Los Angeles Rams vs. Dallas Cowboys: 2023 Week 8 Recap

Game story

In Week 8 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-10-29, the Dallas Cowboys took care of business against the Los Angeles Rams, pulling away with a 43–20 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 34 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with +17.21 total EPA, and +11.5% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +17.21 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-14.3% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Los Angeles Rams changed the game: (:43) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short left intended for 10-C.Kupp INTERCEPTED by 26-D.Bland at LA 30. 26-D.Bland for 30 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. Prescott · Dallas Cowboys · Passing · +17.21 total EPA · 40 snaps · +0.43 EPA/play
2. 2 C. Lamb · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +12.46 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.89 EPA/play
3. 3 B. Cooks · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +6.80 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.70 EPA/play
4. 4 R. Freeman · Los Angeles Rams · Rushing · +4.14 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.41 EPA/play
5. 5 P. Nacua · Los Angeles Rams · Receiving · +3.93 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.56 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Ferguson · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +3.39 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.85 EPA/play
7. 7 B. Skowronek · Los Angeles Rams · Receiving · +3.30 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.30 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Henderson · Los Angeles Rams · Receiving · +3.04 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.01 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 — J. Ferguson (D. Prescott pass) (Q1 54:49)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bland (Q1 45:43)
• Dallas Cowboys — C. Lamb (D. Prescott pass) (Q2 42:50)
• Dallas Cowboys — C. Lamb (D. Prescott pass) (Q2 32:34)
• Los Angeles Rams — R. Freeman (Q2 30:09)
• Los Angeles Rams — B. Skowronek (M. Stafford pass) (Q3 26:35)
• Dallas Cowboys — B. Cooks (D. Prescott pass) (Q4 12:24)

Field goals

• Los Angeles Rams — L. Havrisik (Q1 50:25)
• Dallas Cowboys — B. Aubrey (Q1 45:48)
• Dallas Cowboys — B. Aubrey (Q3 16:36)
• Los Angeles Rams — L. Havrisik (Q4 5:34)

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 17–3. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the LA 18 (Q1 54:49) — (9:49) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep middle to 87-J.Ferguson for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the LA 15 (Q1 54:44) — 17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.; Los Angeles Rams connected on a field goal from the DAL 15 (Q1 50:25) — (5:25) 8-L.Havrisik 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-A.Ward, Holder-42-E.Evans.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the LA 40 (Q1 45:48) — (:48) 17-B.Aubrey 58 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the DAL 75 (Q1 45:43) — (:43) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short left intended for 10-C.Kupp INTERCEPTED by 26-D.Bland at LA 30. 26-D.Bland for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the LA 15 (Q1 45:36) — 17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger..

The second quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 22–12. Dallas Cowboys registered a safety from the DAL 77 (Q2 43:44) — (13:44) 42-E.Evans punt is BLOCKED by 54-S.Williams, Center-47-A.Ward, ball out of bounds in End Zone, SAFETY.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the LA 10 (Q2 42:50) — (12:50) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short middle to 88-C.Lamb for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the LA 15 (Q2 42:45) — 17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the LA 22 (Q2 32:34) — (2:34) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep right to 88-C.Lamb for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the LA 15 (Q2 32:27) — 17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.; Los Angeles Rams found the end zone from the DAL 1 (Q2 30:09) — (:09) (Shotgun) 24-R.Freeman up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Los Angeles Rams found the end zone from the DAL 2 (Q2 30:04) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 9-M.Stafford pass is incomplete. ATTEMPT FAILS..

The third quarter: Los Angeles Rams won the period 8–3. Los Angeles Rams found the end zone from the DAL 20 (Q3 26:35) — (11:35) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short middle to 18-B.Skowronek for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Los Angeles Rams registered a safety from the DAL 2 (Q3 26:29); Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the LA 9 (Q3 16:36) — (1:36) 17-B.Aubrey 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger..

The fourth quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 7–3. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the LA 25 (Q4 12:24) — (12:24) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep right to 3-B.Cooks for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the LA 15 (Q4 12:19) — 17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.; Los Angeles Rams connected on a field goal from the DAL 29 (Q4 5:34) — (5:34) 8-L.Havrisik 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-A.Ward, Holder-42-E.Evans..

