Dallas Cowboys vs. New Orleans Saints: 2015 Week 4 Recap

Game story

In Week 4 of the 2015 NFL season on 2015-10-04, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 26–20 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with +12.17 total EPA, and +5.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, B. Weeden (Dallas Cowboys) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +15.99 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+46.7% win probability) landed in overtime when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (14:57) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 28-C.Spiller for 80 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 18, YAC 62

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 B. Weeden · Dallas Cowboys · Passing · +15.99 total EPA · 35 snaps · +0.46 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Brees · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +12.17 total EPA · 48 snaps · +0.25 EPA/play
3. 3 W. Snead · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +7.55 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.26 EPA/play
4. 4 C. Spiller · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +6.57 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.31 EPA/play
5. 5 B. Butler · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +5.34 total EPA · 1 snaps · +5.34 EPA/play
6. 6 C. Beasley · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +4.73 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.79 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Williams · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +3.11 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
8. 8 B. Watson · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.74 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.91 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 — J. Hill (D. Brees pass) (Q1 48:52)
• Dallas Cowboys — J. Randle (Q2 43:37)
• New Orleans Saints — K. Robinson (Q4 8:02)
• Dallas Cowboys — T. Williams (B. Weeden pass) (Q4 1:56)
• New Orleans Saints — C. Spiller (D. Brees pass) (OT 14:57)

Field goals

• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q1 54:46)
• New Orleans Saints — Z. Hocker (Q3 26:24)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q3 23:25)
• New Orleans Saints — Z. Hocker (Q3 16:30)

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 7–3. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the NO 12 (Q1 54:46) — (9:46) 5-D.Bailey 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the DAL 3 (Q1 48:52) — (3:52) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 89-J.Hill for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 3, YAC 0; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q1 48:48) — 2-Z.Hocker extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown..

The second quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 7–0. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the NO 1 (Q2 43:37); Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q2 43:35) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 6–3. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the DAL 33 (Q3 26:24) — (11:24) 2-Z.Hocker 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the NO 20 (Q3 23:25) — (8:25) 5-D.Bailey 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the DAL 11 (Q3 16:30) — (1:30) 2-Z.Hocker 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the DAL 1 (Q4 8:02); New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q4 7:58) — 2-Z.Hocker extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the NO 17 (Q4 1:56); Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the NO 15 (Q4 1:51) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..

Overtime: New Orleans Saints won the period 6–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the DAL 80 (OT 14:57) — (14:57) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 28-C.Spiller for 80 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 18, YAC 62.

Turning points

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

• New Orleans Saints (OT 14:57) — (14:57) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 28-C.Spiller for 80 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 18, YAC 62 [WPA +46.7% · EPA +6.28]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 0:16) — (:16) 2-Z.Hocker 30 yard field goal is No Good, Hit Left Upright, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown. [WPA -37.4% · EPA -2.91]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 1:56) — (1:56) (Shotgun) 3-B.Weeden pass deep right to 83-T.Williams for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. NO-78-B.Richardson was injured during the play. His return is Probable. [WPA +20.2% · EPA +4.46]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 24:45) — (9:45) 3-B.Weeden pass deep left to 19-B.Butler pushed ob at NO 9 for 67 yards (39-B.Browner). Pass 41, YAC 26 [WPA +19.3% · EPA +5.34]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 0:31) — (:31) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 16-B.Coleman to DAL 17 for 30 yards (59-A.Hitchens). Pass 25, YAC 5 [WPA +14.5% · EPA +2.46]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (OT 14:57) — (14:57) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 28-C.Spiller for 80 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 18, YAC 62 [WPA +46.7% · EPA +6.28]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 24:45) — (9:45) 3-B.Weeden pass deep left to 19-B.Butler pushed ob at NO 9 for 67 yards (39-B.Browner). Pass 41, YAC 26 [WPA +19.3% · EPA +5.34]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 1:56) — (1:56) (Shotgun) 3-B.Weeden pass deep right to 83-T.Williams for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. NO-78-B.Richardson was injured during the play. His return is Probable. [WPA +20.2% · EPA +4.46]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 58:15) — (13:15) 25-L.Dunbar right tackle to NO 27 for 45 yards (39-B.Browner). [WPA +11.6% · EPA +3.24]

Quarterback report card

D.Brees led all passers in efficiency for New Orleans Saints, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Brees (New Orleans Saints) · 48 dropbacks · 68.8% completion · +5.6% CPOE · +0.25 EPA/play · +12.17 total EPA
• B.Weeden (Dallas Cowboys) · 35 dropbacks · 45.7% completion · +1.4% CPOE · +0.46 EPA/play · +15.99 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 +0.09, New Orleans Saints +0.11) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Dallas Cowboys: 10 drives, +7.24 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 11 drives, +10.04 total EPA, 5 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.
• B. Weeden (Dallas Cowboys) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Brees (NO) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

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

1. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q1 54:46 · NO 12 · Score 3-0
   (9:46) 5-D.Bailey 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
2. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 48:52 · DAL 3 · Score 3-6
   (3:52) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short left to 89-J.Hill for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 3, YAC 0
3. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 48:48 · DAL 15 · Score 3-7
   2-Z.Hocker extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.
4. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 43:37 · NO 1 · Score 9-7
   (13:37) 21-J.Randle right guard to NO 1 for no gain (50-S.Anthony). FUMBLES (50-S.Anthony), RECOVERED by NO-56-M.Mauti at NO 4. 56-M.Mauti to NO 4 for no gain (
5. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 43:35 · NO 15 · Score 10-7
   5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
6. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q3 26:24 · DAL 33 · Score 10-10
   (11:24) 2-Z.Hocker 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.
7. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q3 23:25 · NO 20 · Score 13-10
   (8:25) 5-D.Bailey 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
8. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q3 16:30 · DAL 11 · Score 13-13
   (1:30) 2-Z.Hocker 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.
9. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 8:02 · DAL 1 · Score 13-19
   (8:02) 29-K.Robinson left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on NO-29-K.Robinson, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs.
10. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 7:58 · DAL 15 · Score 13-20
    2-Z.Hocker extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-7-L.McCown.
11. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 1:56 · NO 17 · Score 19-20
    (1:56) (Shotgun) 3-B.Weeden pass deep right to 83-T.Williams for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. NO-78-B.Richardson was injured during the play. His return is Probable.
12. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q4 1:51 · NO 15 · Score 20-20
    5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
13. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — OT 14:57 · DAL 80 · Score 20-26
    (14:57) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 28-C.Spiller for 80 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass 18, YAC 62