Dallas Cowboys vs. Green Bay Packers: 2014 Wild Card Recap

Game story

In the Wild Card of the 2014 NFL season on 2015-01-11, the Green Bay Packers took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 26–21 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

A. Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) paced the passing game, with +13.34 total EPA, and +4.7% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, A. Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +13.34 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+23.4% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Green Bay Packers changed the game: (1:52) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass deep middle to 17-D.Adams for 46 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. Rodgers · Green Bay Packers · Passing · +13.34 total EPA · 40 snaps · +0.33 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Romo · Dallas Cowboys · Passing · +9.26 total EPA · 27 snaps · +0.34 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Adams · Green Bay Packers · Receiving · +6.11 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.56 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Witten · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +5.18 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.74 EPA/play
5. 5 R. Cobb · Green Bay Packers · Receiving · +5.16 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Quarless · Green Bay Packers · Receiving · +3.09 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.62 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Williams · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +3.06 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.53 EPA/play
8. 8 C. Beasley · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.34 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.78 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

• Green Bay Packers — A. Quarless (A. Rodgers pass) (Q1 53:34)
• Dallas Cowboys — T. Clutts (T. Romo pass) (Q1 46:09)
• Dallas Cowboys — T. Williams (T. Romo pass) (Q2 38:29)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Murray (Q3 19:16)
• Green Bay Packers — D. Adams (A. Rodgers pass) (Q3 16:52)
• Green Bay Packers — R. Rodgers (A. Rodgers pass) (Q4 9:10)

Field goals

• Green Bay Packers — M. Crosby (Q2 30:03)
• Green Bay Packers — M. Crosby (Q3 22:49)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Green Bay Packers found the end zone from the DAL 4 (Q1 53:34) — (8:34) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass short middle to 81-A.Quarless for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Green Bay Packers added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q1 53:30) — 2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-61-B.Goode, Holder-8-T.Masthay.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the GB 1 (Q1 46:09) — (1:09) 9-T.Romo pass short right to 44-T.Clutts for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN [52-C.Matthews].; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the GB 2 (Q1 46:05) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..

The second quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 7–3. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the GB 38 (Q2 38:29) — (8:29) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short right to 83-T.Williams for 38 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the GB 2 (Q2 38:19); Green Bay Packers connected on a field goal from the DAL 22 (Q2 30:03) — (:03) 2-M.Crosby 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-61-B.Goode, Holder-8-T.Masthay..

The third quarter: Green Bay Packers won the period 10–7. Green Bay Packers connected on a field goal from the DAL 12 (Q3 22:49) — (7:49) 2-M.Crosby 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-61-B.Goode, Holder-8-T.Masthay.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the GB 1 (Q3 19:16) — (4:16) 67-T.Hills reported in as eligible. 29-D.Murray left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the GB 2 (Q3 19:12) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; Green Bay Packers found the end zone from the DAL 46 (Q3 16:52) — (1:52) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass deep middle to 17-D.Adams for 46 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Green Bay Packers added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q3 16:41) — 2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-61-B.Goode, Holder-8-T.Masthay..

The fourth quarter: Green Bay Packers won the period 6–0. Green Bay Packers found the end zone from the DAL 13 (Q4 9:10) — (9:10) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass short left to 89-R.Rodgers for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

Turning points

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

• Green Bay Packers (Q3 16:52) — (1:52) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass deep middle to 17-D.Adams for 46 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +23.4% · EPA +5.78]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 26:11) — (11:11) 29-D.Murray right end to DAL 42 for 1 yard (56-J.Peppers). FUMBLES (56-J.Peppers), RECOVERED by GB-95-D.Jones at DAL 44. 95-D.Jones to DAL 44 for no gain (70-Z.Martin). [WPA -14.9% · EPA -5.28]
• Green Bay Packers (Q3 25:22) — (10:22) (Shotgun) 27-E.Lacy left end to DAL 16 for 29 yards (42-B.Church). [WPA +12.9% · EPA +2.31]
• Green Bay Packers (Q2 41:21) — (11:21) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers FUMBLES (Aborted) at DAL 32, and recovers at DAL 32. 12-A.Rodgers sacked at DAL 34 for -7 yards (92-J.Mincey). FUMBLES (92-J.Mincey) [92-J.Mincey], RECOVERED [WPA -12.4% · EPA -4.77]
• Green Bay Packers (Q4 9:10) — (9:10) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass short left to 89-R.Rodgers for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +11.2% · EPA +2.10]

