Game story
In Week 15 of the 2016 NFL season on 2016-12-18, the Dallas Cowboys took care of business against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, pulling away with a 26–20 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.
The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.
D. Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with +1.35 total EPA, and +18.6% completion percentage over expected.
On the individual side, M. Evans (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.91 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.
The momentum swing (-21.1% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (8:45) 4-D.Prescott pass short middle to 82-J.Witten to DAL 44 for 3 yards (58-K.Alexander). FUMBLES (58-K.Alexander), RECOVERED by TB-54-L.David at DAL 45. 54-L.David to DAL 45 for no gain (82-J.Witt
Line score
Final score and points by quarter.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | — | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 3 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 0 | 17 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 26 |
Stars of the game
Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.
- 1 M. Evans · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +4.91 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.61 EPA/play
- 2 D. Bryant · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +3.78 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.38 EPA/play
- 3 C. Brate · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +3.67 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.46 EPA/play
- 4 C. Beasley · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.89 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.58 EPA/play
- 5 L. Dunbar · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +1.86 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.93 EPA/play
- 6 B. Butler · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +1.85 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.85 EPA/play
- 7 F. Martino · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Receiving · +1.82 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.82 EPA/play
- 8 T. Williams · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +1.66 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
Player of the game
FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.
M. Evans — TB · Receiving
M. Evans posted the highest total EPA (+4.91) in the game, making the biggest overall impact on Tampa Bay Buccaneers's efficiency. Across 8 counted snaps, they averaged +0.61 EPA per play.
The signature play (-5.99 EPA) came from Tampa Bay Buccaneers: (14:56) 3-J.Winston sacked at TB 18 for -7 yards (97-T.McClain). FUMBLES (97-T.McClain) [97-T.McClain], touched at TB 18, RECOVERED by DAL-96-M.Collins at TB 14. 96-M.Collins to TB 14 for no gain (88-L.Stocker).
Who scored touchdowns and field goals
Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.
Touchdowns
- Dallas Cowboys — E. Elliott
- Dallas Cowboys — D. Prescott
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers — A. Humphries (J. Winston pass)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers — C. Brate (J. Winston pass)
Field goals
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers — R. Aguayo
- Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers — R. Aguayo
- Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey
- Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey
- Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey
How it unfolded, quarter by quarter
A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.
The opening quarter: Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the period 3–0. Tampa Bay Buccaneers connected on a field goal from the DAL 7 (Q1 50:58) — (5:58) (Field Goal formation) 19-R.Aguayo 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-A.DePaola, Holder-9-B.Anger..
The second quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 17–3. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the TB 9 (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the TB 2 (Q2 42:38); Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the TB 15 (Q2 42:34) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the TB 2 (Q2 36:27) — (6:27) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the TB 15 (Q2 36:24) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers connected on a field goal from the DAL 16 (Q2 31:55) — (1:55) (Field Goal formation) 19-R.Aguayo 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-A.DePaola, Holder-9-B.Anger..
The third quarter: Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the period 14–0. Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the DAL 42 (Q3 26:52); Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q3 26:44) — 19-R.Aguayo extra point is GOOD, Center-48-A.DePaola, Holder-9-B.Anger.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers found the end zone from the DAL 10 (Q3 19:18) — (4:18) (Shotgun) 3-J.Winston pass short middle to 84-C.Brate for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tampa Bay Buccaneers added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q3 19:12) — 19-R.Aguayo extra point is GOOD, Center-48-A.DePaola, Holder-9-B.Anger..
The fourth quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 9–0. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the TB 22 (Q4 13:37) — (13:37) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the TB 20 (Q4 9:40) — (9:40) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the TB 15 (Q4 3:03) — (3:03) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 33 yard field goal 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 (Q4 8:45) — (8:45) 4-D.Prescott pass short middle to 82-J.Witten to DAL 44 for 3 yards (58-K.Alexander). FUMBLES (58-K.Alexander), RECOVERED by TB-54-L.David at DAL 45. 54-L.David to DAL 45 for no gain (82-J.Witt
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q3 21:43) — (6:43) (No Huddle) 3-J.Winston pass short left to 84-C.Brate to DAL 23 for 22 yards (31-B.Jones).
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q2 44:56) — (14:56) 3-J.Winston sacked at TB 18 for -7 yards (97-T.McClain). FUMBLES (97-T.McClain) [97-T.McClain], touched at TB 18, RECOVERED by DAL-96-M.Collins at TB 14. 96-M.Collins to TB 14 for no gain (88-
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q3 26:52) — (11:52) 3-J.Winston pass deep middle to 11-A.Humphries for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete after roll left; ball was tipped by Carr near the goalline before Humprhies made the catch in the endzone.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q1 54:06) — (9:06) (Shotgun) 3-J.Winston pass incomplete deep right to 13-M.Evans. PENALTY on DAL-39-B.Carr, Defensive Pass Interference, 21 yards, enforced at DAL 46 - No Play.
Impact plays
Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q2 44:56) — (14:56) 3-J.Winston sacked at TB 18 for -7 yards (97-T.McClain). FUMBLES (97-T.McClain) [97-T.McClain], touched at TB 18, RECOVERED by DAL-96-M.Collins at TB 14. 96-M.Collins to TB 14 for no gain (88-
- Dallas Cowboys (Q4 8:45) — (8:45) 4-D.Prescott pass short middle to 82-J.Witten to DAL 44 for 3 yards (58-K.Alexander). FUMBLES (58-K.Alexander), RECOVERED by TB-54-L.David at DAL 45. 54-L.David to DAL 45 for no gain (82-J.Witt
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q3 26:52) — (11:52) 3-J.Winston pass deep middle to 11-A.Humphries for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete after roll left; ball was tipped by Carr near the goalline before Humprhies made the catch in the endzone.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q4 11:59) — (11:59) (Shotgun) 3-J.Winston pass deep left intended for 11-A.Humphries INTERCEPTED by 38-J.Heath [95-D.Irving] at TB 41. 38-J.Heath to TB 22 for 19 yards (64-K.Pamphile).
