Arizona Cardinals vs. Detroit Lions: 2017 Week 1 Recap

Game story

In Week 1 of the 2017 NFL season on 2017-09-10, the Detroit Lions took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 35–23 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 26 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Palmer (Arizona Cardinals) paced the passing game, with -12.99 total EPA, and -6.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, K. Golladay (Detroit Lions) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.08 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-32.1% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Detroit Lions changed the game: (11:29) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short middle intended for 15-G.Tate INTERCEPTED by 28-J.Bethel at ARI 18. 28-J.Bethel for 82 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 K. Golladay · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +4.08 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.51 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Nelson · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +3.34 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.56 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Jones · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +2.83 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.94 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Jones · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +2.43 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.61 EPA/play
5. 5 C. Palmer · Arizona Cardinals · Rushing · +1.66 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.66 EPA/play
6. 6 L. Fitzgerald · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +1.00 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.08 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Brown · Arizona Cardinals · Rushing · +0.74 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.74 EPA/play
8. 8 E. Ebron · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +0.49 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.16 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 — J. Bethel (Q1 56:29)
• Detroit Lions — M. Jones (M. Stafford pass) (Q2 34:30)
• Arizona Cardinals — K. Williams (Q3 20:42)
• Detroit Lions — T. Riddick (M. Stafford pass) (Q3 18:15)
• Detroit Lions — K. Golladay (M. Stafford pass) (Q4 9:33)
• Detroit Lions — K. Golladay (M. Stafford pass) (Q4 4:22)
• Detroit Lions — M. Killebrew (Q4 4:13)
• Arizona Cardinals — J. Nelson (C. Palmer pass) (Q4 1:38)

Field goals

• Arizona Cardinals — P. Dawson (Q1 47:46)
• Detroit Lions — M. Prater (Q2 30:03)

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 10–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the ARI 21 (Q1 56:29); Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q1 56:14) — 4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the DET 6 (Q1 47:46) — (2:46) 4-P.Dawson 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee..

The second quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 9–0. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the ARI 6 (Q2 34:30) — (4:30) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short left to 11-M.Jones for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the ARI 40 (Q2 30:03) — (:03) 5-M.Prater 58 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-14-J.Rudock..

The third quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 7–6. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the DET 3 (Q3 20:42) — (5:42) 33-K.Williams up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the DET 15 (Q3 20:37) — 4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the ARI 7 (Q3 18:15).

The fourth quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 20–6. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the ARI 10 (Q4 9:33) — (9:33) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short left to 19-K.Golladay for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the ARI 45 (Q4 4:22) — (4:22) 9-M.Stafford pass deep middle to 19-K.Golladay for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q4 4:13) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-14-J.Rudock.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the DET 75 (Q4 4:13); Detroit Lions added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q4 4:03) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-14-J.Rudock.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the DET 1 (Q4 1:38) — (1:38) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass short left to 14-J.Nelson for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN..

Turning points

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

• Detroit Lions (Q1 56:29) — (11:29) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short middle intended for 15-G.Tate INTERCEPTED by 28-J.Bethel at ARI 18. 28-J.Bethel for 82 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -32.1% · EPA -11.60]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 19:03) — (4:03) 31-Da.Johnson left end to ARI 26 for 5 yards (91-A.Robinson). FUMBLES (91-A.Robinson), RECOVERED by DET-40-J.Davis at ARI 26. 40-J.Davis to ARI 10 for 16 yards (31-Da.Johnson). [WPA -17.1% · EPA -5.88]
• Detroit Lions (Q2 30:03) — (:03) 5-M.Prater 58 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-14-J.Rudock. [WPA +15.1% · EPA +1.33]
• Detroit Lions (Q4 4:22) — (4:22) 9-M.Stafford pass deep middle to 19-K.Golladay for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.0% · EPA +4.52]
• Detroit Lions (Q3 18:15) — (3:15) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short middle to 25-T.Riddick for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official reviewed the runner was not down by contact ruling, and the play was Upheld. The ruling on t [WPA +11.7% · EPA +1.80]

Impact plays

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

• Detroit Lions (Q1 56:29) — (11:29) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short middle intended for 15-G.Tate INTERCEPTED by 28-J.Bethel at ARI 18. 28-J.Bethel for 82 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -32.1% · EPA -11.60]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 4:13) — (4:13) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass short middle intended for 38-A.Ellington INTERCEPTED by 35-M.Killebrew [91-A.Robinson] at ARI 35. 35-M.Killebrew for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -4.2% · EPA -8.02]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 19:03) — (4:03) 31-Da.Johnson left end to ARI 26 for 5 yards (91-A.Robinson). FUMBLES (91-A.Robinson), RECOVERED by DET-40-J.Davis at ARI 26. 40-J.Davis to ARI 10 for 16 yards (31-Da.Johnson). [WPA -17.1% · EPA -5.88]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 57:08) — (12:08) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass short left intended for 31-Da.Johnson INTERCEPTED by 32-T.Wilson at ARI 49. 32-T.Wilson to ARI 26 for 23 yards (74-D.Humphries). [WPA -11.2% · EPA -4.79]

Quarterback report card

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

• C.Palmer (Arizona Cardinals) · 57 dropbacks · 47.4% completion · -6.3% CPOE · -0.23 EPA/play · -12.99 total EPA
• M.Stafford (Detroit Lions) · 45 dropbacks · 64.4% completion · +5.5% CPOE · -0.01 EPA/play · -0.38 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Detroit Lions held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.18 vs -0.28), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Arizona Cardinals: 13 drives, -25.46 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Detroit Lions: 14 drives, -15.53 total EPA, 6 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Detroit Lions leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• K. Golladay (Detroit Lions) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• C. Palmer (ARI) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• M. Stafford (DET) 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 56:29 · ARI 21 · Score 6-0
   (11:29) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short middle intended for 15-G.Tate INTERCEPTED by 28-J.Bethel at ARI 18. 28-J.Bethel for 82 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q1 56:14 · DET 15 · Score 7-0
   4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.
3. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q1 47:46 · DET 6 · Score 10-0
   (2:46) 4-P.Dawson 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.
4. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 34:30 · ARI 6 · Score 10-6
   (4:30) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short left to 11-M.Jones for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 30:03 · ARI 40 · Score 10-9
   (:03) 5-M.Prater 58 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-14-J.Rudock.
6. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q3 20:42 · DET 3 · Score 16-9
   (5:42) 33-K.Williams up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q3 20:37 · DET 15 · Score 17-9
   4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.
8. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q3 18:15 · ARI 7 · Score 17-15
   (3:15) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short middle to 25-T.Riddick for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official reviewed the runner was not down by contact ruling,
9. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q4 9:33 · ARI 10 · Score 17-21
   (9:33) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short left to 19-K.Golladay for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q4 4:22 · ARI 45 · Score 17-27
    (4:22) 9-M.Stafford pass deep middle to 19-K.Golladay for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q4 4:13 · ARI 15 · Score 17-28
    5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-14-J.Rudock.
12. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q4 4:13 · DET 75 · Score 17-34
    (4:13) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass short middle intended for 38-A.Ellington INTERCEPTED by 35-M.Killebrew [91-A.Robinson] at ARI 35. 35-M.Killebrew for 35 yards,
13. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q4 4:03 · ARI 15 · Score 17-35
    5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-14-J.Rudock.
14. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 1:38 · DET 1 · Score 23-35
    (1:38) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass short left to 14-J.Nelson for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.