Seattle Seahawks vs. Dallas Cowboys: 2017 Week 16 Recap

Game story

In Week 16 of the 2017 NFL season on 2017-12-24, the Seattle Seahawks took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 21–12 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 16 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with -14.34 total EPA, and -7.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Williams (Dallas Cowboys) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +3.59 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-31.8% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (11:29) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left intended for 21-E.Elliott INTERCEPTED by 28-J.Coleman at DAL 30. 28-J.Coleman for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on SEA-28-J.Coleman, Unsportsma

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. Williams · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +3.59 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.90 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Baldwin · Seattle Seahawks · Receiving · +2.58 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.43 EPA/play
3. 3 R. Wilson · Seattle Seahawks · Passing · +2.57 total EPA · 28 snaps · +0.09 EPA/play
4. 4 R. Smith · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.01 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.67 EPA/play
5. 5 P. Richardson · Seattle Seahawks · Receiving · +1.97 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.49 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Graham · Seattle Seahawks · Receiving · +1.58 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.58 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Beasley · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +1.27 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
8. 8 E. Elliott · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +1.17 total EPA · 24 snaps · +0.05 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

• Seattle Seahawks — J. Graham (R. Wilson pass) (Q2 31:42)
• Seattle Seahawks — J. Coleman (Q3 26:29)
• Seattle Seahawks — D. Baldwin (R. Wilson pass) (Q4 12:05)

Field goals

• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q2 44:16)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q2 35:53)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q2 30:08)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q3 23:41)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The second quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 9–7. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the SEA 16 (Q2 44:16) — (14:16) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the SEA 33 (Q2 35:53) — (5:53) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; Seattle Seahawks found the end zone from the DAL 3 (Q2 31:42) — (1:42) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short left to 88-J.Graham for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Seattle Seahawks added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q2 31:38) — 7-B.Walsh extra point is GOOD, Center-69-T.Ott, Holder-9-J.Ryan.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the SEA 33 (Q2 30:08) — (:08) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..

The third quarter: Seattle Seahawks won the period 7–3. Seattle Seahawks found the end zone from the SEA 71 (Q3 26:29); Seattle Seahawks added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q3 26:19) — 7-B.Walsh extra point is GOOD, Center-69-T.Ott, Holder-9-J.Ryan.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the SEA 21 (Q3 23:41) — (8:41) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..

The fourth quarter: Seattle Seahawks won the period 7–0. Seattle Seahawks found the end zone from the DAL 6 (Q4 12:05) — (12:05) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short left to 89-D.Baldwin for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Seattle Seahawks added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q4 11:59) — 7-B.Walsh extra point is GOOD, Center-69-T.Ott, Holder-9-J.Ryan..

Turning points

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 26:29) — (11:29) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left intended for 21-E.Elliott INTERCEPTED by 28-J.Coleman at DAL 30. 28-J.Coleman for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on SEA-28-J.Coleman, Unsportsma [WPA -31.8% · EPA -8.33]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 18:32) — (3:32) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short middle intended for 88-D.Bryant INTERCEPTED by 50-K.Wright at SEA 20. 50-K.Wright to SEA 21 for 1 yard (71-L.Collins). [WPA -16.5% · EPA -4.26]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 34:10) — (4:10) 4-D.Prescott pass short right to 88-D.Bryant to DAL 42 for 7 yards (41-B.Maxwell). FUMBLES (41-B.Maxwell), RECOVERED by SEA-50-K.Wright at DAL 43. 50-K.Wright to DAL 43 for no gain (84-J.Hanna) [WPA -12.3% · EPA -4.24]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 25:45) — (10:45) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass incomplete deep right to 11-C.Beasley. PENALTY on SEA-28-J.Coleman, Defensive Pass Interference, 43 yards, enforced at DAL 36 - No Play. [WPA +12.1% · EPA +3.04]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 19:39) — (4:39) 4-D.Prescott pass deep left to 88-D.Bryant ran ob at SEA 23 for 33 yards. [WPA +9.6% · EPA +2.02]

Impact plays

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 26:29) — (11:29) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left intended for 21-E.Elliott INTERCEPTED by 28-J.Coleman at DAL 30. 28-J.Coleman for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on SEA-28-J.Coleman, Unsportsma [WPA -31.8% · EPA -8.33]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 18:32) — (3:32) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short middle intended for 88-D.Bryant INTERCEPTED by 50-K.Wright at SEA 20. 50-K.Wright to SEA 21 for 1 yard (71-L.Collins). [WPA -16.5% · EPA -4.26]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 34:10) — (4:10) 4-D.Prescott pass short right to 88-D.Bryant to DAL 42 for 7 yards (41-B.Maxwell). FUMBLES (41-B.Maxwell), RECOVERED by SEA-50-K.Wright at DAL 43. 50-K.Wright to DAL 43 for no gain (84-J.Hanna) [WPA -12.3% · EPA -4.24]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 5:43) — (5:43) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 34 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones. [WPA -7.5% · EPA -3.48]

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) · 44 dropbacks · 47.7% completion · -7.4% CPOE · -0.33 EPA/play · -14.34 total EPA
• R.Wilson (Seattle Seahawks) · 28 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · +11.0% CPOE · +0.09 EPA/play · +2.57 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Seattle Seahawks generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.06 vs -0.18), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Dallas Cowboys: 11 drives, -15.90 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Seattle Seahawks: 12 drives, -4.70 total EPA, 2 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Seattle Seahawks leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• T. Williams (Dallas Cowboys) 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.
• R. Wilson (SEA) 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. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q2 44:16 · SEA 16 · Score 0-3
   (14:16) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
2. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q2 35:53 · SEA 33 · Score 0-6
   (5:53) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
3. Seattle Seahawks TD (+6) — Q2 31:42 · DAL 3 · Score 6-6
   (1:42) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short left to 88-J.Graham for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Seattle Seahawks XP (+1) — Q2 31:38 · DAL 15 · Score 7-6
   7-B.Walsh extra point is GOOD, Center-69-T.Ott, Holder-9-J.Ryan.
5. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q2 30:08 · SEA 33 · Score 7-9
   (:08) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
6. Seattle Seahawks TD (+6) — Q3 26:29 · SEA 71 · Score 13-9
   (11:29) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left intended for 21-E.Elliott INTERCEPTED by 28-J.Coleman at DAL 30. 28-J.Coleman for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Seattle Seahawks XP (+1) — Q3 26:19 · DAL 15 · Score 14-9
   7-B.Walsh extra point is GOOD, Center-69-T.Ott, Holder-9-J.Ryan.
8. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q3 23:41 · SEA 21 · Score 14-12
   (8:41) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
9. Seattle Seahawks TD (+6) — Q4 12:05 · DAL 6 · Score 20-12
   (12:05) (Shotgun) 3-R.Wilson pass short left to 89-D.Baldwin for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Seattle Seahawks XP (+1) — Q4 11:59 · DAL 15 · Score 21-12
    7-B.Walsh extra point is GOOD, Center-69-T.Ott, Holder-9-J.Ryan.