New England Patriots vs. Dallas Cowboys: 2015 Week 5 Recap

Game story

In Week 5 of the 2015 NFL season on 2015-10-11, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 30–6 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 16 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Weeden (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with -15.04 total EPA, and -1.5% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Edelman (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.45 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+9.0% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New England Patriots changed the game: (13:58) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 11-J.Edelman ran ob at DAL 47 for 21 yards. PENALTY on DAL-27-J.Wilcox, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced at DAL 47.

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 J. Edelman · New England Patriots · Receiving · +9.45 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.89 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Brady · New England Patriots · Passing · +9.27 total EPA · 36 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
3. 3 R. Gronkowski · New England Patriots · Receiving · +5.06 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.01 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Lewis · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.73 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.25 EPA/play
5. 5 D. McFadden · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.14 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.21 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Lewis · New England Patriots · Rushing · +1.66 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Street · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +1.64 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.82 EPA/play
8. 8 K. Martin · New England Patriots · Receiving · +1.59 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.80 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

• New England Patriots — T. Brady (Q2 33:42)
• New England Patriots — D. Lewis (T. Brady pass) (Q3 24:55)
• New England Patriots — J. Edelman (T. Brady pass) (Q4 13:10)

Field goals

• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q1 53:24)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q1 46:52)
• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q2 30:08)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q3 16:22)
• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q4 4:45)

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 3–3. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the DAL 31 (Q1 53:24) — (8:24) (Field Goal formation) 3-S.Gostkowski 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the NE 33 (Q1 46:52) — (1:52) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 16–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the DAL 1 (Q2 33:42) — (3:42) 12-T.Brady up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Quarterback keeper.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the DAL 15 (Q2 33:39) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the DAL 39 (Q2 30:08) — (:08) (Field Goal formation) 3-S.Gostkowski 57 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen..

The third quarter: New England Patriots won the period 7–3. New England Patriots found the end zone from the DAL 10 (Q3 24:55) — (9:55) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 33-D.Lewis for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete in the flat; ducked two tacklers for the score.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q3 24:48) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the NE 5 (Q3 16:22) — (1:22) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..

The fourth quarter: New England Patriots won the period 10–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the DAL 59 (Q4 13:10) — (13:10) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep left to 11-J.Edelman for 59 yards, TOUCHDOWN [76-G.Hardy].; New England Patriots added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q4 12:58) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the DAL 16 (Q4 4:45) — (4:45) (Field Goal formation) 3-S.Gostkowski 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen..

Turning points

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

• New England Patriots (Q1 58:58) — (13:58) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 11-J.Edelman ran ob at DAL 47 for 21 yards. PENALTY on DAL-27-J.Wilcox, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced at DAL 47. [WPA +9.0% · EPA +2.62]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 56:17) — (11:17) (Shotgun) 3-B.Weeden sacked at DAL 11 for -9 yards (54-D.Hightower). [WPA -8.1% · EPA -2.51]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 46:52) — (1:52) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones. [WPA +7.0% · EPA +1.57]
• New England Patriots (Q3 29:31) — (14:31) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short left to 87-R.Gronkowski to NE 43 for 33 yards (27-J.Wilcox). [WPA +6.6% · EPA +2.81]
• New England Patriots (Q1 58:22) — (13:22) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady sacked at DAL 41 for -9 yards (55-R.McClain). [WPA -6.4% · EPA -3.44]

Impact plays

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

• New England Patriots (Q4 13:10) — (13:10) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep left to 11-J.Edelman for 59 yards, TOUCHDOWN [76-G.Hardy]. [WPA +2.4% · EPA +5.92]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 11:14) — (11:14) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 3-B.Weeden pass short middle to 82-J.Witten to DAL 43 for 6 yards (91-J.Collins). FUMBLES (91-J.Collins), RECOVERED by NE-55-J.Freeny at DAL 43. 55-J.Freeny to DAL 36 for [WPA -0.8% · EPA -5.43]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 6:30) — (6:30) (Shotgun) 3-B.Weeden pass deep right intended for 85-V.Mayle INTERCEPTED by 26-L.Ryan at NE 22. 26-L.Ryan to NE 47 for 25 yards (82-J.Witten). [WPA -0.0% · EPA -5.21]
• New England Patriots (Q4 9:47) — (9:47) 29-L.Blount up the middle to DAL 27 for no gain (92-J.Mincey). [WPA -0.6% · EPA -4.23]

Quarterback report card

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

• B.Weeden (Dallas Cowboys) · 49 dropbacks · 53.1% completion · -1.5% CPOE · -0.31 EPA/play · -15.04 total EPA
• T.Brady (New England Patriots) · 36 dropbacks · 55.6% completion · +4.4% CPOE · +0.26 EPA/play · +9.27 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, New England Patriots generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.12 vs -0.23), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Dallas Cowboys: 12 drives, -20.02 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 12 drives, +8.79 total EPA, 6 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• New England Patriots leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• J. Edelman (New England Patriots) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• T. Brady (NE) 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. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q1 53:24 · DAL 31 · Score 3-0
   (8:24) (Field Goal formation) 3-S.Gostkowski 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
2. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q1 46:52 · NE 33 · Score 3-3
   (1:52) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
3. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 33:42 · DAL 1 · Score 9-3
   (3:42) 12-T.Brady up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. Quarterback keeper.
4. New England Patriots TD (+7) — Q2 33:39 · DAL 15 · Score 10-3
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
5. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 30:08 · DAL 39 · Score 13-3
   (:08) (Field Goal formation) 3-S.Gostkowski 57 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
6. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 24:55 · DAL 10 · Score 19-3
   (9:55) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 33-D.Lewis for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete in the flat; ducked two tacklers for the score.
7. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 24:48 · DAL 15 · Score 20-3
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
8. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q3 16:22 · NE 5 · Score 20-6
   (1:22) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
9. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 13:10 · DAL 59 · Score 26-6
   (13:10) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep left to 11-J.Edelman for 59 yards, TOUCHDOWN [76-G.Hardy].
10. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 12:58 · DAL 15 · Score 27-6
    3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.
11. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q4 4:45 · DAL 16 · Score 30-6
    (4:45) (Field Goal formation) 3-S.Gostkowski 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-6-R.Allen.