Arizona Cardinals vs. Indianapolis Colts: 2017 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2017 NFL season on 2017-09-17, the Arizona Cardinals took care of business against the Indianapolis Colts, pulling away with a 16–13 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 13 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Brissett (Indianapolis Colts) paced the passing game, with -6.64 total EPA, and -8.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Doyle (Indianapolis Colts) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.52 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-46.5% win probability) landed in overtime when Indianapolis Colts changed the game: (9:55) (Run formation) 7-J.Brissett pass short middle intended for 17-K.Aiken INTERCEPTED by 32-T.Mathieu [92-F.Rucker] at IND 36. 32-T.Mathieu to IND 21 for 15 yards (74-A.Castonzo).

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. Doyle · Indianapolis Colts · Receiving · +5.52 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.69 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Nelson · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +5.22 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.75 EPA/play
3. 3 I. Momah · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +2.46 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.23 EPA/play
4. 4 Ja. Brown · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +1.99 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.18 EPA/play
5. 5 R. Turbin · Indianapolis Colts · Receiving · +1.67 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.67 EPA/play
6. 6 C. Palmer · Arizona Cardinals · Passing · +1.34 total EPA · 40 snaps · +0.03 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Niklas · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +1.17 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.17 EPA/play
8. 8 B. Williams · Indianapolis Colts · Receiving · +1.16 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.16 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

• Indianapolis Colts — F. Gore (Q1 52:42)
• Arizona Cardinals — J. Nelson (C. Palmer pass) (Q4 7:47)

Field goals

• Indianapolis Colts — A. Vinatieri (Q1 46:33)
• Arizona Cardinals — P. Dawson (Q2 35:59)
• Indianapolis Colts — A. Vinatieri (Q4 11:45)
• Arizona Cardinals — P. Dawson (Q4 3:28)
• Arizona Cardinals — P. Dawson (OT 8:05)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Indianapolis Colts won the period 10–0. Indianapolis Colts found the end zone from the ARI 5 (Q1 52:42) — (7:42) (Shotgun) 23-F.Gore up the middle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Indianapolis Colts added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q1 52:38) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-2-R.Sanchez.; Indianapolis Colts connected on a field goal from the ARI 28 (Q1 46:33) — (1:33) 4-A.Vinatieri 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-2-R.Sanchez..

The second quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 3–0. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the IND 9 (Q2 35:59) — (5:59) 4-P.Dawson 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee..

The fourth quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 10–3. Indianapolis Colts connected on a field goal from the ARI 11 (Q4 11:45) — (11:45) 4-A.Vinatieri 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-2-R.Sanchez.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the IND 45 (Q4 7:47) — (7:47) (Run formation) 3-C.Palmer pass deep middle to 14-J.Nelson for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the IND 15 (Q4 7:38) — 4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the IND 22 (Q4 3:28) — (3:28) 4-P.Dawson 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee..

Overtime: Arizona Cardinals won the period 3–0. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the IND 12 (OT 8:05) — (8:05) 4-P.Dawson 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee..

Turning points

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

• Indianapolis Colts (OT 9:55) — (9:55) (Run formation) 7-J.Brissett pass short middle intended for 17-K.Aiken INTERCEPTED by 32-T.Mathieu [92-F.Rucker] at IND 36. 32-T.Mathieu to IND 21 for 15 yards (74-A.Castonzo). [WPA -46.5% · EPA -5.82]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 0:03) — (:03) 4-P.Dawson 42 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee. [WPA -30.3% · EPA -2.52]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 4:56) — (4:56) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass deep left to 14-J.Nelson ran ob at IND 28 for 31 yards. Penalty on IND-93-J.Sheard, Defensive Offside, declined. [WPA +17.8% · EPA +2.55]
• Indianapolis Colts (Q4 0:33) — (:33) 2-R.Sanchez punts 44 yards to ARI 43, Center-46-L.Rhodes. 33-K.Williams to ARI 49 for 6 yards (41-M.Farley). [WPA -14.7% · EPA -0.81]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 31:34) — (1:34) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass deep left intended for 14-J.Nelson INTERCEPTED by 29-M.Hooker at IND 3. 29-M.Hooker to IND 35 for 32 yards (38-A.Ellington). [WPA -12.5% · EPA -4.47]

Impact plays

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

• Indianapolis Colts (OT 9:55) — (9:55) (Run formation) 7-J.Brissett pass short middle intended for 17-K.Aiken INTERCEPTED by 32-T.Mathieu [92-F.Rucker] at IND 36. 32-T.Mathieu to IND 21 for 15 yards (74-A.Castonzo). [WPA -46.5% · EPA -5.82]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 31:34) — (1:34) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass deep left intended for 14-J.Nelson INTERCEPTED by 29-M.Hooker at IND 3. 29-M.Hooker to IND 35 for 32 yards (38-A.Ellington). [WPA -12.5% · EPA -4.47]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 43:05) — (13:05) (Pass formation) 3-C.Palmer pass incomplete short right to 11-L.Fitzgerald. [WPA -2.6% · EPA -4.17]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 7:47) — (7:47) (Run formation) 3-C.Palmer pass deep middle to 14-J.Nelson for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +9.2% · EPA +4.10]

Quarterback report card

J.Brissett led all passers in efficiency for Indianapolis Colts, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Brissett (Indianapolis Colts) · 44 dropbacks · 45.5% completion · -8.9% CPOE · -0.15 EPA/play · -6.64 total EPA
• C.Palmer (Arizona Cardinals) · 40 dropbacks · 47.5% completion · -2.5% CPOE · +0.03 EPA/play · +1.34 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 (-0.07 vs -0.13), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Arizona Cardinals: 12 drives, -6.10 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Indianapolis Colts: 13 drives, -11.84 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• J. Doyle (Indianapolis Colts) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Brissett (IND) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Indianapolis Colts TD (+6) — Q1 52:42 · ARI 5 · Score 0-6
   (7:42) (Shotgun) 23-F.Gore up the middle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Indianapolis Colts XP (+1) — Q1 52:38 · ARI 15 · Score 0-7
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-2-R.Sanchez.
3. Indianapolis Colts FG (+3) — Q1 46:33 · ARI 28 · Score 0-10
   (1:33) 4-A.Vinatieri 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-2-R.Sanchez.
4. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 35:59 · IND 9 · Score 3-10
   (5:59) 4-P.Dawson 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.
5. Indianapolis Colts FG (+3) — Q4 11:45 · ARI 11 · Score 3-13
   (11:45) 4-A.Vinatieri 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-L.Rhodes, Holder-2-R.Sanchez.
6. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 7:47 · IND 45 · Score 9-13
   (7:47) (Run formation) 3-C.Palmer pass deep middle to 14-J.Nelson for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q4 7:38 · IND 15 · Score 10-13
   4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.
8. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q4 3:28 · IND 22 · Score 13-13
   (3:28) 4-P.Dawson 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.
9. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — OT 8:05 · IND 12 · Score 16-13
   (8:05) 4-P.Dawson 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.