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 · 72.7% completion · +18.6% CPOE · +0.03 EPA/play · +1.35 total EPA
- J.Winston (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) · 42 dropbacks · 40.5% completion · -6.6% CPOE · -0.04 EPA/play · -1.65 total EPA
Team stats comparison
Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.
| Stat | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Dallas Cowboys |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive EPA/play | -0.109 | -0.025 |
| Offensive success rate | 41.0% | 48.4% |
| Pass EPA/play | -0.039 | +0.031 |
| Rush EPA/play | -0.276 | +0.024 |
| Defensive EPA/play | +0.025 | +0.109 |
| Defensive success rate | 51.6% | 59.0% |
By the numbers
Dallas Cowboys held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.03 vs -0.11), even if the scoreboard told a different story.
- Dallas Cowboys: 12 drives, -2.26 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 12 drives, -8.50 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.
- One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
- M. Evans (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
- D. Prescott (DAL) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
- J. Winston (TB) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
Every scoring play
Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers FG (+3) — Q1 50:58 · DAL 7 · Score 3-0
(5:58) (Field Goal formation) 19-R.Aguayo 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-A.DePaola, Holder-9-B.Anger. - Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q2 45:00 · TB 9 · Score 3-3
(15:00) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones. - Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 42:38 · TB 2 · Score 3-9
(12:38) 21-E.Elliott left tackle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on DAL-21-E.Elliott, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs. - Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 42:34 · TB 15 · Score 3-10
5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones. - Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 36:27 · TB 2 · Score 3-16
(6:27) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 36:24 · TB 15 · Score 3-17
5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers FG (+3) — Q2 31:55 · DAL 16 · Score 6-17
(1:55) (Field Goal formation) 19-R.Aguayo 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-A.DePaola, Holder-9-B.Anger. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q3 26:52 · DAL 42 · Score 12-17
(11:52) 3-J.Winston pass deep middle to 11-A.Humphries for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Pass complete after roll left; ball was tipped by Carr near the goalline before - Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q3 26:44 · DAL 15 · Score 13-17
19-R.Aguayo extra point is GOOD, Center-48-A.DePaola, Holder-9-B.Anger. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers TD (+6) — Q3 19:18 · DAL 10 · Score 19-17
(4:18) (Shotgun) 3-J.Winston pass short middle to 84-C.Brate for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers XP (+1) — Q3 19:12 · DAL 15 · Score 20-17
19-R.Aguayo extra point is GOOD, Center-48-A.DePaola, Holder-9-B.Anger. - Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q4 13:37 · TB 22 · Score 20-20
(13:37) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones. - Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q4 9:40 · TB 20 · Score 20-23
(9:40) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones. - Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q4 3:03 · TB 15 · Score 20-26
(3:03) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Dallas Cowboys?
The Dallas Cowboys beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-20 in Week 15, 2016 on 2016-12-18.
What was the final score of Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Dallas Cowboys?
The final score was Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20, Dallas Cowboys 26 (TB 20-26 DAL) in Week 15, 2016 on 2016-12-18.
What was the score by quarter in Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Dallas Cowboys?
Q1: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3, Dallas Cowboys 0; Q2: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3, Dallas Cowboys 17; Q3: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 14, Dallas Cowboys 0; Q4: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0, Dallas Cowboys 9; Final: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20, Dallas Cowboys 26.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals in Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Dallas Cowboys?
Dallas Cowboys touchdown — E. Elliott (Q2 42:38) Dallas Cowboys touchdown — D. Prescott (Q2 36:27) Tampa Bay Buccaneers touchdown — A. Humphries (J. Winston pass) (Q3 26:52) Tampa Bay Buccaneers touchdown — C. Brate (J. Winston pass) (Q3 19:18) Tampa Bay Buccaneers field goal — R. Aguayo (Q1 50:58, 3 pts) Dallas Cowboys field goal — D. Bailey (Q2 45:00, 3 pts) Tampa Bay Buccaneers field goal — R. Aguayo (Q2 31:55, 3 pts) Dallas Cowboys field goal — D. Bailey (Q4 13:37, 3 pts) Dallas Cowboys field goal — D. Bailey (Q4 9:40, 3 pts) Dallas Cowboys field goal — D. Bailey (Q4 3:03, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.
How did the quarterbacks play in Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Dallas Cowboys?
D. Prescott (Dallas Cowboys), 72.7% completion, +18.6% CPOE, +0.03 EPA per dropback, +1.35 total passing EPA. J. Winston (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), 40.5% completion, -6.6% CPOE, -0.04 EPA per dropback, -1.65 total passing EPA.
Who was the most impactful player in Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Dallas Cowboys?
M. Evans (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) led the game in total EPA with +4.91 on receiving plays. across 8 snaps. The top single-play swing was (-5.99 EPA): (14:56) 3-J.Winston sacked at TB 18 for -7 yards (97-T.McClain). FUMBLES (97-T.McClain) [97-T.McClain], touched at TB 18, RECOVERED by DAL-96-M.Collins at TB 14. 96-M.Collins to TB. The biggest win-probability swing was -21.1%.
Was Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Dallas Cowboys a close game?
Yes — the margin was 6 points. Dallas Cowboys won 26-20 in a game that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.
Season records after this game
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Entered 8-5 Now 8-6 L
Dallas Cowboys
Entered 11-2 Now 12-2 W
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