Game story
In Week 1 of the 2012 NFL season on 2012-09-05, the Dallas Cowboys took care of business against the New York Giants, pulling away with a 24–17 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.
The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.
E. Manning (New York Giants) paced the passing game, with +5.12 total EPA, and +3.5% completion percentage over expected.
On the individual side, T. Romo (Dallas Cowboys) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +12.71 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.
The momentum swing (-17.6% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (10:46) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle intended for 85-K.Ogletree INTERCEPTED by 59-M.Boley at NYG 47. 59-M.Boley pushed ob at DAL 2 for 51 yards (77-T.Smith). PENALTY on DAL-77-T.Smith, Horse C
Line score
Final score and points by quarter.
| Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | — | — | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 7 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| New York Giants | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
Stars of the game
Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.
- 1 T. Romo · Dallas Cowboys · Passing · +12.71 total EPA · 33 snaps · +0.39 EPA/play
- 2 M. Austin · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +7.23 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.81 EPA/play
- 3 D. Bryant · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +5.64 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.13 EPA/play
- 4 E. Manning · New York Giants · Passing · +5.12 total EPA · 36 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
- 5 M. Bennett · New York Giants · Receiving · +3.03 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.50 EPA/play
- 6 K. Ogletree · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.95 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.27 EPA/play
- 7 D. Murray · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +2.65 total EPA · 23 snaps · +0.12 EPA/play
- 8 D. Hixon · New York Giants · Receiving · +2.60 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.52 EPA/play
Player of the game
FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.
T. Romo — DAL · Passing
T. Romo posted the highest total EPA (+12.71) in the game, making the biggest overall impact on Dallas Cowboys's efficiency. Across 33 counted snaps, they averaged +0.39 EPA per play.
The signature play (-6.62 EPA) came from Dallas Cowboys: (10:46) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle intended for 85-K.Ogletree INTERCEPTED by 59-M.Boley at NYG 47. 59-M.Boley pushed ob at DAL 2 for 51 yards (77-T.Smith). PENALTY on DAL-77-T.Smith, Horse Collar Tackle, 1 yard
Who scored touchdowns and field goals
Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.
Touchdowns
- Dallas Cowboys — K. Ogletree (T. Romo pass)
- Dallas Cowboys — K. Ogletree (T. Romo pass)
- New York Giants — A. Bradshaw
- Dallas Cowboys — M. Austin (T. Romo pass)
- New York Giants — M. Bennett (E. Manning pass)
Field goals
- New York Giants — L. Tynes
- Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey
How it unfolded, quarter by quarter
A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.
The second quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 7–3. New York Giants connected on a field goal from the DAL 4 (Q2 39:14) — (9:14) 9-L.Tynes 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-5-S.Weatherford.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the NYG 10 (Q2 31:07) — (1:07) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle to 85-K.Ogletree for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the NYG 2 (Q2 31:01) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..
The third quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 10–7. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the NYG 40 (Q3 25:32) — (10:32) 9-T.Romo pass deep right to 85-K.Ogletree for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the NYG 2 (Q3 25:24) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; New York Giants found the end zone from the DAL 10 (Q3 20:19) — (5:19) 44-A.Bradshaw left tackle for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Giants added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q3 20:11) — 9-L.Tynes extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-5-S.Weatherford.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the NYG 15 (Q3 15:45) — (:45) 5-D.Bailey 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..
The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the NYG 34 (Q4 6:12) — (6:12) 9-T.Romo pass deep left to 19-M.Austin for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the NYG 2 (Q4 5:57) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; New York Giants found the end zone from the DAL 9 (Q4 2:42); New York Giants added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q4 2:36) — 9-L.Tynes extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-5-S.Weatherford..
Turning points
Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.
- Dallas Cowboys (Q2 40:46) — (10:46) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle intended for 85-K.Ogletree INTERCEPTED by 59-M.Boley at NYG 47. 59-M.Boley pushed ob at DAL 2 for 51 yards (77-T.Smith). PENALTY on DAL-77-T.Smith, Horse C
- New York Giants (Q1 51:43) — (6:43) 22-D.Wilson left end to DAL 27 for 2 yards (50-S.Lee). FUMBLES (50-S.Lee), RECOVERED by DAL-42-B.Church at DAL 28. 42-B.Church to DAL 34 for 6 yards (76-C.Snee). Officially, a rush for 1 yard.
- Dallas Cowboys (Q2 31:59) — (1:59) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep right to 88-D.Bryant to NYG 15 for 38 yards (21-K.Phillips).
- Dallas Cowboys (Q3 19:35) — (4:35) 29-D.Murray right end to NYG 25 for 48 yards (26-A.Rolle).
- Dallas Cowboys (Q1 47:46) — (2:46) 47-L.Vickers left guard to NYG 37 for no gain (26-A.Rolle, 55-K.Rivers).
Impact plays
Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.
- Dallas Cowboys (Q2 40:46) — (10:46) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle intended for 85-K.Ogletree INTERCEPTED by 59-M.Boley at NYG 47. 59-M.Boley pushed ob at DAL 2 for 51 yards (77-T.Smith). PENALTY on DAL-77-T.Smith, Horse C
- New York Giants (Q1 51:43) — (6:43) 22-D.Wilson left end to DAL 27 for 2 yards (50-S.Lee). FUMBLES (50-S.Lee), RECOVERED by DAL-42-B.Church at DAL 28. 42-B.Church to DAL 34 for 6 yards (76-C.Snee). Officially, a rush for 1 yard.
