Arizona Cardinals vs. Carolina Panthers: 2014 Week 18 Recap

Game story

In Week 18 of the 2014 NFL season on 2015-01-03, the Carolina Panthers took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 27–16 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Newton (Carolina Panthers) paced the passing game, with -4.91 total EPA, and -7.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, F. Whittaker (Carolina Panthers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +3.35 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-22.1% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Carolina Panthers changed the game: (5:05) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left intended for 82-J.Cotchery INTERCEPTED by 31-A.Cromartie at ARI 33. 31-A.Cromartie pushed ob at CAR 17 for 50 yards (1-C.Newton).

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 F. Whittaker · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +3.35 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.35 EPA/play
2. 2 E. Dickson · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +1.35 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.34 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Floyd · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +0.80 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Grice · Arizona Cardinals · Rushing · +0.77 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.77 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Fells · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +0.67 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.67 EPA/play
6. 6 G. Olsen · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +0.54 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.11 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Cotchery · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +0.42 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Carlson · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +0.04 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.01 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. Stewart (Q1 50:29)
• Arizona Cardinals — D. Fells (R. Lindley pass) (Q2 45:00)
• Arizona Cardinals — M. Grice (Q2 32:50)
• Carolina Panthers — F. Whittaker (C. Newton pass) (Q3 20:50)
• Carolina Panthers — M. Tolbert (C. Newton pass) (Q3 19:04)

Field goals

• Carolina Panthers — G. Gano (Q1 56:31)
• Carolina Panthers — G. Gano (Q2 30:19)

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 10–0. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the ARI 29 (Q1 56:31) — (11:31) 9-G.Gano 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the ARI 13 (Q1 50:29) — (5:29) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 28-J.Stewart right tackle for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q1 50:21) — 9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman..

The second quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 14–3. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the CAR 1 (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) 14-R.Lindley pass short middle to 85-D.Fells for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q2 44:56) — 7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the CAR 1 (Q2 32:50); Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the CAR 1 (Q2 32:50) — 7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the ARI 21 (Q2 30:19) — (:19) 9-G.Gano 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman..

The third quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 14–0. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the ARI 39 (Q3 20:50) — (5:50) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short right to 43-F.Whittaker for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q3 20:36) — 9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the ARI 1 (Q3 19:04) — (4:04) 1-C.Newton pass short left to 35-M.Tolbert for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q3 19:04) — 9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman..

The fourth quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 2–0. Arizona Cardinals registered a safety from the ARI 92 (Q4 0:10).

Turning points

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

• Carolina Panthers (Q2 35:05) — (5:05) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left intended for 82-J.Cotchery INTERCEPTED by 31-A.Cromartie at ARI 33. 31-A.Cromartie pushed ob at CAR 17 for 50 yards (1-C.Newton). [WPA -22.1% · EPA -6.52]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 20:36) — 9-G.Gano kicks 73 yards from CAR 35 to ARI -8. 19-T.Ginn to ARI 8 for 16 yards (23-M.White). FUMBLES (23-M.White), RECOVERED by CAR-52-K.Reddick at ARI 3. 52-K.Reddick to ARI 3 for no gain (56-G.Carso [WPA -13.6% · EPA -6.48]
• Carolina Panthers (Q3 20:50) — (5:50) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short right to 43-F.Whittaker for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +11.1% · EPA +3.35]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 11:53) — (11:53) 14-R.Lindley pass short right intended for 11-L.Fitzgerald INTERCEPTED by 59-L.Kuechly at CAR 4. 59-L.Kuechly to CAR 5 for 1 yard (11-L.Fitzgerald). [WPA -10.2% · EPA -5.23]
• Carolina Panthers (Q4 11:57) — (11:57) 1-C.Newton sacked at CAR 20 for -9 yards (94-S.Acho). FUMBLES (94-S.Acho), RECOVERED by ARI-26-R.Johnson at CAR 38. 26-R.Johnson to CAR 8 for 30 yards (74-M.Remmers; 67-R.Kalil). The Replay Of [WPA -9.8% · EPA -6.43]

