Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants: 2015 Week 7 Recap

Game story

In Week 7 of the 2015 NFL season on 2015-10-25, the New York Giants took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 27–20 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Cassel (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with -8.13 total EPA, and +2.8% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. McFadden (Dallas Cowboys) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.62 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-31.3% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (11:34) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass short right intended for 83-T.Williams INTERCEPTED by 41-D.Rodgers-Cromartie at NYG 42. 41-D.Rodgers-Cromartie for 58 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 D. McFadden · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +4.62 total EPA · 30 snaps · +0.15 EPA/play
2. 2 L. Whitehead · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +4.29 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.07 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Witten · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +3.44 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.43 EPA/play
4. 4 R. Randle · New York Giants · Receiving · +3.33 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.67 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Street · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.90 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.90 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Randle · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +2.22 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.11 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Harris · New York Giants · Receiving · +1.87 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.93 EPA/play
8. 8 E. Manning · New York Giants · Passing · +1.54 total EPA · 28 snaps · +0.05 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 — O. Darkwa (Q2 41:10)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. McFadden (Q2 32:22)
• New York Giants — D. Rodgers-Cromartie (Q3 26:34)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Street (M. Cassel pass) (Q4 7:25)
• New York Giants — D. Harris (Q4 7:14)

Field goals

• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q1 50:29)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q2 37:36)
• New York Giants — J. Brown (Q2 31:08)
• New York Giants — J. Brown (Q3 18:23)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 3–0. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the NYG 12 (Q1 50:29) — (5:29) 5-D.Bailey 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..

The second quarter: The quarter finished even at 10–10. New York Giants found the end zone from the DAL 15 (Q2 41:10) — (11:10) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 26-O.Darkwa left guard for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Giants added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q2 41:02) — 3-J.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the NYG 30 (Q2 37:36) — (7:36) 5-D.Bailey 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the NYG 1 (Q2 32:22) — (2:22) 20-D.McFadden right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the NYG 15 (Q2 32:17) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; New York Giants connected on a field goal from the DAL 29 (Q2 31:08) — (1:08) 3-J.Brown 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing..

The third quarter: New York Giants won the period 10–0. New York Giants found the end zone from the NYG 50 (Q3 26:34); New York Giants added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q3 26:19) — 3-J.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing.; New York Giants connected on a field goal from the DAL 16 (Q3 18:23) — (3:23) 3-J.Brown 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the NYG 25 (Q4 7:25) — (7:25) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass deep right to 15-D.Street for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN [93-G.Selvie].; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the NYG 15 (Q4 7:14) — 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 35 (Q4 7:14) — 5-D.Bailey kicks 65 yards from DAL 35 to NYG 0. 17-D.Harris for 100 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Giants added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q4 7:01) — 3-J.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing..

Turning points

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 26:34) — (11:34) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass short right intended for 83-T.Williams INTERCEPTED by 41-D.Rodgers-Cromartie at NYG 42. 41-D.Rodgers-Cromartie for 58 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -31.3% · EPA -8.95]
• New York Giants (Q4 7:14) — 5-D.Bailey kicks 65 yards from DAL 35 to NYG 0. 17-D.Harris for 100 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +26.8% · EPA +6.02]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 8:03) — (8:03) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass deep right to 83-T.Williams pushed ob at NYG 25 for 21 yards (31-T.Wade) [91-R.Ayers Jr.]. [WPA +12.8% · EPA +2.54]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 7:25) — (7:25) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass deep right to 15-D.Street for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN [93-G.Selvie]. [WPA +12.0% · EPA +2.90]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 22:54) — (7:54) 16-M.Cassel pass deep left intended for 83-T.Williams INTERCEPTED by 22-B.Meriweather at NYG 1. 22-B.Meriweather to NYG 1 for no gain (83-T.Williams). [WPA -11.2% · EPA -2.41]

Impact plays

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 26:34) — (11:34) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass short right intended for 83-T.Williams INTERCEPTED by 41-D.Rodgers-Cromartie at NYG 42. 41-D.Rodgers-Cromartie for 58 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -31.3% · EPA -8.95]
• New York Giants (Q4 7:14) — 5-D.Bailey kicks 65 yards from DAL 35 to NYG 0. 17-D.Harris for 100 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +26.8% · EPA +6.02]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass deep middle intended for 19-B.Butler INTERCEPTED by 41-D.Rodgers-Cromartie at NYG 22. 41-D.Rodgers-Cromartie to NYG 34 for 12 yards (71-L.Collins). [WPA -8.8% · EPA -4.64]
• New York Giants (Q3 21:33) — (6:33) (Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass deep right to 82-R.Randle pushed ob at 50 for 44 yards (39-B.Carr). [WPA +11.1% · EPA +4.03]

Quarterback report card

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

• M.Cassel (Dallas Cowboys) · 31 dropbacks · 54.8% completion · +2.8% CPOE · -0.26 EPA/play · -8.13 total EPA
• E.Manning (New York Giants) · 28 dropbacks · 46.4% completion · -12.4% CPOE · +0.05 EPA/play · +1.54 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 (+0.13 vs +0.05), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Dallas Cowboys: 10 drives, +4.19 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• New York Giants: 12 drives, +9.10 total EPA, 4 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• D. McFadden (Dallas Cowboys) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• E. Manning (NYG) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

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

1. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q1 50:29 · NYG 12 · Score 3-0
   (5:29) 5-D.Bailey 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
2. New York Giants TD (+6) — Q2 41:10 · DAL 15 · Score 3-6
   (11:10) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 26-O.Darkwa left guard for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. New York Giants XP (+1) — Q2 41:02 · DAL 15 · Score 3-7
   3-J.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing.
4. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q2 37:36 · NYG 30 · Score 6-7
   (7:36) 5-D.Bailey 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
5. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 32:22 · NYG 1 · Score 12-7
   (2:22) 20-D.McFadden right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 32:17 · NYG 15 · Score 13-7
   5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
7. New York Giants FG (+3) — Q2 31:08 · DAL 29 · Score 13-10
   (1:08) 3-J.Brown 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing.
8. New York Giants TD (+6) — Q3 26:34 · NYG 50 · Score 13-16
   (11:34) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass short right intended for 83-T.Williams INTERCEPTED by 41-D.Rodgers-Cromartie at NYG 42. 41-D.Rodgers-Cromartie for 58 yards,
9. New York Giants XP (+1) — Q3 26:19 · DAL 15 · Score 13-17
   3-J.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing.
10. New York Giants FG (+3) — Q3 18:23 · DAL 16 · Score 13-20
    (3:23) 3-J.Brown 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing.
11. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 7:25 · NYG 25 · Score 19-20
    (7:25) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass deep right to 15-D.Street for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN [93-G.Selvie].
12. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q4 7:14 · NYG 15 · Score 20-20
    5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
13. New York Giants TD (+6) — Q4 7:14 · DAL 35 · Score 20-26
    5-D.Bailey kicks 65 yards from DAL 35 to NYG 0. 17-D.Harris for 100 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. New York Giants XP (+1) — Q4 7:01 · DAL 15 · Score 20-27
    3-J.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing.