San Francisco 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys: 2021 Wild Card Recap

Game story

In the Wild Card of the 2021 NFL season on 2022-01-16, the San Francisco 49ers took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 23–17 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 13 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with -13.76 total EPA, and -9.5% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Schultz (Dallas Cowboys) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.52 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-23.7% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Dallas Cowboys changed the game: (:01) (No Huddle) 4-D.Prescott spiked the ball to stop the clock.

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. Schultz · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +5.52 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.69 EPA/play
2. 2 B. Aiyuk · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +3.97 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.66 EPA/play
3. 3 B. Anger · Dallas Cowboys · Passing · +3.86 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.86 EPA/play
4. 4 C. Goodwin · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +3.86 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.86 EPA/play
5. 5 A. Cooper · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +3.08 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Jennings · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +2.94 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.59 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Samuel · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +2.52 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.84 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Benjamin · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +1.70 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.70 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

• San Francisco 49ers — E. Mitchell (Q1 55:59)
• Dallas Cowboys — A. Cooper (D. Prescott pass) (Q2 35:24)
• San Francisco 49ers — D. Samuel (Q3 20:58)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Prescott (Q4 8:08)

Field goals

• San Francisco 49ers — R. Gould (Q1 49:58)
• San Francisco 49ers — R. Gould (Q2 39:44)
• San Francisco 49ers — R. Gould (Q2 33:08)
• Dallas Cowboys — G. Zuerlein (Q4 11:58)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 10–0. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the DAL 4 (Q1 55:59) — (10:59) 25-E.Mitchell right end for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q1 55:54) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the DAL 35 (Q1 49:58) — (4:58) 9-R.Gould 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky..

The second quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 7–6. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the DAL 22 (Q2 39:44) — (9:44) 9-R.Gould 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the SF 20 (Q2 35:24) — (5:24) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep right to 19-A.Cooper for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN [91-A.Armstead].; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the SF 15 (Q2 35:19) — 2-G.Zuerlein extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.McQuaide, Holder-5-B.Anger.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the DAL 34 (Q2 33:08) — (3:08) 9-R.Gould 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky..

The third quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 7–0. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the DAL 26 (Q3 20:58) — (5:58) (Shotgun) 19-D.Samuel right end for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q3 20:50) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky..

The fourth quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 10–0. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the SF 33 (Q4 11:58) — (11:58) 2-G.Zuerlein 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.McQuaide, Holder-5-B.Anger.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the SF 5 (Q4 8:08) — (8:08) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott scrambles left end for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the SF 15 (Q4 8:02) — 2-G.Zuerlein extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.McQuaide, Holder-5-B.Anger..

Turning points

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

• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 0:01) — (:01) (No Huddle) 4-D.Prescott spiked the ball to stop the clock. [WPA -23.7% · EPA -1.88]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 2:38) — (2:38) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep right to 86-D.Schultz pushed ob at SF 46 for 38 yards (1-J.Ward). [WPA +11.3% · EPA +2.61]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 1:49) — (1:49) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass incomplete deep right to 1-C.Wilson [1-J.Ward]. [WPA -11.1% · EPA -2.48]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 35:24) — (5:24) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep right to 19-A.Cooper for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN [91-A.Armstead]. [WPA +9.4% · EPA +3.16]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 0:18) — (:18) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left to 86-D.Schultz pushed ob at SF 41 for 9 yards (51-A.Al-Shaair). [WPA +9.1% · EPA +0.35]

Impact plays

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

• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 9:48) — (9:48) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo pass short right intended for 81-T.Sherfield INTERCEPTED by 30-A.Brown at DAL 49. 30-A.Brown to SF 28 for 23 yards (60-D.Brunskill). Penalty on SF-66-T.Compton, Offensi [WPA -5.4% · EPA -6.08]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 21:03) — (6:03) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short left intended for 1-C.Wilson INTERCEPTED by 24-K.Williams at DAL 26. 24-K.Williams to DAL 26 for no gain (1-C.Wilson). [WPA -8.5% · EPA -4.27]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 27:34) — (12:34) 5-B.Anger punts 56 yards to SF 29, Center-44-J.McQuaide. 17-T.Benjamin pushed ob at SF 33 for 4 yards (29-C.Goodwin). PENALTY on SF-53-M.Nzeocha, Roughing the Kicker, 15 yards, enforced at DAL [WPA +6.4% · EPA +4.01]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 14:01) — (14:01) (Punt formation) 5-B.Anger pass short right to 29-C.Goodwin pushed ob at SF 36 for 16 yards (26-J.Norman). [WPA +2.1% · EPA +3.86]

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) · 53 dropbacks · 43.4% completion · -9.5% CPOE · -0.26 EPA/play · -13.76 total EPA
• J.Garoppolo (San Francisco 49ers) · 27 dropbacks · 59.3% completion · -5.3% CPOE · +0.06 EPA/play · +1.54 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, San Francisco 49ers generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.02 vs -0.10), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Dallas Cowboys: 11 drives, -8.86 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 11 drives, +1.51 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• San Francisco 49ers 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.
• D. Schultz (Dallas Cowboys) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Prescott (DAL) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• J. Garoppolo (SF) 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. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q1 55:59 · DAL 4 · Score 6-0
   (10:59) 25-E.Mitchell right end for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q1 55:54 · DAL 15 · Score 7-0
   9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.
3. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q1 49:58 · DAL 35 · Score 10-0
   (4:58) 9-R.Gould 53 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.
4. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q2 39:44 · DAL 22 · Score 13-0
   (9:44) 9-R.Gould 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.
5. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 35:24 · SF 20 · Score 13-6
   (5:24) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass deep right to 19-A.Cooper for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN [91-A.Armstead].
6. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 35:19 · SF 15 · Score 13-7
   2-G.Zuerlein extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.McQuaide, Holder-5-B.Anger.
7. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q2 33:08 · DAL 34 · Score 16-7
   (3:08) 9-R.Gould 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.
8. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q3 20:58 · DAL 26 · Score 22-7
   (5:58) (Shotgun) 19-D.Samuel right end for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q3 20:50 · DAL 15 · Score 23-7
   9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.
10. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q4 11:58 · SF 33 · Score 23-10
    (11:58) 2-G.Zuerlein 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.McQuaide, Holder-5-B.Anger.
11. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 8:08 · SF 5 · Score 23-16
    (8:08) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott scrambles left end for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q4 8:02 · SF 15 · Score 23-17
    2-G.Zuerlein extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.McQuaide, Holder-5-B.Anger.