Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys: 2023 Week 12 Recap

Game story

In Week 12 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-11-23, the Dallas Cowboys took care of business against the Washington Commanders, pulling away with a 45–10 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 29 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

S. Howell (Washington Commanders) paced the passing game, with -10.26 total EPA, and -6.0% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +20.51 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+9.1% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (2:54) (Shotgun) 20-T.Pollard right end to WAS 29 for 14 yards (29-K.Fuller).

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 D. Prescott · Dallas Cowboys · Passing · +20.51 total EPA · 35 snaps · +0.59 EPA/play
2. 2 C. Samuel · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +6.85 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.57 EPA/play
3. 3 B. Cooks · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +6.52 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.30 EPA/play
4. 4 C. Lamb · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +4.97 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.50 EPA/play
5. 5 K. Turpin · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +4.23 total EPA · 1 snaps · +4.23 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Pollard · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +4.05 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Turner · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +3.12 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.12 EPA/play
8. 8 R. Dowdle · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.28 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.28 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 — R. Dowdle (D. Prescott pass) (Q1 45:53)
• Dallas Cowboys — B. Cooks (D. Prescott pass) (Q2 38:33)
• Washington Commanders — S. Howell (Q2 31:55)
• Dallas Cowboys — T. Pollard (Q2 30:30)
• Dallas Cowboys — C. Lamb (D. Prescott pass) (Q4 10:38)
• Dallas Cowboys — K. Turpin (D. Prescott pass) (Q4 6:05)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bland (Q4 4:50)

Field goals

• Washington Commanders — J. Slye (Q2 41:31)
• Dallas Cowboys — B. Aubrey (Q4 13:41)

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 15 (Q1 45:53) — (:53) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short right to 23-R.Dowdle for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the WAS 15 (Q1 45:46) — 17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger..

The second quarter: Washington Commanders won the period 16–13. Washington Commanders connected on a field goal from the DAL 25 (Q2 41:31) — (11:31) 6-J.Slye 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-C.Cheeseman, Holder-5-T.Way.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the WAS 31 (Q2 38:33) — (8:33) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep left to 3-B.Cooks for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the WAS 15 (Q2 38:27) — 17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.; Washington Commanders found the end zone from the DAL 1 (Q2 31:55) — (1:55) 78-C.Lucas reported in as eligible. 14-S.Howell right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Washington Commanders found the end zone from the DAL 15 (Q2 31:51) — 6-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-54-C.Cheeseman, Holder-5-T.Way.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the WAS 7 (Q2 30:30) — (:30) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 20-T.Pollard up the middle for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

The fourth quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 26–0. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the WAS 34 (Q4 13:41) — (13:41) 17-B.Aubrey 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the WAS 15 (Q4 10:38) — (10:38) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short right to 88-C.Lamb for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys registered a safety from the WAS 2 (Q4 10:32); Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the WAS 34 (Q4 6:05) — (6:05) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep middle to 9-K.Turpin for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the WAS 15 (Q4 5:59) — 17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the DAL 43 (Q4 4:50); Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the WAS 15 (Q4 4:39) — 17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the DAL 35 (Q4 4:39) — 17-B.Aubrey kicks 65 yards from DAL 35 to end zone, Touchback..

Turning points

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 47:54) — (2:54) (Shotgun) 20-T.Pollard right end to WAS 29 for 14 yards (29-K.Fuller). [WPA +9.1% · EPA +2.31]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 17:15) — (2:15) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep left to 3-B.Cooks to DAL 41 for 25 yards (35-P.Butler). [WPA +7.3% · EPA +3.12]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 45:53) — (:53) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short right to 23-R.Dowdle for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +5.8% · EPA +2.28]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 31:27) — (1:27) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep right to 83-J.Brooks to WAS 38 for 24 yards (25-B.St-Juste) [31-K.Curl]. [WPA +5.6% · EPA +1.58]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q1 50:53) — (5:53) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep middle to 87-J.Ferguson to DAL 40 for 35 yards (57-C.Barton). [WPA +5.6% · EPA +2.78]

Impact plays

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

• Washington Commanders (Q4 4:50) — (4:50) (Shotgun) 14-S.Howell pass short left intended for 1-J.Dotson INTERCEPTED by 26-D.Bland at DAL 37. 26-D.Bland for 63 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +0.0% · EPA -9.53]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 6:05) — (6:05) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep middle to 9-K.Turpin for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +0.1% · EPA +4.23]
• Washington Commanders (Q4 12:00) — (12:00) (Shotgun) 14-S.Howell sacked at WAS 24 for -10 yards (95-J.Hankins). [WPA -2.6% · EPA -4.12]
• Washington Commanders (Q3 23:19) — (8:19) (Shotgun) 8-B.Robinson up the middle to DAL 41 for -2 yards (97-O.Odighizuwa, 6-D.Wilson). [WPA -3.9% · EPA -3.46]

Quarterback report card

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

• S.Howell (Washington Commanders) · 52 dropbacks · 53.8% completion · -6.0% CPOE · -0.20 EPA/play · -10.26 total EPA
• D.Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) · 35 dropbacks · 62.9% completion · +8.6% CPOE · +0.59 EPA/play · +20.51 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 (+0.32 vs -0.18), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Dallas Cowboys: 10 drives, +22.28 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Washington Commanders: 11 drives, -16.88 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.
• D. Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• S. Howell (WAS) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• D. Prescott (DAL) 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 45:53 · WAS 15 · Score 0-6
   (:53) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short right to 23-R.Dowdle for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q1 45:46 · WAS 15 · Score 0-7
   17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
3. Washington Commanders FG (+3) — Q2 41:31 · DAL 25 · Score 3-7
   (11:31) 6-J.Slye 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-C.Cheeseman, Holder-5-T.Way.
4. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 38:33 · WAS 31 · Score 3-13
   (8:33) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep left to 3-B.Cooks for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 38:27 · WAS 15 · Score 3-14
   17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
6. Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q2 31:55 · DAL 1 · Score 9-14
   (1:55) 78-C.Lucas reported in as eligible. 14-S.Howell right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Washington Commanders TD (+7) — Q2 31:51 · DAL 15 · Score 10-14
   6-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-54-C.Cheeseman, Holder-5-T.Way.
8. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 30:30 · WAS 7 · Score 10-20
   (:30) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 20-T.Pollard up the middle for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q4 13:41 · WAS 34 · Score 10-23
   (13:41) 17-B.Aubrey 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
10. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 10:38 · WAS 15 · Score 10-29
    (10:38) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short right to 88-C.Lamb for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Dallas Cowboys Safety (+2) — Q4 10:32 · WAS 2 · Score 10-31
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 4-D.Prescott pass to 88-C.Lamb is incomplete. ATTEMPT FAILS. The Replay Official reviewed the incomplete pass ruling, and the play
12. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 6:05 · WAS 34 · Score 10-37
    (6:05) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep middle to 9-K.Turpin for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q4 5:59 · WAS 15 · Score 10-38
    17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
14. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 4:50 · DAL 43 · Score 10-44
    (4:50) (Shotgun) 14-S.Howell pass short left intended for 1-J.Dotson INTERCEPTED by 26-D.Bland at DAL 37. 26-D.Bland for 63 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q4 4:39 · WAS 15 · Score 10-45
    17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
16. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q4 4:39 · DAL 35 · Score 10-45
    17-B.Aubrey kicks 65 yards from DAL 35 to end zone, Touchback.