Dallas Cowboys vs. Atlanta Falcons: 2001 Week 9 Recap

Game story

In Week 9 of the 2001 NFL season on 2001-11-11, the Atlanta Falcons took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 20–13 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 10 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

R. Leaf (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with +2.80 total EPA.

On the individual side, M. Wiley (Dallas Cowboys) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.33 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-20.6% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (8:31) 4-M.Knorr punts 53 yards to ATL 11, Center-95-R.Chevrier. 21-D.Gordon pushed ob at DAL 15 for 74 yards (33-J.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 M. Wiley · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +5.33 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.76 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Johnson · Atlanta Falcons · Passing · +3.07 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.51 EPA/play
3. 3 R. Leaf · Dallas Cowboys · Passing · +2.80 total EPA · 28 snaps · +0.10 EPA/play
4. 4 R. Ismail · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.18 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.24 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Smith · Atlanta Falcons · Rushing · +1.74 total EPA · 27 snaps · +0.06 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Chiaverini · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +1.61 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.81 EPA/play
7. 7 S. Jefferson · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.48 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.49 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Huggins · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +1.30 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.65 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

• Atlanta Falcons — A. Crumpler (M. Vick pass) (Q1 47:03)
• Dallas Cowboys — J. Harris (R. Leaf pass) (Q2 31:00)
• Atlanta Falcons — B. Kozlowski (D. Johnson pass) (Q4 5:28)

Field goals

• Dallas Cowboys — T. Seder (Q1 49:52)
• Dallas Cowboys — T. Seder (Q2 40:51)
• Atlanta Falcons — J. Feely (Q3 25:38)
• Atlanta Falcons — J. Feely (Q4 1:14)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 7–3. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the ATL 10 (Q1 49:52) — (4:52) 6-T.Seder 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-95-R.Chevrier, Holder-4-M.Knorr.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the DAL 9 (Q1 47:03) — (2:03) 7-M.Vick pass to 83-A.Crumpler for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by DAL and Upheld. (Timeout #1 at 01:55.); Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q1 46:55) — 4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr..

The second quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 10–0. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the ATL 21 (Q2 40:51) — (10:51) 6-T.Seder 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-95-R.Chevrier, Holder-4-M.Knorr.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the ATL 3 (Q2 31:00) — (1:00) 16-R.Leaf pass to 88-J.Harris for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q2 30:55) — 6-T.Seder extra point is GOOD, Center-95-R.Chevrier, Holder-4-M.Knorr..

The third quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 3–1. Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the ATL 30 (Q3 30:00) — 4-J.Feely kicks onside 13 yards from ATL 30 to ATL 43. RECOVERED by ATL-37-D.Vaughn.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the DAL 13 (Q3 25:38) — (10:38) 4-J.Feely 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr..

The fourth quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 10–0. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the DAL 1 (Q4 5:28) — (5:28) 11-D.Johnson pass to 85-B.Kozlowski for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q4 5:20) — 4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the DAL 1 (Q4 1:14) — (1:14) 4-J.Feely 19 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr..

Turning points

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 8:31) — (8:31) 4-M.Knorr punts 53 yards to ATL 11, Center-95-R.Chevrier. 21-D.Gordon pushed ob at DAL 15 for 74 yards (33-J.Bell). [WPA -20.6% · EPA -3.36]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 16:03) — (1:03) 4-M.Knorr Aborted. 95-R.Chevrier FUMBLES at ATL 19, recovered by DAL-6-T.Seder at ATL 45. 6-T.Seder to DAL 49 for -6 yards (54-C.Draft). [WPA -19.9% · EPA -5.36]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 31:53) — (1:53) 32-M.Wiley right end to ATL 3 for 58 yards (33-A.Ambrose). [WPA +17.9% · EPA +4.80]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 32:31) — (2:31) 7-M.Vick up the middle to DAL 33 for 1 yard (43-I.Reese). FUMBLES (43-I.Reese), touched at DAL 35, RECOVERED by DAL-28-D.Woodson at DAL 49. [WPA -17.4% · EPA -3.63]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 12:39) — (12:39) 4-J.Feely 36 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr. [WPA -13.3% · EPA -3.21]

Impact plays

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 16:03) — (1:03) 4-M.Knorr Aborted. 95-R.Chevrier FUMBLES at ATL 19, recovered by DAL-6-T.Seder at ATL 45. 6-T.Seder to DAL 49 for -6 yards (54-C.Draft). [WPA -19.9% · EPA -5.36]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 31:53) — (1:53) 32-M.Wiley right end to ATL 3 for 58 yards (33-A.Ambrose). [WPA +17.9% · EPA +4.80]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 32:31) — (2:31) 7-M.Vick up the middle to DAL 33 for 1 yard (43-I.Reese). FUMBLES (43-I.Reese), touched at DAL 35, RECOVERED by DAL-28-D.Woodson at DAL 49. [WPA -17.4% · EPA -3.63]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 3:23) — (3:23) 43-M.Smith left tackle pushed ob at DAL 2 for 26 yards (31-G.Teague). [WPA +4.1% · EPA +3.52]

Quarterback report card

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

• R.Leaf (Dallas Cowboys) · 28 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · +0.10 EPA/play · +2.80 total EPA
• M.Vick (Atlanta Falcons) · 14 dropbacks · 28.6% completion · -0.18 EPA/play · -2.49 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Atlanta Falcons held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.06 vs -0.12), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Atlanta Falcons: 12 drives, -3.86 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Dallas Cowboys: 10 drives, -9.23 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Atlanta Falcons 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.
• M. Wiley (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 FG (+3) — Q1 49:52 · ATL 10 · Score 3-0
   (4:52) 6-T.Seder 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-95-R.Chevrier, Holder-4-M.Knorr.
2. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q1 47:03 · DAL 9 · Score 3-6
   (2:03) 7-M.Vick pass to 83-A.Crumpler for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by DAL and Upheld. (Timeout #1 at 01:55.)
3. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q1 46:55 · DAL 2 · Score 3-7
   4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
4. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q2 40:51 · ATL 21 · Score 6-7
   (10:51) 6-T.Seder 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-95-R.Chevrier, Holder-4-M.Knorr.
5. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 31:00 · ATL 3 · Score 12-7
   (1:00) 16-R.Leaf pass to 88-J.Harris for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 30:55 · ATL 2 · Score 13-7
   6-T.Seder extra point is GOOD, Center-95-R.Chevrier, Holder-4-M.Knorr.
7. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q3 30:00 · ATL 30 · Score 13-7
   4-J.Feely kicks onside 13 yards from ATL 30 to ATL 43. RECOVERED by ATL-37-D.Vaughn.
8. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q3 25:38 · DAL 13 · Score 13-10
   (10:38) 4-J.Feely 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
9. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 5:28 · DAL 1 · Score 13-16
   (5:28) 11-D.Johnson pass to 85-B.Kozlowski for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q4 5:20 · DAL 2 · Score 13-17
    4-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.
11. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q4 1:14 · DAL 1 · Score 13-20
    (1:14) 4-J.Feely 19 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Rackley, Holder-13-C.Mohr.