Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys: 2013 Week 17 Recap

Game story

In Week 17 of the 2013 NFL season on 2013-12-29, the Philadelphia Eagles took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 24–22 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.

K. Orton (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with +1.20 total EPA, and +0.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, N. Foles (Philadelphia Eagles) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.84 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-34.5% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (1:49) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass short middle intended for 19-M.Austin INTERCEPTED by 22-B.Boykin at DAL 40. 22-B.Boykin to DAL 34 for 6 yards (65-R.Leary).

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 N. Foles · Philadelphia Eagles · Passing · +4.84 total EPA · 31 snaps · +0.16 EPA/play
2. 2 B. Celek · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +3.93 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.79 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Avant · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +3.40 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.68 EPA/play
4. 4 C. Polk · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +3.25 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.25 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Williams · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +3.24 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.62 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Bryant · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.75 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.20 EPA/play
7. 7 R. Cooper · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +2.66 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.89 EPA/play
8. 8 G. Escobar · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.14 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.14 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 — L. McCoy (N. Foles pass) (Q2 44:18)
• Dallas Cowboys — G. Escobar (K. Orton pass) (Q2 38:21)
• Philadelphia Eagles — B. Celek (N. Foles pass) (Q2 31:25)
• Philadelphia Eagles — B. Brown (Q4 6:16)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bryant (K. Orton pass) (Q4 3:57)

Field goals

• Philadelphia Eagles — A. Henery (Q1 52:10)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q2 30:23)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q3 24:04)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q3 20:43)

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 3–0. Philadelphia Eagles connected on a field goal from the DAL 29 (Q1 52:10) — (7:10) (Field Goal formation) 6-A.Henery 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-D.Jones..

The second quarter: Philadelphia Eagles won the period 14–10. Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the DAL 3 (Q2 44:18) — (14:18) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-N.Foles pass short right to 25-L.McCoy for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete off play action and roll right.; Philadelphia Eagles added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q2 44:13) — 6-A.Henery extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-D.Jones.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the PHI 17 (Q2 38:21) — (8:21) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass short right to 89-G.Escobar for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete in right flat.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the PHI 2 (Q2 38:16) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the DAL 14 (Q2 31:25) — (1:25) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-N.Foles pass short right to 87-B.Celek for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Philadelphia Eagles added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q2 31:19) — 6-A.Henery extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-D.Jones.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the PHI 26 (Q2 30:23) — (:23) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..

The third quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 6–0. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the PHI 25 (Q3 24:04) — (9:04) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the PHI 18 (Q3 20:43) — (5:43) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..

The fourth quarter: Philadelphia Eagles won the period 7–6. Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the DAL 6 (Q4 6:16) — (6:16) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 34-B.Brown left end for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Philadelphia Eagles added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q4 6:09) — 6-A.Henery extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-D.Jones.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the PHI 32 (Q4 3:57) — (3:57) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass short middle to 88-D.Bryant for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete on a slant pattern..

Turning points

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 1:49) — (1:49) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass short middle intended for 19-M.Austin INTERCEPTED by 22-B.Boykin at DAL 40. 22-B.Boykin to DAL 34 for 6 yards (65-R.Leary). [WPA -34.5% · EPA -4.30]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 3:57) — (3:57) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass short middle to 88-D.Bryant for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete on a slant pattern. [WPA +30.2% · EPA +5.45]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q3 15:38) — (:38) 9-N.Foles up the middle to DAL 1 for no gain (94-D.Ware; 54-B.Carter). [WPA -20.8% · EPA -3.72]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q3 22:52) — (7:52) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-N.Foles sacked at PHI 22 for -11 yards (97-J.Hatcher). FUMBLES (97-J.Hatcher) [97-J.Hatcher], RECOVERED by DAL-94-D.Ware at PHI 20. 94-D.Ware to PHI 20 for no gain (71-J. [WPA -15.3% · EPA -4.51]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q4 1:59) — (1:59) (Punt formation) 8-D.Jones punts 56 yards to DAL 25, Center-46-J.Dorenbos. 17-D.Harris to DAL 32 for 7 yards (21-R.Carmichael; 54-J.Knott). [WPA -15.0% · EPA -0.18]

Impact plays

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 3:57) — (3:57) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass short middle to 88-D.Bryant for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete on a slant pattern. [WPA +30.2% · EPA +5.45]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 55:51) — (10:51) 29-D.Murray right tackle to PHI 26 for 2 yards (95-M.Kendricks). FUMBLES (95-M.Kendricks), RECOVERED by PHI-24-B.Fletcher at PHI 23. 24-B.Fletcher to PHI 23 for no gain (68-D.Free). [WPA -14.6% · EPA -4.78]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q3 22:52) — (7:52) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-N.Foles sacked at PHI 22 for -11 yards (97-J.Hatcher). FUMBLES (97-J.Hatcher) [97-J.Hatcher], RECOVERED by DAL-94-D.Ware at PHI 20. 94-D.Ware to PHI 20 for no gain (71-J. [WPA -15.3% · EPA -4.51]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass short right intended for 82-J.Witten INTERCEPTED by 95-M.Kendricks at PHI 46. 95-M.Kendricks pushed ob at DAL 49 for 5 yards (82-J.Witten). [WPA -14.8% · EPA -4.50]

Quarterback report card

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

• K.Orton (Dallas Cowboys) · 49 dropbacks · 61.2% completion · +0.6% CPOE · +0.02 EPA/play · +1.20 total EPA
• N.Foles (Philadelphia Eagles) · 31 dropbacks · 54.8% completion · +9.9% CPOE · +0.16 EPA/play · +4.84 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 (Philadelphia Eagles -0.02, Dallas Cowboys -0.05) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Dallas Cowboys: 12 drives, -4.03 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Philadelphia Eagles: 14 drives, -1.89 total EPA, 4 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• N. Foles (Philadelphia Eagles) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• N. Foles (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 FG (+3) — Q1 52:10 · DAL 29 · Score 3-0
   (7:10) (Field Goal formation) 6-A.Henery 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-D.Jones.
2. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q2 44:18 · DAL 3 · Score 9-0
   (14:18) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-N.Foles pass short right to 25-L.McCoy for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete off play action and roll right.
3. Philadelphia Eagles XP (+1) — Q2 44:13 · DAL 2 · Score 10-0
   6-A.Henery extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-D.Jones.
4. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 38:21 · PHI 17 · Score 10-6
   (8:21) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass short right to 89-G.Escobar for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete in right flat.
5. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 38:16 · PHI 2 · Score 10-7
   5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
6. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q2 31:25 · DAL 14 · Score 16-7
   (1:25) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-N.Foles pass short right to 87-B.Celek for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Philadelphia Eagles XP (+1) — Q2 31:19 · DAL 2 · Score 17-7
   6-A.Henery extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-D.Jones.
8. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q2 30:23 · PHI 26 · Score 17-10
   (:23) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
9. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q3 24:04 · PHI 25 · Score 17-13
   (9:04) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
10. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q3 20:43 · PHI 18 · Score 17-16
    (5:43) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
11. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q4 6:16 · DAL 6 · Score 23-16
    (6:16) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 34-B.Brown left end for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Philadelphia Eagles XP (+1) — Q4 6:09 · DAL 2 · Score 24-16
    6-A.Henery extra point is GOOD, Center-46-J.Dorenbos, Holder-8-D.Jones.
13. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 3:57 · PHI 32 · Score 24-22
    (3:57) (Shotgun) 18-K.Orton pass short middle to 88-D.Bryant for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete on a slant pattern.