San Francisco 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys: 2001 Week 16 Recap

Game story

In Week 16 of the 2001 NFL season on 2001-12-30, the Dallas Cowboys took care of business against the San Francisco 49ers, pulling away with a 27–21 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 24 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Garcia (San Francisco 49ers) paced the passing game, with +11.87 total EPA.

On the individual side, Q. Carter (Dallas Cowboys) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +14.61 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+16.3% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (13:29) (Shotgun) 17-Q.Carter pass to 84-J.Galloway pushed ob at SF 28 for 44 yards (36-J.Webster). Pass thrown complete left sideline.

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 Q. Carter · Dallas Cowboys · Passing · +14.61 total EPA · 28 snaps · +0.52 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Garcia · San Francisco 49ers · Passing · +11.87 total EPA · 39 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Galloway · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +8.83 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.80 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Stokes · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +8.07 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.15 EPA/play
5. 5 R. Ismail · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +4.43 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.48 EPA/play
6. 6 Q. Carter · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +3.73 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play
7. 7 E. Johnson · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +3.01 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.50 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Wiley · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +2.39 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.60 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

• San Francisco 49ers — J. Garcia (Q2 40:16)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Chiaverini (Q. Carter pass) (Q2 34:52)
• San Francisco 49ers — J. Stokes (J. Garcia pass) (Q2 30:17)
• Dallas Cowboys — Q. Carter (Q3 25:17)
• Dallas Cowboys — J. Galloway (Q. Carter pass) (Q3 20:57)
• San Francisco 49ers — J. Stokes (J. Garcia pass) (Q4 0:42)

Field goals

• Dallas Cowboys — J. Hilbert (Q2 42:29)
• Dallas Cowboys — J. Hilbert (Q4 10:32)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The second quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 14–10. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the SF 4 (Q2 42:29) — (12:29) 9-J.Hilbert 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-M.Solwold, Holder-4-M.Knorr.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the DAL 6 (Q2 40:16); San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q2 40:07) — 6-J.Cortez extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-7-J.Baker.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the SF 2 (Q2 34:52) — (4:52) 17-Q.Carter pass to 85-D.Chiaverini for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass caught left side of the field at the 2 before scoring.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q2 34:44) — 9-J.Hilbert extra point is GOOD, Center-45-M.Solwold, Holder-4-M.Knorr.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the DAL 7 (Q2 30:17); San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q2 30:12) — 6-J.Cortez extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-7-J.Baker..

The third quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 14–0. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the SF 1 (Q3 25:17) — (10:17) 17-Q.Carter up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q3 25:11) — 9-J.Hilbert extra point is GOOD, Center-45-M.Solwold, Holder-4-M.Knorr.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the SF 47 (Q3 20:57) — (5:57) 17-Q.Carter pass to 84-J.Galloway for 47 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass thrown right sideline.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q3 20:50) — 9-J.Hilbert extra point is GOOD, Center-45-M.Solwold, Holder-4-M.Knorr..

The fourth quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 7–3. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the SF 2 (Q4 10:32) — (10:32) 9-J.Hilbert 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-M.Solwold, Holder-4-M.Knorr.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the DAL 3 (Q4 0:42) — (:42) 5-J.Garcia pass to 83-J.Stokes for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass caught on slant from right end.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q4 0:39) — 6-J.Cortez extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-7-J.Baker..

Turning points

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 28:29) — (13:29) (Shotgun) 17-Q.Carter pass to 84-J.Galloway pushed ob at SF 28 for 44 yards (36-J.Webster). Pass thrown complete left sideline. [WPA +16.3% · EPA +3.82]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 33:16) — (3:16) 22-T.Jackson FUMBLES (Aborted) at DAL 47, touched at DAL 47, RECOVERED by DAL-98-G.Ellis at DAL 47. [WPA -15.2% · EPA -3.52]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 36:35) — (6:35) (Shotgun) 17-Q.Carter pass to 84-J.Galloway ran ob at SF 40 for 26 yards. Pass caught right sideline. [WPA +11.8% · EPA +2.90]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 50:31) — (5:31) 6-J.Cortez 46 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-7-J.Baker. [WPA -10.3% · EPA -3.25]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 42:19) — 4-M.Knorr kicks onside 13 yards from DAL 30 to DAL 43. 22-T.Jackson (didn't try to advance) to DAL 43 for no gain (50-J.Brooks). [WPA +9.5% · EPA +2.13]

