Arizona Cardinals vs. Carolina Panthers: 2010 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 2010 NFL season on 2010-12-19, the Carolina Panthers took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 19–12 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 10 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Skelton (Arizona Cardinals) paced the passing game, with -9.66 total EPA, and -6.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, L. Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.58 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-8.0% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Arizona Cardinals changed the game: (9:00) 19-J.Skelton pass deep right intended for 83-S.Spach INTERCEPTED by 23-S.Martin at 50. 23-S.Martin to ARI 16 for 34 yards (75-L.Brown).

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 L. Fitzgerald · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +7.58 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.76 EPA/play
2. 2 B. LaFell · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +2.53 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.84 EPA/play
3. 3 J. King · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +2.31 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.31 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Gettis · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +2.28 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.76 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Fiammetta · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +0.84 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
6. 6 S. Breaston · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +0.76 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.15 EPA/play
7. 7 L. Stephens-Howling · Arizona Cardinals · Rushing · +0.24 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.24 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Rosario · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · -0.21 total EPA · 1 snaps · -0.21 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

• Carolina Panthers — J. King (J. Clausen pass) (Q2 38:49)
• Arizona Cardinals — T. Hightower (J. Skelton pass) (Q4 5:51)

Field goals

• Carolina Panthers — J. Kasay (Q1 55:26)
• Carolina Panthers — J. Kasay (Q1 45:17)
• Arizona Cardinals — J. Feely (Q2 30:39)
• Carolina Panthers — J. Kasay (Q3 27:16)
• Carolina Panthers — J. Kasay (Q3 15:32)
• Arizona Cardinals — J. Feely (Q4 0:58)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 6–0. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the ARI 10 (Q1 55:26) — (10:26) 4-J.Kasay 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-7-J.Baker.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the ARI 11 (Q1 45:17) — (:17) 4-J.Kasay 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-7-J.Baker..

The second quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 7–3. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the ARI 16 (Q2 38:49) — (8:49) 2-J.Clausen pass short left to 47-J.King for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q2 38:42) — 4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-7-J.Baker.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the CAR 5 (Q2 30:39) — (:39) 4-J.Feely 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham..

The third quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 6–0. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the ARI 6 (Q3 27:16) — (12:16) 4-J.Kasay 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-7-J.Baker.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the ARI 25 (Q3 15:32) — (:32) 4-J.Kasay 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-7-J.Baker..

The fourth quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 9–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the CAR 10 (Q4 5:51); Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the CAR 12 (Q4 0:58) — (:58) 4-J.Feely 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham..

Turning points

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 39:00) — (9:00) 19-J.Skelton pass deep right intended for 83-S.Spach INTERCEPTED by 23-S.Martin at 50. 23-S.Martin to ARI 16 for 34 yards (75-L.Brown). [WPA -8.0% · EPA -4.56]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 50:11) — (5:11) (Shotgun) 2-J.Clausen pass deep left to 12-D.Gettis to ARI 46 for 29 yards (28-G.Toler). Penalty on ARI-28-G.Toler, Defensive Holding, declined. [WPA +7.5% · EPA +2.94]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 57:49) — (12:49) 28-J.Stewart right end to ARI 32 for 35 yards (58-D.Washington). [WPA +6.4% · EPA +2.11]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 38:49) — (8:49) 2-J.Clausen pass short left to 47-J.King for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +4.9% · EPA +2.31]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 54:01) — (9:01) (Shotgun) 19-J.Skelton pass short middle to 15-S.Breaston to ARI 37 for 7 yards (52-J.Beason). [WPA +4.6% · EPA +1.35]

Impact plays

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 39:00) — (9:00) 19-J.Skelton pass deep right intended for 83-S.Spach INTERCEPTED by 23-S.Martin at 50. 23-S.Martin to ARI 16 for 34 yards (75-L.Brown). [WPA -8.0% · EPA -4.56]
• Carolina Panthers (Q4 8:04) — (8:04) 28-J.Stewart up the middle to ARI 28 for 1 yard (78-A.Branch). FUMBLES (78-A.Branch), RECOVERED by ARI-90-D.Dockett at ARI 26. 90-D.Dockett to ARI 26 for no gain (47-J.King). [WPA -2.3% · EPA -4.14]
• Carolina Panthers (Q3 19:20) — (4:20) 7-J.Baker punts 50 yards to end zone, Center-44-J.Jansen, Touchback. PENALTY on ARI-56-R.Walker, Roughing the Kicker, 15 yards, enforced at 50 - No Play. [WPA +2.6% · EPA +3.83]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 25:47) — (10:47) (Shotgun) 19-J.Skelton sacked at ARI 36 for -9 yards (76-G.Hardy). FUMBLES (76-G.Hardy), RECOVERED by CAR-96-T.Brayton at ARI 40. 96-T.Brayton to ARI 40 for no gain (66-A.Faneca). [WPA -4.2% · EPA -3.54]

Quarterback report card

J.Skelton led all passers in efficiency for Arizona Cardinals, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Skelton (Arizona Cardinals) · 38 dropbacks · 44.7% completion · -6.3% CPOE · -0.25 EPA/play · -9.66 total EPA
• J.Clausen (Carolina Panthers) · 24 dropbacks · 54.2% completion · +2.3% CPOE · -0.06 EPA/play · -1.40 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Carolina Panthers held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.05 vs -0.14), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Arizona Cardinals: 11 drives, -10.02 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Carolina Panthers: 12 drives, -3.90 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Carolina Panthers 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.
• L. Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Skelton (ARI) 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. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q1 55:26 · ARI 10 · Score 0-3
   (10:26) 4-J.Kasay 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-7-J.Baker.
2. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q1 45:17 · ARI 11 · Score 0-6
   (:17) 4-J.Kasay 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-7-J.Baker.
3. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q2 38:49 · ARI 16 · Score 0-12
   (8:49) 2-J.Clausen pass short left to 47-J.King for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q2 38:42 · ARI 2 · Score 0-13
   4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-7-J.Baker.
5. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 30:39 · CAR 5 · Score 3-13
   (:39) 4-J.Feely 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.
6. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q3 27:16 · ARI 6 · Score 3-16
   (12:16) 4-J.Kasay 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-7-J.Baker.
7. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q3 15:32 · ARI 25 · Score 3-19
   (:32) 4-J.Kasay 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-7-J.Baker.
8. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 5:51 · CAR 10 · Score 9-19
   (5:51) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 19-J.Skelton pass short middle to 34-T.Hightower to CAR 5 for 5 yards (52-J.Beason). FUMBLES (52-J.Beason), recovered by ARI-15-S.Br
9. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q4 0:58 · CAR 12 · Score 12-19
   (:58) 4-J.Feely 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.