Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles: 2024 Week 17 Recap

Game story

In Week 17 of the 2024 NFL season on 2024-12-29, the Philadelphia Eagles took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 41–7 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 23 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Rush (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with -11.53 total EPA, and -10.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Smith (Philadelphia Eagles) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +12.52 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-25.0% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (11:55) (Shotgun) 10-C.Rush pass short middle intended for 3-B.Cooks INTERCEPTED by 8-C.Gardner-Johnson [93-M.Williams] at PHI 31. 8-C.Gardner-Johnson for 69 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. Smith · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +12.52 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.79 EPA/play
2. 2 K. Pickett · Philadelphia Eagles · Passing · +7.73 total EPA · 18 snaps · +0.43 EPA/play
3. 3 T. McKee · Philadelphia Eagles · Passing · +7.16 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.79 EPA/play
4. 4 K. Pickett · Philadelphia Eagles · Rushing · +5.40 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.35 EPA/play
5. 5 G. Calcaterra · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +2.79 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.40 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Tolbert · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.71 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.68 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Brown · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +2.32 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.46 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Brooks · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +1.40 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.40 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

• Philadelphia Eagles — C. Gardner-Johnson (Q1 56:55)
• Dallas Cowboys — J. Tolbert (C. Rush pass) (Q1 50:42)
• Philadelphia Eagles — D. Smith (K. Pickett pass) (Q2 36:44)
• Philadelphia Eagles — K. Pickett (Q2 30:02)
• Philadelphia Eagles — A. Brown (T. McKee pass) (Q3 17:48)
• Philadelphia Eagles — D. Smith (T. McKee pass) (Q4 10:09)

Field goals

• Philadelphia Eagles — J. Elliott (Q2 31:58)
• Philadelphia Eagles — J. Elliott (Q3 23:07)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the PHI 35 (Q1 56:55); Philadelphia Eagles added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q1 56:43) — 4-J.Elliott extra point is GOOD, Center-49-R.Lovato, Holder-10-B.Mann.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the PHI 4 (Q1 50:42) — (5:42) (Shotgun) 10-C.Rush pass short left to 1-J.Tolbert for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the PHI 15 (Q1 50:38) — 17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger..

The second quarter: Philadelphia Eagles won the period 23–0. Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the DAL 22 (Q2 36:44) — (6:44) (Shotgun) 7-K.Pickett pass deep left to 6-D.Smith for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Philadelphia Eagles added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q2 36:38) — 4-J.Elliott extra point is GOOD, Center-49-R.Lovato, Holder-10-B.Mann.; Philadelphia Eagles connected on a field goal from the DAL 13 (Q2 31:58) — (1:58) 4-J.Elliott 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-R.Lovato, Holder-10-B.Mann.; Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the DAL 1 (Q2 30:02) — (:02) 7-K.Pickett up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the DAL 15 (Q2 30:00) — (Kick formation) PENALTY on DAL, Defensive Too Many Men on Field, 5 yards, enforced at DAL 15 - No Play.; Philadelphia Eagles added 1 points from the DAL 10 (Q2 30:00) — 4-J.Elliott extra point is GOOD, Center-49-R.Lovato, Holder-10-B.Mann..

The third quarter: Philadelphia Eagles won the period 10–0. Philadelphia Eagles connected on a field goal from the DAL 8 (Q3 23:07) — (8:07) 4-J.Elliott 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-R.Lovato, Holder-10-B.Mann.; Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the DAL 20 (Q3 17:48) — (2:48) (Shotgun) 16-T.McKee pass deep left to 11-A.Brown for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Philadelphia Eagles added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q3 17:44) — 4-J.Elliott extra point is GOOD, Center-49-R.Lovato, Holder-10-B.Mann..

The fourth quarter: Philadelphia Eagles won the period 7–0. Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the DAL 25 (Q4 10:09) — (10:09) (Shotgun) 16-T.McKee pass short right to 6-D.Smith for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Philadelphia Eagles added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q4 10:03) — 4-J.Elliott extra point is GOOD, Center-49-R.Lovato, Holder-10-B.Mann..

Turning points

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 56:55) — (11:55) (Shotgun) 10-C.Rush pass short middle intended for 3-B.Cooks INTERCEPTED by 8-C.Gardner-Johnson [93-M.Williams] at PHI 31. 8-C.Gardner-Johnson for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -25.0% · EPA -9.74]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q2 38:45) — (8:45) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 7-K.Pickett pass deep right to 81-G.Calcaterra to DAL 20 for 34 yards (24-I.Mukuamu). [WPA +12.5% · EPA +3.20]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 36:38) — (6:38) 10-C.Rush pass short middle to 87-J.Ferguson to DAL 36 for 6 yards (42-O.Burks). FUMBLES (42-O.Burks), RECOVERED by PHI-90-J.Davis at DAL 39. [WPA -8.6% · EPA -4.37]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 52:28) — (7:28) (Shotgun) 10-C.Rush pass deep right to 3-B.Cooks to PHI 12 for 22 yards (2-D.Slay). Penalty on PHI-2-D.Slay, Defensive Holding, declined. [WPA +8.0% · EPA +2.75]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q2 36:44) — (6:44) (Shotgun) 7-K.Pickett pass deep left to 6-D.Smith for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.5% · EPA +4.01]

