Dallas Cowboys vs. Denver Broncos: 2009 Week 4 Recap

Game story

In Week 4 of the 2009 NFL season on 2009-10-04, the Denver Broncos took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 17–10 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.

T. Romo (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with -7.34 total EPA, and -3.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, B. Marshall (Denver Broncos) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.98 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+20.0% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Denver Broncos changed the game: (2:00) (Shotgun) 8-K.Orton pass deep right to 15-B.Marshall for 51 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 B. Marshall · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +5.98 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.00 EPA/play
2. 2 C. Buckhalter · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +3.55 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.71 EPA/play
3. 3 K. Orton · Denver Broncos · Passing · +2.90 total EPA · 34 snaps · +0.09 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Barber · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +2.36 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.21 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Scheffler · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +2.16 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.72 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Choice · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.01 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.33 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Buckhalter · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +2.01 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.33 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Barber · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +1.69 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.85 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 45:50)
• Denver Broncos — K. Moreno (K. Orton pass) (Q2 40:10)
• Denver Broncos — B. Marshall (K. Orton pass) (Q4 2:00)

Field goals

• Dallas Cowboys — N. Folk (Q1 51:02)
• Denver Broncos — M. Prater (Q4 6:02)

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 10–0. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the DEN 31 (Q1 51:02) — (6:02) 6-N.Folk 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the DEN 1 (Q1 45:50) — (:50) 24-M.Barber up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q1 45:43) — 6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar..

The second quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 7–0. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the DAL 9 (Q2 40:10) — (10:10) (Shotgun) 8-K.Orton pass short right to 27-K.Moreno for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q2 40:04) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-1-B.Kern..

The fourth quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 10–0. Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the DAL 10 (Q4 6:02) — (6:02) 5-M.Prater 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-1-B.Kern.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the DAL 51 (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 8-K.Orton pass deep right to 15-B.Marshall for 51 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q4 1:46) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-1-B.Kern..

Turning points

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

• Denver Broncos (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 8-K.Orton pass deep right to 15-B.Marshall for 51 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +20.0% · EPA +4.91]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 1:16) — (1:16) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle to 17-S.Hurd to DEN 20 for 53 yards (20-B.Dawkins). [WPA +15.6% · EPA +4.04]
• Denver Broncos (Q4 8:27) — (8:27) (Shotgun) 8-K.Orton pass short left to 19-E.Royal to DAL 42 for 12 yards (21-M.Jenkins). PENALTY on DAL-90-J.Ratliff, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced at DAL 42. [WPA +14.8% · EPA +1.93]
• Denver Broncos (Q3 29:55) — (14:55) (Shotgun) 27-K.Moreno up the middle to DEN 24 for 3 yards (94-D.Ware). FUMBLES (94-D.Ware), RECOVERED by DAL-56-B.James at DEN 27. 56-B.James to DEN 27 for no gain (71-R.Hochstein). [WPA -11.1% · EPA -4.73]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 40:18) — (10:18) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo sacked at DAL 17 for -4 yards (23-R.Hill). FUMBLES (23-R.Hill), RECOVERED by DEN-55-D.Williams at DAL 17. 55-D.Williams to DAL 9 for 8 yards (65-A.Gurode). [WPA -10.9% · EPA -3.99]

Impact plays

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

• Denver Broncos (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 8-K.Orton pass deep right to 15-B.Marshall for 51 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +20.0% · EPA +4.91]
• Denver Broncos (Q3 29:55) — (14:55) (Shotgun) 27-K.Moreno up the middle to DEN 24 for 3 yards (94-D.Ware). FUMBLES (94-D.Ware), RECOVERED by DAL-56-B.James at DEN 27. 56-B.James to DEN 27 for no gain (71-R.Hochstein). [WPA -11.1% · EPA -4.73]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 1:16) — (1:16) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle to 17-S.Hurd to DEN 20 for 53 yards (20-B.Dawkins). [WPA +15.6% · EPA +4.04]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 40:18) — (10:18) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo sacked at DAL 17 for -4 yards (23-R.Hill). FUMBLES (23-R.Hill), RECOVERED by DEN-55-D.Williams at DAL 17. 55-D.Williams to DAL 9 for 8 yards (65-A.Gurode). [WPA -10.9% · EPA -3.99]

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) · 49 dropbacks · 51.0% completion · -3.6% CPOE · -0.15 EPA/play · -7.34 total EPA
• K.Orton (Denver Broncos) · 34 dropbacks · 58.8% completion · +5.5% CPOE · +0.09 EPA/play · +2.90 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Denver Broncos held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.01 vs -0.08), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Dallas Cowboys: 12 drives, -7.32 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• Denver Broncos: 12 drives, -1.10 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Denver Broncos 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.
• B. Marshall (Denver Broncos) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• T. Romo (DAL) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• K. Orton (DEN) 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 51:02 · DEN 31 · Score 3-0
   (6:02) 6-N.Folk 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar.
2. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q1 45:50 · DEN 1 · Score 9-0
   (:50) 24-M.Barber up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q1 45:43 · DEN 2 · Score 10-0
   6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar.
4. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q2 40:10 · DAL 9 · Score 10-6
   (10:10) (Shotgun) 8-K.Orton pass short right to 27-K.Moreno for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q2 40:04 · DAL 2 · Score 10-7
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-1-B.Kern.
6. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q4 6:02 · DAL 10 · Score 10-10
   (6:02) 5-M.Prater 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-1-B.Kern.
7. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q4 2:00 · DAL 51 · Score 10-16
   (2:00) (Shotgun) 8-K.Orton pass deep right to 15-B.Marshall for 51 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q4 1:46 · DAL 2 · Score 10-17
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-1-B.Kern.