Arizona Cardinals vs. Dallas Cowboys: 2014 Week 9 Recap

Game story

In Week 9 of the 2014 NFL season on 2014-11-02, the Arizona Cardinals took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 28–17 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Weeden (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with -5.75 total EPA, and -9.7% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, L. Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.52 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-15.9% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Arizona Cardinals changed the game: (11:07) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass short right intended for 15-M.Floyd INTERCEPTED by 20-T.Patmon at DAL 42. 20-T.Patmon for 58 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

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 · +6.52 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.09 EPA/play
2. 2 C. Palmer · Arizona Cardinals · Passing · +6.20 total EPA · 36 snaps · +0.17 EPA/play
3. 3 L. Dunbar · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +5.16 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.58 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Ellington · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +4.14 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.03 EPA/play
5. 5 Ja. Brown · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +4.13 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.07 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Ginn · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +2.38 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.19 EPA/play
7. 7 R. Hughes · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +1.12 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.56 EPA/play
8. 8 C. Beasley · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +0.90 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.45 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

• Dallas Cowboys — T. Patmon (Q1 56:07)
• Arizona Cardinals — J. Carlson (C. Palmer pass) (Q2 42:39)
• Arizona Cardinals — C. Palmer (Q2 34:39)
• Arizona Cardinals — A. Ellington (C. Palmer pass) (Q4 6:05)
• Arizona Cardinals — M. Grice (Q4 4:23)
• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bryant (B. Weeden pass) (Q4 1:13)

Field goals

• Dallas Cowboys — D. Bailey (Q1 49:08)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 10–0. Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the DAL 53 (Q1 56:07); Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q1 55:55) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the ARI 34 (Q1 49:08) — (4:08) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..

The second quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 14–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the DAL 7 (Q2 42:39) — (12:39) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass short middle to 89-J.Carlson for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q2 42:39) — 7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the DAL 11 (Q2 34:39); Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q2 34:34) — 7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler..

The fourth quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 14–7. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the DAL 1 (Q4 6:05) — (6:05) 3-C.Palmer pass short right to 38-A.Ellington for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q4 6:00) — 7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the DAL 1 (Q4 4:23); Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the DAL 2 (Q4 4:20) — 7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the ARI 3 (Q4 1:13) — (1:13) (Shotgun) 3-B.Weeden pass short right to 88-D.Bryant for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q4 1:08) — 5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones..

Turning points

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 56:07) — (11:07) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass short right intended for 15-M.Floyd INTERCEPTED by 20-T.Patmon at DAL 42. 20-T.Patmon for 58 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -15.9% · EPA -7.64]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 23:06) — (8:06) (Shotgun) 3-B.Weeden pass short left intended for 82-J.Witten INTERCEPTED by 32-T.Mathieu at ARI 10. 32-T.Mathieu to ARI 19 for 9 yards (82-J.Witten). [WPA -13.4% · EPA -4.16]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 9:41) — (9:41) 29-D.Murray up the middle to ARI 34 for no gain (36-D.Bucannon). [WPA -9.9% · EPA -3.93]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 34:39) — (4:39) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass short middle to 13-Ja. Brown for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on DAL-39-B.Carr, Defensive Pass Interference, declined. [WPA +9.7% · EPA +3.20]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 30:03) — (:03) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 35 yard field goal is BLOCKED (28-J.Bethel), Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones, RECOVERED by ARI-21-P.Peterson at ARI 21. 21-P.Peterson to DAL 19 for 60 y [WPA -9.1% · EPA -2.74]

Impact plays

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 56:07) — (11:07) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass short right intended for 15-M.Floyd INTERCEPTED by 20-T.Patmon at DAL 42. 20-T.Patmon for 58 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -15.9% · EPA -7.64]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 5:34) — (5:34) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 3-B.Weeden pass short right intended for 83-T.Williams INTERCEPTED by 31-A.Cromartie at DAL 35. 31-A.Cromartie to DAL 28 for 7 yards (83-T.Williams). [WPA -3.4% · EPA -4.72]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 23:06) — (8:06) (Shotgun) 3-B.Weeden pass short left intended for 82-J.Witten INTERCEPTED by 32-T.Mathieu at ARI 10. 32-T.Mathieu to ARI 19 for 9 yards (82-J.Witten). [WPA -13.4% · EPA -4.16]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q4 9:41) — (9:41) 29-D.Murray up the middle to ARI 34 for no gain (36-D.Bucannon). [WPA -9.9% · EPA -3.93]

Quarterback report card

B.Weeden led all passers in efficiency for Dallas Cowboys, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• B.Weeden (Dallas Cowboys) · 39 dropbacks · 46.2% completion · -9.7% CPOE · -0.15 EPA/play · -5.75 total EPA
• C.Palmer (Arizona Cardinals) · 36 dropbacks · 61.1% completion · +3.5% CPOE · +0.17 EPA/play · +6.20 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 (-0.02 vs -0.20), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Arizona Cardinals: 11 drives, -1.43 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Dallas Cowboys: 11 drives, -15.61 total EPA, 2 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.
• L. Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• B. Weeden (DAL) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• C. Palmer (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. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q1 56:07 · DAL 53 · Score 0-6
   (11:07) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass short right intended for 15-M.Floyd INTERCEPTED by 20-T.Patmon at DAL 42. 20-T.Patmon for 58 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q1 55:55 · ARI 2 · Score 0-7
   5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
3. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q1 49:08 · ARI 34 · Score 0-10
   (4:08) (Field Goal formation) 5-D.Bailey 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.
4. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 42:39 · DAL 7 · Score 6-10
   (12:39) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass short middle to 89-J.Carlson for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 42:39 · DAL 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 34:39 · DAL 11 · Score 13-10
   (4:39) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass short middle to 13-Ja. Brown for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on DAL-39-B.Carr, Defensive Pass Interference, declined.
7. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 34:34 · DAL 2 · Score 14-10
   7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.
8. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 6:05 · DAL 1 · Score 20-10
   (6:05) 3-C.Palmer pass short right to 38-A.Ellington for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q4 6:00 · DAL 2 · Score 21-10
   7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.
10. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 4:23 · DAL 1 · Score 27-10
    (4:23) 23-M.Grice up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. DAL-98-T.Crawford was injured during the play. His return is Questionable. The Replay Official challenged
11. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q4 4:20 · DAL 2 · Score 28-10
    7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.
12. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 1:13 · ARI 3 · Score 28-16
    (1:13) (Shotgun) 3-B.Weeden pass short right to 88-D.Bryant for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q4 1:08 · ARI 2 · Score 28-17
    5-D.Bailey extra point is GOOD, Center-91-L.Ladouceur, Holder-6-C.Jones.