Dallas Cowboys vs. Detroit Lions: 2007 Week 14 Recap

Game story

In Week 14 of the 2007 NFL season on 2007-12-09, the Dallas Cowboys took care of business against the Detroit Lions, pulling away with a 28–27 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 24 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Romo (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with +8.95 total EPA, and +11.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Kitna (Detroit Lions) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +10.71 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+33.3% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (:22) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep middle to 82-J.Witten for 16 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 J. Kitna · Detroit Lions · Passing · +10.71 total EPA · 37 snaps · +0.29 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Romo · Dallas Cowboys · Passing · +8.95 total EPA · 48 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play
3. 3 S. McDonald · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +7.78 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.97 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Witten · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +7.59 total EPA · 15 snaps · +0.51 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Barber · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +6.12 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.87 EPA/play
6. 6 S. McHugh · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +5.57 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.86 EPA/play
7. 7 M. Barber · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +4.55 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.45 EPA/play
8. 8 P. Crayton · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +3.24 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.08 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

• Detroit Lions — T. Duckett (Q1 52:43)
• Dallas Cowboys — M. Barber (Q2 42:20)
• Detroit Lions — K. Jones (Q2 31:46)
• Dallas Cowboys — M. Barber (T. Romo pass) (Q2 30:33)
• Detroit Lions — K. Jones (Q3 19:24)
• Dallas Cowboys — M. Barber (Q4 14:14)
• Dallas Cowboys — J. Witten (T. Romo pass) (Q4 0:22)

Field goals

• Detroit Lions — J. Hanson (Q1 45:12)
• Detroit Lions — J. Hanson (Q2 38:27)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 10–0. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the DAL 32 (Q1 52:43) — (7:43) 45-T.Duckett left tackle for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q1 52:35) — 4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the DAL 1 (Q1 45:12) — (:12) 4-J.Hanson 19 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris..

The second quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 14–10. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the DET 20 (Q2 42:20) — (12:20) 24-M.Barber right end for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q2 42:13) — 6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the DAL 18 (Q2 38:27) — (8:27) 4-J.Hanson 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the DAL 2 (Q2 31:46) — (1:46) 34-K.Jones up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q2 31:41) — 4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the DET 8 (Q2 30:33) — (:33) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short left to 24-M.Barber for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q2 30:29) — 6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson..

The third quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 7–0. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the DAL 3 (Q3 19:24) — (4:24) 34-K.Jones up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q3 19:19) — 4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris..

The fourth quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 14–0. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the DET 1 (Q4 14:14) — (14:14) 24-M.Barber up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q4 14:12) — 6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the DET 16 (Q4 0:22) — (:22) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep middle to 82-J.Witten for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q4 0:18) — 6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson..

Turning points

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 0:22) — (:22) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep middle to 82-J.Witten for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +33.3% · EPA +3.63]
• Detroit Lions (Q4 0:02) — (:02) (Shotgun) 8-J.Kitna sacked at DET 6 for -10 yards (98-G.Ellis). FUMBLES (98-G.Ellis), and recovers at DET 5. 8-J.Kitna to DET 6 for 1 yard (90-J.Ratliff). [WPA -27.8% · EPA +0.00]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 6:11) — (6:11) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle to 82-J.Witten to DET 1 for 9 yards (50-E.Sims). FUMBLES (50-E.Sims), RECOVERED by DET-24-G.Blue at DET 1. 24-G.Blue to DET 1 for no gain (82-J.Witten). [WPA -25.2% · EPA -4.48]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 0:57) — (:57) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short left to 24-M.Barber to DET 47 for 13 yards (23-K.Smith; 24-G.Blue). [WPA +11.2% · EPA +1.52]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 14:14) — (14:14) 24-M.Barber up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +9.0% · EPA +2.88]

Impact plays

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 6:11) — (6:11) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle to 82-J.Witten to DET 1 for 9 yards (50-E.Sims). FUMBLES (50-E.Sims), RECOVERED by DET-24-G.Blue at DET 1. 24-G.Blue to DET 1 for no gain (82-J.Witten). [WPA -25.2% · EPA -4.48]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 55:11) — (10:11) 6-N.Folk 50 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson. [WPA -7.8% · EPA -3.92]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 0:22) — (:22) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep middle to 82-J.Witten for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +33.3% · EPA +3.63]
• Detroit Lions (Q4 10:49) — (10:49) 4-J.Hanson 35 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris. [WPA -4.5% · EPA -3.56]

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) · 48 dropbacks · 72.9% completion · +11.2% CPOE · +0.19 EPA/play · +8.95 total EPA
• J.Kitna (Detroit Lions) · 37 dropbacks · 59.5% completion · -0.0% CPOE · +0.29 EPA/play · +10.71 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 +0.20, Detroit Lions +0.17) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Dallas Cowboys: 9 drives, +16.32 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Detroit Lions: 10 drives, +14.43 total EPA, 5 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• J. Kitna (Detroit Lions) 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.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q1 52:43 · DAL 32 · Score 0-6
   (7:43) 45-T.Duckett left tackle for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q1 52:35 · DAL 2 · Score 0-7
   4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.
3. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q1 45:12 · DAL 1 · Score 0-10
   (:12) 4-J.Hanson 19 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.
4. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 42:20 · DET 20 · Score 6-10
   (12:20) 24-M.Barber right end for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 42:13 · DET 2 · Score 7-10
   6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson.
6. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 38:27 · DAL 18 · Score 7-13
   (8:27) 4-J.Hanson 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.
7. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 31:46 · DAL 2 · Score 7-19
   (1:46) 34-K.Jones up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 31:41 · DAL 2 · Score 7-20
   4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.
9. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 30:33 · DET 8 · Score 13-20
   (:33) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short left to 24-M.Barber for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 30:29 · DET 2 · Score 14-20
    6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson.
11. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q3 19:24 · DAL 3 · Score 14-26
    (4:24) 34-K.Jones up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q3 19:19 · DAL 2 · Score 14-27
    4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.
13. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 14:14 · DET 1 · Score 20-27
    (14:14) 24-M.Barber up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q4 14:12 · DET 2 · Score 21-27
    6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson.
15. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 0:22 · DET 16 · Score 27-27
    (:22) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep middle to 82-J.Witten for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
16. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q4 0:18 · DET 2 · Score 28-27
    6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson.