Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants: 2008 Week 9 Recap

Game story

In Week 9 of the 2008 NFL season on 2008-11-02, the New York Giants took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 35–14 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

E. Manning (New York Giants) paced the passing game, with -8.02 total EPA, and -2.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, P. Crayton (Dallas Cowboys) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.50 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-18.3% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (3:03) 14-B.Johnson pass short left intended for 81-T.Owens INTERCEPTED by 23-C.Webster at NYG 16. 23-C.Webster to DAL 27 for 57 yards (84-P.Crayton).

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 P. Crayton · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +5.50 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.38 EPA/play
2. 2 A. Toomer · New York Giants · Receiving · +4.84 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.42 EPA/play
3. 3 S. Smith · New York Giants · Receiving · +4.37 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.87 EPA/play
4. 4 B. Jacobs · New York Giants · Rushing · +3.37 total EPA · 17 snaps · +0.20 EPA/play
5. 5 K. Boss · New York Giants · Receiving · +3.33 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.11 EPA/play
6. 6 Roy E.Williams · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +3.10 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.10 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Ward · New York Giants · Receiving · +3.03 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.52 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Bennett · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.45 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.82 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 York Giants — K. Boss (E. Manning pass) (Q1 53:53)
• New York Giants — S. Smith (E. Manning pass) (Q1 45:52)
• Dallas Cowboys — M. Jenkins (Q2 38:50)
• New York Giants — A. Toomer (E. Manning pass) (Q2 31:32)
• New York Giants — B. Jacobs (Q3 28:25)
• Dallas Cowboys — T. Owens (B. Bollinger pass) (Q4 14:11)
• New York Giants — D. Ward (Q4 8:25)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: New York Giants won the period 14–0. New York Giants found the end zone from the DAL 13 (Q1 53:53) — (8:53) (Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short right to 89-K.Boss for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Giants added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q1 53:47) — 5-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-93-J.Alford, Holder-18-J.Feagles.; New York Giants found the end zone from the DAL 5 (Q1 45:52); New York Giants added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q1 45:41) — 5-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-93-J.Alford, Holder-18-J.Feagles..

The second quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the DAL 81 (Q2 38:50) — (8:50) 10-E.Manning pass short right intended for 17-P.Burress INTERCEPTED by 31-M.Jenkins at NYG 23. 31-M.Jenkins for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the NYG 2 (Q2 38:38) — 6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson.; New York Giants found the end zone from the DAL 11 (Q2 31:32) — (1:32) (Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short right to 81-A.Toomer for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Giants added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q2 31:28) — 5-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-93-J.Alford, Holder-18-J.Feagles..

The third quarter: New York Giants won the period 7–0. New York Giants found the end zone from the DAL 12 (Q3 28:25) — (13:25) 27-B.Jacobs left tackle for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Giants added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q3 28:16) — 5-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-93-J.Alford, Holder-18-J.Feagles..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the NYG 8 (Q4 14:11); Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the NYG 2 (Q4 14:07) — 6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson.; New York Giants found the end zone from the DAL 17 (Q4 8:25) — (8:25) (Shotgun) 34-D.Ward right tackle for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Giants added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q4 8:20) — 5-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-93-J.Alford, Holder-18-J.Feagles..

Turning points

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 48:03) — (3:03) 14-B.Johnson pass short left intended for 81-T.Owens INTERCEPTED by 23-C.Webster at NYG 16. 23-C.Webster to DAL 27 for 57 yards (84-P.Crayton). [WPA -18.3% · EPA -8.08]
• New York Giants (Q2 38:50) — (8:50) 10-E.Manning pass short right intended for 17-P.Burress INTERCEPTED by 31-M.Jenkins at NYG 23. 31-M.Jenkins for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -13.4% · EPA -7.30]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 32:55) — (2:55) 14-B.Johnson pass short right intended for 82-J.Witten INTERCEPTED by 23-C.Webster [96-B.Cofield] at NYG 47. 23-C.Webster pushed ob at NYG 48 for 1 yard (82-J.Witten). [WPA -9.0% · EPA -2.90]
• New York Giants (Q2 37:18) — (7:18) (Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short left to 34-D.Ward to NYG 42 for 17 yards (42-A.Henry). [WPA +8.6% · EPA +2.30]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 48:30) — (3:30) (Shotgun) 14-B.Johnson pass deep left to 11-Roy E.Williams pushed ob at NYG 25 for 28 yards (23-C.Webster). [WPA +7.1% · EPA +3.10]

