Dallas Cowboys vs. Houston Texans: 2018 Week 5 Recap

Game story

In Week 5 of the 2018 NFL season on 2018-10-07, the Houston Texans took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 19–16 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 10 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Watson (Houston Texans) paced the passing game, with +7.95 total EPA, and +10.1% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Watson (Houston Texans) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.95 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+42.0% win probability) landed in overtime when Houston Texans changed the game: (3:47) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short left to 10-D.Hopkins to DAL 27 for 49 yards (55-L.Vander Esch).

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 D. Watson · Houston Texans · Passing · +7.95 total EPA · 55 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
2. 2 G. Swaim · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +4.09 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.36 EPA/play
3. 3 K. Coutee · Houston Texans · Receiving · +3.31 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Prescott · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +3.15 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.79 EPA/play
5. 5 A. Blue · Houston Texans · Receiving · +2.41 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
6. 6 R. Gathers · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.28 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.28 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Hopkins · Houston Texans · Receiving · +1.03 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.08 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Thomas · Houston Texans · Receiving · +0.68 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.68 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

• Houston Texans — K. Coutee (D. Watson pass) (Q2 43:45)
• Dallas Cowboys — A. Hurns (D. Prescott pass) (Q3 26:57)

Field goals

• Dallas Cowboys — B. Maher (Q1 55:06)
• Dallas Cowboys — B. Maher (Q1 48:13)
• Houston Texans — K. Fairbairn (Q2 36:03)
• Houston Texans — K. Fairbairn (Q3 20:05)
• Houston Texans — K. Fairbairn (Q4 8:34)
• Dallas Cowboys — B. Maher (Q4 5:43)
• Houston Texans — K. Fairbairn (OT 1:55)

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 HOU 9 (Q1 55:06) — (10:06) 2-B.Maher 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the HOU 25 (Q1 48:13) — (3:13) 2-B.Maher 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..

The second quarter: Houston Texans won the period 10–0. Houston Texans found the end zone from the DAL 1 (Q2 43:45) — (13:45) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short middle to 16-K.Coutee for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q2 43:40) — 7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-8-T.Daniel.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the DAL 2 (Q2 36:03) — (6:03) 7-K.Fairbairn 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-8-T.Daniel..

The third quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 7–3. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the HOU 3 (Q3 26:57) — (11:57) 4-D.Prescott pass short middle to 17-A.Hurns for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q3 26:52) — 2-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the DAL 3 (Q3 20:05) — (5:05) 7-K.Fairbairn 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-8-T.Daniel..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the DAL 1 (Q4 8:34) — (8:34) 7-K.Fairbairn 19 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-8-T.Daniel.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the HOU 30 (Q4 5:43) — (5:43) 2-B.Maher 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..

Overtime: Houston Texans won the period 3–0. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the DAL 18 (OT 1:55) — (1:55) 7-K.Fairbairn 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-8-T.Daniel..

Turning points

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

• Houston Texans (OT 3:47) — (3:47) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short left to 10-D.Hopkins to DAL 27 for 49 yards (55-L.Vander Esch). [WPA +42.0% · EPA +3.55]
• Houston Texans (Q4 0:20) — (:20) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass deep right intended for 10-D.Hopkins INTERCEPTED by 25-X.Woods [54-J.Smith] at DAL 32. 25-X.Woods pushed ob at DAL 47 for 15 yards (10-D.Hopkins). [WPA -28.4% · EPA -2.03]
• Dallas Cowboys (OT 6:23) — (6:23) (Shotgun) 21-E.Elliott up the middle to HOU 42 for no gain (41-Z.Cunningham). [WPA -17.9% · EPA -1.47]
• Houston Texans (Q3 29:03) — (14:03) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short right to 10-D.Hopkins to HOU 32 for 1 yard (30-A.Brown). FUMBLES (30-A.Brown), RECOVERED by DAL-27-J.Lewis at HOU 30. 27-J.Lewis to HOU 16 for 14 yards (66-N.Ma [WPA -15.2% · EPA -5.83]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 8:31) — (8:31) 4-D.Prescott pass deep left to 10-T.Austin to HOU 31 for 44 yards (20-J.Reid) [41-Z.Cunningham]. [WPA +15.0% · EPA +2.45]

Impact plays

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

• Houston Texans (Q3 29:03) — (14:03) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short right to 10-D.Hopkins to HOU 32 for 1 yard (30-A.Brown). FUMBLES (30-A.Brown), RECOVERED by DAL-27-J.Lewis at HOU 30. 27-J.Lewis to HOU 16 for 14 yards (66-N.Ma [WPA -15.2% · EPA -5.83]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 31:41) — (1:41) 4-D.Prescott pass deep right intended for 10-T.Austin INTERCEPTED by 25-K.Jackson at HOU 20. 25-K.Jackson pushed ob at HOU 31 for 11 yards (21-E.Elliott). [WPA -12.3% · EPA -4.64]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 23:06) — (8:06) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left intended for 15-D.Thompson INTERCEPTED by 20-J.Reid (24-J.Joseph) at DAL 35. 20-J.Reid to DAL 29 for 6 yards (15-D.Thompson). The Replay Official reviewed [WPA -12.1% · EPA -3.69]
• Houston Texans (Q2 30:10) — (:10) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson sacked at DAL 2 for -1 yards (54-J.Smith). [WPA -5.8% · EPA -3.69]

Quarterback report card

D.Watson led all passers in efficiency for Houston Texans, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Watson (Houston Texans) · 55 dropbacks · 60.0% completion · +10.1% CPOE · +0.14 EPA/play · +7.95 total EPA
• D.Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) · 34 dropbacks · 52.9% completion · -6.9% CPOE · -0.11 EPA/play · -3.87 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Houston Texans held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.10 vs -0.16), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Dallas Cowboys: 13 drives, -12.38 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Houston Texans: 12 drives, -9.85 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Houston Texans 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.
• D. Watson (Houston Texans) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Watson (HOU) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• D. Prescott (DAL) 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 FG (+3) — Q1 55:06 · HOU 9 · Score 3-0
   (10:06) 2-B.Maher 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
2. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q1 48:13 · HOU 25 · Score 6-0
   (3:13) 2-B.Maher 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
3. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q2 43:45 · DAL 1 · Score 6-6
   (13:45) (Shotgun) 4-D.Watson pass short middle to 16-K.Coutee for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q2 43:40 · DAL 15 · Score 6-7
   7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-8-T.Daniel.
5. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q2 36:03 · DAL 2 · Score 6-10
   (6:03) 7-K.Fairbairn 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-8-T.Daniel.
6. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q3 26:57 · HOU 3 · Score 12-10
   (11:57) 4-D.Prescott pass short middle to 17-A.Hurns for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q3 26:52 · HOU 15 · Score 13-10
   2-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
8. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q3 20:05 · DAL 3 · Score 13-13
   (5:05) 7-K.Fairbairn 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-8-T.Daniel.
9. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q4 8:34 · DAL 1 · Score 13-16
   (8:34) 7-K.Fairbairn 19 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-8-T.Daniel.
10. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q4 5:43 · HOU 30 · Score 16-16
    (5:43) 2-B.Maher 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
11. Houston Texans FG (+3) — OT 1:55 · DAL 18 · Score 16-19
    (1:55) 7-K.Fairbairn 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-8-T.Daniel.