Arizona Cardinals vs. Detroit Lions: 2021 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 2021 NFL season on 2021-12-19, the Detroit Lions took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 30–12 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

K. Murray (Arizona Cardinals) paced the passing game, with -11.86 total EPA, and -11.0% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Goff (Detroit Lions) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +16.99 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+9.4% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Arizona Cardinals changed the game: 3-J.Fox kicks onside 11 yards from DET 35 to DET 46. 59-J.Walker (didn't try to advance) to DET 46 for no gain. PENALTY on DET-19-S.Smith, Illegal Formation, 5 yards, enforced at DET 46.

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 J. Goff · Detroit Lions · Passing · +16.99 total EPA · 30 snaps · +0.57 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Reynolds · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +7.45 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.24 EPA/play
3. 3 A.St. Brown · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +5.93 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.54 EPA/play
4. 4 C. Kirk · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +4.84 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
5. 5 C. Edmonds · Arizona Cardinals · Rushing · +2.82 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Conner · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +2.60 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.30 EPA/play
7. 7 Z. Ertz · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +1.53 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Cabinda · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +1.10 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.10 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

• Detroit Lions — A. St (J. Goff pass) (Q2 45:00)
• Detroit Lions — J. Reynolds (J. Goff pass) (Q2 30:24)
• Detroit Lions — J. Cabinda (J. Goff pass) (Q3 23:15)
• Arizona Cardinals — C. Kirk (K. Murray pass) (Q4 4:46)

Field goals

• Detroit Lions — R. Patterson (Q1 51:14)
• Arizona Cardinals — M. Prater (Q3 26:26)
• Arizona Cardinals — M. Prater (Q3 18:58)
• Detroit Lions — R. Patterson (Q4 13:21)
• Detroit Lions — R. Patterson (Q4 2:51)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 3–0. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the ARI 19 (Q1 51:14) — (6:14) 6-R.Patterson 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox..

The second quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 14–0. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the ARI 37 (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) 16-J.Goff pass deep left to 14-A.St. Brown for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q2 44:53) — 6-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the ARI 22 (Q2 30:24); Detroit Lions added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q2 30:19).

The third quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 7–6. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the DET 11 (Q3 26:26) — (11:26) 5-M.Prater 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-14-A.Lee.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the ARI 6 (Q3 23:15) — (8:15) 16-J.Goff pass short right to 45-J.Cabinda for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q3 23:10) — 6-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the DET 11 (Q3 18:58) — (3:58) 5-M.Prater 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-14-A.Lee..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 6–6. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the ARI 29 (Q4 13:21) — (13:21) 6-R.Patterson 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the DET 26 (Q4 4:46) — (4:46) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass deep middle to 13-C.Kirk for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the ARI 27 (Q4 2:51) — (2:51) 6-R.Patterson 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox..

Turning points

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 51:10) — 3-J.Fox kicks onside 11 yards from DET 35 to DET 46. 59-J.Walker (didn't try to advance) to DET 46 for no gain. PENALTY on DET-19-S.Smith, Illegal Formation, 5 yards, enforced at DET 46. [WPA +9.4% · EPA +2.24]
• Detroit Lions (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) 16-J.Goff pass deep left to 14-A.St. Brown for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +8.7% · EPA +3.44]
• Detroit Lions (Q1 45:50) — (:50) (Shotgun) 46-C.Reynolds left end to ARI 43 for 27 yards (33-A.Hamilton). [WPA +7.0% · EPA +2.57]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 32:02) — (2:02) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass incomplete short left to 85-A.Wesley (41-A.Parker). [WPA -6.8% · EPA -3.08]
• Detroit Lions (Q3 23:59) — (8:59) 35-G.Igwebuike right end to ARI 47 for no gain (95-L.Fotu). FUMBLES (95-L.Fotu), RECOVERED by ARI-7-B.Murphy at ARI 44. DET-11-K.Raymond was injured during the play. [WPA -6.1% · EPA -5.55]

Impact plays

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 23:30) — (8:30) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short right intended for 18-A.Green INTERCEPTED by 24-A.Oruwariye at DET 44. 24-A.Oruwariye pushed ob at ARI 6 for 50 yards (6-J.Conner). [WPA -5.2% · EPA -7.74]
• Detroit Lions (Q3 23:59) — (8:59) 35-G.Igwebuike right end to ARI 47 for no gain (95-L.Fotu). FUMBLES (95-L.Fotu), RECOVERED by ARI-7-B.Murphy at ARI 44. DET-11-K.Raymond was injured during the play. [WPA -6.1% · EPA -5.55]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 4:46) — (4:46) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass deep middle to 13-C.Kirk for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +0.4% · EPA +3.87]
• Detroit Lions (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) 16-J.Goff pass deep left to 14-A.St. Brown for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +8.7% · EPA +3.44]

Quarterback report card

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

• K.Murray (Arizona Cardinals) · 45 dropbacks · 51.1% completion · -11.0% CPOE · -0.26 EPA/play · -11.86 total EPA
• J.Goff (Detroit Lions) · 30 dropbacks · 70.0% completion · +6.9% CPOE · +0.57 EPA/play · +16.99 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 (+0.08 vs -0.15), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Arizona Cardinals: 11 drives, -13.20 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Detroit Lions: 10 drives, +6.37 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.
• J. Goff (Detroit Lions) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• K. Murray (ARI) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• J. Goff (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. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q1 51:14 · ARI 19 · Score 0-3
   (6:14) 6-R.Patterson 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
2. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 45:00 · ARI 37 · Score 0-9
   (15:00) 16-J.Goff pass deep left to 14-A.St. Brown for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 44:53 · ARI 15 · Score 0-10
   6-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
4. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q2 30:24 · ARI 22 · Score 0-16
   (:24) (Shotgun) 16-J.Goff pass deep middle to 8-J.Reynolds for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN [94-Z.Allen]. ARI-94-Z.Allen was injured during the play.
5. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q2 30:19 · ARI 15 · Score 0-17
   6-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox. PENALTY on ARI-97-J.Phillips, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced between downs.
6. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q3 26:26 · DET 11 · Score 3-17
   (11:26) 5-M.Prater 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-14-A.Lee.
7. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q3 23:15 · ARI 6 · Score 3-23
   (8:15) 16-J.Goff pass short right to 45-J.Cabinda for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q3 23:10 · ARI 15 · Score 3-24
   6-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
9. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q3 18:58 · DET 11 · Score 6-24
   (3:58) 5-M.Prater 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-14-A.Lee.
10. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q4 13:21 · ARI 29 · Score 6-27
    (13:21) 6-R.Patterson 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.
11. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 4:46 · DET 26 · Score 12-27
    (4:46) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass deep middle to 13-C.Kirk for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q4 2:51 · ARI 27 · Score 12-30
    (2:51) 6-R.Patterson 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-S.Daly, Holder-3-J.Fox.