Arizona Cardinals vs. Philadelphia Eagles: 1999 Week 1 Recap

Game story

In Week 1 of the 1999 NFL season on 1999-09-12, the Arizona Cardinals took care of business against the Philadelphia Eagles, pulling away with a 25–24 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Plummer (Arizona Cardinals) paced the passing game, with -0.99 total EPA.

On the individual side, R. Moore (Arizona Cardinals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +3.86 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+54.7% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Philadelphia Eagles changed the game: C.Jacke kicks 68 yards from ARI 30 to PHI 2. A.Rossum to PHI 23 for 21 yards (P.Sapp).

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 R. Moore · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +3.86 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.48 EPA/play
2. 2 A. Murrell · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +3.64 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.73 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Pittman · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +2.13 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.53 EPA/play
4. 4 L. Broughton · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +2.07 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.41 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Pederson · Philadelphia Eagles · Rushing · +1.86 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.62 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Hardy · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +1.31 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.22 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Jells · Philadelphia Eagles · Receiving · +0.96 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.48 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Plummer · Arizona Cardinals · Rushing · +0.67 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.11 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

• Philadelphia Eagles — unlisted player (Q1 56:28)
• Philadelphia Eagles — unlisted player (Q1 47:27)
• Philadelphia Eagles — unlisted player (Q1 46:19)
• Arizona Cardinals — unlisted player (Q3 30:00)
• Arizona Cardinals — unlisted player (Q4 6:26)

Field goals

• Arizona Cardinals — unlisted player (Q2 45:00)
• Arizona Cardinals — unlisted player (Q2 36:41)
• Philadelphia Eagles — unlisted player (Q2 30:04)
• Arizona Cardinals — unlisted player (Q4 15:00)
• Arizona Cardinals — unlisted player (Q4 0:04)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Philadelphia Eagles won the period 21–0. Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the ARI 24 (Q1 56:28) — (11:28) D.Staley left guard for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Staley jukes right and steps out of tackle of Cards' Wadsworth to trot into endzone.; Philadelphia Eagles added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q1 52:53) — N.Johnson extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Dellenbach, Holder-D.Pederson.; Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the ARI 3 (Q1 47:27) — (2:27) D.Pederson pass to D.Staley for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Philadelphia Eagles added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q1 47:19) — N.Johnson extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Dellenbach, Holder-D.Pederson.; Philadelphia Eagles found the end zone from the ARI 15 (Q1 46:19); Philadelphia Eagles added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q1 45:16) — N.Johnson extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Dellenbach, Holder-D.Pederson..

The second quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 6–3. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the PHI 13 (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) C.Jacke 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the PHI 8 (Q2 36:41) — (6:41) C.Jacke 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player.; Philadelphia Eagles connected on a field goal from the ARI 8 (Q2 30:04) — (:04) N.Johnson 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-J.Dellenbach, Holder-D.Pederson..

The third quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 6–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the PHI 1 (Q3 30:00) — (15:00) M.Bates up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN..

The fourth quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 13–0. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the PHI 14 (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) C.Jacke 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the PHI 20 (Q4 6:26) — (6:26) J.Plummer pass to R.Moore for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the PHI 2 (Q4 4:03) — C.Jacke extra point is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the PHI 13 (Q4 0:04) — (:04) C.Jacke 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player..

Turning points

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

• Philadelphia Eagles (Q1 60:00) — C.Jacke kicks 68 yards from ARI 30 to PHI 2. A.Rossum to PHI 23 for 21 yards (P.Sapp). [WPA +54.7% · EPA +0.13]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 0:04) — (:04) C.Jacke 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player. [WPA +39.0% · EPA +0.38]
• Philadelphia Eagles (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) D.Pederson pass intended for B.Finneran INTERCEPTED by K.Lassiter at ARI 25. K.Lassiter to PHI 43 for 32 yards. [WPA -35.9% · EPA -3.28]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 47:38) — (2:38) J.Plummer pass intended for F.Sanders INTERCEPTED by A.Harris at ARI 39. A.Harris to ARI 6 for 33 yards (D.Boston). [WPA -13.8% · EPA -5.39]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 51:07) — (6:07) J.Makovicka left guard to ARI 35 for -7 yards (T.Hauck). FUMBLES (T.Hauck), touched at ARI 35, RECOVERED by PHI-G.Jefferson at ARI 35. G.Jefferson to ARI 31 for 4 yards. [WPA -13.5% · EPA -4.93]

