3. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the DAL 21 (Q1 57:35) — (12:35) 5-M.Prater 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-16-N.Cooney.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the DAL 5 (Q1 51:16) — (6:16) 6-J.Conner right end for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the ARI 31 (Q1 46:52) — (1:52) 17-B.Aubrey 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger..

The second quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 18–7. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the DAL 45 (Q2 42:38) — (12:38) (Shotgun) 4-R.Moore left tackle for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the ARI 15 (Q2 35:40) — (5:40) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short right to 23-R.Dowdle for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q2 35:32) — 17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the DAL 25 (Q2 31:31) — (1:31) 5-M.Prater 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-16-N.Cooney.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the ARI 35 (Q2 31:28) — 5-M.Prater kicks 65 yards from ARI 35 to end zone, Touchback.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the DAL 44 (Q2 30:04) — (:04) 5-M.Prater 62 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-16-N.Cooney.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal (Q2 30:00) — END QUARTER 2.

The third quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 3–0. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the ARI 8 (Q3 24:30) — (9:30) 17-B.Aubrey 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger..

The fourth quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 7–3. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the ARI 8 (Q4 9:36) — (9:36) 17-B.Aubrey 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the DAL 2 (Q4 7:27) — (7:27) (Shotgun) 9-J.Dobbs pass short right to 2-M.Brown for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN [90-D.Lawrence].; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q4 7:22) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-16-N.Cooney..

Turning points

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 59:36) — (14:36) (Shotgun) 9-J.Dobbs left end to DAL 29 for 44 yards (26-D.Bland). [WPA +11.9% · EPA +3.33]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 35:40) — (5:40) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short right to 23-R.Dowdle for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +10.2% · EPA +2.98]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 9:28) — (9:28) (Shotgun) 9-J.Dobbs pass deep right to 14-Mi.Wilson pushed ob at DAL 7 for 69 yards (28-M.Hooker, 33-D.Clark). [WPA +9.3% · EPA +4.37]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 34:49) — (4:49) (Shotgun) 6-J.Conner left tackle pushed ob at DAL 49 for 26 yards (1-J.Kearse). [WPA +7.8% · EPA +2.26]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 42:38) — (12:38) (Shotgun) 4-R.Moore left tackle for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.6% · EPA +3.81]

Impact plays

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 3:05) — (3:05) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short middle intended for 3-B.Cooks INTERCEPTED by 7-K.White at ARI -4. Touchback. [WPA -4.1% · EPA -4.91]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 9:28) — (9:28) (Shotgun) 9-J.Dobbs pass deep right to 14-Mi.Wilson pushed ob at DAL 7 for 69 yards (28-M.Hooker, 33-D.Clark). [WPA +9.3% · EPA +4.37]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 42:38) — (12:38) (Shotgun) 4-R.Moore left tackle for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.6% · EPA +3.81]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 27:12) — (12:12) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep right to 88-C.Lamb pushed ob at ARI 22 for 32 yards (13-K.Clark). [WPA +5.5% · EPA +3.69]

Quarterback report card

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

• D.Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) · 50 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -3.3% CPOE · -0.03 EPA/play · -1.73 total EPA
• J.Dobbs (Arizona Cardinals) · 30 dropbacks · 56.7% completion · +10.5% CPOE · +0.17 EPA/play · +4.98 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Arizona Cardinals held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.21 vs +0.05), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Arizona Cardinals: 9 drives, +16.52 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Dallas Cowboys: 8 drives, +4.89 total EPA, 4 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.
• M. Gallup (Dallas Cowboys) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Prescott (DAL) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• J. Dobbs (ARI) 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. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q1 57:35 · DAL 21 · Score 0-3
   (12:35) 5-M.Prater 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-16-N.Cooney.
2. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q1 51:16 · DAL 5 · Score 0-9
   (6:16) 6-J.Conner right end for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q1 46:52 · ARI 31 · Score 3-9
   (1:52) 17-B.Aubrey 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
4. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 42:38 · DAL 45 · Score 3-15
   (12:38) (Shotgun) 4-R.Moore left tackle for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 35:40 · ARI 15 · Score 9-15
   (5:40) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short right to 23-R.Dowdle for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 35:32 · ARI 15 · Score 10-15
   17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
7. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 31:31 · DAL 25 · Score 10-18
   (1:31) 5-M.Prater 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-16-N.Cooney.
8. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 31:28 · ARI 35 · Score 10-18
   5-M.Prater kicks 65 yards from ARI 35 to end zone, Touchback.
9. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 30:04 · DAL 44 · Score 10-21
   (:04) 5-M.Prater 62 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-16-N.Cooney.
10. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 30:00 · Score 10-21
    END QUARTER 2
11. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q3 24:30 · ARI 8 · Score 13-21
    (9:30) 17-B.Aubrey 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
12. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q4 9:36 · ARI 8 · Score 16-21
    (9:36) 17-B.Aubrey 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
13. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 7:27 · DAL 2 · Score 16-27
    (7:27) (Shotgun) 9-J.Dobbs pass short right to 2-M.Brown for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN [90-D.Lawrence].
14. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q4 7:22 · DAL 15 · Score 16-28
    5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-16-N.Cooney.