Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers: 2000 Week 5 Recap

Game story

In Week 5 of the 2000 NFL season on 2000-10-01, the San Francisco 49ers took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 27–20 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Plummer (Arizona Cardinals) paced the passing game, with +2.01 total EPA.

On the individual side, D. Boston (Arizona Cardinals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.35 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+43.3% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Arizona Cardinals changed the game: W.Richey kicks 60 yards from SF 30 to ARI 10. M.Jenkins to ARI 30 for 20 yards (R.Heard).

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 · +6.35 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.79 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Pittman · Arizona Cardinals · Rushing · +2.40 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.20 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Plummer · Arizona Cardinals · Passing · +2.01 total EPA · 41 snaps · +0.05 EPA/play
4. 4 G. Clark · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +2.01 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.00 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Garcia · San Francisco 49ers · Passing · +1.99 total EPA · 34 snaps · +0.06 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Streets · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +1.96 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.24 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Garner · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +1.56 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.78 EPA/play
8. 8 F. Sanders · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +1.49 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.37 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

• San Francisco 49ers — unlisted player (Q1 47:32)
• San Francisco 49ers — unlisted player (Q2 30:51)
• Arizona Cardinals — unlisted player (Q2 30:29)
• San Francisco 49ers — unlisted player (Q3 21:17)
• Arizona Cardinals — unlisted player (Q4 2:17)

Field goals

• Arizona Cardinals — unlisted player (Q2 42:11)
• San Francisco 49ers — unlisted player (Q2 31:57)
• San Francisco 49ers — unlisted player (Q4 12:22)
• Arizona Cardinals — unlisted player (Q4 6:49)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 7–0. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the ARI 5 (Q1 47:32) — (2:32) J.Garcia pass to J.Rice for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Ball caught 4 yards deep in end zone; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q1 47:28) — W.Richey extra point is GOOD, Center-B.Jennings, Holder-C.Stanley..

The second quarter: The quarter finished even at 10–10. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the SF 14 (Q2 42:11) — (12:11) C.Blanchard 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the ARI 16 (Q2 31:57) — (1:57) W.Richey 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-B.Jennings, Holder-C.Stanley.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the ARI 1 (Q2 30:51) — (:51) C.Garner up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q2 30:49) — W.Richey extra point is GOOD, Center-B.Jennings, Holder-C.Stanley.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the SF 56 (Q2 30:29) — (:29) J.Plummer pass to D.Boston for 56 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Ball caught on AZ44; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q2 30:18) — C.Blanchard extra point is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player..

The third quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 7–0. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the ARI 1 (Q3 21:17) — (6:17) C.Garner up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q3 21:13) — W.Richey extra point is GOOD, Center-B.Jennings, Holder-C.Stanley..

The fourth quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 10–3. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the ARI 11 (Q4 12:22) — (12:22) W.Richey 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-B.Jennings, Holder-C.Stanley.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the SF 9 (Q4 6:49) — (6:49) C.Blanchard 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the SF 4 (Q4 2:17) — (2:17) (Shotgun) T.Jones up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q4 2:15) — C.Blanchard extra point is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player..

Turning points

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 60:00) — W.Richey kicks 60 yards from SF 30 to ARI 10. M.Jenkins to ARI 30 for 20 yards (R.Heard). [WPA +43.3% · EPA +0.70]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 30:29) — (:29) J.Plummer pass to D.Boston for 56 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Ball caught on AZ44 [WPA +9.1% · EPA +6.30]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 31:53) — W.Richey kicks 63 yards from SF 30 to ARI 7. M.Jenkins to ARI 23 for 16 yards (J.Keith). FUMBLES (J.Keith), RECOVERED by SF-J.Lewis at ARI 23. [WPA -9.0% · EPA -3.69]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) J.Garcia pass to J.Rice to 50 for 7 yards (A.Williams). FUMBLES (A.Williams), RECOVERED by ARI-P.Tillman at 50. Ball originally caught at 50 [WPA -8.1% · EPA -3.62]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 53:17) — (8:17) C.Blanchard 51 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player. [WPA -6.5% · EPA -3.10]

Impact plays

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 30:29) — (:29) J.Plummer pass to D.Boston for 56 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Ball caught on AZ44 [WPA +9.1% · EPA +6.30]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 15:13) — (:13) T.Jones up the middle to ARI 42 for 5 yards (L.Schulters). FUMBLES (L.Schulters), RECOVERED by SF-W.Tubbs at ARI 42. [WPA -4.3% · EPA -4.33]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 31:53) — W.Richey kicks 63 yards from SF 30 to ARI 7. M.Jenkins to ARI 23 for 16 yards (J.Keith). FUMBLES (J.Keith), RECOVERED by SF-J.Lewis at ARI 23. [WPA -9.0% · EPA -3.69]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) J.Garcia pass to J.Rice to 50 for 7 yards (A.Williams). FUMBLES (A.Williams), RECOVERED by ARI-P.Tillman at 50. Ball originally caught at 50 [WPA -8.1% · EPA -3.62]

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) · 41 dropbacks · 58.5% completion · +0.05 EPA/play · +2.01 total EPA
• J.Garcia (San Francisco 49ers) · 34 dropbacks · 64.7% completion · +0.06 EPA/play · +1.99 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, San Francisco 49ers +0.03) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Arizona Cardinals: 13 drives, -1.36 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 13 drives, +3.00 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• San Francisco 49ers 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. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q1 47:32 · ARI 5 · Score 0-6
   (2:32) J.Garcia pass to J.Rice for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Ball caught 4 yards deep in end zone
2. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q1 47:28 · ARI 2 · Score 0-7
   W.Richey extra point is GOOD, Center-B.Jennings, Holder-C.Stanley.
3. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 42:11 · SF 14 · Score 3-7
   (12:11) C.Blanchard 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player.
4. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q2 31:57 · ARI 16 · Score 3-10
   (1:57) W.Richey 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-B.Jennings, Holder-C.Stanley.
5. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q2 30:51 · ARI 1 · Score 3-16
   (:51) C.Garner up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
6. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q2 30:49 · ARI 2 · Score 3-17
   W.Richey extra point is GOOD, Center-B.Jennings, Holder-C.Stanley.
7. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 30:29 · SF 56 · Score 9-17
   (:29) J.Plummer pass to D.Boston for 56 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Ball caught on AZ44
8. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 30:18 · SF 2 · Score 10-17
   C.Blanchard extra point is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player.
9. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q3 21:17 · ARI 1 · Score 10-23
   (6:17) C.Garner up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
10. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q3 21:13 · ARI 2 · Score 10-24
    W.Richey extra point is GOOD, Center-B.Jennings, Holder-C.Stanley.
11. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q4 12:22 · ARI 11 · Score 10-27
    (12:22) W.Richey 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-B.Jennings, Holder-C.Stanley.
12. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q4 6:49 · SF 9 · Score 13-27
    (6:49) C.Blanchard 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player.
13. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 2:17 · SF 4 · Score 19-27
    (2:17) (Shotgun) T.Jones up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q4 2:15 · SF 2 · Score 20-27
    C.Blanchard extra point is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player.