Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders: 2021 Week 14 Recap

Game story

In Week 14 of the 2021 NFL season on 2021-12-12, the Dallas Cowboys took care of business against the Washington Commanders, pulling away with a 27–20 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 18 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with -9.48 total EPA, and -13.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, C. Sims (Washington Commanders) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.72 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-18.3% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Washington Commanders changed the game: (5:32) (Shotgun) 4-T.Heinicke pass short left intended for 1-D.Carter INTERCEPTED by 94-R.Gregory at DAL 47. 94-R.Gregory to WAS 41 for 12 yards (1-D.Carter).

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 C. Sims · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +4.72 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.18 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Williams · Washington Commanders · Rushing · +3.07 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.77 EPA/play
3. 3 A. Cooper · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.65 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.38 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Gallup · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.27 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.25 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Williams · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +1.72 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.72 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Patterson · Washington Commanders · Rushing · +1.46 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.36 EPA/play
7. 7 E. Elliott · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +1.21 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.09 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Heinicke · Washington Commanders · Rushing · +1.05 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.53 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

• Dallas Cowboys — A. Cooper (D. Prescott pass) (Q1 48:45)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Armstrong (Q1 45:41)
• Washington Commanders — C. Sims (T. Heinicke pass) (Q3 22:06)
• Washington Commanders — J. Williams (Q4 5:12)
• Washington Commanders — C. Holcomb (Q4 4:24)

Field goals

• Dallas Cowboys — G. Zuerlein (Q1 54:41)
• Dallas Cowboys — G. Zuerlein (Q2 35:02)
• Dallas Cowboys — G. Zuerlein (Q2 30:19)
• Dallas Cowboys — G. Zuerlein (Q3 16:39)

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 18–0. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the WAS 17 (Q1 54:41) — (9:41) 2-G.Zuerlein 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.McQuaide, Holder-5-B.Anger.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the WAS 7 (Q1 48:45); Dallas Cowboys registered a safety from the WAS 1 (Q1 48:42) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 21-E.Elliott rushes up the middle. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the DAL 46 (Q1 45:41); Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the WAS 15 (Q1 45:29) — 2-G.Zuerlein extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.McQuaide, Holder-5-B.Anger..

The second quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 6–0. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the WAS 19 (Q2 35:02) — (5:02) 2-G.Zuerlein 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.McQuaide, Holder-5-B.Anger.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the WAS 19 (Q2 30:19) — (:19) 2-G.Zuerlein 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.McQuaide, Holder-5-B.Anger..

The third quarter: Washington Commanders won the period 8–3. Washington Commanders found the end zone from the DAL 43 (Q3 22:06); Washington Commanders registered a safety from the DAL 2 (Q3 21:57) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 4-T.Heinicke rushes left end. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the WAS 10 (Q3 16:39) — (1:39) 2-G.Zuerlein 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.McQuaide, Holder-5-B.Anger..

The fourth quarter: Washington Commanders won the period 12–0. Washington Commanders found the end zone from the DAL 1 (Q4 5:12) — (5:12) (Shotgun) 35-J.Williams up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Washington Commanders found the end zone from the WAS 74 (Q4 4:24).

Turning points

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

• Washington Commanders (Q1 50:32) — (5:32) (Shotgun) 4-T.Heinicke pass short left intended for 1-D.Carter INTERCEPTED by 94-R.Gregory at DAL 47. 94-R.Gregory to WAS 41 for 12 yards (1-D.Carter). [WPA -18.3% · EPA -5.57]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 51:21) — (6:21) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep left intended for 88-C.Lamb INTERCEPTED by 26-L.Collins at DAL 40. 26-L.Collins to DAL 37 for 3 yards (88-C.Lamb). [WPA -13.3% · EPA -3.27]
• Washington Commanders (Q4 2:34) — (2:34) (Shotgun) 8-K.Allen sacked at WAS 30 for -7 yards (94-R.Gregory). FUMBLES (94-R.Gregory) [94-R.Gregory], touched at WAS 32, RECOVERED by DAL-27-J.Kearse at WAS 29. 27-J.Kearse to WAS 28 for 1 y [WPA -11.1% · EPA -4.34]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 4:24) — (4:24) 4-D.Prescott pass short middle intended for 86-D.Schultz INTERCEPTED by 55-C.Holcomb at DAL 31. 55-C.Holcomb for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -10.8% · EPA -7.35]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 48:45) — (3:45) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short middle to 19-A.Cooper for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on WAS-98-M.Ioannidis, Roughing the Passer, 1 yard, enforced between downs. [WPA +6.8% · EPA +2.72]

