Houston Texans vs. Dallas Cowboys: 2022 Week 14 Recap

Game story

In Week 14 of the 2022 NFL season on 2022-12-11, the Dallas Cowboys took care of business against the Houston Texans, pulling away with a 27–23 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

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

D. Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with -3.88 total EPA, and -8.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, A. Rodgers (Houston Texans) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.14 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+22.4% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (:46) (Shotgun) 21-E.Elliott up the middle for 2 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 A. Rodgers · Houston Texans · Receiving · +6.14 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.23 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Mills · Houston Texans · Passing · +5.98 total EPA · 22 snaps · +0.27 EPA/play
3. 3 C. Moore · Houston Texans · Receiving · +2.85 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Prescott · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +2.79 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.70 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Driskel · Houston Texans · Passing · +2.04 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.29 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Pollard · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +1.36 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Lamb · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +0.94 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.16 EPA/play
8. 8 N. Brown · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +0.79 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.13 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 — T. Pollard (Q1 56:25)
• Houston Texans — D. Pierce (Q1 50:36)
• Dallas Cowboys — T. Pollard (D. Prescott pass) (Q2 42:34)
• Houston Texans — A. Rodgers (J. Driskel pass) (Q2 32:30)
• Dallas Cowboys — E. Elliott (Q4 0:46)

Field goals

• Houston Texans — K. Fairbairn (Q1 45:22)
• Dallas Cowboys — B. Maher (Q2 30:44)
• Houston Texans — K. Fairbairn (Q2 30:02)
• Houston Texans — unlisted player (Q2 30:00)
• Houston Texans — K. Fairbairn (Q3 18:07)
• Dallas Cowboys — B. Maher (Q4 14:54)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Houston Texans won the period 10–7. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the HOU 11 (Q1 56:25) — (11:25) (Shotgun) 20-T.Pollard right end for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q1 56:20) — 19-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-45-M.Overton, Holder-5-B.Anger.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the DAL 1 (Q1 50:36) — (5:36) 31-D.Pierce right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q1 50:33) — 7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the DAL 25 (Q1 45:22) — (:22) 7-K.Fairbairn 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston..

The second quarter: Houston Texans won the period 13–10. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the HOU 10 (Q2 42:34) — (12:34) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left to 20-T.Pollard for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q2 42:28) — 19-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-45-M.Overton, Holder-5-B.Anger.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the DAL 28 (Q2 32:30) — (2:30) (Shotgun) 6-J.Driskel pass deep right to 19-A.Rodgers for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q2 32:23) — 7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the HOU 15 (Q2 30:44) — (:44) 19-B.Maher 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-M.Overton, Holder-5-B.Anger.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the DAL 32 (Q2 30:02) — (:02) 7-K.Fairbairn 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal (Q2 30:00) — END QUARTER 2.

The third quarter: Houston Texans won the period 3–0. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the DAL 35 (Q3 18:07) — (3:07) 7-K.Fairbairn 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston..

The fourth quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 10–0. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the HOU 35 (Q4 14:54) — (14:54) 19-B.Maher 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-M.Overton, Holder-5-B.Anger.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the HOU 2 (Q4 0:46) — (:46) (Shotgun) 21-E.Elliott up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the HOU 15 (Q4 0:41) — 19-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-45-M.Overton, Holder-5-B.Anger..

Turning points

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 0:46) — (:46) (Shotgun) 21-E.Elliott up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +22.4% · EPA +2.79]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 44:56) — (14:56) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep right to 85-N.Brown to HOU 26 for 51 yards (5-J.Pitre). Penalty on HOU-2-T.Thomas, Defensive Holding, declined. [WPA +17.8% · EPA +5.22]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 33:21) — (3:21) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short right intended for 85-N.Brown INTERCEPTED by 1-T.Smith (29-M.Stewart) at HOU 47. 1-T.Smith pushed ob at DAL 27 for 26 yards (21-E.Elliott). [WPA -17.6% · EPA -5.14]
• Houston Texans (Q3 28:19) — (13:19) 31-D.Pierce left tackle to HOU 36 for -1 yards (6-D.Wilson). FUMBLES (6-D.Wilson), RECOVERED by DAL-7-T.Diggs at HOU 45. 7-T.Diggs ran ob at HOU 28 for 17 yards (60-A.Cann). [WPA -17.4% · EPA -6.34]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 5:45) — (5:45) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short right intended for 86-D.Schultz INTERCEPTED by 1-T.Smith (45-O.Okoronkwo) at DAL 11. 1-T.Smith to DAL 4 for 7 yards (86-D.Schultz). [WPA -15.6% · EPA -4.58]

