Arizona Cardinals vs. New York Giants: 2000 Week 1 Recap

Game story

In Week 1 of the 2000 NFL season on 2000-09-03, the New York Giants took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 21–16 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Plummer (Arizona Cardinals) paced the passing game, with +3.30 total EPA.

On the individual side, D. Boston (Arizona Cardinals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +12.93 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+9.8% win probability) landed in the second quarter when New York Giants changed the game: (10:11) T.Barber right guard for 78 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 D. Boston · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +12.93 total EPA · 12 snaps · +1.08 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Barber · New York Giants · Rushing · +11.22 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.86 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Plummer · Arizona Cardinals · Passing · +3.30 total EPA · 56 snaps · +0.06 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Pittman · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +3.02 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.50 EPA/play
5. 5 I. Hilliard · New York Giants · Receiving · +2.38 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.60 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Toomer · New York Giants · Receiving · +2.18 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.44 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Campbell · New York Giants · Receiving · +0.65 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.65 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Cody · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +0.51 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.51 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

• New York Giants — unlisted player (Q1 45:34)
• New York Giants — unlisted player (Q2 40:11)
• New York Giants — unlisted player (Q4 7:32)
• Arizona Cardinals — unlisted player (Q4 2:00)
• Arizona Cardinals — unlisted player (Q4 0:39)

Field goals

• Arizona Cardinals — unlisted player (Q3 15:05)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: New York Giants won the period 7–0. New York Giants found the end zone from the ARI 10 (Q1 45:34) — (:34) T.Barber left end for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Barber starts right before reversing field.; New York Giants added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q1 45:00) — B.Daluiso extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Whittle, Holder-B.Maynard..

The second quarter: New York Giants won the period 7–0. New York Giants found the end zone from the ARI 78 (Q2 40:11) — (10:11) T.Barber right guard for 78 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Giants added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q2 39:31) — B.Daluiso extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Whittle, Holder-B.Maynard..

The third quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 3–0. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the NYG 14 (Q3 15:05) — (:05) C.Blanchard 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player..

The fourth quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 13–7. New York Giants found the end zone from the ARI 7 (Q4 7:32) — (7:32) R.Dayne right guard for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New York Giants added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q4 7:28) — B.Daluiso extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Whittle, Holder-B.Maynard.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the NYG 9 (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) J.Plummer pass to D.Boston for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the NYG 2 (Q4 1:55) — C.Blanchard extra point is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the NYG 25 (Q4 0:39) — (:39) (Shotgun) J.Plummer pass to D.Boston for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

Turning points

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

• New York Giants (Q2 40:11) — (10:11) T.Barber right guard for 78 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +9.8% · EPA +6.40]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 52:23) — (7:23) (Shotgun) J.Plummer pass to D.Boston to ARI 29 for 13 yards (S.Garnes). [WPA +6.6% · EPA +2.19]
• New York Giants (Q1 48:54) — (3:54) (Shotgun) K.Collins pass to I.Hilliard to ARI 42 for 24 yards (J.Issa). [WPA +6.0% · EPA +2.68]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 33:58) — (3:58) J.Plummer FUMBLES (Aborted) at NYG 13, RECOVERED by NYG-M.Barrow at NYG 12. M.Barrow to NYG 12 for no gain (L.Holmes). [WPA -5.7% · EPA -2.81]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 23:30) — (8:30) J.Plummer pass intended for T.Hardy INTERCEPTED by S.Williams at NYG 19. S.Williams to ARI 41 for 40 yards (D.Boston, J.Plummer). [WPA -5.5% · EPA -5.79]

Impact plays

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

• New York Giants (Q2 40:11) — (10:11) T.Barber right guard for 78 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +9.8% · EPA +6.40]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 23:30) — (8:30) J.Plummer pass intended for T.Hardy INTERCEPTED by S.Williams at NYG 19. S.Williams to ARI 41 for 40 yards (D.Boston, J.Plummer). [WPA -5.5% · EPA -5.79]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 0:39) — (:39) (Shotgun) J.Plummer pass to D.Boston for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +1.8% · EPA +4.97]
• New York Giants (Q3 20:38) — (5:38) K.Collins pass intended for I.Hilliard INTERCEPTED by K.Lassiter at ARI -4. K.Lassiter to ARI 7 for 11 yards (H.Cross). [WPA -1.7% · EPA -3.22]

Quarterback report card

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

• J.Plummer (Arizona Cardinals) · 56 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · +0.06 EPA/play · +3.30 total EPA
• K.Collins (New York Giants) · 25 dropbacks · 68.0% completion · -0.01 EPA/play · -0.23 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Arizona Cardinals +0.02, New York Giants +0.06) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Arizona Cardinals: 13 drives, +1.72 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• New York Giants: 13 drives, +5.66 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• New York Giants 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.
• D. Boston (Arizona Cardinals) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

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

1. New York Giants TD (+6) — Q1 45:34 · ARI 10 · Score 0-6
   (:34) T.Barber left end for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Barber starts right before reversing field.
2. New York Giants XP (+1) — Q1 45:00 · ARI 2 · Score 0-7
   B.Daluiso extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Whittle, Holder-B.Maynard.
3. New York Giants TD (+6) — Q2 40:11 · ARI 78 · Score 0-13
   (10:11) T.Barber right guard for 78 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. New York Giants XP (+1) — Q2 39:31 · ARI 2 · Score 0-14
   B.Daluiso extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Whittle, Holder-B.Maynard.
5. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q3 15:05 · NYG 14 · Score 3-14
   (:05) C.Blanchard 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player.
6. New York Giants TD (+6) — Q4 7:32 · ARI 7 · Score 3-20
   (7:32) R.Dayne right guard for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. New York Giants XP (+1) — Q4 7:28 · ARI 2 · Score 3-21
   B.Daluiso extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Whittle, Holder-B.Maynard.
8. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 2:00 · NYG 9 · Score 9-21
   (2:00) J.Plummer pass to D.Boston for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q4 1:55 · NYG 2 · Score 10-21
   C.Blanchard extra point is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player.
10. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 0:39 · NYG 25 · Score 16-21
    (:39) (Shotgun) J.Plummer pass to D.Boston for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.