- Dallas Cowboys (Q3 25:32) — (10:32) 9-T.Romo pass deep right to 85-K.Ogletree for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- Dallas Cowboys (Q4 6:12) — (6:12) 9-T.Romo pass deep left to 19-M.Austin for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
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) · 36 dropbacks · 58.3% completion · +3.5% CPOE · +0.14 EPA/play · +5.12 total EPA
- T.Romo (Dallas Cowboys) · 33 dropbacks · 66.7% completion · +12.3% CPOE · +0.39 EPA/play · +12.71 total EPA
Team stats comparison
Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.
| Stat | Dallas Cowboys | New York Giants |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive EPA/play | +0.148 | +0.031 |
| Offensive success rate | 51.3% | 38.6% |
| Pass EPA/play | +0.385 | +0.142 |
| Rush EPA/play | -0.003 | -0.200 |
| Defensive EPA/play | -0.031 | -0.148 |
| Defensive success rate | 61.4% | 48.7% |
By the numbers
Despite the final score, Dallas Cowboys generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.15 vs +0.03), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.
- Dallas Cowboys: 9 drives, +11.58 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
- New York Giants: 9 drives, +2.17 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
Key takeaways
What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.
- Dallas Cowboys 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.
- E. Manning (NYG) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
- T. Romo (DAL) 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.
- New York Giants FG (+3) — Q2 39:14 · DAL 4 · Score 0-3
(9:14) 9-L.Tynes 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-5-S.Weatherford. - Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 31:07 · NYG 10 · Score 6-3
(1:07) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle to 85-K.Ogletree for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 31:01 · NYG 2 · Score 7-3
5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones. - Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q3 25:32 · NYG 40 · Score 13-3
(10:32) 9-T.Romo pass deep right to 85-K.Ogletree for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q3 25:24 · NYG 2 · Score 14-3
5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones. - New York Giants TD (+6) — Q3 20:19 · DAL 10 · Score 14-9
(5:19) 44-A.Bradshaw left tackle for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - New York Giants XP (+1) — Q3 20:11 · DAL 2 · Score 14-10
9-L.Tynes extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-5-S.Weatherford. - Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q3 15:45 · NYG 15 · Score 17-10
(:45) 5-D.Bailey 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones. - Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 6:12 · NYG 34 · Score 23-10
(6:12) 9-T.Romo pass deep left to 19-M.Austin for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q4 5:57 · NYG 2 · Score 24-10
5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones. - New York Giants TD (+6) — Q4 2:42 · DAL 9 · Score 24-16
(2:42) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short middle to 85-M.Bennett for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on DAL-42-B.Church, Defensive Pass Interference, decl - New York Giants XP (+1) — Q4 2:36 · DAL 2 · Score 24-17
9-L.Tynes extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-5-S.Weatherford.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Dallas Cowboys vs New York Giants?
The Dallas Cowboys beat the New York Giants 24-17 in Week 1, 2012 on 2012-09-05.
What was the final score of Dallas Cowboys vs New York Giants?
The final score was Dallas Cowboys 24, New York Giants 17 (DAL 24-17 NYG) in Week 1, 2012 on 2012-09-05.
What was the score by quarter in Dallas Cowboys vs New York Giants?
Q2: Dallas Cowboys 7, New York Giants 3; Q3: Dallas Cowboys 10, New York Giants 7; Q4: Dallas Cowboys 7, New York Giants 7; Final: Dallas Cowboys 24, New York Giants 17.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals in Dallas Cowboys vs New York Giants?
Dallas Cowboys touchdown — K. Ogletree (T. Romo pass) (Q2 31:07) Dallas Cowboys touchdown — K. Ogletree (T. Romo pass) (Q3 25:32) New York Giants touchdown — A. Bradshaw (Q3 20:19) Dallas Cowboys touchdown — M. Austin (T. Romo pass) (Q4 6:12) New York Giants touchdown — M. Bennett (E. Manning pass) (Q4 2:42) New York Giants field goal — L. Tynes (Q2 39:14, 3 pts) Dallas Cowboys field goal — D. Bailey (Q3 15:45, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.
How did the quarterbacks play in Dallas Cowboys vs New York Giants?
E. Manning (New York Giants), 58.3% completion, +3.5% CPOE, +0.14 EPA per dropback, +5.12 total passing EPA. T. Romo (Dallas Cowboys), 66.7% completion, +12.3% CPOE, +0.39 EPA per dropback, +12.71 total passing EPA.
Who was the most impactful player in Dallas Cowboys vs New York Giants?
T. Romo (Dallas Cowboys) led the game in total EPA with +12.71 on passing plays. across 33 snaps. The top single-play swing was (-6.62 EPA): (10:46) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle intended for 85-K.Ogletree INTERCEPTED by 59-M.Boley at NYG 47. 59-M.Boley pushed ob at DAL 2 for 51 yards (77-T.Smith). PENALTY on DAL. The biggest win-probability swing was -17.6%.
Was Dallas Cowboys vs New York Giants a close game?
Yes — the margin was 7 points. Dallas Cowboys won 24-17 in a game that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.
Season records after this game
Dallas Cowboys
Now 1-0 W
New York Giants
Now 0-1 L
Fantasy · fantasyhq.co
