Miami Dolphins vs. Dallas Cowboys: 2011 Week 12 Recap

Game story

In Week 12 of the 2011 NFL season on 2011-11-24, the Dallas Cowboys took care of business against the Miami Dolphins, pulling away with a 20–19 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 13 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Moore (Miami Dolphins) paced the passing game, with +9.03 total EPA, and +4.0% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Moore (Miami Dolphins) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.03 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+30.7% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (:03) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-9-T.Romo.

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 M. Moore · Miami Dolphins · Passing · +9.03 total EPA · 40 snaps · +0.23 EPA/play
2. 2 B. Hartline · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +5.47 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.09 EPA/play
3. 3 A. Fasano · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +4.68 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.34 EPA/play
4. 4 B. Marshall · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +3.52 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Witten · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.38 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.48 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Bess · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +2.05 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.51 EPA/play
7. 7 R. Bush · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +1.90 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Murray · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +1.74 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.43 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 — L. Robinson (T. Romo pass) (Q2 31:01)
• Miami Dolphins — B. Marshall (M. Moore pass) (Q3 19:03)
• Dallas Cowboys — L. Robinson (T. Romo pass) (Q4 14:37)

Field goals

• Miami Dolphins — S. Graham (Q1 47:47)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q2 34:42)
• Miami Dolphins — S. Graham (Q2 30:04)
• Miami Dolphins — S. Graham (Q3 23:07)
• Miami Dolphins — S. Graham (Q4 7:18)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q4 0:03)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 3–0. Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the DAL 8 (Q1 47:47) — (2:47) (Field Goal formation) 16-S.Graham 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields..

The second quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 10–3. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the MIA 14 (Q2 34:42) — (4:42) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-9-T.Romo.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the MIA 5 (Q2 31:01) — (1:01) 9-T.Romo pass short middle to 81-L.Robinson for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass caught 5 yards deep on a crossing pattern.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q2 30:55) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-9-T.Romo.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the DAL 10 (Q2 30:04) — (:04) (Field Goal formation) 16-S.Graham 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields..

The third quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 10–0. Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the DAL 9 (Q3 23:07) — (8:07) (Field Goal formation) 16-S.Graham 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the DAL 35 (Q3 19:03); Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q3 18:54) — 16-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields..

The fourth quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 10–3. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the MIA 18 (Q4 14:37); Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q4 14:31); Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the DAL 5 (Q4 7:18) — (7:18) (Field Goal formation) 16-S.Graham 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the MIA 10 (Q4 0:03) — (:03) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-9-T.Romo..

Turning points

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 0:03) — (:03) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-9-T.Romo. [WPA +30.7% · EPA +0.18]
• Miami Dolphins (Q3 20:30) — (5:30) 8-M.Moore pass deep left to 82-B.Hartline to DAL 36 for 41 yards (20-A.Ball). Pass complete on a Fly pattern. [WPA +18.4% · EPA +4.48]
• Miami Dolphins (Q3 19:03) — (4:03) 8-M.Moore pass deep right to 19-B.Marshall for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on DAL-41-T.Newman, Defensive Pass Interference, declined. Pass complete on a Fly pattern, ball caught at the goal li [WPA +17.3% · EPA +4.09]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 49:53) — (4:53) 9-T.Romo pass short right intended for 81-L.Robinson INTERCEPTED by 24-S.Smith at DAL 26. 24-S.Smith to DAL 26 for no gain (81-L.Robinson). [WPA -15.9% · EPA -4.71]
• Miami Dolphins (Q4 11:20) — (11:20) 8-M.Moore pass deep middle to 15-D.Bess to DAL 33 for 24 yards (32-O.Scandrick). Pass complete on a Post pattern. [WPA +15.6% · EPA +2.95]

Impact plays

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

• Miami Dolphins (Q2 31:08) — (1:08) (Shotgun) 8-M.Moore FUMBLES (Aborted) at MIA 19, RECOVERED by DAL-94-D.Ware at MIA 5. 94-D.Ware to MIA 5 for no gain (8-M.Moore). [WPA -11.2% · EPA -5.63]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 57:17) — (12:17) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep right intended for 80-M.Bennett INTERCEPTED by 21-V.Davis at MIA 17. 21-V.Davis to MIA 42 for 25 yards (82-J.Witten). Pass thrown on a Go route sideline. [WPA -12.9% · EPA -4.85]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 49:53) — (4:53) 9-T.Romo pass short right intended for 81-L.Robinson INTERCEPTED by 24-S.Smith at DAL 26. 24-S.Smith to DAL 26 for no gain (81-L.Robinson). [WPA -15.9% · EPA -4.71]
• Miami Dolphins (Q3 20:30) — (5:30) 8-M.Moore pass deep left to 82-B.Hartline to DAL 36 for 41 yards (20-A.Ball). Pass complete on a Fly pattern. [WPA +18.4% · EPA +4.48]

Quarterback report card

M.Moore led all passers in efficiency for Miami Dolphins, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• M.Moore (Miami Dolphins) · 40 dropbacks · 47.5% completion · +4.0% CPOE · +0.23 EPA/play · +9.03 total EPA
• T.Romo (Dallas Cowboys) · 36 dropbacks · 61.1% completion · +8.5% CPOE · -0.01 EPA/play · -0.39 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 (Miami Dolphins -0.07, Dallas Cowboys -0.07) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Dallas Cowboys: 11 drives, -5.92 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Miami Dolphins: 12 drives, -5.77 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.
• M. Moore (Miami Dolphins) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• M. Moore (MIA) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• T. Romo (DAL) 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. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q1 47:47 · DAL 8 · Score 3-0
   (2:47) (Field Goal formation) 16-S.Graham 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.
2. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q2 34:42 · MIA 14 · Score 3-3
   (4:42) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-9-T.Romo.
3. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 31:01 · MIA 5 · Score 3-9
   (1:01) 9-T.Romo pass short middle to 81-L.Robinson for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass caught 5 yards deep on a crossing pattern.
4. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 30:55 · MIA 2 · Score 3-10
   5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-9-T.Romo.
5. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q2 30:04 · DAL 10 · Score 6-10
   (:04) (Field Goal formation) 16-S.Graham 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.
6. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q3 23:07 · DAL 9 · Score 9-10
   (8:07) (Field Goal formation) 16-S.Graham 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.
7. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q3 19:03 · DAL 35 · Score 15-10
   (4:03) 8-M.Moore pass deep right to 19-B.Marshall for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on DAL-41-T.Newman, Defensive Pass Interference, declined. Pass complete on a
8. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q3 18:54 · DAL 2 · Score 16-10
   16-S.Graham extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.
9. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 14:37 · MIA 18 · Score 16-16
   (14:37) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep left to 81-L.Robinson for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete on roll left by Romo; ball caught back of the end zone.
10. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q4 14:31 · MIA 2 · Score 16-17
    5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-9-T.Romo. DAL-92-J.Price-Brent was injured during the play. His return is Questionable.
11. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q4 7:18 · DAL 5 · Score 19-17
    (7:18) (Field Goal formation) 16-S.Graham 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.
12. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q4 0:03 · MIA 10 · Score 19-20
    (:03) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-9-T.Romo.