Minnesota Vikings vs. Dallas Cowboys: 2007 Week 7 Recap

Game story

In Week 7 of the 2007 NFL season on 2007-10-21, the Dallas Cowboys took care of business against the Minnesota Vikings, pulling away with a 24–14 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Romo (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with -3.50 total EPA, and +17.0% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Owens (Dallas Cowboys) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +11.48 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-28.2% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (1:54) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass to 84-P.Crayton to MIN 43 for 7 yards (26-A.Winfield). FUMBLES (26-A.Winfield), RECOVERED by MIN-51-B.Leber at MIN 40. 51-B.Leber to 50 for 10 yards. Lateral to 23-C.Gri

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. Owens · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +11.48 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.64 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Witten · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +4.17 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Jones · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.52 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.63 EPA/play
4. 4 B. Wade · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +2.26 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.26 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Williamson · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +1.68 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.68 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Peterson · Minnesota Vikings · Rushing · +1.36 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.11 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Anderson · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +0.93 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play
8. 8 A. Peterson · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +0.92 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.92 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. Owens (T. Romo pass) (Q1 51:41)
• Minnesota Vikings — A. Peterson (Q1 45:49)
• Minnesota Vikings — P. Crayton (T. Romo pass) (Q2 31:54)
• Dallas Cowboys — M. Barber (Q3 22:00)
• Dallas Cowboys — P. Watkins (Q3 18:05)

Field goals

• Dallas Cowboys — N. Folk (Q4 10:38)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the MIN 5 (Q1 51:41) — (6:41) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short right to 81-T.Owens for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass was caught 8 yards deep end zone.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q1 51:36) — 6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DAL 20 (Q1 45:49) — (:49) 28-A.Peterson left tackle for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q1 45:43) — 8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe..

The second quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 7–0. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the MIN 50 (Q2 31:54); Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q2 31:39) — 8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe..

The third quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 14–0. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the MIN 1 (Q3 22:00); Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q3 21:55) — 6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the DAL 31 (Q3 18:05); Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q3 17:52) — 6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson..

The fourth quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 3–0. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the MIN 27 (Q4 10:38) — (10:38) (Field Goal formation) 6-N.Folk 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson..

Turning points

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 31:54) — (1:54) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass to 84-P.Crayton to MIN 43 for 7 yards (26-A.Winfield). FUMBLES (26-A.Winfield), RECOVERED by MIN-51-B.Leber at MIN 40. 51-B.Leber to 50 for 10 yards. Lateral to 23-C.Gri [WPA -28.2% · EPA -9.05]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q3 18:05) — (3:05) (Field Goal formation) 8-R.Longwell 48 yard field goal is BLOCKED (99-C.Canty), Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe, RECOVERED by DAL-25-P.Watkins at DAL 32. 25-P.Watkins for 68 yards, TOUCH [WPA -25.1% · EPA -8.60]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 35:30) — (5:30) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo sacked at MIN 17 for -8 yards (95-K.Udeze). FUMBLES (95-K.Udeze), RECOVERED by MIN-93-K.Williams at MIN 16. PENALTY on MIN-91-R.Edwards, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced [WPA -13.0% · EPA -4.13]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 54:54) — (9:54) 9-T.Romo pass deep right to 81-T.Owens to MIN 19 for 24 yards (26-A.Winfield). Pass complete after being pushed out of the pocket. [WPA +10.1% · EPA +2.12]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 40:02) — (10:02) (Punt formation) 5-C.Kluwe punts 59 yards to DAL 34, Center-46-C.Loeffler. 84-P.Crayton pushed ob at DAL 44 for 10 yards (21-M.Doss). Return left side of the field. [WPA +9.9% · EPA +0.04]

Impact plays

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 31:54) — (1:54) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass to 84-P.Crayton to MIN 43 for 7 yards (26-A.Winfield). FUMBLES (26-A.Winfield), RECOVERED by MIN-51-B.Leber at MIN 40. 51-B.Leber to 50 for 10 yards. Lateral to 23-C.Gri [WPA -28.2% · EPA -9.05]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q3 18:05) — (3:05) (Field Goal formation) 8-R.Longwell 48 yard field goal is BLOCKED (99-C.Canty), Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe, RECOVERED by DAL-25-P.Watkins at DAL 32. 25-P.Watkins for 68 yards, TOUCH [WPA -25.1% · EPA -8.60]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 35:30) — (5:30) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo sacked at MIN 17 for -8 yards (95-K.Udeze). FUMBLES (95-K.Udeze), RECOVERED by MIN-93-K.Williams at MIN 16. PENALTY on MIN-91-R.Edwards, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced [WPA -13.0% · EPA -4.13]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 11:58) — (11:58) 28-A.Peterson right tackle to MIN 8 for -1 yards (97-J.Hatcher). FUMBLES (97-J.Hatcher), RECOVERED by DAL-56-B.James at MIN 22. 56-B.James to MIN 22 for no gain (78-M.Birk). [WPA -5.6% · EPA -3.94]

Quarterback report card

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

• T.Romo (Dallas Cowboys) · 43 dropbacks · 72.1% completion · +17.0% CPOE · -0.08 EPA/play · -3.50 total EPA
• T.Jackson (Minnesota Vikings) · 24 dropbacks · 25.0% completion · -22.6% CPOE · -0.32 EPA/play · -7.64 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 (-0.07 vs -0.21), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Dallas Cowboys: 12 drives, -5.96 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Minnesota Vikings: 13 drives, -14.20 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. Owens (Dallas Cowboys) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• T. Romo (DAL) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• T. Jackson (MIN) 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 51:41 · MIN 5 · Score 0-6
   (6:41) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short right to 81-T.Owens for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass was caught 8 yards deep end zone.
2. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q1 51:36 · MIN 2 · Score 0-7
   6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson.
3. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q1 45:49 · DAL 20 · Score 6-7
   (:49) 28-A.Peterson left tackle for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q1 45:43 · DAL 2 · Score 7-7
   8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe.
5. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q2 31:54 · MIN 50 · Score 13-7
   (1:54) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass to 84-P.Crayton to MIN 43 for 7 yards (26-A.Winfield). FUMBLES (26-A.Winfield), RECOVERED by MIN-51-B.Leber at MIN 40. 51-B.Leber
6. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q2 31:39 · DAL 2 · Score 14-7
   8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe.
7. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q3 22:00 · MIN 1 · Score 14-13
   (7:00) 24-M.Barber right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Minnesota challenged the runner broke the plane ruling, and the play was Upheld. (Timeout #1 at 06:55.)
8. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q3 21:55 · MIN 2 · Score 14-14
   6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson.
9. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q3 18:05 · DAL 31 · Score 14-20
   (3:05) (Field Goal formation) 8-R.Longwell 48 yard field goal is BLOCKED (99-C.Canty), Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe, RECOVERED by DAL-25-P.Watkins at
10. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q3 17:52 · MIN 2 · Score 14-21
    6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson.
11. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q4 10:38 · MIN 27 · Score 14-24
    (10:38) (Field Goal formation) 6-N.Folk 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-14-B.Johnson.