Impact plays

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

• Carolina Panthers (Q2 35:05) — (5:05) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left intended for 82-J.Cotchery INTERCEPTED by 31-A.Cromartie at ARI 33. 31-A.Cromartie pushed ob at CAR 17 for 50 yards (1-C.Newton). [WPA -22.1% · EPA -6.52]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 20:36) — 9-G.Gano kicks 73 yards from CAR 35 to ARI -8. 19-T.Ginn to ARI 8 for 16 yards (23-M.White). FUMBLES (23-M.White), RECOVERED by CAR-52-K.Reddick at ARI 3. 52-K.Reddick to ARI 3 for no gain (56-G.Carso [WPA -13.6% · EPA -6.48]
• Carolina Panthers (Q4 11:57) — (11:57) 1-C.Newton sacked at CAR 20 for -9 yards (94-S.Acho). FUMBLES (94-S.Acho), RECOVERED by ARI-26-R.Johnson at CAR 38. 26-R.Johnson to CAR 8 for 30 yards (74-M.Remmers; 67-R.Kalil). The Replay Of [WPA -9.8% · EPA -6.43]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 11:53) — (11:53) 14-R.Lindley pass short right intended for 11-L.Fitzgerald INTERCEPTED by 59-L.Kuechly at CAR 4. 59-L.Kuechly to CAR 5 for 1 yard (11-L.Fitzgerald). [WPA -10.2% · EPA -5.23]

Quarterback report card

C.Newton led all passers in efficiency for Carolina Panthers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• C.Newton (Carolina Panthers) · 40 dropbacks · 45.0% completion · -7.3% CPOE · -0.12 EPA/play · -4.91 total EPA
• R.Lindley (Arizona Cardinals) · 32 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -4.5% CPOE · -0.53 EPA/play · -16.84 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 (-0.17 vs -0.40), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Arizona Cardinals: 16 drives, -27.09 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Carolina Panthers: 14 drives, -17.72 total EPA, 6 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.
• F. Whittaker (Carolina Panthers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• C. Newton (CAR) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• R. Lindley (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 56:31 · ARI 29 · Score 0-3
   (11:31) 9-G.Gano 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
2. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q1 50:29 · ARI 13 · Score 0-9
   (5:29) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 28-J.Stewart right tackle for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q1 50:21 · ARI 2 · Score 0-10
   9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
4. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 45:00 · CAR 1 · Score 6-10
   (15:00) 14-R.Lindley pass short middle to 85-D.Fells for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 44:56 · CAR 2 · Score 7-10
   7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.
6. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 32:50 · CAR 1 · Score 13-10
   (2:50) 23-M.Grice up the middle to CAR 1 for no gain (99-K.Short). FUMBLES (99-K.Short), RECOVERED by CAR-41-R.Harper at CAR 1. The Replay Official challenged t
7. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 32:50 · CAR 1 · Score 14-10
   7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.
8. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q2 30:19 · ARI 21 · Score 14-13
   (:19) 9-G.Gano 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
9. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q3 20:50 · ARI 39 · Score 14-19
   (5:50) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short right to 43-F.Whittaker for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q3 20:36 · ARI 2 · Score 14-20
    9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
11. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q3 19:04 · ARI 1 · Score 14-26
    (4:04) 1-C.Newton pass short left to 35-M.Tolbert for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q3 19:04 · ARI 2 · Score 14-27
    9-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
13. Arizona Cardinals Safety (+2) — Q4 0:10 · ARI 92 · Score 16-27
    (:10) (Punt formation) 8-B.Nortman right end tackled in End Zone for -8 yards, SAFETY (28-J.Bethel). Penalty on CAR-53-B.Jacobs, Offensive Holding, declined.