San Francisco 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys: 2014 Week 1 Recap

Game story

In Week 1 of the 2014 NFL season on 2014-09-07, the San Francisco 49ers took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 28–17 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 24 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Romo (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with -5.90 total EPA, and -1.0% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, C. Kaepernick (San Francisco 49ers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +11.72 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-24.0% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (14:17) 29-D.Murray left end to DAL 35 for 2 yards (51-D.Skuta). FUMBLES (51-D.Skuta), RECOVERED by SF-29-C.Culliver at DAL 35. 29-C.Culliver for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

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 C. Kaepernick · San Francisco 49ers · Passing · +11.72 total EPA · 28 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
2. 2 A. Boldin · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +8.94 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.99 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Harris · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +4.53 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.26 EPA/play
4. 4 S. Johnson · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +4.42 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.21 EPA/play
5. 5 C. Beasley · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +4.17 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.83 EPA/play
6. 6 C. Hyde · San Francisco 49ers · Rushing · +3.16 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.45 EPA/play
7. 7 V. Davis · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +2.45 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.41 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Williams · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.24 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.32 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 — D. Murray (Q1 59:17)
• San Francisco 49ers — V. Davis (C. Kaepernick pass) (Q1 51:03)
• San Francisco 49ers — V. Davis (C. Kaepernick pass) (Q1 49:31)
• San Francisco 49ers — C. Hyde (Q2 30:43)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Murray (Q3 15:33)
• Dallas Cowboys — T. Williams (T. Romo pass) (Q4 1:55)

Field goals

• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q1 52:26)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 21–3. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the SF 67 (Q1 59:17); San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q1 59:06) — 9-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-4-A.Lee.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the SF 11 (Q1 52:26) — (7:26) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the DAL 29 (Q1 51:03); San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q1 50:54) — 9-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-4-A.Lee.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the DAL 2 (Q1 49:31) — (4:31) 7-C.Kaepernick pass short right to 85-V.Davis for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete for the score off play action.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q1 49:25) — 9-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The second quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 7–0. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the DAL 4 (Q2 30:43) — (:43) (Shotgun) 28-C.Hyde up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q2 30:39) — 9-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The third quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 7–0. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the SF 2 (Q3 15:33) — (:33) (Shotgun) 29-D.Murray up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q3 15:29) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..

The fourth quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 7–0. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the SF 2 (Q4 1:55) — (1:55) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle to 83-T.Williams for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete on a slant pattern.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the SF 7 (Q4 1:52) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..

Turning points

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 59:17) — (14:17) 29-D.Murray left end to DAL 35 for 2 yards (51-D.Skuta). FUMBLES (51-D.Skuta), RECOVERED by SF-29-C.Culliver at DAL 35. 29-C.Culliver for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -24.0% · EPA -8.98]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 49:52) — (4:52) 9-T.Romo pass deep right intended for 88-D.Bryant INTERCEPTED by 35-E.Reid at 50. 35-E.Reid to DAL 2 for 48 yards (72-T.Frederick). [WPA -10.5% · EPA -8.21]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 53:18) — (8:18) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo sacked at SF 11 for -9 yards (94-J.Smith). [WPA -7.1% · EPA -2.17]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 51:44) — (6:44) 7-C.Kaepernick pass deep middle to 81-A.Boldin to DAL 29 for 37 yards (42-B.Church). Pass complete on a post pattern. [WPA +6.4% · EPA +2.69]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 43:10) — (13:10) 9-T.Romo pass short right intended for 82-J.Witten INTERCEPTED by 52-P.Willis at SF -7. Touchback. SF's Chris Culliver has a neck injury; return is questionable. [WPA -5.3% · EPA -6.58]

Impact plays

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 59:17) — (14:17) 29-D.Murray left end to DAL 35 for 2 yards (51-D.Skuta). FUMBLES (51-D.Skuta), RECOVERED by SF-29-C.Culliver at DAL 35. 29-C.Culliver for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -24.0% · EPA -8.98]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 49:52) — (4:52) 9-T.Romo pass deep right intended for 88-D.Bryant INTERCEPTED by 35-E.Reid at 50. 35-E.Reid to DAL 2 for 48 yards (72-T.Frederick). [WPA -10.5% · EPA -8.21]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 43:10) — (13:10) 9-T.Romo pass short right intended for 82-J.Witten INTERCEPTED by 52-P.Willis at SF -7. Touchback. SF's Chris Culliver has a neck injury; return is questionable. [WPA -5.3% · EPA -6.58]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 17:15) — (2:15) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep middle to 17-D.Harris to SF 11 for 56 yards (35-E.Reid). Pass complete on a post pattern. [WPA +0.3% · EPA +4.95]

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) · 46 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -1.0% CPOE · -0.13 EPA/play · -5.90 total EPA
• C.Kaepernick (San Francisco 49ers) · 28 dropbacks · 57.1% completion · +3.9% CPOE · +0.42 EPA/play · +11.72 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, San Francisco 49ers generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.08 vs -0.09), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Dallas Cowboys: 10 drives, -7.94 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 10 drives, +5.58 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• San Francisco 49ers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• C. Kaepernick (San Francisco 49ers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• C. Kaepernick (SF) 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. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q1 59:17 · SF 67 · Score 6-0
   (14:17) 29-D.Murray left end to DAL 35 for 2 yards (51-D.Skuta). FUMBLES (51-D.Skuta), RECOVERED by SF-29-C.Culliver at DAL 35. 29-C.Culliver for 35 yards, TOUC
2. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q1 59:06 · DAL 2 · Score 7-0
   9-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-4-A.Lee.
3. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q1 52:26 · SF 11 · Score 7-3
   (7:26) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
4. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q1 51:03 · DAL 29 · Score 13-3
   (6:03) (Shotgun) 7-C.Kaepernick pass deep right to 85-V.Davis for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete after escaping pressure; caught right corner of the end zon
5. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q1 50:54 · DAL 2 · Score 14-3
   9-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-4-A.Lee.
6. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q1 49:31 · DAL 2 · Score 20-3
   (4:31) 7-C.Kaepernick pass short right to 85-V.Davis for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete for the score off play action.
7. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q1 49:25 · DAL 2 · Score 21-3
   9-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-4-A.Lee.
8. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q2 30:43 · DAL 4 · Score 27-3
   (:43) (Shotgun) 28-C.Hyde up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q2 30:39 · DAL 2 · Score 28-3
   9-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-4-A.Lee.
10. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q3 15:33 · SF 2 · Score 28-9
    (:33) (Shotgun) 29-D.Murray up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q3 15:29 · SF 2 · Score 28-10
    5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
12. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 1:55 · SF 2 · Score 28-16
    (1:55) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle to 83-T.Williams for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete on a slant pattern.
13. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q4 1:52 · SF 7 · Score 28-17
    5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.