Impact plays

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

• Washington Commanders (Q1 45:41) — (:41) (Shotgun) 4-T.Heinicke sacked at WAS 42 for -12 yards (11-M.Parsons). FUMBLES (11-M.Parsons) [11-M.Parsons], RECOVERED by DAL-92-D.Armstrong at WAS 37. 92-D.Armstrong for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -4.7% · EPA -7.65]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 4:24) — (4:24) 4-D.Prescott pass short middle intended for 86-D.Schultz INTERCEPTED by 55-C.Holcomb at DAL 31. 55-C.Holcomb for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -10.8% · EPA -7.35]
• Washington Commanders (Q1 50:32) — (5:32) (Shotgun) 4-T.Heinicke pass short left intended for 1-D.Carter INTERCEPTED by 94-R.Gregory at DAL 47. 94-R.Gregory to WAS 41 for 12 yards (1-D.Carter). [WPA -18.3% · EPA -5.57]
• Washington Commanders (Q3 18:26) — (3:26) (Shotgun) 4-T.Heinicke pass short middle to 24-A.Gibson to WAS 25 for 6 yards (26-J.Lewis) [94-R.Gregory]. FUMBLES (26-J.Lewis), RECOVERED by DAL-26-J.Lewis at WAS 25. [WPA -2.3% · EPA -4.42]

Quarterback report card

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

• D.Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) · 52 dropbacks · 42.3% completion · -13.4% CPOE · -0.18 EPA/play · -9.48 total EPA
• T.Heinicke (Washington Commanders) · 35 dropbacks · 31.4% completion · -17.6% CPOE · -0.80 EPA/play · -28.00 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Dallas Cowboys generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.15 vs -0.32), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Dallas Cowboys: 15 drives, -15.65 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Washington Commanders: 15 drives, -28.15 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.
• C. Sims (Washington Commanders) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Prescott (DAL) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• T. Heinicke (WAS) 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 54:41 · WAS 17 · Score 3-0
   (9:41) 2-G.Zuerlein 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.McQuaide, Holder-5-B.Anger.
2. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q1 48:45 · WAS 7 · Score 9-0
   (3:45) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short middle to 19-A.Cooper for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on WAS-98-M.Ioannidis, Roughing the Passer, 1 yard, enforced betw
3. Dallas Cowboys Safety (+2) — Q1 48:42 · WAS 1 · Score 11-0
   TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 21-E.Elliott rushes up the middle. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
4. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q1 45:41 · DAL 46 · Score 17-0
   (:41) (Shotgun) 4-T.Heinicke sacked at WAS 42 for -12 yards (11-M.Parsons). FUMBLES (11-M.Parsons) [11-M.Parsons], RECOVERED by DAL-92-D.Armstrong at WAS 37. 92
5. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q1 45:29 · WAS 15 · Score 18-0
   2-G.Zuerlein extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.McQuaide, Holder-5-B.Anger.
6. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q2 35:02 · WAS 19 · Score 21-0
   (5:02) 2-G.Zuerlein 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.McQuaide, Holder-5-B.Anger.
7. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q2 30:19 · WAS 19 · Score 24-0
   (:19) 2-G.Zuerlein 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.McQuaide, Holder-5-B.Anger.
8. Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q3 22:06 · DAL 43 · Score 24-6
   (7:06) (Shotgun) 4-T.Heinicke pass incomplete deep left to 11-C.Sims (7-T.Diggs). Washington challenged the incomplete pass ruling, and the play was REVERSED. (
9. Washington Commanders Safety (+2) — Q3 21:57 · DAL 2 · Score 24-8
   TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 4-T.Heinicke rushes left end. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
10. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q3 16:39 · WAS 10 · Score 27-8
    (1:39) 2-G.Zuerlein 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.McQuaide, Holder-5-B.Anger.
11. Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q4 5:12 · DAL 1 · Score 27-14
    (5:12) (Shotgun) 35-J.Williams up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q4 4:24 · WAS 74 · Score 27-20
    (4:24) 4-D.Prescott pass short middle intended for 86-D.Schultz INTERCEPTED by 55-C.Holcomb at DAL 31. 55-C.Holcomb for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.