Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers: 2005 Week 13 Recap

Game story

In Week 13 of the 2005 NFL season on 2005-12-04, the Arizona Cardinals took care of business against the San Francisco 49ers, pulling away with a 17–10 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 9 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

K. Warner (Arizona Cardinals) paced the passing game, with +10.72 total EPA.

On the individual side, A. Boldin (Arizona Cardinals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +17.90 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+37.3% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Arizona Cardinals changed the game: (10:58) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass to 81-A.Boldin for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 48.

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 A. Boldin · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +17.90 total EPA · 11 snaps · +1.63 EPA/play
2. 2 K. Warner · Arizona Cardinals · Passing · +10.72 total EPA · 48 snaps · +0.22 EPA/play
3. 3 L. Fitzgerald · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +10.47 total EPA · 8 snaps · +1.31 EPA/play
4. 4 B. Lloyd · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +4.24 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.85 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Morton · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +4.09 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.36 EPA/play
6. 6 F. Gore · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +3.16 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.16 EPA/play
7. 7 B. Johnson · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +2.88 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.96 EPA/play
8. 8 O. Ayanbadejo · Arizona Cardinals · Rushing · +1.60 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.53 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 — M. Hicks (Q2 32:00)
• Arizona Cardinals — A. Boldin (K. Warner pass) (Q4 10:58)

Field goals

• Arizona Cardinals — N. Novak (Q1 46:09)
• Arizona Cardinals — N. Novak (Q3 27:07)
• Arizona Cardinals — N. Novak (Q3 22:22)
• San Francisco 49ers — J. Nedney (Q3 15:11)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 3–0. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the SF 12 (Q1 46:09) — (1:09) 3-N.Novak 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-10-S.Player..

The second quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 7–0. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the ARI 1 (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) 43-M.Hicks up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q2 31:58) — 6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The third quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 6–3. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the SF 17 (Q3 27:07) — (12:07) 3-N.Novak 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-10-S.Player.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the SF 1 (Q3 22:22) — (7:22) 3-N.Novak 19 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-10-S.Player.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the ARI 30 (Q3 15:11) — (:11) 6-J.Nedney 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The fourth quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 8–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the SF 54 (Q4 10:58) — (10:58) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass to 81-A.Boldin for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 48.; Arizona Cardinals registered a safety from the SF 2 (Q4 10:45) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 30-O.Ayanbadejo rushes up the middle. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..

Turning points

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 10:58) — (10:58) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass to 81-A.Boldin for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 48. [WPA +37.3% · EPA +7.48]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 11:36) — (11:36) 21-F.Gore left end to SF 44 for -1 yards (90-D.Dockett). FUMBLES (90-D.Dockett), RECOVERED by ARI-24-A.Wilson at SF 44. 24-A.Wilson to SF 44 for no gain (66-E.Heitmann). Play Challenged by SF [WPA -24.5% · EPA -4.32]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 26:59) — (11:59) 11-A.Smith pass INTERCEPTED by 51-J.Darling (58-K.Dansby) at SF 36. 51-J.Darling to SF 29 for 7 yards (77-K.Harris). [WPA -20.1% · EPA -4.74]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 11:44) — (11:44) 13-K.Warner pass intended for 11-L.Fitzgerald INTERCEPTED by 28-K.Lewis at SF 43. 28-K.Lewis pushed ob at SF 45 for 2 yards (30-O.Ayanbadejo). [WPA -17.7% · EPA -3.72]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 17:03) — (2:03) 10-S.Player punt is BLOCKED by 28-K.Lewis, Center-48-N.Hodel, RECOVERED by SF-58-C.Smith at ARI 26. 58-C.Smith to ARI 26 for no gain (52-L.Mitchell). [WPA -15.5% · EPA -3.03]

Impact plays

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 10:58) — (10:58) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass to 81-A.Boldin for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 48. [WPA +37.3% · EPA +7.48]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 26:59) — (11:59) 11-A.Smith pass INTERCEPTED by 51-J.Darling (58-K.Dansby) at SF 36. 51-J.Darling to SF 29 for 7 yards (77-K.Harris). [WPA -20.1% · EPA -4.74]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 11:36) — (11:36) 21-F.Gore left end to SF 44 for -1 yards (90-D.Dockett). FUMBLES (90-D.Dockett), RECOVERED by ARI-24-A.Wilson at SF 44. 24-A.Wilson to SF 44 for no gain (66-E.Heitmann). Play Challenged by SF [WPA -24.5% · EPA -4.32]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 47:19) — (2:19) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass to 81-A.Boldin to SF 28 for 11 yards (98-J.Peterson). PENALTY on SF-50-D.Smith, Personal Foul, 14 yards, enforced at SF 28. [WPA +9.3% · EPA +3.92]

Quarterback report card

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

• K.Warner (Arizona Cardinals) · 48 dropbacks · 60.4% completion · +0.22 EPA/play · +10.72 total EPA
• A.Smith (San Francisco 49ers) · 31 dropbacks · 51.6% completion · -0.31 EPA/play · -9.48 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 (-0.01 vs -0.18), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Arizona Cardinals: 12 drives, -1.14 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 12 drives, -12.02 total EPA, 2 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.
• A. Boldin (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. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q1 46:09 · SF 12 · Score 3-0
   (1:09) 3-N.Novak 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-10-S.Player.
2. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q2 32:00 · ARI 1 · Score 3-6
   (2:00) 43-M.Hicks up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
3. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q2 31:58 · ARI 2 · Score 3-7
   6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
4. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q3 27:07 · SF 17 · Score 6-7
   (12:07) 3-N.Novak 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-10-S.Player.
5. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q3 22:22 · SF 1 · Score 9-7
   (7:22) 3-N.Novak 19 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-10-S.Player.
6. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q3 15:11 · ARI 30 · Score 9-10
   (:11) 6-J.Nedney 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
7. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 10:58 · SF 54 · Score 15-10
   (10:58) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass to 81-A.Boldin for 54 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 48.
8. Arizona Cardinals Safety (+2) — Q4 10:45 · SF 2 · Score 17-10
   TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 30-O.Ayanbadejo rushes up the middle. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.