Dallas Cowboys vs. Atlanta Falcons: 2012 Week 9 Recap

Game story

In Week 9 of the 2012 NFL season on 2012-11-04, the Atlanta Falcons took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 19–13 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) paced the passing game, with +14.28 total EPA, and +5.0% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +14.28 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+14.5% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (5:35) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep left to 85-K.Ogletree to ATL 18 for 65 yards (23-D.Robinson).

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. Ryan · Atlanta Falcons · Passing · +14.28 total EPA · 42 snaps · +0.34 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Jones · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +8.31 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.39 EPA/play
3. 3 K. Ogletree · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +8.07 total EPA · 4 snaps · +2.02 EPA/play
4. 4 R. White · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +8.01 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.80 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Romo · Dallas Cowboys · Passing · +7.70 total EPA · 39 snaps · +0.20 EPA/play
6. 6 Jz. Rodgers · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +4.14 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.83 EPA/play
7. 7 F. Jones · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.21 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.44 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Austin · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +1.96 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.22 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 — M. Turner (Q4 14:21)
• Dallas Cowboys — K. Ogletree (T. Romo pass) (Q4 5:31)

Field goals

• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q1 55:49)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q1 48:47)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Bryant (Q2 44:19)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Bryant (Q2 30:03)
• Atlanta Falcons — F. Jones (Q3 29:56)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Bryant (Q4 7:53)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Bryant (Q4 0:22)

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 6–0. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the ATL 5 (Q1 55:49) — (10:49) 5-D.Bailey 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-2-B.Moorman.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the ATL 14 (Q1 48:47) — (3:47) 5-D.Bailey 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-2-B.Moorman..

The second quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 6–0. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the DAL 27 (Q2 44:19) — (14:19) 3-M.Bryant 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the DAL 28 (Q2 30:03) — (:03) 3-M.Bryant 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher..

The third quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 3–0. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the ATL 86 (Q3 29:56) — (14:56) (Shotgun) 28-F.Jones right guard to DAL 29 for 15 yards (28-T.DeCoud)..

The fourth quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 13–7. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the DAL 3 (Q4 14:21) — (14:21) 33-M.Turner right tackle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q4 14:16) — 3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the DAL 18 (Q4 7:53) — (7:53) 3-M.Bryant 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the ATL 21 (Q4 5:31) — (5:31) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep right to 85-K.Ogletree for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q4 5:21) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-2-B.Moorman.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the DAL 14 (Q4 0:22) — (:22) 3-M.Bryant 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher..

Turning points

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 50:35) — (5:35) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep left to 85-K.Ogletree to ATL 18 for 65 yards (23-D.Robinson). [WPA +14.5% · EPA +6.23]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 51:20) — (6:20) 3-M.Bryant 37 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher. [WPA -12.9% · EPA -3.39]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 54:51) — (9:51) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass deep left to 11-J.Jones to DAL 36 for 38 yards (24-M.Claiborne). Penalty on DAL-24-M.Claiborne, Defensive Pass Interference, declined. [WPA +11.6% · EPA +2.81]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 39:37) — (9:37) 5-D.Bailey 54 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-2-B.Moorman. [WPA -9.9% · EPA -3.39]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q3 24:39) — (9:39) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass deep left to 84-R.White to DAL 44 for 26 yards (24-M.Claiborne). 574th reception by White sets team career receptions record. [WPA +9.7% · EPA +3.08]

Impact plays

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 50:35) — (5:35) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep left to 85-K.Ogletree to ATL 18 for 65 yards (23-D.Robinson). [WPA +14.5% · EPA +6.23]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 11:57) — (11:57) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short left to 11-J.Jones to DAL 35 for 48 yards (54-B.Carter). [WPA +7.9% · EPA +3.73]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 39:37) — (9:37) 5-D.Bailey 54 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-2-B.Moorman. [WPA -9.9% · EPA -3.39]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 51:20) — (6:20) 3-M.Bryant 37 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher. [WPA -12.9% · EPA -3.39]

Quarterback report card

M.Ryan led all passers in efficiency for Atlanta Falcons, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• M.Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) · 42 dropbacks · 57.1% completion · +5.0% CPOE · +0.34 EPA/play · +14.28 total EPA
• T.Romo (Dallas Cowboys) · 39 dropbacks · 64.1% completion · +4.0% CPOE · +0.20 EPA/play · +7.70 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, Atlanta Falcons +0.05) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Atlanta Falcons: 9 drives, +4.31 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Dallas Cowboys: 9 drives, +0.33 total EPA, 3 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. Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• M. Ryan (ATL) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• T. Romo (DAL) 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. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q1 55:49 · ATL 5 · Score 3-0
   (10:49) 5-D.Bailey 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-2-B.Moorman.
2. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q1 48:47 · ATL 14 · Score 6-0
   (3:47) 5-D.Bailey 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-2-B.Moorman.
3. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 44:19 · DAL 27 · Score 6-3
   (14:19) 3-M.Bryant 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.
4. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 30:03 · DAL 28 · Score 6-6
   (:03) 3-M.Bryant 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.
5. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q3 29:56 · ATL 86 · Score 6-6
   (14:56) (Shotgun) 28-F.Jones right guard to DAL 29 for 15 yards (28-T.DeCoud).
6. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 14:21 · DAL 3 · Score 6-12
   (14:21) 33-M.Turner right tackle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q4 14:16 · DAL 2 · Score 6-13
   3-M.Bryant extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.
8. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q4 7:53 · DAL 18 · Score 6-16
   (7:53) 3-M.Bryant 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.
9. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 5:31 · ATL 21 · Score 12-16
   (5:31) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep right to 85-K.Ogletree for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q4 5:21 · ATL 2 · Score 13-16
    5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-2-B.Moorman.
11. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q4 0:22 · DAL 14 · Score 13-19
    (:22) 3-M.Bryant 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Harris, Holder-5-M.Bosher.