Impact plays

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 1:13) — (1:13) 4-M.Knorr punt is BLOCKED by 22-T.Jackson, Center-45-M.Solwold, RECOVERED by SF-23-J.Williams at DAL 4. [WPA -1.0% · EPA -4.36]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 20:57) — (5:57) 17-Q.Carter pass to 84-J.Galloway for 47 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass thrown right sideline. [WPA +8.8% · EPA +4.27]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 28:29) — (13:29) (Shotgun) 17-Q.Carter pass to 84-J.Galloway pushed ob at SF 28 for 44 yards (36-J.Webster). Pass thrown complete left sideline. [WPA +16.3% · EPA +3.82]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 33:16) — (3:16) 22-T.Jackson FUMBLES (Aborted) at DAL 47, touched at DAL 47, RECOVERED by DAL-98-G.Ellis at DAL 47. [WPA -15.2% · EPA -3.52]

Quarterback report card

J.Garcia led all passers in efficiency for San Francisco 49ers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Garcia (San Francisco 49ers) · 39 dropbacks · 53.8% completion · +0.30 EPA/play · +11.87 total EPA
• Q.Carter (Dallas Cowboys) · 28 dropbacks · 53.6% completion · +0.52 EPA/play · +14.61 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 (San Francisco 49ers +0.10, Dallas Cowboys +0.14) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Dallas Cowboys: 11 drives, +12.47 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 10 drives, +7.03 total EPA, 3 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• Q. Carter (Dallas Cowboys) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

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

1. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q2 42:29 · SF 4 · Score 0-3
   (12:29) 9-J.Hilbert 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-M.Solwold, Holder-4-M.Knorr.
2. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q2 40:16 · DAL 6 · Score 6-3
   (10:16) 5-J.Garcia scrambles right end for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Ellis of Dallas shaken up on the play. Teague of Dallas had X-rays on right forearm and has retur
3. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q2 40:07 · DAL 2 · Score 7-3
   6-J.Cortez extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-7-J.Baker.
4. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 34:52 · SF 2 · Score 7-9
   (4:52) 17-Q.Carter pass to 85-D.Chiaverini for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass caught left side of the field at the 2 before scoring.
5. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 34:44 · SF 2 · Score 7-10
   9-J.Hilbert extra point is GOOD, Center-45-M.Solwold, Holder-4-M.Knorr.
6. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q2 30:17 · DAL 7 · Score 13-10
   (:17) 5-J.Garcia pass to 83-J.Stokes for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Stokes started inside and cut out on a curl right corner of the end zone one yard deep.
7. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q2 30:12 · DAL 2 · Score 14-10
   6-J.Cortez extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-7-J.Baker.
8. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q3 25:17 · SF 1 · Score 14-16
   (10:17) 17-Q.Carter up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q3 25:11 · SF 2 · Score 14-17
   9-J.Hilbert extra point is GOOD, Center-45-M.Solwold, Holder-4-M.Knorr.
10. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q3 20:57 · SF 47 · Score 14-23
    (5:57) 17-Q.Carter pass to 84-J.Galloway for 47 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass thrown right sideline.
11. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q3 20:50 · SF 2 · Score 14-24
    9-J.Hilbert extra point is GOOD, Center-45-M.Solwold, Holder-4-M.Knorr.
12. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q4 10:32 · SF 2 · Score 14-27
    (10:32) 9-J.Hilbert 20 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-45-M.Solwold, Holder-4-M.Knorr.
13. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q4 0:42 · DAL 3 · Score 20-27
    (:42) 5-J.Garcia pass to 83-J.Stokes for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass caught on slant from right end.
14. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q4 0:39 · DAL 2 · Score 21-27
    6-J.Cortez extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-7-J.Baker.