New Orleans Saints vs. Dallas Cowboys: 2004 Week 14 Recap

Game story

In Week 14 of the 2004 NFL season on 2004-12-12, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 27–13 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

V. Testaverde (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with -10.31 total EPA.

On the individual side, J. Horn (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +10.86 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+13.6% win probability) landed in the second quarter when New Orleans Saints changed the game: (1:05) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass to 83-D.Stallworth to DAL 24 for 33 yards (30-L.Frazier). Penalty on DAL-30-L.Frazier, Defensive Holding, declined.

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. Horn · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +10.86 total EPA · 5 snaps · +2.17 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Stallworth · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +8.65 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.73 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Witten · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +5.70 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.43 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Brooks · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +5.33 total EPA · 38 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
5. 5 K. Johnson · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.50 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.25 EPA/play
6. 6 Q. Morgan · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +1.62 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.62 EPA/play
7. 7 D. McAllister · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.29 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Jones · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +0.78 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.39 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 — J. Jones (Q1 45:27)
• New Orleans Saints — D. McAllister (Q2 36:00)
• New Orleans Saints — D. McAllister (Q4 5:27)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Horn (A. Brooks pass) (Q4 2:53)

Field goals

• Dallas Cowboys — B. Cundiff (Q1 48:31)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Carney (Q2 30:41)
• Dallas Cowboys — B. Cundiff (Q3 25:38)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Carney (Q3 21:12)

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 10–0. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the NO 15 (Q1 48:31) — (3:31) 3-B.Cundiff 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-85-J.Robinson, Holder-7-D.Henson.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the NO 1 (Q1 45:27) — (:27) 21-J.Jones left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q1 45:21) — 3-B.Cundiff extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Robinson, Holder-7-D.Henson..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 10–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the DAL 5 (Q2 36:00) — (6:00) 26-D.McAllister up the middle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q2 35:56) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the DAL 21 (Q2 30:41) — (:41) 3-J.Carney 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the NO 23 (Q3 25:38) — (10:38) 3-B.Cundiff 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-85-J.Robinson, Holder-7-D.Henson.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the DAL 26 (Q3 21:12) — (6:12) 3-J.Carney 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 14–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the DAL 4 (Q4 5:27) — (5:27) 26-D.McAllister left end for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q4 5:21) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the DAL 31 (Q4 2:53) — (2:53) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass to 87-J.Horn for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q4 2:47) — 3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman..

Turning points

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q2 31:05) — (1:05) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass to 83-D.Stallworth to DAL 24 for 33 yards (30-L.Frazier). Penalty on DAL-30-L.Frazier, Defensive Holding, declined. [WPA +13.6% · EPA +2.53]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 5:27) — (5:27) 26-D.McAllister left end for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.2% · EPA +1.81]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 6:46) — (6:46) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass to 87-J.Horn to DAL 6 for 14 yards (33-N.Jones). Pass complete on slant from right end. [WPA +12.9% · EPA +2.16]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 8:11) — (8:11) 2-A.Brooks pass to 83-D.Stallworth pushed ob at DAL 20 for 25 yards (41-T.Newman). Quick out left end. [WPA +10.9% · EPA +2.24]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 37:17) — (7:17) 16-V.Testaverde pass intended for 18-T.Copper INTERCEPTED by 43-M.McKenzie at DAL 26. 43-M.McKenzie to DAL 21 for 5 yards (82-J.Witten). [WPA -10.8% · EPA -3.84]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q4 2:53) — (2:53) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass to 87-J.Horn for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +5.2% · EPA +4.71]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 40:57) — (10:57) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 87-J.Horn INTERCEPTED by 30-L.Frazier at DAL -1. 30-L.Frazier to DAL 1 for 2 yards (87-J.Horn). Pass intercepted left side of the end zone. [WPA -8.8% · EPA -4.70]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 20:28) — (5:28) 21-J.Jones left tackle to NO 40 for 3 yards (35-F.Brown). FUMBLES (35-F.Brown), RECOVERED by NO-50-J.Allen at NO 40. 50-J.Allen to NO 41 for 1 yard (36-D.Barnes). Penalty on DAL-81-Q.Morgan, Il [WPA -9.6% · EPA -4.30]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 28:32) — (13:32) 2-A.Brooks pass intended for 87-J.Horn INTERCEPTED by 31-Ro.Williams at DAL 38. 31-Ro.Williams ran ob at NO 42 for 20 yards. Williams 1st interception this season. [WPA -8.6% · EPA -4.13]

Quarterback report card

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

• V.Testaverde (Dallas Cowboys) · 39 dropbacks · 33.3% completion · -0.26 EPA/play · -10.31 total EPA
• A.Brooks (New Orleans Saints) · 38 dropbacks · 47.4% completion · +0.14 EPA/play · +5.33 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, New Orleans Saints generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.06 vs -0.15), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Dallas Cowboys: 14 drives, -12.30 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 15 drives, +5.50 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• New Orleans Saints leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• J. Horn (New Orleans Saints) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q1 48:31 · NO 15 · Score 0-3
   (3:31) 3-B.Cundiff 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-85-J.Robinson, Holder-7-D.Henson.
2. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q1 45:27 · NO 1 · Score 0-9
   (:27) 21-J.Jones left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q1 45:21 · NO 2 · Score 0-10
   3-B.Cundiff extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Robinson, Holder-7-D.Henson.
4. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 36:00 · DAL 5 · Score 6-10
   (6:00) 26-D.McAllister up the middle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 35:56 · DAL 2 · Score 7-10
   3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman.
6. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 30:41 · DAL 21 · Score 10-10
   (:41) 3-J.Carney 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman.
7. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q3 25:38 · NO 23 · Score 10-13
   (10:38) 3-B.Cundiff 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-85-J.Robinson, Holder-7-D.Henson.
8. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q3 21:12 · DAL 26 · Score 13-13
   (6:12) 3-J.Carney 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman.
9. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 5:27 · DAL 4 · Score 19-13
   (5:27) 26-D.McAllister left end for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 5:21 · DAL 2 · Score 20-13
    3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman.
11. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 2:53 · DAL 31 · Score 26-13
    (2:53) (Shotgun) 2-A.Brooks pass to 87-J.Horn for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 2:47 · DAL 2 · Score 27-13
    3-J.Carney extra point is GOOD, Center-47-K.Houser, Holder-4-T.Bouman.