New Orleans Saints vs. Dallas Cowboys: 2012 Week 16 Recap

Game story

In Week 16 of the 2012 NFL season on 2012-12-23, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 34–31 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 24 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with +33.90 total EPA, and +4.5% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +33.90 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+35.5% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (:21) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep right to 19-M.Austin for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass caught 4 yards deep corner of the end zone.

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 D. Brees · New Orleans Saints · Passing · +33.90 total EPA · 56 snaps · +0.61 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Romo · Dallas Cowboys · Passing · +17.82 total EPA · 44 snaps · +0.41 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Bryant · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +13.84 total EPA · 12 snaps · +1.15 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Colston · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +10.22 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.79 EPA/play
5. 5 P. Thomas · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +5.96 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.66 EPA/play
6. 6 L. Moore · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +5.68 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.14 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Graham · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +5.05 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.46 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Sproles · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.78 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.38 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 Orleans Saints — M. Ingram (Q1 55:31)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bryant (T. Romo pass) (Q2 42:57)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bryant (T. Romo pass) (Q2 35:54)
• New Orleans Saints — L. Moore (D. Brees pass) (Q2 31:16)
• New Orleans Saints — P. Thomas (D. Brees pass) (Q3 19:08)
• New Orleans Saints — D. Thomas (D. Brees pass) (Q4 11:14)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Harris (T. Romo pass) (Q4 3:40)
• Dallas Cowboys — M. Austin (T. Romo pass) (Q4 0:21)

Field goals

• New Orleans Saints — G. Hartley (Q2 30:04)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q3 25:31)
• New Orleans Saints — G. Hartley (OT 10:37)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the DAL 9 (Q1 55:31) — (10:31) 28-M.Ingram up the middle for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q1 55:25) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel..

The second quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 14–10. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the NO 58 (Q2 42:57) — (12:57) 9-T.Romo pass deep right to 88-D.Bryant for 58 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete off play action on a fly pattern.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q2 42:47) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-2-B.Moorman.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the NO 58 (Q2 35:54) — (5:54) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short left to 88-D.Bryant for 58 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete on a skinny post.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q2 35:43) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-2-B.Moorman.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the DAL 6 (Q2 31:16) — (1:16) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 16-L.Moore for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q2 31:11) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the DAL 19 (Q2 30:04) — (:04) (Field Goal formation) 5-G.Hartley 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–3. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the NO 29 (Q3 25:31) — (10:31) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-2-B.Moorman.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the DAL 5 (Q3 19:08) — (4:08) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 23-P.Thomas for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q3 19:03) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel..

The fourth quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 14–7. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the DAL 3 (Q4 11:14) — (11:14) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 85-D.Thomas for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Touchdown off play action.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q4 11:10) — 5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the NO 16 (Q4 3:40) — (3:40) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep left to 17-D.Harris for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete at corner of goal line.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q4 3:35) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-2-B.Moorman.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the NO 19 (Q4 0:21) — (:21) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep right to 19-M.Austin for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass caught 4 yards deep corner of the end zone.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the NO 2 (Q4 0:15) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-2-B.Moorman..

Overtime: New Orleans Saints won the period 3–0. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the DAL 2 (OT 10:37) — (10:37) (Field Goal formation) 5-G.Hartley 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel..

Turning points

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 0:21) — (:21) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep right to 19-M.Austin for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass caught 4 yards deep corner of the end zone. [WPA +35.5% · EPA +4.73]
• New Orleans Saints (OT 10:46) — (10:46) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 12-M.Colston to DAL 24 for 9 yards (24-M.Claiborne). FUMBLES (24-M.Claiborne), recovered by NO-80-J.Graham at DAL 2. The Replay Assistant challenged th [WPA +18.5% · EPA -0.18]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 19:25) — (4:25) 29-D.Murray left guard to DAL 7 for 4 yards (50-C.Lofton). FUMBLES (50-C.Lofton), RECOVERED by NO-50-C.Lofton at DAL 5. The Replay Assistant challenged the fumble ruling, and the play was Uphel [WPA -17.1% · EPA -5.53]
• New Orleans Saints (OT 13:33) — (13:33) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass deep right to 80-J.Graham to DAL 48 for 26 yards (39-B.Carr). [WPA +16.3% · EPA +1.62]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 42:57) — (12:57) 9-T.Romo pass deep right to 88-D.Bryant for 58 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete off play action on a fly pattern. [WPA +15.0% · EPA +4.73]

