New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys: 1999 Week 17 Recap

Game story

In Week 17 of the 1999 NFL season on 2000-01-02, the Dallas Cowboys took care of business against the New York Giants, pulling away with a 26–18 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 18 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

K. Collins (New York Giants) paced the passing game, with +10.05 total EPA.

On the individual side, T. Aikman (Dallas Cowboys) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +16.14 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+98.9% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when New York Giants changed the game: TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. J.Montgomery rushes right tackle. ATTEMPT FAILS. Play Challenged by Replay Assistant and REVERSED. TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. J.Montgomery rushes right tackle. ATTEMPT

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. Aikman · Dallas Cowboys · Passing · +16.14 total EPA · 32 snaps · +0.50 EPA/play
2. 2 K. Collins · New York Giants · Passing · +10.05 total EPA · 52 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Tucker · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +9.33 total EPA · 8 snaps · +1.17 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Jurevicius · New York Giants · Receiving · +6.38 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.59 EPA/play
5. 5 I. Hilliard · New York Giants · Receiving · +3.63 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.61 EPA/play
6. 6 R. Ismail · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +3.56 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.36 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Barber · New York Giants · Receiving · +3.30 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.24 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Ogden · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.78 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.39 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 — unlisted player (Q2 41:22)
• Dallas Cowboys — unlisted player (Q3 20:15)
• New York Giants — unlisted player (Q4 11:14)
• New York Giants — unlisted player (Q4 1:04)

Field goals

• Dallas Cowboys — unlisted player (Q1 60:00)
• Dallas Cowboys — unlisted player (Q1 52:18)
• Dallas Cowboys — unlisted player (Q2 30:29)
• New York Giants — unlisted player (Q3 26:44)
• Dallas Cowboys — unlisted player (Q4 4:56)

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 6–0. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the NYG 3 (Q1 60:00) — (15:00) E.Murray 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-D.Hellestrae, Holder-E.Bjornson.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the NYG 4 (Q1 52:18) — (7:18) E.Murray 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-D.Hellestrae, Holder-E.Bjornson..

The second quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 10–0. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the NYG 4 (Q2 41:22) — (11:22) T.Aikman pass to R.Ismail for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the NYG 2 (Q2 36:35) — E.Murray extra point is GOOD, Center-D.Hellestrae, Holder-E.Bjornson.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the NYG 10 (Q2 30:29) — (:29) E.Murray 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-D.Hellestrae, Holder-E.Bjornson..

The third quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 7–3. New York Giants connected on a field goal from the DAL 12 (Q3 26:44) — (11:44) C.Blanchard 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-J.Whittle, Holder-B.Maynard.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the NYG 90 (Q3 20:15) — (5:15) T.Aikman pass to J.Tucker for 90 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the NYG 2 (Q3 19:14) — E.Murray extra point is GOOD, Center-D.Hellestrae, Holder-E.Bjornson..

The fourth quarter: New York Giants won the period 15–3. New York Giants found the end zone from the DAL 1 (Q4 11:14) — (11:14) J.Montgomery right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Giants added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q4 10:19) — C.Blanchard extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Whittle, Holder-B.Maynard.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the NYG 23 (Q4 4:56) — (4:56) E.Murray 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-D.Hellestrae, Holder-E.Bjornson.; New York Giants found the end zone from the DAL 7 (Q4 1:04) — (1:04) (Shotgun) K.Collins pass to B.Alford for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Giants registered a safety from the DAL 2 (Q4 0:57).