Turning points

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

• Los Angeles Rams (Q1 45:43) — (:43) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short left intended for 10-C.Kupp INTERCEPTED by 26-D.Bland at LA 30. 26-D.Bland for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -14.3% · EPA -8.09]
• Los Angeles Rams (Q1 52:23) — (7:23) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 17-P.Nacua pushed ob at DAL 17 for 22 yards (26-D.Bland). [WPA +9.0% · EPA +3.42]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 45:48) — (:48) 17-B.Aubrey 58 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger. [WPA +6.9% · EPA +2.47]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 55:30) — (10:30) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left to 3-B.Cooks to LA 18 for 19 yards (1-D.Kendrick). [WPA +6.5% · EPA +2.54]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 58:46) — (13:46) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott sacked at DAL 20 for -4 yards (0-B.Young). PENALTY on LA-37-Q.Lake, Illegal Contact, 6 yards, enforced at DAL 24 - No Play. [WPA +6.2% · EPA +2.28]

Impact plays

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

• Los Angeles Rams (Q1 45:43) — (:43) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short left intended for 10-C.Kupp INTERCEPTED by 26-D.Bland at LA 30. 26-D.Bland for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -14.3% · EPA -8.09]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 36:19) — (6:19) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short middle intended for 84-S.McKeon INTERCEPTED by 4-J.Fuller (91-K.Turner) at LA 1. 4-J.Fuller to LA 19 for 18 yards (4-D.Prescott). [WPA -2.9% · EPA -5.97]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 43:39) — 42-E.Evans kicks 56 yards from LA 20 to DAL 24. 9-K.Turpin pushed ob at LA 13 for 63 yards (26-D.Shelley). [WPA +2.7% · EPA +3.83]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 32:34) — (2:34) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep right to 88-C.Lamb for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +1.1% · EPA +3.71]

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) · 40 dropbacks · 62.5% completion · +11.5% CPOE · +0.43 EPA/play · +17.21 total EPA
• M.Stafford (Los Angeles Rams) · 26 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -8.3% CPOE · -0.23 EPA/play · -5.96 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Dallas Cowboys held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.19 vs -0.12), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Dallas Cowboys: 12 drives, +15.17 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Los Angeles Rams: 11 drives, -9.82 total EPA, 6 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.
• D. Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Prescott (DAL) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• M. Stafford (LA) 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 TD (+6) — Q1 54:49 · LA 18 · Score 0-6
   (9:49) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep middle to 87-J.Ferguson for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q1 54:44 · LA 15 · Score 0-7
   17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
3. Los Angeles Rams FG (+3) — Q1 50:25 · DAL 15 · Score 3-7
   (5:25) 8-L.Havrisik 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-A.Ward, Holder-42-E.Evans.
4. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q1 45:48 · LA 40 · Score 3-10
   (:48) 17-B.Aubrey 58 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
5. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q1 45:43 · DAL 75 · Score 3-16
   (:43) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short left intended for 10-C.Kupp INTERCEPTED by 26-D.Bland at LA 30. 26-D.Bland for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q1 45:36 · LA 15 · Score 3-17
   17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
7. Dallas Cowboys Safety (+2) — Q2 43:44 · DAL 77 · Score 3-19
   (13:44) 42-E.Evans punt is BLOCKED by 54-S.Williams, Center-47-A.Ward, ball out of bounds in End Zone, SAFETY.
8. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 42:50 · LA 10 · Score 3-25
   (12:50) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short middle to 88-C.Lamb for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 42:45 · LA 15 · Score 3-26
   17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
10. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 32:34 · LA 22 · Score 3-32
    (2:34) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep right to 88-C.Lamb for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Dallas Cowboys TD (+7) — Q2 32:27 · LA 15 · Score 3-33
    17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
12. Los Angeles Rams TD (+6) — Q2 30:09 · DAL 1 · Score 9-33
    (:09) (Shotgun) 24-R.Freeman up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Los Angeles Rams TD (+6) — Q2 30:04 · DAL 2 · Score 9-33
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 9-M.Stafford pass is incomplete. ATTEMPT FAILS.
14. Los Angeles Rams TD (+6) — Q3 26:35 · DAL 20 · Score 15-33
    (11:35) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short middle to 18-B.Skowronek for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Los Angeles Rams Safety (+2) — Q3 26:29 · DAL 2 · Score 17-33
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 5-T.Atwell pass to 9-M.Stafford is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS. The Replay Official reviewed the runner broke the plane ruling, and
16. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q3 16:36 · LA 9 · Score 17-36
    (1:36) 17-B.Aubrey 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
17. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 12:24 · LA 25 · Score 17-42
    (12:24) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep right to 3-B.Cooks for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
18. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q4 12:19 · LA 15 · Score 17-43
    17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
19. Los Angeles Rams FG (+3) — Q4 5:34 · DAL 29 · Score 20-43
    (5:34) 8-L.Havrisik 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-A.Ward, Holder-42-E.Evans.