Impact plays

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

• Houston Texans (Q3 28:19) — (13:19) 31-D.Pierce left tackle to HOU 36 for -1 yards (6-D.Wilson). FUMBLES (6-D.Wilson), RECOVERED by DAL-7-T.Diggs at HOU 45. 7-T.Diggs ran ob at HOU 28 for 17 yards (60-A.Cann). [WPA -17.4% · EPA -6.34]
• Houston Texans (Q1 54:11) — (9:11) 11-C.Johnston punts 47 yards to DAL 25, Center-46-J.Weeks. 9-K.Turpin MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by HOU-53-B.Cashman at DAL 24. [WPA +13.1% · EPA +6.12]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 44:56) — (14:56) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep right to 85-N.Brown to HOU 26 for 51 yards (5-J.Pitre). Penalty on HOU-2-T.Thomas, Defensive Holding, declined. [WPA +17.8% · EPA +5.22]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 33:21) — (3:21) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short right intended for 85-N.Brown INTERCEPTED by 1-T.Smith (29-M.Stewart) at HOU 47. 1-T.Smith pushed ob at DAL 27 for 26 yards (21-E.Elliott). [WPA -17.6% · EPA -5.14]

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) · 42 dropbacks · 57.1% completion · -8.4% CPOE · -0.09 EPA/play · -3.88 total EPA
• D.Mills (Houston Texans) · 22 dropbacks · 72.7% completion · +17.2% CPOE · +0.27 EPA/play · +5.98 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Houston Texans -0.03, Dallas Cowboys -0.01) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Dallas Cowboys: 12 drives, -0.81 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Houston Texans: 13 drives, -2.87 total EPA, 5 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.
• A. Rodgers (Houston Texans) 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.
• D. Mills (HOU) 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. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q1 56:25 · HOU 11 · Score 0-6
   (11:25) (Shotgun) 20-T.Pollard right end for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q1 56:20 · HOU 15 · Score 0-7
   19-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-45-M.Overton, Holder-5-B.Anger.
3. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q1 50:36 · DAL 1 · Score 6-7
   (5:36) 31-D.Pierce right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q1 50:33 · DAL 15 · Score 7-7
   7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.
5. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q1 45:22 · DAL 25 · Score 10-7
   (:22) 7-K.Fairbairn 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.
6. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 42:34 · HOU 10 · Score 10-13
   (12:34) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left to 20-T.Pollard for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 42:28 · HOU 15 · Score 10-14
   19-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-45-M.Overton, Holder-5-B.Anger.
8. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q2 32:30 · DAL 28 · Score 16-14
   (2:30) (Shotgun) 6-J.Driskel pass deep right to 19-A.Rodgers for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q2 32:23 · DAL 15 · Score 17-14
   7-K.Fairbairn extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.
10. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q2 30:44 · HOU 15 · Score 17-17
    (:44) 19-B.Maher 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-M.Overton, Holder-5-B.Anger.
11. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q2 30:02 · DAL 32 · Score 20-17
    (:02) 7-K.Fairbairn 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.
12. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q2 30:00 · Score 20-17
    END QUARTER 2
13. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q3 18:07 · DAL 35 · Score 23-17
    (3:07) 7-K.Fairbairn 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Weeks, Holder-11-C.Johnston.
14. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q4 14:54 · HOU 35 · Score 23-20
    (14:54) 19-B.Maher 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-M.Overton, Holder-5-B.Anger.
15. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 0:46 · HOU 2 · Score 23-26
    (:46) (Shotgun) 21-E.Elliott up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
16. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q4 0:41 · HOU 15 · Score 23-27
    19-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-45-M.Overton, Holder-5-B.Anger.