Dallas Cowboys vs. New England Patriots: 2011 Week 6 Recap

Game story

In Week 6 of the 2011 NFL season on 2011-10-16, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 20–16 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Brady (New England Patriots) paced the passing game, with +0.39 total EPA, and +1.5% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Romo (Dallas Cowboys) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.32 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+32.9% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when New England Patriots changed the game: (:27) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 81-A.Hernandez for 8 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. Romo · Dallas Cowboys · Passing · +7.32 total EPA · 45 snaps · +0.16 EPA/play
2. 2 R. Gronkowski · New England Patriots · Receiving · +6.32 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.90 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Witten · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +4.58 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.14 EPA/play
4. 4 L. Robinson · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.61 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.30 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Branch · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.42 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.48 EPA/play
6. 6 M. Austin · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +1.72 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.17 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Phillips · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +1.56 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.56 EPA/play
8. 8 W. Welker · New England Patriots · Receiving · +1.55 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.15 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

• New England Patriots — W. Welker (T. Brady pass) (Q2 38:01)
• Dallas Cowboys — J. Witten (T. Romo pass) (Q2 30:39)
• New England Patriots — A. Hernandez (T. Brady pass) (Q4 0:27)

Field goals

• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q1 53:44)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q1 48:21)
• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q2 42:10)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q3 20:54)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q4 5:16)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the DAL 13 (Q1 53:44) — (8:44) 3-S.Gostkowski 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the NE 30 (Q1 48:21) — (3:21) 5-D.Bailey 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar..

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 10–7. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the DAL 7 (Q2 42:10) — (12:10) 3-S.Gostkowski 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the DAL 5 (Q2 38:01); New England Patriots added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q2 37:34) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the NE 1 (Q2 30:39) — (:39) 92-J.Price-Brent reported in as eligible. 9-T.Romo pass short left to 82-J.Witten for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q2 30:33) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar..

The third quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 3–0. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the NE 4 (Q3 20:54) — (5:54) 5-D.Bailey 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar..

The fourth quarter: New England Patriots won the period 7–3. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the NE 8 (Q4 5:16) — (5:16) 5-D.Bailey 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the DAL 8 (Q4 0:27) — (:27) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 81-A.Hernandez for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q4 0:22) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-14-Z.Mesko..

Turning points

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

• New England Patriots (Q4 0:27) — (:27) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 81-A.Hernandez for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +32.9% · EPA +2.71]
• New England Patriots (Q1 49:53) — (4:53) 12-T.Brady pass short middle intended for 84-D.Branch INTERCEPTED by 41-T.Newman (99-K.Coleman) at NE 24. 41-T.Newman to NE 23 for 1 yard (84-D.Branch). [WPA -17.6% · EPA -4.14]
• New England Patriots (Q3 15:38) — (:38) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 81-A.Hernandez to DAL 17 for 4 yards (56-B.James). FUMBLES (56-B.James), RECOVERED by DAL-41-T.Newman at DAL 16. 41-T.Newman to DAL 23 for 7 [WPA -15.9% · EPA -4.74]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 7:34) — (7:34) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short right to 81-L.Robinson pushed ob at NE 22 for 32 yards (59-G.Guyton). [WPA +14.4% · EPA +2.59]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 46:11) — (1:11) 23-T.Choice right tackle to NE 21 for no gain (75-V.Wilfork). FUMBLES (75-V.Wilfork), RECOVERED by NE-98-G.Warren at NE 21. [WPA -14.0% · EPA -4.58]

Impact plays

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

• New England Patriots (Q3 15:38) — (:38) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 81-A.Hernandez to DAL 17 for 4 yards (56-B.James). FUMBLES (56-B.James), RECOVERED by DAL-41-T.Newman at DAL 16. 41-T.Newman to DAL 23 for 7 [WPA -15.9% · EPA -4.74]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 46:11) — (1:11) 23-T.Choice right tackle to NE 21 for no gain (75-V.Wilfork). FUMBLES (75-V.Wilfork), RECOVERED by NE-98-G.Warren at NE 21. [WPA -14.0% · EPA -4.58]
• New England Patriots (Q4 9:19) — (9:19) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short left intended for 81-A.Hernandez INTERCEPTED by 50-S.Lee [57-V.Butler] at DAL 26. 50-S.Lee to DAL 32 for 6 yards (72-M.Light; 83-W.Welker). [WPA -13.6% · EPA -4.31]
• New England Patriots (Q1 48:16) — 5-D.Bailey kicks 62 yards from DAL 35 to NE 3. 18-M.Slater to NE 25 for 22 yards (89-J.Phillips). FUMBLES (89-J.Phillips), RECOVERED by DAL-43-G.Sensabaugh at NE 32. 43-G.Sensabaugh to NE 32 for no ga [WPA -13.8% · EPA -4.23]

Quarterback report card

T.Brady led all passers in efficiency for New England Patriots, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• T.Brady (New England Patriots) · 46 dropbacks · 58.7% completion · +1.5% CPOE · +0.01 EPA/play · +0.39 total EPA
• T.Romo (Dallas Cowboys) · 45 dropbacks · 60.0% completion · -0.7% CPOE · +0.16 EPA/play · +7.32 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 -0.02, New England Patriots +0.00) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Dallas Cowboys: 11 drives, -1.93 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 11 drives, +0.02 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• New England Patriots 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.
• T. Romo (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. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q1 53:44 · DAL 13 · Score 0-3
   (8:44) 3-S.Gostkowski 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.
2. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q1 48:21 · NE 30 · Score 3-3
   (3:21) 5-D.Bailey 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar.
3. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 42:10 · DAL 7 · Score 3-6
   (12:10) 3-S.Gostkowski 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.
4. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 38:01 · DAL 5 · Score 3-12
   (8:01) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 83-W.Welker pushed ob at DAL 1 for 4 yards (32-O.Scandrick) [93-A.Spencer]. New England challenged the
5. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 37:34 · DAL 2 · Score 3-13
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.
6. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 30:39 · NE 1 · Score 9-13
   (:39) 92-J.Price-Brent reported in as eligible. 9-T.Romo pass short left to 82-J.Witten for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 30:33 · NE 2 · Score 10-13
   5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar.
8. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q3 20:54 · NE 4 · Score 13-13
   (5:54) 5-D.Bailey 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar.
9. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q4 5:16 · NE 8 · Score 16-13
   (5:16) 5-D.Bailey 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar.
10. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 0:27 · DAL 8 · Score 16-19
    (:27) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 81-A.Hernandez for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 0:22 · DAL 2 · Score 16-20
    3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.