Turning points

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

• New York Giants (Q4 0:57) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. J.Montgomery rushes right tackle. ATTEMPT FAILS. Play Challenged by Replay Assistant and REVERSED. TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. J.Montgomery rushes right tackle. ATTEMPT [WPA +98.9% · EPA +1.05]
• New York Giants (Q4 0:57) — PENALTY on NYG-G.Comella, Illegal Touch Kick, 5 yards, enforced at NYG 30 - No Play. [WPA -98.7% · EPA -0.42]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 60:00) — C.Blanchard kicks 60 yards from NYG 30 to DAL 10. J.Tucker to NYG 11 for 79 yards (D.Patten). PENALTY on NYG-D.Patten, Face Mask (15 Yards), 6 yards, enforced at NYG 11. [WPA +68.4% · EPA +4.91]
• New York Giants (Q1 57:32) — (12:32) B.Maynard punts 36 yards to end zone, Center-J.Whittle, Touchback. [WPA -7.6% · EPA -1.23]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 41:22) — (11:22) E.Smith right tackle to NYG 10 for 45 yards (P.Ellsworth). [WPA +7.3% · EPA +2.69]

Impact plays

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 20:15) — (5:15) T.Aikman pass to J.Tucker for 90 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +4.7% · EPA +7.91]
• New York Giants (Q4 11:14) — (11:14) (Shotgun) K.Collins pass to J.Jurevicius to DAL 1 for 71 yards (D.Sanders). [WPA +2.2% · EPA +6.11]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 60:00) — C.Blanchard kicks 60 yards from NYG 30 to DAL 10. J.Tucker to NYG 11 for 79 yards (D.Patten). PENALTY on NYG-D.Patten, Face Mask (15 Yards), 6 yards, enforced at NYG 11. [WPA +68.4% · EPA +4.91]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 41:22) — (11:22) T.Aikman pass to R.Ismail for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.1% · EPA +2.90]

Quarterback report card

K.Collins led all passers in efficiency for New York Giants, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• K.Collins (New York Giants) · 52 dropbacks · 57.7% completion · +0.19 EPA/play · +10.05 total EPA
• T.Aikman (Dallas Cowboys) · 32 dropbacks · 71.9% completion · +0.50 EPA/play · +16.14 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 (+0.23 vs +0.14), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Dallas Cowboys: 10 drives, +19.48 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• New York Giants: 9 drives, +12.66 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.
• T. Aikman (Dallas Cowboys) 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 60:00 · NYG 3 · Score 0-3
   (15:00) E.Murray 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-D.Hellestrae, Holder-E.Bjornson.
2. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q1 52:18 · NYG 4 · Score 0-6
   (7:18) E.Murray 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-D.Hellestrae, Holder-E.Bjornson.
3. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 41:22 · NYG 4 · Score 0-12
   (11:22) T.Aikman pass to R.Ismail for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 36:35 · NYG 2 · Score 0-13
   E.Murray extra point is GOOD, Center-D.Hellestrae, Holder-E.Bjornson.
5. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q2 30:29 · NYG 10 · Score 0-16
   (:29) E.Murray 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-D.Hellestrae, Holder-E.Bjornson.
6. New York Giants FG (+3) — Q3 26:44 · DAL 12 · Score 3-16
   (11:44) C.Blanchard 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-J.Whittle, Holder-B.Maynard.
7. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q3 20:15 · NYG 90 · Score 3-22
   (5:15) T.Aikman pass to J.Tucker for 90 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q3 19:14 · NYG 2 · Score 3-23
   E.Murray extra point is GOOD, Center-D.Hellestrae, Holder-E.Bjornson.
9. New York Giants TD (+6) — Q4 11:14 · DAL 1 · Score 9-23
   (11:14) J.Montgomery right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
10. New York Giants XP (+1) — Q4 10:19 · DAL 2 · Score 10-23
    C.Blanchard extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Whittle, Holder-B.Maynard.
11. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q4 4:56 · NYG 23 · Score 10-26
    (4:56) E.Murray 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-D.Hellestrae, Holder-E.Bjornson.
12. New York Giants TD (+6) — Q4 1:04 · DAL 7 · Score 16-26
    (1:04) (Shotgun) K.Collins pass to B.Alford for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. New York Giants Safety (+2) — Q4 0:57 · DAL 2 · Score 18-26
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. J.Montgomery rushes right tackle. ATTEMPT FAILS. Play Challenged by Replay Assistant and REVERSED. TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. J