Dallas Cowboys vs. Miami Dolphins: 2015 Week 11 Recap

Game story

In Week 11 of the 2015 NFL season on 2015-11-22, the Dallas Cowboys took care of business against the Miami Dolphins, pulling away with a 24–14 final that built a comfortable lead.

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 +5.12 total EPA, and +6.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Williams (Dallas Cowboys) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.79 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+19.4% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (15:00) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep middle to 88-D.Bryant 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 T. Williams · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +7.79 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.95 EPA/play
2. 2 K. Stills · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +5.18 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.59 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Romo · Dallas Cowboys · Passing · +5.12 total EPA · 32 snaps · +0.16 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Witten · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.75 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.92 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Street · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +1.80 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.80 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Cameron · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +1.79 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.36 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Ajayi · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +0.63 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
8. 8 G. Escobar · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +0.60 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.20 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 — R. McClain (Q2 45:00)
• Dallas Cowboys — T. Williams (T. Romo pass) (Q2 31:23)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Cameron (R. Tannehill pass) (Q2 30:23)
• Miami Dolphins — K. Stills (R. Tannehill pass) (Q3 20:26)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bryant (T. Romo pass) (Q4 15:00)

Field goals

• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q4 9:23)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The second quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 14–7. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the DAL 92 (Q2 45:00); Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q2 44:55) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the MIA 31 (Q2 31:23); Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q2 31:08) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the DAL 12 (Q2 30:23) — (:23) (Shotgun) 17-R.Tannehill pass short right to 84-J.Cameron for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q2 30:16) — 3-A.Franks extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-4-M.Darr..

The third quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 7–0. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the DAL 29 (Q3 20:26) — (5:26) (Shotgun) 17-R.Tannehill pass deep right to 10-K.Stills for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q3 20:20) — 3-A.Franks extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-4-M.Darr..

The fourth quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 10–0. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the MIA 16 (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep middle to 88-D.Bryant for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q4 14:55) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the MIA 11 (Q4 9:23) — (9:23) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..

Turning points

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep middle to 88-D.Bryant for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +19.4% · EPA +3.27]
• Miami Dolphins (Q3 20:26) — (5:26) (Shotgun) 17-R.Tannehill pass deep right to 10-K.Stills for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +17.8% · EPA +3.81]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 17-R.Tannehill pass short middle intended for 85-G.Jennings INTERCEPTED by 55-R.McClain at MIA 12. 55-R.McClain for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -13.4% · EPA -5.34]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 46:23) — (1:23) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short left intended for 88-D.Bryant INTERCEPTED by 21-B.Grimes [46-N.Hewitt] at MIA 1. 21-B.Grimes to MIA 18 for 17 yards (20-D.McFadden). PENALTY on MIA-94-C.Mosley, Lo [WPA -11.3% · EPA -3.92]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 16:44) — (1:44) 20-D.McFadden right end to MIA 9 for 35 yards (20-R.Jones). [WPA +10.9% · EPA +2.32]

Impact plays

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

• Miami Dolphins (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 17-R.Tannehill pass short middle intended for 85-G.Jennings INTERCEPTED by 55-R.McClain at MIA 12. 55-R.McClain for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -13.4% · EPA -5.34]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 27:22) — (12:22) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle intended for 23-R.Turbin INTERCEPTED by 46-N.Hewitt at MIA 43. 46-N.Hewitt to MIA 43 for no gain (23-R.Turbin). Penalty on DAL-77-T.Smith, Offensive Holdin [WPA -8.7% · EPA -4.56]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 31:23) — (1:23) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep right to 83-T.Williams for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on DAL-83-T.Williams, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs. [WPA +7.2% · EPA +4.34]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 46:23) — (1:23) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short left intended for 88-D.Bryant INTERCEPTED by 21-B.Grimes [46-N.Hewitt] at MIA 1. 21-B.Grimes to MIA 18 for 17 yards (20-D.McFadden). PENALTY on MIA-94-C.Mosley, Lo [WPA -11.3% · EPA -3.92]

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) · 32 dropbacks · 56.2% completion · +6.9% CPOE · +0.16 EPA/play · +5.12 total EPA
• R.Tannehill (Miami Dolphins) · 30 dropbacks · 43.3% completion · -8.7% CPOE · -0.23 EPA/play · -6.76 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 (+0.04 vs -0.17), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Dallas Cowboys: 11 drives, +2.94 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Miami Dolphins: 11 drives, -10.83 total EPA, 3 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. Williams (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.
• R. Tannehill (MIA) 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) — Q2 45:00 · DAL 92 · Score 6-0
   (15:00) (Shotgun) 17-R.Tannehill pass short middle intended for 85-G.Jennings INTERCEPTED by 55-R.McClain at MIA 12. 55-R.McClain for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 44:55 · MIA 15 · Score 7-0
   5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
3. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 31:23 · MIA 31 · Score 13-0
   (1:23) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep right to 83-T.Williams for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on DAL-83-T.Williams, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards,
4. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 31:08 · MIA 15 · Score 14-0
   5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
5. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 30:23 · DAL 12 · Score 14-6
   (:23) (Shotgun) 17-R.Tannehill pass short right to 84-J.Cameron for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q2 30:16 · DAL 15 · Score 14-7
   3-A.Franks extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-4-M.Darr.
7. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q3 20:26 · DAL 29 · Score 14-13
   (5:26) (Shotgun) 17-R.Tannehill pass deep right to 10-K.Stills for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q3 20:20 · DAL 15 · Score 14-14
   3-A.Franks extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-4-M.Darr.
9. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 15:00 · MIA 16 · Score 20-14
   (15:00) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep middle to 88-D.Bryant for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q4 14:55 · MIA 15 · Score 21-14
    5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
11. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q4 9:23 · MIA 11 · Score 24-14
    (9:23) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.