Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys: 2018 Week 12 Recap

Game story

In Week 12 of the 2018 NFL season on 2018-11-22, the Dallas Cowboys took care of business against the Washington Commanders, pulling away with a 31–23 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. McCoy (Washington Commanders) paced the passing game, with -2.89 total EPA, and -4.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, A. Cooper (Dallas Cowboys) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +16.26 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+16.5% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (2:27) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep middle to 19-A.Cooper for 90 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 A. Cooper · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +16.26 total EPA · 9 snaps · +1.81 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Prescott · Dallas Cowboys · Passing · +11.66 total EPA · 38 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Reed · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +6.96 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.87 EPA/play
4. 4 V. Davis · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +3.46 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.86 EPA/play
5. 5 K. Bibbs · Washington Commanders · Rushing · +1.69 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.56 EPA/play
6. 6 N. Brown · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +1.40 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.70 EPA/play
7. 7 B. Jarwin · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +1.31 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.66 EPA/play
8. 8 K. Bibbs · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +1.27 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.42 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 — E. Elliott (Q1 55:09)
• Washington Commanders — V. Davis (C. McCoy pass) (Q2 37:12)
• Washington Commanders — T. Quinn (C. McCoy pass) (Q3 24:09)
• Dallas Cowboys — A. Cooper (D. Prescott pass) (Q3 21:57)
• Dallas Cowboys — A. Cooper (D. Prescott pass) (Q3 17:27)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Prescott (Q4 14:20)
• Washington Commanders — K. Bibbs (Q4 11:46)

Field goals

• Dallas Cowboys — B. Maher (Q2 31:32)
• Washington Commanders — D. Hopkins (Q4 1:17)

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 WAS 16 (Q1 55:09) — (10:09) 21-E.Elliott left tackle for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the WAS 15 (Q1 55:02) — 2-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..

The second quarter: Washington Commanders won the period 7–3. Washington Commanders found the end zone from the DAL 53 (Q2 37:12) — (7:12) (Shotgun) 12-C.McCoy pass deep left to 85-V.Davis for 53 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Washington Commanders added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q2 37:04) — 3-D.Hopkins extra point is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the WAS 10 (Q2 31:32) — (1:32) (Field Goal formation) 2-B.Maher 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..

The third quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 14–6. Washington Commanders found the end zone from the DAL 10 (Q3 24:09) — (9:09) (Shotgun) 12-C.McCoy pass short left to 14-T.Quinn for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN [94-R.Gregory].; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the WAS 40 (Q3 21:57) — (6:57) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left to 19-A.Cooper for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the WAS 15 (Q3 21:47) — 2-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the WAS 90 (Q3 17:27) — (2:27) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep middle to 19-A.Cooper for 90 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the WAS 15 (Q3 17:10) — 2-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..

The fourth quarter: Washington Commanders won the period 10–7. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the WAS 5 (Q4 14:20); Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the WAS 15 (Q4 14:11) — 2-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; Washington Commanders found the end zone from the DAL 1 (Q4 11:46) — (11:46) (Shotgun) 46-K.Bibbs up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Washington Commanders added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q4 11:43) — 3-D.Hopkins extra point is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way.; Washington Commanders connected on a field goal from the DAL 13 (Q4 1:17) — (1:17) (Field Goal formation) 3-D.Hopkins 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way..

Turning points

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 17:27) — (2:27) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep middle to 19-A.Cooper for 90 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +16.5% · EPA +7.11]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 21:57) — (6:57) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left to 19-A.Cooper for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +16.1% · EPA +4.09]
• Washington Commanders (Q2 37:12) — (7:12) (Shotgun) 12-C.McCoy pass deep left to 85-V.Davis for 53 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +12.4% · EPA +4.48]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 25:44) — (10:44) (Punt formation) 6-C.Jones punts 46 yards to WAS 45, Center-91-L.Ladouceur. 14-T.Quinn to DAL 25 for 30 yards (6-C.Jones). Return left sideline [WPA -9.9% · EPA -2.19]
• Washington Commanders (Q3 16:38) — (1:38) (Shotgun) 12-C.McCoy pass short right intended for 18-J.Doctson INTERCEPTED by 90-D.Lawrence at WAS 30. 90-D.Lawrence to WAS 17 for 13 yards (72-J.Cooper; 73-C.Roullier). [WPA -9.6% · EPA -6.92]

Impact plays

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 17:27) — (2:27) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep middle to 19-A.Cooper for 90 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +16.5% · EPA +7.11]
• Washington Commanders (Q3 16:38) — (1:38) (Shotgun) 12-C.McCoy pass short right intended for 18-J.Doctson INTERCEPTED by 90-D.Lawrence at WAS 30. 90-D.Lawrence to WAS 17 for 13 yards (72-J.Cooper; 73-C.Roullier). [WPA -9.6% · EPA -6.92]
• Washington Commanders (Q2 37:12) — (7:12) (Shotgun) 12-C.McCoy pass deep left to 85-V.Davis for 53 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +12.4% · EPA +4.48]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 5:33) — (5:33) 21-E.Elliott up the middle to WAS 33 for no gain (93-J.Allen; 54-M.Foster). [WPA -2.9% · EPA -4.16]

Quarterback report card

C.McCoy led all passers in efficiency for Washington Commanders, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• C.McCoy (Washington Commanders) · 46 dropbacks · 52.2% completion · -4.3% CPOE · -0.06 EPA/play · -2.89 total EPA
• D.Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) · 38 dropbacks · 57.9% completion · -0.1% CPOE · +0.31 EPA/play · +11.66 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Dallas Cowboys held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.03 vs -0.06), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Dallas Cowboys: 13 drives, +3.00 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Washington Commanders: 13 drives, -4.89 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.
• A. Cooper (Dallas Cowboys) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• C. McCoy (WAS) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

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

1. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q1 55:09 · WAS 16 · Score 0-6
   (10:09) 21-E.Elliott left tackle for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q1 55:02 · WAS 15 · Score 0-7
   2-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
3. Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q2 37:12 · DAL 53 · Score 6-7
   (7:12) (Shotgun) 12-C.McCoy pass deep left to 85-V.Davis for 53 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Washington Commanders XP (+1) — Q2 37:04 · DAL 15 · Score 7-7
   3-D.Hopkins extra point is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way.
5. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q2 31:32 · WAS 10 · Score 7-10
   (1:32) (Field Goal formation) 2-B.Maher 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
6. Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q3 24:09 · DAL 10 · Score 13-10
   (9:09) (Shotgun) 12-C.McCoy pass short left to 14-T.Quinn for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN [94-R.Gregory].
7. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q3 21:57 · WAS 40 · Score 13-16
   (6:57) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left to 19-A.Cooper for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q3 21:47 · WAS 15 · Score 13-17
   2-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
9. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q3 17:27 · WAS 90 · Score 13-23
   (2:27) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep middle to 19-A.Cooper for 90 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q3 17:10 · WAS 15 · Score 13-24
    2-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
11. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 14:20 · WAS 5 · Score 13-30
    (14:20) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott scrambles up the middle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on DAL-4-D.Prescott, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between
12. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q4 14:11 · WAS 15 · Score 13-31
    2-B.Maher extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
13. Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q4 11:46 · DAL 1 · Score 19-31
    (11:46) (Shotgun) 46-K.Bibbs up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Washington Commanders XP (+1) — Q4 11:43 · DAL 15 · Score 20-31
    3-D.Hopkins extra point is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way.
15. Washington Commanders FG (+3) — Q4 1:17 · DAL 13 · Score 23-31
    (1:17) (Field Goal formation) 3-D.Hopkins 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way.