New England Patriots vs. Dallas Cowboys: 2023 Week 4 Recap

Game story

In Week 4 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-10-01, the Dallas Cowboys took care of business against the New England Patriots, pulling away with a 38–3 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 18 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with +3.93 total EPA, and +12.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Ferguson (Dallas Cowboys) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.73 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+13.9% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New England Patriots changed the game: (8:49) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass deep left to 81-D.Douglas ran ob at DAL 15 for 42 yards (55-L.Vander Esch).

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. Ferguson · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +5.73 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.82 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Tolbert · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +4.82 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.21 EPA/play
3. 3 H. Henry · New England Patriots · Receiving · +4.43 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.89 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Prescott · Dallas Cowboys · Passing · +3.93 total EPA · 37 snaps · +0.11 EPA/play
5. 5 K. Turpin · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +3.53 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.53 EPA/play
6. 6 M. Gallup · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.88 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.48 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Douglas · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.63 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.88 EPA/play
8. 8 H. Luepke · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +2.06 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.03 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 — C. Lamb (D. Prescott pass) (Q1 46:34)
• Dallas Cowboys — M. Jones (Q2 41:17)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bland (Q2 31:07)
• Dallas Cowboys — H. Luepke (Q4 6:41)

Field goals

• Dallas Cowboys — B. Aubrey (Q1 55:54)
• New England Patriots — C. Ryland (Q1 51:44)
• Dallas Cowboys — B. Aubrey (Q2 34:06)
• Dallas Cowboys — B. Aubrey (Q3 22:45)

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 NE 5 (Q1 55:54) — (10:54) 17-B.Aubrey 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the DAL 11 (Q1 51:44) — (6:44) 37-C.Ryland 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the NE 20 (Q1 46:34) — (1:34) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep left to 88-C.Lamb for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q1 46:30) — 17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger..

The second quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 18–0. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the DAL 92 (Q2 41:17); Dallas Cowboys registered a safety from the NE 15 (Q2 41:09) — (Kick formation) TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 5-B.Anger pass to 99-C.Golston is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the NE 5 (Q2 34:06) — (4:06) 17-B.Aubrey 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the DAL 48 (Q2 31:07); Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q2 30:54) — 17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger..

The third quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 3–0. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the NE 15 (Q3 22:45) — (7:45) 17-B.Aubrey 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger..

The fourth quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 7–0. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the NE 3 (Q4 6:41) — (6:41) (Shotgun) 40-H.Luepke right guard for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q4 6:38) — 17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger..

Turning points

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

• New England Patriots (Q1 53:49) — (8:49) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass deep left to 81-D.Douglas ran ob at DAL 15 for 42 yards (55-L.Vander Esch). [WPA +13.9% · EPA +4.41]
• New England Patriots (Q2 41:17) — (11:17) 10-M.Jones sacked at NE 6 for -2 yards (56-D.Fowler). FUMBLES (56-D.Fowler) [56-D.Fowler], RECOVERED by DAL-55-L.Vander Esch at NE 11. 55-L.Vander Esch for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -11.5% · EPA -5.80]
• New England Patriots (Q2 31:07) — (1:07) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short left intended for 84-K.Bourne INTERCEPTED by 26-D.Bland at DAL 46. 26-D.Bland for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -7.7% · EPA -9.18]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 56:37) — (11:37) 20-T.Pollard right end to NE 5 for -4 yards (23-K.Dugger). [WPA -7.1% · EPA -3.06]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 59:26) — (14:26) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left to 13-M.Gallup pushed ob at NE 40 for 29 yards (5-J.Peppers). [WPA +6.8% · EPA +1.91]

Impact plays

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

• New England Patriots (Q2 31:07) — (1:07) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short left intended for 84-K.Bourne INTERCEPTED by 26-D.Bland at DAL 46. 26-D.Bland for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -7.7% · EPA -9.18]
• New England Patriots (Q2 41:17) — (11:17) 10-M.Jones sacked at NE 6 for -2 yards (56-D.Fowler). FUMBLES (56-D.Fowler) [56-D.Fowler], RECOVERED by DAL-55-L.Vander Esch at NE 11. 55-L.Vander Esch for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -11.5% · EPA -5.80]
• New England Patriots (Q1 53:49) — (8:49) (Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass deep left to 81-D.Douglas ran ob at DAL 15 for 42 yards (55-L.Vander Esch). [WPA +13.9% · EPA +4.41]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 18:46) — (3:46) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott sacked at NE 31 for -9 yards (91-D.Wise). [WPA +0.0% · EPA -4.10]

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) · 37 dropbacks · 75.7% completion · +12.9% CPOE · +0.11 EPA/play · +3.93 total EPA
• M.Jones (New England Patriots) · 24 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -16.7% CPOE · -0.58 EPA/play · -14.01 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 (+0.06 vs -0.47), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Dallas Cowboys: 12 drives, +5.02 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 11 drives, -34.62 total EPA, 3 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.
• J. Ferguson (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. Jones (NE) 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 55:54 · NE 5 · Score 0-3
   (10:54) 17-B.Aubrey 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
2. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q1 51:44 · DAL 11 · Score 3-3
   (6:44) 37-C.Ryland 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer.
3. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q1 46:34 · NE 20 · Score 3-9
   (1:34) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep left to 88-C.Lamb for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q1 46:30 · NE 15 · Score 3-10
   17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
5. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 41:17 · DAL 92 · Score 3-16
   (11:17) 10-M.Jones sacked at NE 6 for -2 yards (56-D.Fowler). FUMBLES (56-D.Fowler) [56-D.Fowler], RECOVERED by DAL-55-L.Vander Esch at NE 11. 55-L.Vander Esch
6. Dallas Cowboys Safety (+2) — Q2 41:09 · NE 15 · Score 3-18
   (Kick formation) TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 5-B.Anger pass to 99-C.Golston is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
7. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q2 34:06 · NE 5 · Score 3-21
   (4:06) 17-B.Aubrey 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
8. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 31:07 · DAL 48 · Score 3-27
   (1:07) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-M.Jones pass short left intended for 84-K.Bourne INTERCEPTED by 26-D.Bland at DAL 46. 26-D.Bland for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 30:54 · NE 15 · Score 3-28
   17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
10. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q3 22:45 · NE 15 · Score 3-31
    (7:45) 17-B.Aubrey 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
11. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 6:41 · NE 3 · Score 3-37
    (6:41) (Shotgun) 40-H.Luepke right guard for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q4 6:38 · NE 15 · Score 3-38
    17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.