Impact plays

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

• New Orleans Saints (Q4 11:50) — (11:50) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 12-M.Colston pushed ob at DAL 3 for 60 yards (30-S.Moore) [70-T.Crawford]. Pass complete on a deep crossing pattern [WPA +9.1% · EPA +5.71]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 19:25) — (4:25) 29-D.Murray left guard to DAL 7 for 4 yards (50-C.Lofton). FUMBLES (50-C.Lofton), RECOVERED by NO-50-C.Lofton at DAL 5. The Replay Assistant challenged the fumble ruling, and the play was Uphel [WPA -17.1% · EPA -5.53]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 35:54) — (5:54) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short left to 88-D.Bryant for 58 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete on a skinny post. [WPA +14.3% · EPA +5.26]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 0:21) — (:21) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep right to 19-M.Austin for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass caught 4 yards deep corner of the end zone. [WPA +35.5% · EPA +4.73]

Quarterback report card

D.Brees led all passers in efficiency for New Orleans Saints, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Brees (New Orleans Saints) · 56 dropbacks · 66.1% completion · +4.5% CPOE · +0.61 EPA/play · +33.90 total EPA
• T.Romo (Dallas Cowboys) · 44 dropbacks · 59.1% completion · +1.2% CPOE · +0.41 EPA/play · +17.82 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (New Orleans Saints +0.17, Dallas Cowboys +0.18) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Dallas Cowboys: 13 drives, +13.60 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 13 drives, +19.82 total EPA, 6 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• D. Brees (New Orleans Saints) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Brees (NO) 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 Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q1 55:31 · DAL 9 · Score 6-0
   (10:31) 28-M.Ingram up the middle for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q1 55:25 · DAL 2 · Score 7-0
   5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
3. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 42:57 · NO 58 · Score 7-6
   (12:57) 9-T.Romo pass deep right to 88-D.Bryant for 58 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete off play action on a fly pattern.
4. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 42:47 · NO 2 · Score 7-7
   5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-2-B.Moorman.
5. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 35:54 · NO 58 · Score 7-13
   (5:54) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short left to 88-D.Bryant for 58 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete on a skinny post.
6. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 35:43 · NO 2 · Score 7-14
   5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-2-B.Moorman.
7. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 31:16 · DAL 6 · Score 13-14
   (1:16) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 16-L.Moore for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 31:11 · DAL 2 · Score 14-14
   5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
9. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 30:04 · DAL 19 · Score 17-14
   (:04) (Field Goal formation) 5-G.Hartley 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
10. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q3 25:31 · NO 29 · Score 17-17
    (10:31) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-2-B.Moorman.
11. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 19:08 · DAL 5 · Score 23-17
    (4:08) (Shotgun) 9-D.Brees pass short middle to 23-P.Thomas for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 19:03 · DAL 2 · Score 24-17
    5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
13. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 11:14 · DAL 3 · Score 30-17
    (11:14) 9-D.Brees pass short right to 85-D.Thomas for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Touchdown off play action.
14. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 11:10 · DAL 2 · Score 31-17
    5-G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.
15. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 3:40 · NO 16 · Score 31-23
    (3:40) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep left to 17-D.Harris for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete at corner of goal line.
16. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q4 3:35 · NO 2 · Score 31-24
    5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-2-B.Moorman.
17. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 0:21 · NO 19 · Score 31-30
    (:21) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep right to 19-M.Austin for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass caught 4 yards deep corner of the end zone.
18. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q4 0:15 · NO 2 · Score 31-31
    5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-2-B.Moorman.
19. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — OT 10:37 · DAL 2 · Score 34-31
    (10:37) (Field Goal formation) 5-G.Hartley 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-J.Drescher, Holder-10-C.Daniel.