Seattle Seahawks vs. Dallas Cowboys: 2009 Week 8 Recap

Game story

In Week 8 of the 2009 NFL season on 2009-11-01, the Dallas Cowboys took care of business against the Seattle Seahawks, pulling away with a 38–17 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Hasselbeck (Seattle Seahawks) paced the passing game, with -0.06 total EPA, and -7.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Romo (Dallas Cowboys) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +12.09 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+11.4% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Seattle Seahawks changed the game: (10:31) (Shotgun) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass deep middle to 83-D.Branch for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete on slant.

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. Romo · Dallas Cowboys · Passing · +12.09 total EPA · 42 snaps · +0.29 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Austin · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +4.69 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.67 EPA/play
3. 3 S. Hurd · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +3.30 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.30 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Branch · Seattle Seahawks · Receiving · +3.17 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.79 EPA/play
5. 5 P. Crayton · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.54 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.51 EPA/play
6. 6 K. Ogletree · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.44 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.44 EPA/play
7. 7 F. Jones · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +1.80 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.80 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Carlson · Seattle Seahawks · Receiving · +1.51 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.22 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 — S. Hurd (T. Romo pass) (Q1 48:23)
• Dallas Cowboys — M. Barber (Q2 43:30)
• Seattle Seahawks — D. Branch (M. Hasselbeck pass) (Q2 40:31)
• Dallas Cowboys — R. Williams (T. Romo pass) (Q2 30:40)
• Dallas Cowboys — M. Austin (T. Romo pass) (Q3 17:44)
• Dallas Cowboys — P. Crayton (Q3 16:30)
• Seattle Seahawks — J. Griffith (M. Hasselbeck pass) (Q4 8:46)

Field goals

• Seattle Seahawks — O. Mare (Q1 52:03)
• Dallas Cowboys — N. Folk (Q4 11:03)

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 7–3. Seattle Seahawks connected on a field goal from the DAL 25 (Q1 52:03) — (7:03) (Field Goal formation) 10-O.Mare 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-K.Houser, Holder-9-J.Ryan.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the SEA 36 (Q1 48:23) — (3:23) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short left to 17-S.Hurd for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass caught on a crossing pattern.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the SEA 2 (Q1 48:12) — 6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar..

The second quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 14–7. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the SEA 2 (Q2 43:30) — (13:30) 24-M.Barber right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the SEA 2 (Q2 43:26) — 6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar.; Seattle Seahawks found the end zone from the DAL 23 (Q2 40:31) — (10:31) (Shotgun) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass deep middle to 83-D.Branch for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete on slant.; Seattle Seahawks added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q2 40:25) — 10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-45-K.Houser, Holder-9-J.Ryan.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the SEA 7 (Q2 30:40); Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the SEA 2 (Q2 30:35) — 6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar..

The third quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 14–0. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the SEA 3 (Q3 17:44) — (2:44) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short right to 19-M.Austin for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the SEA 2 (Q3 17:39) — 6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the DAL 71 (Q3 16:30) — (1:30) (Punt formation) 9-J.Ryan punts 53 yards to DAL 18, Center-45-K.Houser. 84-P.Crayton for 82 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Return left sideline.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the SEA 2 (Q3 16:11) — 6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar..

The fourth quarter: Seattle Seahawks won the period 7–3. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the SEA 22 (Q4 11:03) — (11:03) (Field Goal formation) 6-N.Folk 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar.; Seattle Seahawks found the end zone from the DAL 4 (Q4 8:46) — (8:46) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass short right to 33-J.Griffith for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Seattle Seahawks added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q4 8:40) — 10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-45-K.Houser, Holder-9-J.Ryan..

Turning points

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

• Seattle Seahawks (Q2 40:31) — (10:31) (Shotgun) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass deep middle to 83-D.Branch for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete on slant. [WPA +11.4% · EPA +3.60]
• Seattle Seahawks (Q1 47:05) — (2:05) (Shotgun) 20-J.Forsett up the middle to SEA 40 for 6 yards (41-T.Newman). FUMBLES (41-T.Newman), RECOVERED by DAL-32-O.Scandrick at SEA 45. 32-O.Scandrick to SEA 30 for 15 yards (60-M.Unger). [WPA -9.7% · EPA -4.50]
• Seattle Seahawks (Q2 41:43) — (11:43) (Shotgun) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass deep right to 81-N.Burleson to DAL 25 for 36 yards (41-T.Newman). Pass complete on fly pattern. [WPA +7.9% · EPA +3.73]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 48:23) — (3:23) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short left to 17-S.Hurd for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass caught on a crossing pattern. [WPA +7.4% · EPA +3.30]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle to 84-P.Crayton to SEA 15 for 16 yards (24-D.Grant). Pass complete on a curl route. [WPA +6.8% · EPA +2.27]

