Highlights, player tracking of Cowboys biggest Week 11 plays

Dissecting the biggest plays in the Dallas Cowboys’ 35-27 victory against the Detroit Lions using EPA and Win Probability metrics.

 

No. 4: Prescott pass deep right to Michael Gallup for 41 yards

(Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

EPA: 3.6. DAL WP Shift: 38% -> 49%

With Amari Cooper limited due to injury, the pressure was on Gallup and Randall Cobb to produce in the Cowboys’ explosive passing attack, they would not disappoint. The Cowboys’ second longest play from scrimmage came on a 41-yard completion from Prescott to Gallup late in the second quarter. It was a simple vertical route from Gallup, but he was able to convert on a difficult contested catch.

After the catch the Cowboys utilized Elliott on two straight run plays. He would score on a 1-yard rush up the middle, putting his team up 17-14.

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No. 5: Prescott pass deep middle to Cobb for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

EPA: 4.1. DAL WP Shift: 71% -> 81%

The score from Elliott would be the first of two straight scoring drives from the Cowboys. Their ensuing possession was over in the blink of an eye, with the team gaining 83 yards on four plays in the span of 81 seconds.

On this play it was Cobb who would join the action. He lined up in the slot and ran a post route down the middle for the 19-yard touchdown. After a vicious hit from Lions safety Will Harris, Cobb was able to maintain control of the ball giving the Cowboys a 10-point lead.

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No. 6: Driskel pass deep middle to Kenny Golladay for 34 yards

EPA: 3.1. DAL WP Shift: 90% -> 79%

Arguably the most crucial play of the game would come on the Lions’ final drive. Golladay had a quiet day, with only one reception on five targets for 34 yards. But his lone catch would come on the biggest play of the game. After hauling in the explosive catch an additional 15 yards was added due to a facemask penatly on safety Darian Thompson. This would result in a gain of 49 yards in total and would spot the ball at the Cowboys’ 32-yard line.

Following the Golladay reception the Lions’ next sequence of plays yielded a penalty-incompletion-sack-incompletion. This put the Lions in a bind on fourth-and-26, and head coach Matt Patricia elected to punt. In hindsight, the decision proved to be a strange one.

With how well the Cowboys’ offense had been moving the ball, the Lions were better off trying to convert on fourth down. Patricia likely thought the Cowboys would conservatively run the ball to drain the clock. Instead Kellen Moore called up a pass play on second-and-10, a bootleg pass from Prescott to tight end Blake Jarwin, that would essentially end the game.

It seems like the Cowboys learned from their disastrous playcall outing in Week 10 against the Minnesota Vikings. Against the Lions they did the inverse. Late in the game, the Cowboys remained aggressive, relying on Prescott to make all of the necessary plays to give his team a chance to win. It was a good look for the Cowboys and the coaching staff, but with the defense continuing to struggle, even against backup level quarterbacks, Prescott and the offense will need to carry the team into a playoff berth.

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