Dallas Cowboys vs. Minnesota Vikings: 2004 Week 1 Recap

Game story

In Week 1 of the 2004 NFL season on 2004-09-12, the Minnesota Vikings took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 35–17 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

V. Testaverde (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with +14.26 total EPA.

On the individual side, D. Culpepper (Minnesota Vikings) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +20.38 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+18.0% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Minnesota Vikings changed the game: (11:36) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 32-O.Smith for 63 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 D. Culpepper · Minnesota Vikings · Passing · +20.38 total EPA · 28 snaps · +0.73 EPA/play
2. 2 V. Testaverde · Dallas Cowboys · Passing · +14.26 total EPA · 52 snaps · +0.27 EPA/play
3. 3 K. Johnson · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +9.53 total EPA · 9 snaps · +1.06 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Bryant · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +8.59 total EPA · 8 snaps · +1.07 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Glenn · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +8.28 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.66 EPA/play
6. 6 M. Robinson · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +6.36 total EPA · 3 snaps · +2.12 EPA/play
7. 7 O. Smith · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +5.49 total EPA · 1 snaps · +5.49 EPA/play
8. 8 K. Campbell · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +4.11 total EPA · 1 snaps · +4.11 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

• Minnesota Vikings — O. Smith (D. Culpepper pass) (Q2 41:36)
• Minnesota Vikings — M. Robinson (D. Culpepper pass) (Q2 30:34)
• Dallas Cowboys — T. Glenn (V. Testaverde pass) (Q2 30:11)
• Minnesota Vikings — R. Moss (D. Culpepper pass) (Q3 27:33)
• Dallas Cowboys — R. Lee (Q3 25:41)
• Minnesota Vikings — R. Moss (D. Culpepper pass) (Q3 21:04)
• Minnesota Vikings — K. Campbell (D. Culpepper pass) (Q4 7:03)

Field goals

• Dallas Cowboys — B. Cundiff (Q1 56:05)

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 3–0. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the MIN 9 (Q1 56:05) — (11:05) 3-B.Cundiff 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-85-J.Robinson, Holder-1-M.McBriar..

The second quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 14–7. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DAL 63 (Q2 41:36) — (11:36) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 32-O.Smith for 63 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q2 41:26) — 7-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-12-G.Frerotte.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DAL 3 (Q2 30:34) — (:34) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 87-M.Robinson for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q2 30:30) — 7-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-12-G.Frerotte.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the MIN 32 (Q2 30:11) — (:11) (Shotgun) 16-V.Testaverde pass to 83-T.Glenn for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by Review Assistant and Upheld.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q2 30:05) — 3-B.Cundiff extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Robinson, Holder-9-T.Romo..

The third quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 14–7. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DAL 3 (Q3 27:33) — (12:33) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 84-R.Moss for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q3 27:25) — 7-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-12-G.Frerotte.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the MIN 7 (Q3 25:41) — (10:41) 32-R.Lee left guard for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q3 25:36) — 3-B.Cundiff extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Robinson, Holder-9-T.Romo.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DAL 1 (Q3 21:04) — (6:04) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 84-R.Moss for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q3 21:01) — 7-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-12-G.Frerotte..

The fourth quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 7–0. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DAL 43 (Q4 7:03); Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q4 6:56) — 7-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-12-G.Frerotte..

Turning points

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

• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 41:36) — (11:36) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 32-O.Smith for 63 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +18.0% · EPA +5.49]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 9:47) — (9:47) 20-R.Anderson right end to MIN 19 for no gain (26-A.Winfield). FUMBLES (26-A.Winfield), RECOVERED by MIN-26-A.Winfield at MIN 19. 26-A.Winfield to MIN 19 for no gain (20-R.Anderson). [WPA -10.9% · EPA -5.30]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 43:47) — (13:47) 1-M.McBriar FUMBLES (Aborted) at MIN 14, and recovers at MIN 24. 1-M.McBriar pass incomplete. PENALTY on DAL-1-M.McBriar, Intentional Grounding, 22 yards, enforced at MIN 6. [WPA -9.9% · EPA -4.34]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 30:11) — (:11) (Shotgun) 16-V.Testaverde pass to 83-T.Glenn for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by Review Assistant and Upheld. [WPA +9.9% · EPA +4.93]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 50:22) — (5:22) (Shotgun) 16-V.Testaverde pass to 88-A.Bryant to MIN 45 for 22 yards (21-C.Chavous). [WPA +9.2% · EPA +2.63]

