Miami Dolphins vs. Dallas Cowboys: 2019 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2019 NFL season on 2019-09-22, the Dallas Cowboys took care of business against the Miami Dolphins, pulling away with a 31–6 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Rosen (Miami Dolphins) paced the passing game, with -8.32 total EPA, and -17.8% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Pollard (Dallas Cowboys) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.50 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-18.9% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Miami Dolphins changed the game: (:31) 32-K.Drake up the middle to DAL 7 for no gain (54-J.Smith). FUMBLES (54-J.Smith), touched at DAL 7, RECOVERED by DAL-90-D.Lawrence at DAL 9. 90-D.Lawrence to DAL 9 for no gain (63-M.Deiter).

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 T. Pollard · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +7.50 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.54 EPA/play
2. 2 A. Cooper · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +7.48 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.07 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Prescott · Dallas Cowboys · Passing · +5.62 total EPA · 36 snaps · +0.16 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Witten · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +5.31 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.33 EPA/play
5. 5 R. Fitzpatrick · Miami Dolphins · Passing · +2.32 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.16 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Parker · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +2.27 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.38 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Smith · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +1.55 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Pollard · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +1.37 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.46 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 51:02)
• Dallas Cowboys — A. Cooper (D. Prescott pass) (Q3 27:33)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Prescott (Q3 18:36)
• Dallas Cowboys — T. Pollard (Q4 3:50)

Field goals

• Dallas Cowboys — B. Maher (Q1 55:31)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Sanders (Q1 45:58)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Sanders (Q2 35:51)

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 10–3. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the MIA 10 (Q1 55:31) — (10:31) (Field Goal formation) 2-B.Maher 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the MIA 5 (Q1 51:02); Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q1 50:57) — 2-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the DAL 3 (Q1 45:58) — (:58) (Field Goal formation) 7-J.Sanders 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-2-M.Haack..

The second quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 3–0. Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the DAL 15 (Q2 35:51) — (5:51) (Field Goal formation) 7-J.Sanders 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-2-M.Haack..

The third quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 14–0. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the MIA 19 (Q3 27:33) — (12:33) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep middle to 19-A.Cooper for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q3 27:28) — 2-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the MIA 8 (Q3 18:36) — (3:36) (No Huddle) 4-D.Prescott scrambles right end for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q3 18:30) — 2-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..

The fourth quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 7–0. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the MIA 16 (Q4 3:50) — (3:50) 20-T.Pollard left end for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q4 3:45) — 2-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..

Turning points

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

• Miami Dolphins (Q2 30:31) — (:31) 32-K.Drake up the middle to DAL 7 for no gain (54-J.Smith). FUMBLES (54-J.Smith), touched at DAL 7, RECOVERED by DAL-90-D.Lawrence at DAL 9. 90-D.Lawrence to DAL 9 for no gain (63-M.Deiter). [WPA -18.9% · EPA -5.31]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 59:36) — (14:36) (Shotgun) 3-J.Rosen pass deep right to 11-D.Parker to DAL 29 for 40 yards (24-C.Awuzie). Penalty on DAL-24-C.Awuzie, Defensive Pass Interference, declined. [WPA +13.7% · EPA +3.86]
• Miami Dolphins (Q2 30:53) — (:53) (Shotgun) 3-J.Rosen pass incomplete deep right to 11-D.Parker. PENALTY on DAL-24-C.Awuzie, Defensive Pass Interference, 26 yards, enforced at DAL 49 - No Play. [WPA +12.3% · EPA +2.18]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 58:25) — (13:25) (Field Goal formation) 7-J.Sanders 47 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-2-M.Haack. [WPA -9.5% · EPA -4.31]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep middle intended for 18-R.Cobb INTERCEPTED by 28-B.McCain at MIA 28. 28-B.McCain to MIA 49 for 21 yards (18-R.Cobb). FUMBLES (18-R.Cobb), ball out of bounds at [WPA -9.3% · EPA -4.70]

Impact plays

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

• Miami Dolphins (Q2 30:31) — (:31) 32-K.Drake up the middle to DAL 7 for no gain (54-J.Smith). FUMBLES (54-J.Smith), touched at DAL 7, RECOVERED by DAL-90-D.Lawrence at DAL 9. 90-D.Lawrence to DAL 9 for no gain (63-M.Deiter). [WPA -18.9% · EPA -5.31]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep middle intended for 18-R.Cobb INTERCEPTED by 28-B.McCain at MIA 28. 28-B.McCain to MIA 49 for 21 yards (18-R.Cobb). FUMBLES (18-R.Cobb), ball out of bounds at [WPA -9.3% · EPA -4.70]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 58:25) — (13:25) (Field Goal formation) 7-J.Sanders 47 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-2-M.Haack. [WPA -9.5% · EPA -4.31]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 52:44) — (7:44) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep right to 82-J.Witten pushed ob at MIA 20 for 33 yards (26-S.Parker). [WPA +7.2% · EPA +3.90]

Quarterback report card

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

• J.Rosen (Miami Dolphins) · 47 dropbacks · 38.3% completion · -17.8% CPOE · -0.18 EPA/play · -8.32 total EPA
• D.Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) · 36 dropbacks · 52.8% completion · +0.2% CPOE · +0.16 EPA/play · +5.62 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 (+0.10 vs -0.21), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Dallas Cowboys: 12 drives, +8.48 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Miami Dolphins: 11 drives, -18.67 total EPA, 2 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.
• T. Pollard (Dallas Cowboys) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Rosen (MIA) 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 55:31 · MIA 10 · Score 0-3
   (10:31) (Field Goal formation) 2-B.Maher 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
2. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q1 51:02 · MIA 5 · Score 0-9
   (6:02) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left to 19-A.Cooper for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on MIA-25-X.Howard, Defensive Holding, declined.
3. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q1 50:57 · MIA 15 · Score 0-10
   2-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
4. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q1 45:58 · DAL 3 · Score 3-10
   (:58) (Field Goal formation) 7-J.Sanders 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-2-M.Haack.
5. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q2 35:51 · DAL 15 · Score 6-10
   (5:51) (Field Goal formation) 7-J.Sanders 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-2-M.Haack.
6. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q3 27:33 · MIA 19 · Score 6-16
   (12:33) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep middle to 19-A.Cooper for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q3 27:28 · MIA 15 · Score 6-17
   2-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
8. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q3 18:36 · MIA 8 · Score 6-23
   (3:36) (No Huddle) 4-D.Prescott scrambles right end for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q3 18:30 · MIA 15 · Score 6-24
   2-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
10. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 3:50 · MIA 16 · Score 6-30
    (3:50) 20-T.Pollard left end for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q4 3:45 · MIA 15 · Score 6-31
    2-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.