Arizona Cardinals vs. Chicago Bears: 2009 Week 9 Recap

Game story

In Week 9 of the 2009 NFL season on 2009-11-08, the Arizona Cardinals took care of business against the Chicago Bears, pulling away with a 41–21 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Cutler (Chicago Bears) paced the passing game, with -0.02 total EPA, and +2.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, K. Warner (Arizona Cardinals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +20.49 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+15.1% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Chicago Bears changed the game: (9:21) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep middle to 82-G.Olsen for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN [93-C.Campbell].

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 K. Warner · Arizona Cardinals · Passing · +20.49 total EPA · 34 snaps · +0.60 EPA/play
2. 2 L. Fitzgerald · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +6.39 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.46 EPA/play
3. 3 S. Breaston · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +6.18 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.03 EPA/play
4. 4 G. Olsen · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +5.39 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.77 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Forte · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +3.46 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.43 EPA/play
6. 6 B. Patrick · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +3.18 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.59 EPA/play
7. 7 E. Doucet · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +2.46 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.62 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Hightower · Arizona Cardinals · Rushing · +2.31 total EPA · 15 snaps · +0.15 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

• Arizona Cardinals — L. Fitzgerald (K. Warner pass) (Q1 57:19)
• Chicago Bears — G. Olsen (J. Cutler pass) (Q1 54:21)
• Arizona Cardinals — B. Patrick (K. Warner pass) (Q1 48:31)
• Arizona Cardinals — L. Fitzgerald (K. Warner pass) (Q2 41:27)
• Arizona Cardinals — A. Becht (K. Warner pass) (Q2 32:56)
• Chicago Bears — G. Olsen (J. Cutler pass) (Q4 11:55)
• Chicago Bears — G. Olsen (J. Cutler pass) (Q4 9:09)
• Arizona Cardinals — S. Breaston (K. Warner pass) (Q4 4:37)

Field goals

• Arizona Cardinals — N. Rackers (Q2 30:02)
• Arizona Cardinals — N. Rackers (Q3 22:51)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 14–7. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the CHI 11 (Q1 57:19) — (12:19) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass short middle to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q1 57:12) — 1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the ARI 33 (Q1 54:21) — (9:21) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep middle to 82-G.Olsen for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN [93-C.Campbell].; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q1 54:13); Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the CHI 6 (Q1 48:31) — (3:31) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass short right to 89-B.Patrick for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q1 48:26) — 1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham..

The second quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 17–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the CHI 17 (Q2 41:27) — (11:27) 13-K.Warner pass deep right to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q2 41:19) — 1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the CHI 15 (Q2 32:56) — (2:56) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass short left to 84-A.Becht for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q2 32:49) — 1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the CHI 25 (Q2 30:02) — (:02) 1-N.Rackers 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham..

The third quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 3–0. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the CHI 12 (Q3 22:51) — (7:51) 1-N.Rackers 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham..

The fourth quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 14–7. Chicago Bears found the end zone from the ARI 3 (Q4 11:55) — (11:55) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short left to 82-G.Olsen for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q4 11:50) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the ARI 20 (Q4 9:09) — (9:09) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep left to 82-G.Olsen for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q4 9:04) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the CHI 4 (Q4 4:37) — (4:37) 13-K.Warner pass short right to 15-S.Breaston for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q4 4:30) — 1-N.Rackers extra point 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.

• Chicago Bears (Q1 54:21) — (9:21) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep middle to 82-G.Olsen for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN [93-C.Campbell]. [WPA +15.1% · EPA +4.21]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 59:06) — (14:06) 34-T.Hightower right tackle to CHI 45 for 13 yards (38-D.Manning). PENALTY on CHI-91-T.Harris, Disqualification, 15 yards, enforced at CHI 45. Penalty was unnecessary roughness on #91 Harris w [WPA +7.7% · EPA +2.16]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 59:46) — (14:46) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass deep left to 15-S.Breaston to ARI 42 for 23 yards (35-Z.Bowman). [WPA +7.1% · EPA +2.84]
• Chicago Bears (Q1 55:52) — (10:52) 6-J.Cutler pass deep right to 23-D.Hester to ARI 34 for 42 yards (29-D.Rodgers-Cromartie). [WPA +6.6% · EPA +2.71]
• Chicago Bears (Q1 47:33) — (2:33) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short middle to 22-M.Forte to CHI 44 for 13 yards (24-A.Wilson). [WPA +5.7% · EPA +1.89]

