Dallas Cowboys vs. Miami Dolphins: 2023 Week 16 Recap

Game story

In Week 16 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-12-24, the Miami Dolphins took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 22–20 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 16 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with +15.27 total EPA, and -1.8% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +15.27 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+28.5% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Miami Dolphins changed the game: (:02) 7-J.Sanders 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey.

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. Prescott · Dallas Cowboys · Passing · +15.27 total EPA · 43 snaps · +0.36 EPA/play
2. 2 C. Lamb · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +9.46 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.95 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Tagovailoa · Miami Dolphins · Passing · +7.68 total EPA · 39 snaps · +0.20 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Tolbert · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +3.46 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.73 EPA/play
5. 5 B. Cooks · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +3.38 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.69 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Smythe · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +3.28 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.66 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Hill · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +3.03 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.22 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Ferguson · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.41 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.30 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 — C. Lamb (D. Prescott pass) (Q1 46:41)
• Miami Dolphins — R. Mostert (T. Tagovailoa pass) (Q2 30:21)
• Dallas Cowboys — B. Cooks (D. Prescott pass) (Q4 3:33)

Field goals

• Miami Dolphins — J. Sanders (Q1 47:55)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Sanders (Q1 47:50)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Sanders (Q2 34:36)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Sanders (Q3 24:04)
• Dallas Cowboys — B. Aubrey (Q3 20:32)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Sanders (Q3 16:28)
• Dallas Cowboys — B. Aubrey (Q4 12:35)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Sanders (Q4 0:02)
• Miami Dolphins — unlisted player (Q4 0:00)

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 7–6. Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the DAL 39 (Q1 47:55) — (2:55) 7-J.Sanders 57 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the MIA 35 (Q1 47:50) — 7-J.Sanders kicks 65 yards from MIA 35 to end zone, Touchback.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the MIA 49 (Q1 46:41) — (1:41) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short middle to 88-C.Lamb for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q1 46:30) — 17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger..

The second quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 16–0. Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the DAL 34 (Q2 34:36) — (4:36) 7-J.Sanders 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the DAL 4 (Q2 30:21) — (:21) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short left to 31-R.Mostert for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the DAL 15 (Q2 30:17) — 7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey..

The third quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 6–3. Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the DAL 36 (Q3 24:04) — (9:04) 7-J.Sanders 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the MIA 25 (Q3 20:32) — (5:32) 17-B.Aubrey 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the DAL 17 (Q3 16:28) — (1:28) 7-J.Sanders 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey..

The fourth quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 10–6. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the MIA 15 (Q4 12:35) — (12:35) 17-B.Aubrey 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the MIA 8 (Q4 3:33) — (3:33) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left to 3-B.Cooks for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN [43-A.Van Ginkel].; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q4 3:27) — 17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the DAL 11 (Q4 0:02) — (:02) 7-J.Sanders 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal (Q4 0:00) — END GAME.

Turning points

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

• Miami Dolphins (Q4 0:02) — (:02) 7-J.Sanders 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey. [WPA +28.5% · EPA +0.12]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 52:22) — (7:22) 66-T.Bass reported in as eligible. 4-D.Prescott FUMBLES (Aborted) at MIA 2, RECOVERED by MIA-29-B.Jones at MIA 2. [WPA -20.1% · EPA -6.74]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 4:23) — (4:23) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass incomplete short right to 9-K.Turpin. PENALTY on MIA-21-D.Elliott, Defensive Pass Interference, 3 yards, enforced at MIA 4 - No Play. Penalty on MIA-25-X.Howard, Def [WPA +17.6% · EPA +3.50]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 46:41) — (1:41) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short middle to 88-C.Lamb for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +17.4% · EPA +4.75]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 3:33) — (3:33) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left to 3-B.Cooks for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN [43-A.Van Ginkel]. [WPA +14.7% · EPA +3.15]

Impact plays

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 52:22) — (7:22) 66-T.Bass reported in as eligible. 4-D.Prescott FUMBLES (Aborted) at MIA 2, RECOVERED by MIA-29-B.Jones at MIA 2. [WPA -20.1% · EPA -6.74]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 46:41) — (1:41) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short middle to 88-C.Lamb for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +17.4% · EPA +4.75]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 51:32) — (6:32) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass deep right to 17-J.Waddle ran ob at DAL 47 for 50 yards. [WPA +10.8% · EPA +4.20]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 4:23) — (4:23) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass incomplete short right to 9-K.Turpin. PENALTY on MIA-21-D.Elliott, Defensive Pass Interference, 3 yards, enforced at MIA 4 - No Play. Penalty on MIA-25-X.Howard, Def [WPA +17.6% · EPA +3.50]

Quarterback report card

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

• D.Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) · 43 dropbacks · 46.5% completion · -1.8% CPOE · +0.36 EPA/play · +15.27 total EPA
• T.Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins) · 39 dropbacks · 61.5% completion · +1.9% CPOE · +0.20 EPA/play · +7.68 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 +0.12, Miami Dolphins +0.13) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Dallas Cowboys: 9 drives, +9.73 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Miami Dolphins: 9 drives, +10.30 total EPA, 6 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Miami Dolphins 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. Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

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

1. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q1 47:55 · DAL 39 · Score 0-3
   (2:55) 7-J.Sanders 57 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
2. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q1 47:50 · MIA 35 · Score 0-3
   7-J.Sanders kicks 65 yards from MIA 35 to end zone, Touchback.
3. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q1 46:41 · MIA 49 · Score 6-3
   (1:41) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short middle to 88-C.Lamb for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q1 46:30 · MIA 15 · Score 7-3
   17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
5. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q2 34:36 · DAL 34 · Score 7-6
   (4:36) 7-J.Sanders 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
6. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q2 30:21 · DAL 4 · Score 7-12
   (:21) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short left to 31-R.Mostert for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Miami Dolphins TD (+7) — Q2 30:17 · DAL 15 · Score 7-13
   7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
8. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q3 24:04 · DAL 36 · Score 7-16
   (9:04) 7-J.Sanders 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
9. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q3 20:32 · MIA 25 · Score 10-16
   (5:32) 17-B.Aubrey 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
10. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q3 16:28 · DAL 17 · Score 10-19
    (1:28) 7-J.Sanders 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
11. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q4 12:35 · MIA 15 · Score 13-19
    (12:35) 17-B.Aubrey 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
12. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 3:33 · MIA 8 · Score 19-19
    (3:33) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left to 3-B.Cooks for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN [43-A.Van Ginkel].
13. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q4 3:27 · MIA 15 · Score 20-19
    17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
14. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q4 0:02 · DAL 11 · Score 20-22
    (:02) 7-J.Sanders 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
15. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q4 0:00 · Score 20-22
    END GAME