Impact plays

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 56:55) — (11:55) (Shotgun) 10-C.Rush pass short middle intended for 3-B.Cooks INTERCEPTED by 8-C.Gardner-Johnson [93-M.Williams] at PHI 31. 8-C.Gardner-Johnson for 69 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -25.0% · EPA -9.74]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 14:37) — (14:37) (Shotgun) 23-R.Dowdle right guard to PHI 10 for 1 yard (3-N.Smith; 53-Z.Baun). FUMBLES (3-N.Smith), RECOVERED by PHI-33-C.DeJean at PHI 10. PENALTY on DAL-73-T.Smith, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 [WPA -0.1% · EPA -5.12]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 36:38) — (6:38) 10-C.Rush pass short middle to 87-J.Ferguson to DAL 36 for 6 yards (42-O.Burks). FUMBLES (42-O.Burks), RECOVERED by PHI-90-J.Davis at DAL 39. [WPA -8.6% · EPA -4.37]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q2 36:44) — (6:44) (Shotgun) 7-K.Pickett pass deep left to 6-D.Smith for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.5% · EPA +4.01]

Quarterback report card

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

• C.Rush (Dallas Cowboys) · 30 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -10.6% CPOE · -0.38 EPA/play · -11.53 total EPA
• K.Pickett (Philadelphia Eagles) · 18 dropbacks · 55.6% completion · +7.1% CPOE · +0.43 EPA/play · +7.73 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Philadelphia Eagles held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.22 vs -0.26), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Dallas Cowboys: 10 drives, -19.96 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• Philadelphia Eagles: 11 drives, +18.12 total EPA, 6 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Philadelphia Eagles leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• D. Smith (Philadelphia Eagles) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• C. Rush (DAL) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• K. Pickett (PHI) 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. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q1 56:55 · PHI 35 · Score 0-6
   (11:55) (Shotgun) 10-C.Rush pass short middle intended for 3-B.Cooks INTERCEPTED by 8-C.Gardner-Johnson [93-M.Williams] at PHI 31. 8-C.Gardner-Johnson for 69 ya
2. Philadelphia Eagles XP (+1) — Q1 56:43 · DAL 15 · Score 0-7
   4-J.Elliott extra point is GOOD, Center-49-R.Lovato, Holder-10-B.Mann.
3. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q1 50:42 · PHI 4 · Score 6-7
   (5:42) (Shotgun) 10-C.Rush pass short left to 1-J.Tolbert for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q1 50:38 · PHI 15 · Score 7-7
   17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
5. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q2 36:44 · DAL 22 · Score 7-13
   (6:44) (Shotgun) 7-K.Pickett pass deep left to 6-D.Smith for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Philadelphia Eagles XP (+1) — Q2 36:38 · DAL 15 · Score 7-14
   4-J.Elliott extra point is GOOD, Center-49-R.Lovato, Holder-10-B.Mann.
7. Philadelphia Eagles FG (+3) — Q2 31:58 · DAL 13 · Score 7-17
   (1:58) 4-J.Elliott 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-R.Lovato, Holder-10-B.Mann.
8. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q2 30:02 · DAL 1 · Score 7-23
   (:02) 7-K.Pickett up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q2 30:00 · DAL 15 · Score 7-23
   (Kick formation) PENALTY on DAL, Defensive Too Many Men on Field, 5 yards, enforced at DAL 15 - No Play.
10. Philadelphia Eagles XP (+1) — Q2 30:00 · DAL 10 · Score 7-24
    4-J.Elliott extra point is GOOD, Center-49-R.Lovato, Holder-10-B.Mann.
11. Philadelphia Eagles FG (+3) — Q3 23:07 · DAL 8 · Score 7-27
    (8:07) 4-J.Elliott 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-R.Lovato, Holder-10-B.Mann.
12. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q3 17:48 · DAL 20 · Score 7-33
    (2:48) (Shotgun) 16-T.McKee pass deep left to 11-A.Brown for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Philadelphia Eagles XP (+1) — Q3 17:44 · DAL 15 · Score 7-34
    4-J.Elliott extra point is GOOD, Center-49-R.Lovato, Holder-10-B.Mann.
14. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q4 10:09 · DAL 25 · Score 7-40
    (10:09) (Shotgun) 16-T.McKee pass short right to 6-D.Smith for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Philadelphia Eagles XP (+1) — Q4 10:03 · DAL 15 · Score 7-41
    4-J.Elliott extra point is GOOD, Center-49-R.Lovato, Holder-10-B.Mann.