Impact plays

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 10:08) — (10:08) (Shotgun) 7-M.Leinart pass deep left intended for 11-L.Fitzgerald INTERCEPTED by 35-Z.Bowman at CHI 33. 35-Z.Bowman pushed ob at ARI 28 for 39 yards (69-M.Gandy). [WPA -1.0% · EPA -4.95]
• Chicago Bears (Q1 54:21) — (9:21) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep middle to 82-G.Olsen for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN [93-C.Campbell]. [WPA +15.1% · EPA +4.21]
• Chicago Bears (Q3 21:29) — (6:29) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass incomplete short right to 82-G.Olsen. PENALTY on CHI-6-J.Cutler, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced at ARI 35. [WPA +0.0% · EPA -3.93]
• Chicago Bears (Q4 6:51) — (6:51) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep right intended for 80-E.Bennett INTERCEPTED by 22-M.Ware [90-D.Dockett] at CHI 35. 22-M.Ware to CHI 17 for 18 yards (63-R.Garza). [WPA -2.0% · EPA -3.81]

Quarterback report card

J.Cutler led all passers in efficiency for Chicago Bears, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Cutler (Chicago Bears) · 55 dropbacks · 52.7% completion · +2.6% CPOE · -0.00 EPA/play · -0.02 total EPA
• K.Warner (Arizona Cardinals) · 34 dropbacks · 64.7% completion · +13.8% CPOE · +0.60 EPA/play · +20.49 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Arizona Cardinals generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.28 vs -0.02), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Arizona Cardinals: 12 drives, +22.98 total EPA, 7 scoring drives
• Chicago Bears: 12 drives, -1.66 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Arizona Cardinals leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• K. Warner (Arizona Cardinals) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• K. Warner (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. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q1 57:19 · CHI 11 · Score 6-0
   (12:19) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass short middle to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q1 57:12 · CHI 2 · Score 7-0
   1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.
3. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q1 54:21 · ARI 33 · Score 7-6
   (9:21) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep middle to 82-G.Olsen for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN [93-C.Campbell].
4. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q1 54:13 · ARI 2 · Score 7-7
   9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard. PENALTY on ARI-24-A.Wilson, Encroachment, 5 yards, enforced between downs.
5. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q1 48:31 · CHI 6 · Score 13-7
   (3:31) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass short right to 89-B.Patrick for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q1 48:26 · CHI 2 · Score 14-7
   1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.
7. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 41:27 · CHI 17 · Score 20-7
   (11:27) 13-K.Warner pass deep right to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 41:19 · CHI 2 · Score 21-7
   1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.
9. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 32:56 · CHI 15 · Score 27-7
   (2:56) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass short left to 84-A.Becht for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 32:49 · CHI 2 · Score 28-7
    1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.
11. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 30:02 · CHI 25 · Score 31-7
    (:02) 1-N.Rackers 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.
12. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q3 22:51 · CHI 12 · Score 34-7
    (7:51) 1-N.Rackers 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.
13. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q4 11:55 · ARI 3 · Score 34-13
    (11:55) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short left to 82-G.Olsen for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q4 11:50 · ARI 2 · Score 34-14
    9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
15. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q4 9:09 · ARI 20 · Score 34-20
    (9:09) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass deep left to 82-G.Olsen for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
16. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q4 9:04 · ARI 2 · Score 34-21
    9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
17. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 4:37 · CHI 4 · Score 40-21
    (4:37) 13-K.Warner pass short right to 15-S.Breaston for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
18. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q4 4:30 · CHI 2 · Score 41-21
    1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.