Game story
In Week 1 of the 2016 NFL season on 2016-09-11, the New York Giants took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 20–19 final that came down to the wire.
The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 19 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.
D. Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with +1.90 total EPA, and -6.9% completion percentage over expected.
On the individual side, E. Manning (New York Giants) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.41 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.
The momentum swing (-28.4% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (:12) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short right to 83-T.Williams to NYG 40 for 14 yards (41-D.Rodgers-Cromartie).
Line score
Final score and points by quarter.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | — | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Giants | 0 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 20 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 3 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 19 |
Stars of the game
Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.
- 1 E. Manning · New York Giants · Passing · +7.41 total EPA · 31 snaps · +0.24 EPA/play
- 2 V. Cruz · New York Giants · Receiving · +4.34 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.08 EPA/play
- 3 C. Beasley · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +4.08 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.34 EPA/play
- 4 S. Shepard · New York Giants · Receiving · +2.42 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.61 EPA/play
- 5 D. Prescott · Dallas Cowboys · Passing · +1.90 total EPA · 46 snaps · +0.04 EPA/play
- 6 T. Williams · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +1.90 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play
- 7 O. Beckham · New York Giants · Receiving · +1.67 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.21 EPA/play
- 8 G. Swaim · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +1.21 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.21 EPA/play
Player of the game
FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.
E. Manning — NYG · Passing
E. Manning posted the highest total EPA (+7.41) in the game, making the biggest overall impact on New York Giants's efficiency. Across 31 counted snaps, they averaged +0.24 EPA per play.
The signature play (-4.12 EPA) came from New York Giants: (14:22) (No Huddle) 10-E.Manning pass short left intended for 87-S.Shepard INTERCEPTED by 39-B.Carr at NYG 35. 39-B.Carr to NYG 35 for no gain (87-S.Shepard).
Who scored touchdowns and field goals
Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.
Touchdowns
- New York Giants — L. Donnell (E. Manning pass)
- New York Giants — S. Shepard (E. Manning pass)
- Dallas Cowboys — E. Elliott
- New York Giants — V. Cruz (E. Manning pass)
Field goals
- Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey
- Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey
- Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey
- Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey
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 3–0. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the NYG 5 (Q1 51:37) — (6:37) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..
The second quarter: New York Giants won the period 13–6. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the NYG 38 (Q2 41:14) — (11:14) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 56 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; New York Giants found the end zone from the DAL 15 (Q2 39:41) — (9:41) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short left to 84-L.Donnell for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Giants added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q2 39:36) — 5-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the NYG 7 (Q2 34:08) — (4:08) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; New York Giants found the end zone from the DAL 9 (Q2 30:13) — (:13) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short right to 87-S.Shepard for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN..
The third quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 7–0. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the NYG 8 (Q3 25:53) — (10:53) 21-E.Elliott right guard for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the NYG 15 (Q3 25:47) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..
The fourth quarter: New York Giants won the period 7–3. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the NYG 36 (Q4 14:04) — (14:04) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; New York Giants found the end zone from the DAL 3 (Q4 6:19) — (6:19) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short middle to 80-V.Cruz for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Giants added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q4 6:13) — 5-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing..
Turning points
Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.
- Dallas Cowboys (Q4 0:12) — (:12) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short right to 83-T.Williams to NYG 40 for 14 yards (41-D.Rodgers-Cromartie).
- New York Giants (Q4 1:12) — (1:12) (Punt formation) 9-B.Wing punts 37 yards to end zone, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Touchback.
- New York Giants (Q2 30:13) — (:13) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short right to 87-S.Shepard for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- Dallas Cowboys (Q4 0:17) — (:17) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass incomplete short middle to 82-J.Witten.
- Dallas Cowboys (Q4 0:35) — (:35) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left to 11-C.Beasley to DAL 46 for 15 yards (20-J.Jenkins).
Impact plays
Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.
- New York Giants (Q3 29:22) — (14:22) (No Huddle) 10-E.Manning pass short left intended for 87-S.Shepard INTERCEPTED by 39-B.Carr at NYG 35. 39-B.Carr to NYG 35 for no gain (87-S.Shepard).
- New York Giants (Q2 30:13) — (:13) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short right to 87-S.Shepard for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- New York Giants (Q2 40:15) — (10:15) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass deep left to 13-O.Beckham ran ob at DAL 15 for 45 yards. Go route on left sideline.