Impact plays

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 47:38) — (2:38) J.Plummer pass intended for F.Sanders INTERCEPTED by A.Harris at ARI 39. A.Harris to ARI 6 for 33 yards (D.Boston). [WPA -13.8% · EPA -5.39]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 51:07) — (6:07) J.Makovicka left guard to ARI 35 for -7 yards (T.Hauck). FUMBLES (T.Hauck), touched at ARI 35, RECOVERED by PHI-G.Jefferson at ARI 35. G.Jefferson to ARI 31 for 4 yards. [WPA -13.5% · EPA -4.93]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 30:39) — (:39) J.Plummer pass intended for R.Moore INTERCEPTED by J.Darling at ARI 41. J.Darling pushed ob at ARI 8 for 33 yards (L.Holmes). [WPA -3.9% · EPA -4.73]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 47:19) — (2:19) J.Plummer pass intended for T.Hardy INTERCEPTED by B.Dawkins at ARI 34. B.Dawkins to ARI 11 for 23 yards (D.Brown). [WPA -4.9% · EPA -4.14]

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) · 52 dropbacks · 48.1% completion · -0.02 EPA/play · -0.99 total EPA
• D.Pederson (Philadelphia Eagles) · 32 dropbacks · 37.5% completion · -0.42 EPA/play · -13.50 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 (-0.09 vs -0.17), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Arizona Cardinals: 15 drives, -9.75 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Philadelphia Eagles: 15 drives, -14.33 total EPA, 4 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.
• R. Moore (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. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q1 56:28 · ARI 24 · Score 0-6
   (11:28) D.Staley left guard for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Staley jukes right and steps out of tackle of Cards' Wadsworth to trot into endzone.
2. Philadelphia Eagles XP (+1) — Q1 52:53 · ARI 2 · Score 0-7
   N.Johnson extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Dellenbach, Holder-D.Pederson.
3. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q1 47:27 · ARI 3 · Score 0-13
   (2:27) D.Pederson pass to D.Staley for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Philadelphia Eagles XP (+1) — Q1 47:19 · ARI 2 · Score 0-14
   N.Johnson extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Dellenbach, Holder-D.Pederson.
5. Philadelphia Eagles TD (+6) — Q1 46:19 · ARI 15 · Score 0-20
   (1:19) D.Pederson pass to L.Broughton for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Broughton scored on tight end screen, given good blocks by Eagles' Palelei and Brzezinski.
6. Philadelphia Eagles XP (+1) — Q1 45:16 · ARI 2 · Score 0-21
   N.Johnson extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Dellenbach, Holder-D.Pederson.
7. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 45:00 · PHI 13 · Score 3-21
   (15:00) C.Jacke 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player.
8. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 36:41 · PHI 8 · Score 6-21
   (6:41) C.Jacke 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player.
9. Philadelphia Eagles FG (+3) — Q2 30:04 · ARI 8 · Score 6-24
   (:04) N.Johnson 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-J.Dellenbach, Holder-D.Pederson.
10. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q3 30:00 · PHI 1 · Score 12-24
    (15:00) M.Bates up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q4 15:00 · PHI 14 · Score 15-24
    (15:00) C.Jacke 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player.
12. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 6:26 · PHI 20 · Score 21-24
    (6:26) J.Plummer pass to R.Moore for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q4 4:03 · PHI 2 · Score 22-24
    C.Jacke extra point is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player.
14. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q4 0:04 · PHI 13 · Score 25-24
    (:04) C.Jacke 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player.