Impact plays

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

• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 41:36) — (11:36) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 32-O.Smith for 63 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +18.0% · EPA +5.49]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 9:47) — (9:47) 20-R.Anderson right end to MIN 19 for no gain (26-A.Winfield). FUMBLES (26-A.Winfield), RECOVERED by MIN-26-A.Winfield at MIN 19. 26-A.Winfield to MIN 19 for no gain (20-R.Anderson). [WPA -10.9% · EPA -5.30]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 30:11) — (:11) (Shotgun) 16-V.Testaverde pass to 83-T.Glenn for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by Review Assistant and Upheld. [WPA +9.9% · EPA +4.93]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 43:47) — (13:47) 1-M.McBriar FUMBLES (Aborted) at MIN 14, and recovers at MIN 24. 1-M.McBriar pass incomplete. PENALTY on DAL-1-M.McBriar, Intentional Grounding, 22 yards, enforced at MIN 6. [WPA -9.9% · EPA -4.34]

Quarterback report card

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

• V.Testaverde (Dallas Cowboys) · 52 dropbacks · 55.8% completion · +0.27 EPA/play · +14.26 total EPA
• D.Culpepper (Minnesota Vikings) · 28 dropbacks · 60.7% completion · +0.73 EPA/play · +20.38 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Minnesota Vikings held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.38 vs +0.11), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Dallas Cowboys: 9 drives, +9.99 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Minnesota Vikings: 10 drives, +26.30 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Minnesota Vikings leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• D. Culpepper (Minnesota Vikings) 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. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q1 56:05 · MIN 9 · Score 3-0
   (11:05) 3-B.Cundiff 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-85-J.Robinson, Holder-1-M.McBriar.
2. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q2 41:36 · DAL 63 · Score 3-6
   (11:36) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 32-O.Smith for 63 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q2 41:26 · DAL 2 · Score 3-7
   7-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-12-G.Frerotte.
4. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q2 30:34 · DAL 3 · Score 3-13
   (:34) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 87-M.Robinson for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q2 30:30 · DAL 2 · Score 3-14
   7-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-12-G.Frerotte.
6. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 30:11 · MIN 32 · Score 9-14
   (:11) (Shotgun) 16-V.Testaverde pass to 83-T.Glenn for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Play Challenged by Review Assistant and Upheld.
7. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 30:05 · MIN 2 · Score 10-14
   3-B.Cundiff extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Robinson, Holder-9-T.Romo.
8. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q3 27:33 · DAL 3 · Score 10-20
   (12:33) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 84-R.Moss for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q3 27:25 · DAL 2 · Score 10-21
   7-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-12-G.Frerotte.
10. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q3 25:41 · MIN 7 · Score 16-21
    (10:41) 32-R.Lee left guard for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q3 25:36 · MIN 2 · Score 17-21
    3-B.Cundiff extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Robinson, Holder-9-T.Romo.
12. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q3 21:04 · DAL 1 · Score 17-27
    (6:04) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 84-R.Moss for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q3 21:01 · DAL 2 · Score 17-28
    7-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-12-G.Frerotte.
14. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q4 7:03 · DAL 43 · Score 17-34
    (7:03) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 16-K.Campbell for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on MIN-16-K.Campbell, Taunting, 15 yards, enforced between downs.
15. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q4 6:56 · DAL 2 · Score 17-35
    7-M.Andersen extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-12-G.Frerotte.