Dallas Cowboys vs. New Orleans Saints: 1999 Week 16 Recap

Game story

In Week 16 of the 1999 NFL season on 1999-12-24, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 31–24 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 24 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Aikman (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with -9.46 total EPA.

On the individual side, J. Tucker (Dallas Cowboys) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +8.95 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+58.0% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: T.Gowin kicks 54 yards from DAL 30 to NO 16. D.Philyaw pushed ob at NO 45 for 29 yards (D.Woodson).

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 J. Tucker · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +8.95 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.81 EPA/play
2. 2 K. Poole · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +7.30 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.22 EPA/play
3. 3 E. Kennison · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +6.62 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.83 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Delhomme · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +2.79 total EPA · 31 snaps · +0.09 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Delhomme · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +1.72 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.57 EPA/play
6. 6 E. Smith · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +1.52 total EPA · 24 snaps · +0.06 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Wilcox · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.46 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.49 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Sanders · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +0.81 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.27 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 Orleans Saints — unlisted player (Q1 49:09)
• Dallas Cowboys — unlisted player (Q2 41:47)
• Dallas Cowboys — unlisted player (Q3 30:00)
• New Orleans Saints — unlisted player (Q3 20:56)
• Dallas Cowboys — unlisted player (Q3 15:33)
• New Orleans Saints — unlisted player (Q4 15:00)
• New Orleans Saints — unlisted player (Q4 11:16)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — unlisted player (Q1 55:37)
• Dallas Cowboys — unlisted player (Q3 23:05)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 10–0. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the DAL 14 (Q1 55:37) — (10:37) D.Brien 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-K.Gammon, Holder-T.Barnhardt.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the DAL 8 (Q1 49:09) — (4:09) J.Delhomme pass to K.Poole for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q1 46:38) — D.Brien extra point is GOOD, Center-K.Gammon, Holder-T.Barnhardt..

The second quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 7–0. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the NO 1 (Q2 41:47) — (11:47) E.Smith right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q2 40:36) — E.Murray extra point is GOOD, Center-D.Hellestrae, Holder-E.Bjornson..

The third quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 17–7. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the NO 20 (Q3 30:00) — (15:00) T.Aikman pass to J.Tucker for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q3 25:34) — E.Murray extra point is GOOD, Center-D.Hellestrae, Holder-E.Bjornson.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the NO 16 (Q3 23:05) — (8:05) E.Murray 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-D.Hellestrae, Holder-E.Bjornson.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the DAL 51 (Q3 20:56) — (5:56) J.Delhomme pass to E.Kennison for 51 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q3 20:10) — D.Brien extra point is GOOD, Center-K.Gammon, Holder-T.Barnhardt.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the NO 3 (Q3 15:33) — (:33) T.Aikman pass to D.LaFleur for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q3 15:16) — E.Murray extra point is GOOD, Center-D.Hellestrae, Holder-E.Bjornson..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 14–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the DAL 4 (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) J.Delhomme up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q4 11:16) — D.Brien extra point is GOOD, Center-K.Gammon, Holder-T.Barnhardt.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the NO 42 (Q4 11:16); New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q4 9:59) — D.Brien extra point is GOOD, Center-K.Gammon, Holder-T.Barnhardt..

Turning points

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q1 60:00) — T.Gowin kicks 54 yards from DAL 30 to NO 16. D.Philyaw pushed ob at NO 45 for 29 yards (D.Woodson). [WPA +58.0% · EPA +1.47]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 11:16) — (11:16) T.Aikman pass to E.Smith to NO 42 for no gain (R.Newkirk). FUMBLES (R.Newkirk), RECOVERED by NO-F.Weary at NO 42. F.Weary for 58 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -34.4% · EPA -9.03]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 1:14) — (1:14) T.Aikman pass intended for D.LaFleur INTERCEPTED by M.Fields at NO 0. Touchback. [WPA -25.1% · EPA -5.61]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 20:56) — (5:56) J.Delhomme pass to E.Kennison for 51 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +19.4% · EPA +4.28]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) J.Delhomme up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +15.0% · EPA +2.61]

