Arizona Cardinals vs. Carolina Panthers: 2020 Week 4 Recap

Game story

In Week 4 of the 2020 NFL season on 2020-10-04, the Carolina Panthers took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 31–21 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Bridgewater (Carolina Panthers) paced the passing game, with +21.41 total EPA, and +6.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Bridgewater (Carolina Panthers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +21.41 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+8.7% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Carolina Panthers changed the game: (9:27) 5-T.Bridgewater scrambles right end ran ob at ARI 35 for 6 yards (43-H.Reddick).

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 T. Bridgewater · Carolina Panthers · Passing · +21.41 total EPA · 43 snaps · +0.50 EPA/play
2. 2 K. Murray · Arizona Cardinals · Passing · +6.05 total EPA · 37 snaps · +0.16 EPA/play
3. 3 C. Samuel · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +5.74 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.43 EPA/play
4. 4 R. Anderson · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +5.72 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.52 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Moore · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +3.76 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.63 EPA/play
6. 6 C. Edmonds · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +3.46 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.58 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Arnold · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +3.16 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.79 EPA/play
8. 8 R. Bonnafon · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +2.77 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.39 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 — M. Davis (Q1 52:25)
• Carolina Panthers — T. Bridgewater (Q1 46:38)
• Arizona Cardinals — J. Thomas (K. Murray pass) (Q2 37:31)
• Carolina Panthers — R. Bonnafon (T. Bridgewater pass) (Q2 32:00)
• Carolina Panthers — I. Thomas (T. Bridgewater pass) (Q3 20:30)
• Arizona Cardinals — C. Kirk (K. Murray pass) (Q3 16:21)
• Arizona Cardinals — C. Edmonds (K. Murray pass) (Q4 2:17)

Field goals

• Carolina Panthers — J. Slye (Q4 7:49)

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 14–0. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the ARI 1 (Q1 52:25) — (7:25) 28-M.Davis left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q1 52:21) — 4-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-3-J.Charlton.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the ARI 18 (Q1 46:38) — (1:38) (Shotgun) 5-T.Bridgewater scrambles up the middle for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q1 46:29) — 4-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-3-J.Charlton..

The second quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the CAR 3 (Q2 37:31) — (7:31) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short left to 80-J.Thomas for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q2 37:26) — 5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the ARI 3 (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) 5-T.Bridgewater pass short right to 39-R.Bonnafon for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q2 31:55) — 4-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-3-J.Charlton..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the ARI 2 (Q3 20:30) — (5:30) (Shotgun) 5-T.Bridgewater pass short right to 80-I.Thomas for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q3 20:26) — 4-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-3-J.Charlton.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the CAR 3 (Q3 16:21) — (1:21) 1-K.Murray pass short right to 13-C.Kirk for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q3 16:15) — 5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The fourth quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 7–3. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the ARI 9 (Q4 7:49) — (7:49) 4-J.Slye 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-3-J.Charlton.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the CAR 2 (Q4 2:17) — (2:17) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short right to 29-C.Edmonds for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q4 2:13) — 5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee..

Turning points

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

• Carolina Panthers (Q1 54:27) — (9:27) 5-T.Bridgewater scrambles right end ran ob at ARI 35 for 6 yards (43-H.Reddick). [WPA +8.7% · EPA +2.87]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 53:39) — (8:39) (Shotgun) 5-T.Bridgewater pass short left to 12-D.Moore pushed ob at ARI 23 for 12 yards (21-P.Peterson). [WPA +5.7% · EPA +2.12]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 57:18) — (12:18) (Shotgun) 5-T.Bridgewater pass short left to 11-R.Anderson to ARI 49 for 14 yards (20-D.Kirkpatrick). [WPA +5.2% · EPA +2.13]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 24:51) — (9:51) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass incomplete short middle to 85-D.Arnold (97-Y.Gross-Matos). Carolina challenged the incomplete pass ruling, and the play was REVERSED. (No Huddle, Shotgun) 1 [WPA -4.4% · EPA -3.93]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 50:23) — (5:23) 5-T.Bridgewater pass deep left to 12-D.Moore to CAR 45 for 23 yards (22-D.Thompson; 33-B.Murphy). [WPA +4.2% · EPA +2.31]

Impact plays

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 24:51) — (9:51) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass incomplete short middle to 85-D.Arnold (97-Y.Gross-Matos). Carolina challenged the incomplete pass ruling, and the play was REVERSED. (No Huddle, Shotgun) 1 [WPA -4.4% · EPA -3.93]
• Carolina Panthers (Q4 4:10) — (4:10) 4-J.Slye 42 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-3-J.Charlton. [WPA -0.1% · EPA -3.90]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 20:26) — (5:26) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray scrambles left end to CAR 27 for 48 yards (98-M.Haynes). [WPA +1.3% · EPA +3.25]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 46:38) — (1:38) (Shotgun) 5-T.Bridgewater scrambles up the middle for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +2.5% · EPA +3.24]

Quarterback report card

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

• T.Bridgewater (Carolina Panthers) · 43 dropbacks · 60.5% completion · +6.3% CPOE · +0.50 EPA/play · +21.41 total EPA
• K.Murray (Arizona Cardinals) · 37 dropbacks · 64.9% completion · +11.1% CPOE · +0.16 EPA/play · +6.05 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 +0.06), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Arizona Cardinals: 9 drives, +4.54 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Carolina Panthers: 10 drives, +15.21 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.
• T. Bridgewater (Carolina Panthers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• T. Bridgewater (CAR) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• K. Murray (ARI) 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. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q1 52:25 · ARI 1 · Score 0-6
   (7:25) 28-M.Davis left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q1 52:21 · ARI 15 · Score 0-7
   4-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-3-J.Charlton.
3. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q1 46:38 · ARI 18 · Score 0-13
   (1:38) (Shotgun) 5-T.Bridgewater scrambles up the middle for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q1 46:29 · ARI 15 · Score 0-14
   4-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-3-J.Charlton.
5. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 37:31 · CAR 3 · Score 6-14
   (7:31) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short left to 80-J.Thomas for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 37:26 · CAR 15 · Score 7-14
   5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee.
7. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q2 32:00 · ARI 3 · Score 7-20
   (2:00) 5-T.Bridgewater pass short right to 39-R.Bonnafon for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q2 31:55 · ARI 15 · Score 7-21
   4-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-3-J.Charlton.
9. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q3 20:30 · ARI 2 · Score 7-27
   (5:30) (Shotgun) 5-T.Bridgewater pass short right to 80-I.Thomas for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q3 20:26 · ARI 15 · Score 7-28
    4-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-3-J.Charlton.
11. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q3 16:21 · CAR 3 · Score 13-28
    (1:21) 1-K.Murray pass short right to 13-C.Kirk for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q3 16:15 · CAR 15 · Score 14-28
    5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee.
13. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q4 7:49 · ARI 9 · Score 14-31
    (7:49) 4-J.Slye 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-3-J.Charlton.
14. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 2:17 · CAR 2 · Score 20-31
    (2:17) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short right to 29-C.Edmonds for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q4 2:13 · CAR 15 · Score 21-31
    5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-4-A.Lee.