Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys: 2006 Week 16 Recap

Game story

In Week 16 of the 2006 NFL season on 2006-12-25, the Philadelphia Eagles took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 23–7 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 13 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Romo (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with +0.05 total EPA, and -2.7% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Garcia (Philadelphia Eagles) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.07 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+13.8% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Philadelphia Eagles changed the game: (14:19) (Shotgun) 7-J.Garcia pass short middle to 82-L.Smith to DAL 12 for 65 yards (41-T.Newman). Quick out right side; Dallas was blitzing on the play.

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. Garcia · Philadelphia Eagles · Passing · +9.07 total EPA · 32 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
2. 2 L. Smith · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +8.04 total EPA · 2 snaps · +4.02 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Schobel · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +3.91 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.96 EPA/play
4. 4 P. Crayton · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +3.91 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.95 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Stallworth · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +3.88 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.29 EPA/play
6. 6 G. Lewis · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +3.78 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.89 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Witten · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +3.54 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.59 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Owens · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.94 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.47 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

• Philadelphia Eagles — M. Schobel (J. Garcia pass) (Q1 49:06)
• Dallas Cowboys — T. Owens (T. Romo pass) (Q2 30:44)
• Philadelphia Eagles — C. Buckhalter (Q4 6:57)

Field goals

• Philadelphia Eagles — D. Akers (Q2 35:19)
• Philadelphia Eagles — D. Akers (Q2 30:01)
• Philadelphia Eagles — D. Akers (Q3 27:18)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Philadelphia Eagles won the period 7–0. Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the DAL 25 (Q1 49:06) — (4:06) (Shotgun) 7-J.Garcia pass deep middle to 89-M.Schobel for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete on post pattern.; Philadelphia Eagles added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q1 49:00) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-D.Johnson..

The second quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 7–6. Philadelphia Eagles connected on a field goal from the DAL 7 (Q2 35:19) — (5:19) (Field Goal formation) 2-D.Akers 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-D.Johnson.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the PHI 14 (Q2 30:44) — (:44) 9-T.Romo pass short middle to 81-T.Owens for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Owens caught pass seven yards deep in back of end zone.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the PHI 2 (Q2 30:36) — 7-M.Gramatica extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-9-T.Romo.; Philadelphia Eagles connected on a field goal from the DAL 27 (Q2 30:01) — (:01) 2-D.Akers 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-D.Johnson..

The third quarter: Philadelphia Eagles won the period 3–0. Philadelphia Eagles connected on a field goal from the DAL 3 (Q3 27:18) — (12:18) (Field Goal formation) 2-D.Akers 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-D.Johnson..

The fourth quarter: Philadelphia Eagles won the period 7–0. Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the DAL 1 (Q4 6:57) — (6:57) 28-C.Buckhalter left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Philadelphia Eagles added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q4 6:54) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-D.Johnson..

Turning points

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

• Philadelphia Eagles (Q3 29:19) — (14:19) (Shotgun) 7-J.Garcia pass short middle to 82-L.Smith to DAL 12 for 65 yards (41-T.Newman). Quick out right side; Dallas was blitzing on the play. [WPA +13.8% · EPA +5.84]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q1 47:33) — (2:33) (Shotgun) 7-J.Garcia pass short right intended for 18-D.Stallworth INTERCEPTED by 42-A.Henry at DAL 31. 42-A.Henry to PHI 32 for 37 yards (18-D.Stallworth). [WPA -13.3% · EPA -6.28]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 45:33) — (:33) 9-T.Romo pass short middle to 84-P.Crayton to PHI 7 for 17 yards (37-S.Considine) [98-M.Patterson]. Romo avoids rush prior to the pass. [WPA +11.9% · EPA +2.72]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q1 51:42) — (6:42) (Shotgun) 7-J.Garcia pass short middle to 82-L.Smith to DAL 37 for 12 yards (56-B.James). Slant from right end. [WPA +9.7% · EPA +2.20]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 49:00) — 2-D.Akers kicks 66 yards from PHI 30 to DAL 4. 14-M.Austin to DAL 30 for 26 yards (27-Q.Mikell). FUMBLES (27-Q.Mikell), RECOVERED by PHI-29-R.Hood at DAL 40. [WPA -9.7% · EPA -3.75]

Impact plays

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

• Philadelphia Eagles (Q1 47:33) — (2:33) (Shotgun) 7-J.Garcia pass short right intended for 18-D.Stallworth INTERCEPTED by 42-A.Henry at DAL 31. 42-A.Henry to PHI 32 for 37 yards (18-D.Stallworth). [WPA -13.3% · EPA -6.28]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q3 29:19) — (14:19) (Shotgun) 7-J.Garcia pass short middle to 82-L.Smith to DAL 12 for 65 yards (41-T.Newman). Quick out right side; Dallas was blitzing on the play. [WPA +13.8% · EPA +5.84]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 49:00) — 2-D.Akers kicks 66 yards from PHI 30 to DAL 4. 14-M.Austin to DAL 30 for 26 yards (27-Q.Mikell). FUMBLES (27-Q.Mikell), RECOVERED by PHI-29-R.Hood at DAL 40. [WPA -9.7% · EPA -3.75]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 42:57) — (12:57) 24-M.Barber right end to PHI 4 for -3 yards (27-Q.Mikell). Quick pitch. [WPA -6.9% · EPA -3.41]

Quarterback report card

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

• T.Romo (Dallas Cowboys) · 39 dropbacks · 35.9% completion · -2.7% CPOE · +0.00 EPA/play · +0.05 total EPA
• J.Garcia (Philadelphia Eagles) · 32 dropbacks · 46.9% completion · +5.7% CPOE · +0.28 EPA/play · +9.07 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Philadelphia Eagles generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.11 vs -0.16), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Dallas Cowboys: 9 drives, -10.83 total EPA, 1 scoring drives
• Philadelphia Eagles: 10 drives, +8.81 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Philadelphia Eagles leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• J. Garcia (Philadelphia Eagles) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Garcia (PHI) 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. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q1 49:06 · DAL 25 · Score 6-0
   (4:06) (Shotgun) 7-J.Garcia pass deep middle to 89-M.Schobel for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete on post pattern.
2. Philadelphia Eagles XP (+1) — Q1 49:00 · DAL 2 · Score 7-0
   2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-D.Johnson.
3. Philadelphia Eagles FG (+3) — Q2 35:19 · DAL 7 · Score 10-0
   (5:19) (Field Goal formation) 2-D.Akers 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-D.Johnson.
4. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 30:44 · PHI 14 · Score 10-6
   (:44) 9-T.Romo pass short middle to 81-T.Owens for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Owens caught pass seven yards deep in back of end zone.
5. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 30:36 · PHI 2 · Score 10-7
   7-M.Gramatica extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-9-T.Romo.
6. Philadelphia Eagles FG (+3) — Q2 30:01 · DAL 27 · Score 13-7
   (:01) 2-D.Akers 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-D.Johnson.
7. Philadelphia Eagles FG (+3) — Q3 27:18 · DAL 3 · Score 16-7
   (12:18) (Field Goal formation) 2-D.Akers 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-D.Johnson.
8. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q4 6:57 · DAL 1 · Score 22-7
   (6:57) 28-C.Buckhalter left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Philadelphia Eagles XP (+1) — Q4 6:54 · DAL 2 · Score 23-7
   2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-D.Johnson.