Impact plays

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

• Green Bay Packers (Q3 16:52) — (1:52) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass deep middle to 17-D.Adams for 46 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +23.4% · EPA +5.78]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 26:11) — (11:11) 29-D.Murray right end to DAL 42 for 1 yard (56-J.Peppers). FUMBLES (56-J.Peppers), RECOVERED by GB-95-D.Jones at DAL 44. 95-D.Jones to DAL 44 for no gain (70-Z.Martin). [WPA -14.9% · EPA -5.28]
• Green Bay Packers (Q2 41:21) — (11:21) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers FUMBLES (Aborted) at DAL 32, and recovers at DAL 32. 12-A.Rodgers sacked at DAL 34 for -7 yards (92-J.Mincey). FUMBLES (92-J.Mincey) [92-J.Mincey], RECOVERED [WPA -12.4% · EPA -4.77]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 38:29) — (8:29) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short right to 83-T.Williams for 38 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +11.0% · EPA +4.02]

Quarterback report card

A.Rodgers led all passers in efficiency for Green Bay Packers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• A.Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) · 40 dropbacks · 60.0% completion · +4.7% CPOE · +0.33 EPA/play · +13.34 total EPA
• T.Romo (Dallas Cowboys) · 27 dropbacks · 55.6% completion · +15.5% CPOE · +0.34 EPA/play · +9.26 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Dallas Cowboys +0.11, Green Bay Packers +0.14) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Dallas Cowboys: 8 drives, +7.39 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Green Bay Packers: 9 drives, +11.07 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Green Bay Packers 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.
• A. Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• A. Rodgers (GB) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• T. Romo (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. Green Bay Packers TD (+6) — Q1 53:34 · DAL 4 · Score 0-6
   (8:34) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass short middle to 81-A.Quarless for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Green Bay Packers XP (+1) — Q1 53:30 · DAL 2 · Score 0-7
   2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-61-B.Goode, Holder-8-T.Masthay.
3. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q1 46:09 · GB 1 · Score 6-7
   (1:09) 9-T.Romo pass short right to 44-T.Clutts for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN [52-C.Matthews].
4. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q1 46:05 · GB 2 · Score 7-7
   5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
5. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 38:29 · GB 38 · Score 13-7
   (8:29) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short right to 83-T.Williams for 38 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 38:19 · GB 2 · Score 14-7
   5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones. PENALTY on GB-31-D.House, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced between downs.
7. Green Bay Packers FG (+3) — Q2 30:03 · DAL 22 · Score 14-10
   (:03) 2-M.Crosby 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-61-B.Goode, Holder-8-T.Masthay.
8. Green Bay Packers FG (+3) — Q3 22:49 · DAL 12 · Score 14-13
   (7:49) 2-M.Crosby 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-61-B.Goode, Holder-8-T.Masthay.
9. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q3 19:16 · GB 1 · Score 20-13
   (4:16) 67-T.Hills reported in as eligible. 29-D.Murray left end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q3 19:12 · GB 2 · Score 21-13
    5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
11. Green Bay Packers TD (+6) — Q3 16:52 · DAL 46 · Score 21-19
    (1:52) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass deep middle to 17-D.Adams for 46 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Green Bay Packers XP (+1) — Q3 16:41 · DAL 2 · Score 21-20
    2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-61-B.Goode, Holder-8-T.Masthay.
13. Green Bay Packers TD (+6) — Q4 9:10 · DAL 13 · Score 21-26
    (9:10) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass short left to 89-R.Rodgers for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.