Impact plays

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 11:16) — (11:16) T.Aikman pass to E.Smith to NO 42 for no gain (R.Newkirk). FUMBLES (R.Newkirk), RECOVERED by NO-F.Weary at NO 42. F.Weary for 58 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -34.4% · EPA -9.03]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 1:14) — (1:14) T.Aikman pass intended for D.LaFleur INTERCEPTED by M.Fields at NO 0. Touchback. [WPA -25.1% · EPA -5.61]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 49:25) — (4:25) T.Aikman pass intended for C.Brazzell INTERCEPTED by F.Weary at DAL 45. F.Weary pushed ob at DAL 23 for 22 yards (R.Thomas). [WPA -14.0% · EPA -5.33]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 25:34) — (10:34) J.Delhomme sacked at NO 21 for -16 yards (R.Godfrey). FUMBLES (R.Godfrey), RECOVERED by DAL-L.Lett at NO 21. [WPA -12.6% · EPA -5.04]

Quarterback report card

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

• T.Aikman (Dallas Cowboys) · 42 dropbacks · 54.8% completion · -0.23 EPA/play · -9.46 total EPA
• J.Delhomme (New Orleans Saints) · 31 dropbacks · 51.6% completion · +0.09 EPA/play · +2.79 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 -0.04, New Orleans Saints +0.01) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Dallas Cowboys: 12 drives, -3.52 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 13 drives, +0.50 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• New Orleans Saints 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.
• J. Tucker (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 Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q1 55:37 · DAL 14 · Score 0-3
   (10:37) D.Brien 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-K.Gammon, Holder-T.Barnhardt.
2. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 49:09 · DAL 8 · Score 0-9
   (4:09) J.Delhomme pass to K.Poole for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 46:38 · DAL 2 · Score 0-10
   D.Brien extra point is GOOD, Center-K.Gammon, Holder-T.Barnhardt.
4. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 41:47 · NO 1 · Score 6-10
   (11:47) E.Smith right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 40:36 · NO 2 · Score 7-10
   E.Murray extra point is GOOD, Center-D.Hellestrae, Holder-E.Bjornson.
6. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q3 30:00 · NO 20 · Score 13-10
   (15:00) T.Aikman pass to J.Tucker for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q3 25:34 · NO 2 · Score 14-10
   E.Murray extra point is GOOD, Center-D.Hellestrae, Holder-E.Bjornson.
8. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q3 23:05 · NO 16 · Score 17-10
   (8:05) E.Murray 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-D.Hellestrae, Holder-E.Bjornson.
9. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 20:56 · DAL 51 · Score 17-16
   (5:56) J.Delhomme pass to E.Kennison for 51 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 20:10 · DAL 2 · Score 17-17
    D.Brien extra point is GOOD, Center-K.Gammon, Holder-T.Barnhardt.
11. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q3 15:33 · NO 3 · Score 23-17
    (:33) T.Aikman pass to D.LaFleur for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q3 15:16 · NO 2 · Score 24-17
    E.Murray extra point is GOOD, Center-D.Hellestrae, Holder-E.Bjornson.
13. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 15:00 · DAL 4 · Score 24-23
    (15:00) J.Delhomme up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 11:16 · DAL 2 · Score 24-24
    D.Brien extra point is GOOD, Center-K.Gammon, Holder-T.Barnhardt.
15. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 11:16 · NO 42 · Score 24-30
    (11:16) T.Aikman pass to E.Smith to NO 42 for no gain (R.Newkirk). FUMBLES (R.Newkirk), RECOVERED by NO-F.Weary at NO 42. F.Weary for 58 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
16. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 9:59 · DAL 2 · Score 24-31
    D.Brien extra point is GOOD, Center-K.Gammon, Holder-T.Barnhardt.