Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers: 2009 Week 14 Recap

Game story

In Week 14 of the 2009 NFL season on 2009-12-14, the San Francisco 49ers took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 24–9 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

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

A. Smith (San Francisco 49ers) paced the passing game, with -9.29 total EPA, and -9.7% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, F. Gore (San Francisco 49ers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.71 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-14.5% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Arizona Cardinals changed the game: (4:44) 34-T.Hightower right tackle to ARI 10 for 4 yards (99-M.Lawson). San Francisco challenged the fumble ruling, and the play was REVERSED. 34-T.Hightower right tackle to ARI 8 for 2 yards (38-D.Go

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 F. Gore · San Francisco 49ers · Rushing · +7.71 total EPA · 25 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Crabtree · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +4.20 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.42 EPA/play
3. 3 E. Doucet · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +4.18 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.39 EPA/play
4. 4 C. Wells · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +2.04 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.04 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Hill · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +0.77 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.77 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Hightower · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +0.57 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
7. 7 L. Fitzgerald · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +0.41 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.08 EPA/play
8. 8 L. Stephens-Howling · Arizona Cardinals · Rushing · -0.03 total EPA · 1 snaps · -0.03 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 — V. Davis (A. Smith pass) (Q1 48:58)
• San Francisco 49ers — M. Crabtree (A. Smith pass) (Q2 30:55)
• Arizona Cardinals — C. Wells (Q4 14:11)
• San Francisco 49ers — F. Gore (Q4 9:27)

Field goals

• San Francisco 49ers — J. Nedney (Q1 45:50)
• Arizona Cardinals — N. Rackers (Q3 20:52)

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 10–0. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the ARI 5 (Q1 48:58) — (3:58) 11-A.Smith pass short right to 85-V.Davis for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q1 48:53) — 6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the ARI 20 (Q1 45:50) — (:50) 6-J.Nedney 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The second quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 7–0. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the ARI 35 (Q2 30:55) — (:55) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass deep middle to 15-M.Crabtree for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at ARI 17.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q2 30:52) — 6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The third quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 3–0. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the SF 30 (Q3 20:52) — (5:52) 1-N.Rackers 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham..

The fourth quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 7–6. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the SF 1 (Q4 14:11) — (14:11) 26-C.Wells right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the ARI 2 (Q4 9:27) — (9:27) 69-T.Wragge reported in as eligible. 21-F.Gore up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q4 9:22) — 6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

Turning points

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 49:44) — (4:44) 34-T.Hightower right tackle to ARI 10 for 4 yards (99-M.Lawson). San Francisco challenged the fumble ruling, and the play was REVERSED. 34-T.Hightower right tackle to ARI 8 for 2 yards (38-D.Go [WPA -14.5% · EPA -4.63]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 54:08) — (9:08) 11-A.Smith pass short right intended for 85-V.Davis INTERCEPTED by 90-D.Dockett at ARI 43. 90-D.Dockett to ARI 46 for 3 yards (68-A.Snyder). FUMBLES (68-A.Snyder), and recovers at ARI 46. 90-D. [WPA -12.3% · EPA -4.92]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 51:32) — (6:32) 21-F.Gore right guard to ARI 37 for 36 yards (58-K.Dansby). [WPA +10.4% · EPA +3.01]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 48:05) — (3:05) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass short right to 36-L.Stephens-Howling to ARI 44 for 12 yards (52-P.Willis). FUMBLES (52-P.Willis), RECOVERED by SF-26-M.Roman at SF 47. 26-M.Roman to ARI 28 for 25 yar [WPA -10.2% · EPA -5.10]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 11:45) — (11:45) 26-C.Wells left guard to ARI 16 for 5 yards (38-D.Goldson). FUMBLES (38-D.Goldson), RECOVERED by SF-98-P.Haralson at ARI 16. 98-P.Haralson to ARI 16 for no gain (11-L.Fitzgerald). [WPA -7.8% · EPA -4.39]

Impact plays

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 48:05) — (3:05) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass short right to 36-L.Stephens-Howling to ARI 44 for 12 yards (52-P.Willis). FUMBLES (52-P.Willis), RECOVERED by SF-26-M.Roman at SF 47. 26-M.Roman to ARI 28 for 25 yar [WPA -10.2% · EPA -5.10]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 54:08) — (9:08) 11-A.Smith pass short right intended for 85-V.Davis INTERCEPTED by 90-D.Dockett at ARI 43. 90-D.Dockett to ARI 46 for 3 yards (68-A.Snyder). FUMBLES (68-A.Snyder), and recovers at ARI 46. 90-D. [WPA -12.3% · EPA -4.92]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 49:44) — (4:44) 34-T.Hightower right tackle to ARI 10 for 4 yards (99-M.Lawson). San Francisco challenged the fumble ruling, and the play was REVERSED. 34-T.Hightower right tackle to ARI 8 for 2 yards (38-D.Go [WPA -14.5% · EPA -4.63]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 11:45) — (11:45) 26-C.Wells left guard to ARI 16 for 5 yards (38-D.Goldson). FUMBLES (38-D.Goldson), RECOVERED by SF-98-P.Haralson at ARI 16. 98-P.Haralson to ARI 16 for no gain (11-L.Fitzgerald). [WPA -7.8% · EPA -4.39]

Quarterback report card

A.Smith led all passers in efficiency for San Francisco 49ers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• A.Smith (San Francisco 49ers) · 40 dropbacks · 47.5% completion · -9.7% CPOE · -0.23 EPA/play · -9.29 total EPA
• K.Warner (Arizona Cardinals) · 33 dropbacks · 48.5% completion · -3.7% CPOE · -0.47 EPA/play · -15.44 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

San Francisco 49ers held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.07 vs -0.30), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Arizona Cardinals: 13 drives, -20.77 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 14 drives, -6.62 total EPA, 4 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.
• F. Gore (San Francisco 49ers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• A. Smith (SF) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• K. Warner (ARI) 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. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q1 48:58 · ARI 5 · Score 0-6
   (3:58) 11-A.Smith pass short right to 85-V.Davis for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q1 48:53 · ARI 2 · Score 0-7
   6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
3. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q1 45:50 · ARI 20 · Score 0-10
   (:50) 6-J.Nedney 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
4. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q2 30:55 · ARI 35 · Score 0-16
   (:55) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass deep middle to 15-M.Crabtree for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at ARI 17.
5. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q2 30:52 · ARI 2 · Score 0-17
   6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
6. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q3 20:52 · SF 30 · Score 3-17
   (5:52) 1-N.Rackers 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.
7. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 14:11 · SF 1 · Score 9-17
   (14:11) 26-C.Wells right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
8. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q4 9:27 · ARI 2 · Score 9-23
   (9:27) 69-T.Wragge reported in as eligible. 21-F.Gore up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q4 9:22 · ARI 2 · Score 9-24
   6-J.Nedney extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.