Impact plays

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

• Seattle Seahawks (Q3 16:30) — (1:30) (Punt formation) 9-J.Ryan punts 53 yards to DAL 18, Center-45-K.Houser. 84-P.Crayton for 82 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Return left sideline. [WPA -1.6% · EPA -5.96]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 9:31) — (9:31) 9-T.Romo sacked at DAL 8 for -5 yards (57-D.Hawthorne). FUMBLES (57-D.Hawthorne), RECOVERED by SEA-90-C.Cole at DAL 10. 90-C.Cole to DAL 8 for 2 yards. [WPA -0.0% · EPA -5.69]
• Seattle Seahawks (Q1 47:05) — (2:05) (Shotgun) 20-J.Forsett up the middle to SEA 40 for 6 yards (41-T.Newman). FUMBLES (41-T.Newman), RECOVERED by DAL-32-O.Scandrick at SEA 45. 32-O.Scandrick to SEA 30 for 15 yards (60-M.Unger). [WPA -9.7% · EPA -4.50]
• Seattle Seahawks (Q4 2:17) — (2:17) (Shotgun) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass short middle to 81-N.Burleson to DAL 23 for 8 yards (56-B.James). FUMBLES (56-B.James), RECOVERED by DAL-57-V.Butler at DAL 17. DAL-56-B.James was injured during t [WPA -0.1% · EPA -4.07]

Quarterback report card

M.Hasselbeck led all passers in efficiency for Seattle Seahawks, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• M.Hasselbeck (Seattle Seahawks) · 43 dropbacks · 51.2% completion · -7.2% CPOE · -0.00 EPA/play · -0.06 total EPA
• T.Romo (Dallas Cowboys) · 42 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -2.1% CPOE · +0.29 EPA/play · +12.09 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 (+0.10 vs -0.14), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Dallas Cowboys: 12 drives, +8.57 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Seattle Seahawks: 13 drives, -11.23 total EPA, 4 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. Romo (Dallas Cowboys) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• M. Hasselbeck (SEA) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Seattle Seahawks FG (+3) — Q1 52:03 · DAL 25 · Score 3-0
   (7:03) (Field Goal formation) 10-O.Mare 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-K.Houser, Holder-9-J.Ryan.
2. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q1 48:23 · SEA 36 · Score 3-6
   (3:23) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short left to 17-S.Hurd for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass caught on a crossing pattern.
3. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q1 48:12 · SEA 2 · Score 3-7
   6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar.
4. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 43:30 · SEA 2 · Score 3-13
   (13:30) 24-M.Barber right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 43:26 · SEA 2 · Score 3-14
   6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar.
6. Seattle Seahawks TD (+6) — Q2 40:31 · DAL 23 · Score 9-14
   (10:31) (Shotgun) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass deep middle to 83-D.Branch for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete on slant.
7. Seattle Seahawks XP (+1) — Q2 40:25 · DAL 2 · Score 10-14
   10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-45-K.Houser, Holder-9-J.Ryan.
8. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 30:40 · SEA 7 · Score 10-20
   (:40) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle to 11-R.Williams for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Assistant challenged the pass completion ruling, and the play was
9. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 30:35 · SEA 2 · Score 10-21
   6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar.
10. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q3 17:44 · SEA 3 · Score 10-27
    (2:44) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short right to 19-M.Austin for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q3 17:39 · SEA 2 · Score 10-28
    6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar.
12. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q3 16:30 · DAL 71 · Score 10-34
    (1:30) (Punt formation) 9-J.Ryan punts 53 yards to DAL 18, Center-45-K.Houser. 84-P.Crayton for 82 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Return left sideline.
13. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q3 16:11 · SEA 2 · Score 10-35
    6-N.Folk extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar.
14. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q4 11:03 · SEA 22 · Score 10-38
    (11:03) (Field Goal formation) 6-N.Folk 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-1-M.McBriar.
15. Seattle Seahawks TD (+6) — Q4 8:46 · DAL 4 · Score 16-38
    (8:46) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass short right to 33-J.Griffith for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
16. Seattle Seahawks XP (+1) — Q4 8:40 · DAL 2 · Score 17-38
    10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-45-K.Houser, Holder-9-J.Ryan.