Tennessee Titans vs. Dallas Cowboys: 2018 Week 9 Recap

Game story

In Week 9 of the 2018 NFL season on 2018-11-05, the Tennessee Titans took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 28–14 final that built a comfortable lead.

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

D. Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with -6.02 total EPA, and +1.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Mariota (Tennessee Titans) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +14.44 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+15.8% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Tennessee Titans changed the game: (4:56) (Shotgun) 8-M.Mariota pass deep middle to 15-D.Jennings to DAL 18 for 36 yards (25-X.Woods).

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 M. Mariota · Tennessee Titans · Passing · +14.44 total EPA · 36 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Lewis · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +5.01 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.25 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Smith · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +3.89 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.95 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Hurns · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +3.57 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.57 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Jennings · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +3.50 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.50 EPA/play
6. 6 C. Batson · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +3.47 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.16 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Davis · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +3.11 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Taylor · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +2.80 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.40 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 — A. Cooper (D. Prescott pass) (Q1 51:18)
• Tennessee Titans — D. Henry (Q2 39:41)
• Tennessee Titans — D. Lewis (M. Mariota pass) (Q2 34:21)
• Dallas Cowboys — A. Hurns (D. Prescott pass) (Q2 30:45)
• Tennessee Titans — J. Smith (M. Mariota pass) (Q3 20:50)
• Tennessee Titans — M. Mariota (Q4 4:44)

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 7–0. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the TEN 4 (Q1 51:18) — (6:18) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left to 19-A.Cooper for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the TEN 15 (Q1 51:12) — 2-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..

The second quarter: Tennessee Titans won the period 14–7. Tennessee Titans found the end zone from the DAL 1 (Q2 39:41) — (9:41) 22-D.Henry right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Tennessee Titans added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q2 39:35) — 4-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Brinkley, Holder-6-B.Kern.; Tennessee Titans found the end zone from the DAL 18 (Q2 34:21) — (4:21) 8-M.Mariota pass short right to 33-D.Lewis for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tennessee Titans added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q2 34:11) — 4-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Brinkley, Holder-6-B.Kern.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the TEN 23 (Q2 30:45) — (:45) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep left to 17-A.Hurns for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the TEN 15 (Q2 30:39) — 2-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..

The third quarter: Tennessee Titans won the period 7–0. Tennessee Titans found the end zone from the DAL 7 (Q3 20:50) — (5:50) (Shotgun) 8-M.Mariota pass short middle to 81-J.Smith for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Shovel pass for the touchdown.; Tennessee Titans added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q3 20:44) — 4-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Brinkley, Holder-6-B.Kern..

The fourth quarter: Tennessee Titans won the period 7–0. Tennessee Titans found the end zone from the DAL 9 (Q4 4:44) — (4:44) (Shotgun) 8-M.Mariota scrambles up the middle for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tennessee Titans added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q4 4:38) — 4-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Brinkley, Holder-6-B.Kern..

Turning points

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

• Tennessee Titans (Q2 34:56) — (4:56) (Shotgun) 8-M.Mariota pass deep middle to 15-D.Jennings to DAL 18 for 36 yards (25-X.Woods). [WPA +15.8% · EPA +3.50]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 30:45) — (:45) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep left to 17-A.Hurns for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.3% · EPA +3.57]
• Tennessee Titans (Q1 53:18) — (8:18) (Shotgun) 8-M.Mariota sacked at TEN 31 for -8 yards (90-D.Lawrence). FUMBLES (90-D.Lawrence), touched at TEN 31, RECOVERED by DAL-50-S.Lee at TEN 15. 50-S.Lee to TEN 15 for no gain (77-T.Lewan) [WPA -13.3% · EPA -5.78]
• Tennessee Titans (Q1 50:09) — (5:09) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 8-M.Mariota FUMBLES (Aborted) at TEN 38, RECOVERED by DAL-54-J.Smith at TEN 41. [WPA -10.9% · EPA -4.92]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 48:37) — (3:37) 4-D.Prescott pass short left intended for 19-A.Cooper INTERCEPTED by 31-K.Byard at TEN 0. Touchback. [WPA -10.9% · EPA -6.14]

Impact plays

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 48:37) — (3:37) 4-D.Prescott pass short left intended for 19-A.Cooper INTERCEPTED by 31-K.Byard at TEN 0. Touchback. [WPA -10.9% · EPA -6.14]
• Tennessee Titans (Q1 53:18) — (8:18) (Shotgun) 8-M.Mariota sacked at TEN 31 for -8 yards (90-D.Lawrence). FUMBLES (90-D.Lawrence), touched at TEN 31, RECOVERED by DAL-50-S.Lee at TEN 15. 50-S.Lee to TEN 15 for no gain (77-T.Lewan) [WPA -13.3% · EPA -5.78]
• Tennessee Titans (Q1 50:09) — (5:09) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 8-M.Mariota FUMBLES (Aborted) at TEN 38, RECOVERED by DAL-54-J.Smith at TEN 41. [WPA -10.9% · EPA -4.92]
• Tennessee Titans (Q4 11:02) — (11:02) (Field Goal formation) 4-R.Succop 28 yard field goal is No Good, Hit Left Upright, Center-48-B.Brinkley, Holder-6-B.Kern. [WPA -8.0% · EPA -4.11]

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) · 41 dropbacks · 51.2% completion · +1.4% CPOE · -0.15 EPA/play · -6.02 total EPA
• M.Mariota (Tennessee Titans) · 36 dropbacks · 58.3% completion · +7.9% CPOE · +0.40 EPA/play · +14.44 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Tennessee Titans generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.06 vs -0.19), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Dallas Cowboys: 9 drives, -13.95 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• Tennessee Titans: 10 drives, +4.51 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Tennessee Titans leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• M. Mariota (Tennessee Titans) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• M. Mariota (TEN) 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 TD (+6) — Q1 51:18 · TEN 4 · Score 0-6
   (6:18) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left to 19-A.Cooper for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q1 51:12 · TEN 15 · Score 0-7
   2-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
3. Tennessee Titans TD (+6) — Q2 39:41 · DAL 1 · Score 6-7
   (9:41) 22-D.Henry right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Tennessee Titans XP (+1) — Q2 39:35 · DAL 15 · Score 7-7
   4-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Brinkley, Holder-6-B.Kern.
5. Tennessee Titans TD (+6) — Q2 34:21 · DAL 18 · Score 13-7
   (4:21) 8-M.Mariota pass short right to 33-D.Lewis for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Tennessee Titans XP (+1) — Q2 34:11 · DAL 15 · Score 14-7
   4-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Brinkley, Holder-6-B.Kern.
7. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 30:45 · TEN 23 · Score 14-13
   (:45) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep left to 17-A.Hurns for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 30:39 · TEN 15 · Score 14-14
   2-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
9. Tennessee Titans TD (+6) — Q3 20:50 · DAL 7 · Score 20-14
   (5:50) (Shotgun) 8-M.Mariota pass short middle to 81-J.Smith for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Shovel pass for the touchdown.
10. Tennessee Titans XP (+1) — Q3 20:44 · DAL 15 · Score 21-14
    4-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Brinkley, Holder-6-B.Kern.
11. Tennessee Titans TD (+6) — Q4 4:44 · DAL 9 · Score 27-14
    (4:44) (Shotgun) 8-M.Mariota scrambles up the middle for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Tennessee Titans XP (+1) — Q4 4:38 · DAL 15 · Score 28-14
    4-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Brinkley, Holder-6-B.Kern.