- New York Giants (Q4 6:19) — (6:19) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short middle to 80-V.Cruz for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
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) · 46 dropbacks · 54.3% completion · -6.9% CPOE · +0.04 EPA/play · +1.90 total EPA
- E.Manning (New York Giants) · 31 dropbacks · 61.3% completion · +1.6% CPOE · +0.24 EPA/play · +7.41 total EPA
Team stats comparison
Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.
| Stat | New York Giants | Dallas Cowboys |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive EPA/play | +0.030 | +0.021 |
| Offensive success rate | 42.3% | 39.4% |
| Pass EPA/play | +0.239 | +0.041 |
| Rush EPA/play | -0.076 | -0.087 |
| Defensive EPA/play | -0.021 | -0.030 |
| Defensive success rate | 60.6% | 57.7% |
By the numbers
Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (New York Giants +0.03, Dallas Cowboys +0.02) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.
- Dallas Cowboys: 10 drives, +2.01 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
- New York Giants: 9 drives, +2.14 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
Key takeaways
What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.
- New York Giants 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.
- E. Manning (New York Giants) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
- D. Prescott (DAL) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
Every scoring play
Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.
- Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q1 51:37 · NYG 5 · Score 0-3
(6:37) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones. - Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q2 41:14 · NYG 38 · Score 0-6
(11:14) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 56 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones. - New York Giants TD (+6) — Q2 39:41 · DAL 15 · Score 6-6
(9:41) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short left to 84-L.Donnell for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - New York Giants XP (+1) — Q2 39:36 · DAL 15 · Score 7-6
5-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing. - Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q2 34:08 · NYG 7 · Score 7-9
(4:08) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones. - New York Giants TD (+6) — Q2 30:13 · DAL 9 · Score 13-9
(:13) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short right to 87-S.Shepard for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q3 25:53 · NYG 8 · Score 13-15
(10:53) 21-E.Elliott right guard for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q3 25:47 · NYG 15 · Score 13-16
5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones. - Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q4 14:04 · NYG 36 · Score 13-19
(14:04) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones. - New York Giants TD (+6) — Q4 6:19 · DAL 3 · Score 19-19
(6:19) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 10-E.Manning pass short middle to 80-V.Cruz for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - New York Giants XP (+1) — Q4 6:13 · DAL 15 · Score 20-19
5-R.Bullock extra point is GOOD, Center-51-Z.DeOssie, Holder-9-B.Wing.
Frequently asked questions
Who won New York Giants vs Dallas Cowboys?
The New York Giants beat the Dallas Cowboys 20-19 in Week 1, 2016 on 2016-09-11.
What was the final score of New York Giants vs Dallas Cowboys?
The final score was New York Giants 20, Dallas Cowboys 19 (NYG 20-19 DAL) in Week 1, 2016 on 2016-09-11.
What was the score by quarter in New York Giants vs Dallas Cowboys?
Q1: New York Giants 0, Dallas Cowboys 3; Q2: New York Giants 13, Dallas Cowboys 6; Q3: New York Giants 0, Dallas Cowboys 7; Q4: New York Giants 7, Dallas Cowboys 3; Final: New York Giants 20, Dallas Cowboys 19.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals in New York Giants vs Dallas Cowboys?
New York Giants touchdown — L. Donnell (E. Manning pass) (Q2 39:41) New York Giants touchdown — S. Shepard (E. Manning pass) (Q2 30:13) Dallas Cowboys touchdown — E. Elliott (Q3 25:53) New York Giants touchdown — V. Cruz (E. Manning pass) (Q4 6:19) Dallas Cowboys field goal — D. Bailey (Q1 51:37, 3 pts) Dallas Cowboys field goal — D. Bailey (Q2 41:14, 3 pts) Dallas Cowboys field goal — D. Bailey (Q2 34:08, 3 pts) Dallas Cowboys field goal — D. Bailey (Q4 14:04, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.
How did the quarterbacks play in New York Giants vs Dallas Cowboys?
D. Prescott (Dallas Cowboys), 54.3% completion, -6.9% CPOE, +0.04 EPA per dropback, +1.90 total passing EPA. E. Manning (New York Giants), 61.3% completion, +1.6% CPOE, +0.24 EPA per dropback, +7.41 total passing EPA.
Who was the most impactful player in New York Giants vs Dallas Cowboys?
E. Manning (New York Giants) led the game in total EPA with +7.41 on passing plays. across 31 snaps. The top single-play swing was (-4.12 EPA): (14:22) (No Huddle) 10-E.Manning pass short left intended for 87-S.Shepard INTERCEPTED by 39-B.Carr at NYG 35. 39-B.Carr to NYG 35 for no gain (87-S.Shepard).. The biggest win-probability swing was -28.4%.
Was New York Giants vs Dallas Cowboys a close game?
Yes — the margin was 1 points. New York Giants won 20-19 in a game that came down to the wire.
Season records after this game
New York Giants
Now 1-0 W
Dallas Cowboys
Now 0-1 L
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