Dallas Cowboys vs. Cleveland Browns: 2008 Week 1 Recap

Game story

In Week 1 of the 2008 NFL season on 2008-09-07, the Dallas Cowboys took care of business against the Cleveland Browns, pulling away with a 28–10 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Romo (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with +18.13 total EPA, and +14.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Romo (Dallas Cowboys) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +18.13 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+11.5% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (9:55) 9-T.Romo pass deep left to 81-T.Owens for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on DAL-81-T.Owens, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs.

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 T. Romo · Dallas Cowboys · Passing · +18.13 total EPA · 36 snaps · +0.50 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Owens · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +10.52 total EPA · 5 snaps · +2.10 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Witten · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +9.98 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.66 EPA/play
4. 4 P. Crayton · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +7.42 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.24 EPA/play
5. 5 K. Winslow · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +5.81 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.16 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Anderson · Cleveland Browns · Passing · +5.43 total EPA · 29 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play
7. 7 F. Jones · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +3.12 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Barber · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +2.31 total EPA · 17 snaps · +0.14 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

• Dallas Cowboys — M. Barber (Q1 51:45)
• Cleveland Browns — K. Winslow (D. Anderson pass) (Q2 42:48)
• Dallas Cowboys — T. Owens (T. Romo pass) (Q2 39:55)
• Dallas Cowboys — M. Barber (Q2 30:29)
• Dallas Cowboys — F. Jones (Q3 21:30)

Field goals

• Cleveland Browns — P. Dawson (Q4 10:13)

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 7–0. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the CLE 1 (Q1 51:45) — (6:45) 24-M.Barber up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the CLE 2 (Q1 51:40) — 6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson..

The second quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 14–7. Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the DAL 2 (Q2 42:48) — (12:48) 3-D.Anderson pass short right to 80-K.Winslow for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q2 42:43) — 4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-15-D.Zastudil.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the CLE 35 (Q2 39:55); Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the CLE 2 (Q2 39:48) — 6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the CLE 1 (Q2 30:29) — (:29) 24-M.Barber left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the CLE 2 (Q2 30:26).

The third quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 7–0. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the CLE 11 (Q3 21:30) — (6:30) 28-F.Jones right guard for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the CLE 2 (Q3 21:24) — 6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson..

The fourth quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 3–0. Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the DAL 17 (Q4 10:13) — (10:13) 4-P.Dawson 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-15-D.Zastudil..

Turning points

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 39:55) — (9:55) 9-T.Romo pass deep left to 81-T.Owens for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on DAL-81-T.Owens, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs. [WPA +11.5% · EPA +4.38]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 54:28) — (9:28) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle to 82-J.Witten to CLE 41 for 19 yards (26-S.Jones). [WPA +9.5% · EPA +2.80]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 41:30) — (11:30) 24-M.Barber right guard to CLE 33 for 23 yards (26-S.Jones). [WPA +7.5% · EPA +1.78]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 57:29) — (12:29) 3-D.Anderson FUMBLES (Aborted) at DAL 46, and recovers at DAL 46. [WPA -6.7% · EPA -2.04]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 48:48) — (3:48) (Shotgun) 3-D.Anderson pass short middle to 80-K.Winslow to DAL 33 for 17 yards (25-P.Watkins). [WPA +5.6% · EPA +2.16]

Impact plays

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 15:47) — (:47) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle intended for 81-T.Owens INTERCEPTED by 24-E.Wright at CLE -7. 24-E.Wright to CLE 13 for 20 yards (28-F.Jones). [WPA -0.5% · EPA -5.42]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 39:55) — (9:55) 9-T.Romo pass deep left to 81-T.Owens for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on DAL-81-T.Owens, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs. [WPA +11.5% · EPA +4.38]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 0:31) — (:31) 9-T.Romo kneels to CLE 14 for -1 yards. [EPA -4.24]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 54:28) — (9:28) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle to 82-J.Witten to CLE 41 for 19 yards (26-S.Jones). [WPA +9.5% · EPA +2.80]

Quarterback report card

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

• T.Romo (Dallas Cowboys) · 36 dropbacks · 66.7% completion · +14.9% CPOE · +0.50 EPA/play · +18.13 total EPA
• D.Anderson (Cleveland Browns) · 29 dropbacks · 37.9% completion · -8.7% CPOE · +0.19 EPA/play · +5.43 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Dallas Cowboys generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.26 vs +0.01), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Cleveland Browns: 8 drives, +0.37 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• Dallas Cowboys: 8 drives, +20.50 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Dallas Cowboys leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• T. Romo (Dallas Cowboys) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• T. Romo (DAL) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• D. Anderson (CLE) 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. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q1 51:45 · CLE 1 · Score 6-0
   (6:45) 24-M.Barber up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q1 51:40 · CLE 2 · Score 7-0
   6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson.
3. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q2 42:48 · DAL 2 · Score 7-6
   (12:48) 3-D.Anderson pass short right to 80-K.Winslow for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q2 42:43 · DAL 2 · Score 7-7
   4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-15-D.Zastudil.
5. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 39:55 · CLE 35 · Score 13-7
   (9:55) 9-T.Romo pass deep left to 81-T.Owens for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on DAL-81-T.Owens, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs.
6. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 39:48 · CLE 2 · Score 14-7
   6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson.
7. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 30:29 · CLE 1 · Score 20-7
   (:29) 24-M.Barber left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 30:26 · CLE 2 · Score 21-7
   6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson. PENALTY on CLE-92-S.Rogers, Illegal Formation, 5 yards, enforced between downs.
9. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q3 21:30 · CLE 11 · Score 27-7
   (6:30) 28-F.Jones right guard for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q3 21:24 · CLE 2 · Score 28-7
    6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson.
11. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q4 10:13 · DAL 17 · Score 28-10
    (10:13) 4-P.Dawson 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-15-D.Zastudil.