Impact plays

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 48:03) — (3:03) 14-B.Johnson pass short left intended for 81-T.Owens INTERCEPTED by 23-C.Webster at NYG 16. 23-C.Webster to DAL 27 for 57 yards (84-P.Crayton). [WPA -18.3% · EPA -8.08]
• New York Giants (Q2 38:50) — (8:50) 10-E.Manning pass short right intended for 17-P.Burress INTERCEPTED by 31-M.Jenkins at NYG 23. 31-M.Jenkins for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -13.4% · EPA -7.30]
• New York Giants (Q3 22:45) — (7:45) 10-E.Manning sacked at DAL 37 for -7 yards (94-D.Ware). FUMBLES (94-D.Ware), RECOVERED by DAL-56-B.James at DAL 25. 56-B.James to DAL 25 for no gain (76-C.Snee). Officially, a sack for 0 yards. [WPA -2.2% · EPA -4.54]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 29:20) — (14:20) 5-B.Bollinger pass short right intended for 82-J.Witten INTERCEPTED by 37-J.Butler at DAL 27. 37-J.Butler to DAL 18 for 9 yards (65-A.Gurode). [WPA -3.0% · EPA -4.33]

Quarterback report card

E.Manning led all passers in efficiency for New York Giants, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• E.Manning (New York Giants) · 35 dropbacks · 45.7% completion · -2.6% CPOE · -0.23 EPA/play · -8.02 total EPA
• B.Bollinger (Dallas Cowboys) · 19 dropbacks · 47.4% completion · -2.0% CPOE · -0.18 EPA/play · -3.49 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

New York Giants held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.01 vs -0.29), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Dallas Cowboys: 13 drives, -21.14 total EPA, 1 scoring drives
• New York Giants: 13 drives, -1.13 total EPA, 6 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• New York Giants leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• P. Crayton (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 York Giants TD (+6) — Q1 53:53 · DAL 13 · Score 0-6
   (8:53) (Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short right to 89-K.Boss for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New York Giants XP (+1) — Q1 53:47 · DAL 2 · Score 0-7
   5-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-93-J.Alford, Holder-18-J.Feagles.
3. New York Giants TD (+6) — Q1 45:52 · DAL 5 · Score 0-13
   (:52) (Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short right to 12-S.Smith for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on DAL-32-O.Scandrick, Defensive Holding, declined.
4. New York Giants XP (+1) — Q1 45:41 · DAL 2 · Score 0-14
   5-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-93-J.Alford, Holder-18-J.Feagles.
5. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 38:50 · DAL 81 · Score 6-14
   (8:50) 10-E.Manning pass short right intended for 17-P.Burress INTERCEPTED by 31-M.Jenkins at NYG 23. 31-M.Jenkins for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 38:38 · NYG 2 · Score 7-14
   6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson.
7. New York Giants TD (+6) — Q2 31:32 · DAL 11 · Score 7-20
   (1:32) (Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short right to 81-A.Toomer for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. New York Giants XP (+1) — Q2 31:28 · DAL 2 · Score 7-21
   5-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-93-J.Alford, Holder-18-J.Feagles.
9. New York Giants TD (+6) — Q3 28:25 · DAL 12 · Score 7-27
   (13:25) 27-B.Jacobs left tackle for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. New York Giants XP (+1) — Q3 28:16 · DAL 2 · Score 7-28
    5-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-93-J.Alford, Holder-18-J.Feagles.
11. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 14:11 · NYG 8 · Score 13-28
    (14:11) (Shotgun) 5-B.Bollinger pass short middle to 81-T.Owens for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on NYG-23-C.Webster, Illegal Use of Hands, declined.
12. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q4 14:07 · NYG 2 · Score 14-28
    6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson.
13. New York Giants TD (+6) — Q4 8:25 · DAL 17 · Score 14-34
    (8:25) (Shotgun) 34-D.Ward right tackle for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. New York Giants XP (+1) — Q4 8:20 · DAL 2 · Score 14-35
    5-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-93-J.Alford, Holder-18-J.Feagles.