Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers: 2018 Week 5 Recap

Game story

In Week 5 of the 2018 NFL season on 2018-10-07, the Arizona Cardinals took care of business against the San Francisco 49ers, pulling away with a 28–18 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 26 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Beathard (San Francisco 49ers) paced the passing game, with -3.82 total EPA, and -7.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, K. Juszczyk (San Francisco 49ers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.28 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-35.5% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when San Francisco 49ers changed the game: (4:41) (Shotgun) 3-C.Beathard sacked at SF 33 for -8 yards (43-H.Reddick). FUMBLES (43-H.Reddick), RECOVERED by ARI-57-J.Bynes at SF 23. 57-J.Bynes for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Total sack loss is 18-yds.

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 K. Juszczyk · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +7.28 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.04 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Taylor · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +5.69 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.71 EPA/play
3. 3 G. Kittle · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +4.84 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.61 EPA/play
4. 4 C. Kirk · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +3.28 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.82 EPA/play
5. 5 A. Morris · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +2.26 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.57 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Gresham · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +1.50 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.50 EPA/play
7. 7 M. Breida · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +1.47 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.47 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Breida · San Francisco 49ers · Rushing · +1.10 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.14 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. Breida (C. Beathard pass) (Q1 54:52)
• Arizona Cardinals — C. Kirk (J. Rosen pass) (Q1 54:49)
• Arizona Cardinals — D. Johnson (Q2 41:05)
• San Francisco 49ers — T. Taylor (C. Beathard pass) (Q4 6:59)
• Arizona Cardinals — J. Bynes (Q4 4:41)
• Arizona Cardinals — D. Johnson (Q4 3:27)
• San Francisco 49ers — C. Beathard (Q4 1:29)

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 7–6. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the ARI 5 (Q1 54:52) — (9:52) 3-C.Beathard pass short middle to 22-M.Breida for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at ARI 6. 6-YAC; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the SF 75 (Q1 54:49) — (9:49) 3-J.Rosen pass deep middle to 13-C.Kirk for 75 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 22. 22-YAC; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the SF 15 (Q1 54:39) — 4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee..

The second quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 7–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the SF 2 (Q2 41:05) — (11:05) (Shotgun) 31-D.Johnson left guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the SF 15 (Q2 41:00) — 4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee..

The fourth quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 14–12. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the ARI 1 (Q4 6:59) — (6:59) (Shotgun) 3-C.Beathard pass short right to 81-T.Taylor for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the ARI 59 (Q4 4:41); Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the SF 15 (Q4 4:33) — 4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the SF 6 (Q4 3:27) — (3:27) 31-D.Johnson up the middle for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the SF 15 (Q4 3:21) — 4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the ARI 1 (Q4 1:29) — (1:29) 3-C.Beathard up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN..

Turning points

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

• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 4:41) — (4:41) (Shotgun) 3-C.Beathard sacked at SF 33 for -8 yards (43-H.Reddick). FUMBLES (43-H.Reddick), RECOVERED by ARI-57-J.Bynes at SF 23. 57-J.Bynes for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Total sack loss is 18-yds. [WPA -35.5% · EPA -8.20]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 43:27) — (13:27) (No Huddle) 31-R.Mostert right tackle to ARI 39 for 1 yard (95-R.Gunter). FUMBLES (95-R.Gunter), RECOVERED by ARI-21-P.Peterson at ARI 33. 21-P.Peterson pushed ob at SF 18 for 49 yards (3-C.Be [WPA -26.4% · EPA -7.95]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 6:59) — (6:59) (Shotgun) 3-C.Beathard pass short right to 81-T.Taylor for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +19.1% · EPA +2.46]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 23:54) — (8:54) 3-C.Beathard sacked at ARI 46 for -7 yards (55-C.Jones). FUMBLES (55-C.Jones), RECOVERED by ARI-55-C.Jones at ARI 46. 55-C.Jones to ARI 46 for no gain (3-C.Beathard). [WPA -15.0% · EPA -5.98]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 54:49) — (9:49) 3-J.Rosen pass deep middle to 13-C.Kirk for 75 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 22. 22-YAC [WPA +14.0% · EPA +6.14]

Impact plays

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

• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 4:41) — (4:41) (Shotgun) 3-C.Beathard sacked at SF 33 for -8 yards (43-H.Reddick). FUMBLES (43-H.Reddick), RECOVERED by ARI-57-J.Bynes at SF 23. 57-J.Bynes for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Total sack loss is 18-yds. [WPA -35.5% · EPA -8.20]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 43:27) — (13:27) (No Huddle) 31-R.Mostert right tackle to ARI 39 for 1 yard (95-R.Gunter). FUMBLES (95-R.Gunter), RECOVERED by ARI-21-P.Peterson at ARI 33. 21-P.Peterson pushed ob at SF 18 for 49 yards (3-C.Be [WPA -26.4% · EPA -7.95]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 54:49) — (9:49) 3-J.Rosen pass deep middle to 13-C.Kirk for 75 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 22. 22-YAC [WPA +14.0% · EPA +6.14]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 23:54) — (8:54) 3-C.Beathard sacked at ARI 46 for -7 yards (55-C.Jones). FUMBLES (55-C.Jones), RECOVERED by ARI-55-C.Jones at ARI 46. 55-C.Jones to ARI 46 for no gain (3-C.Beathard). [WPA -15.0% · EPA -5.98]

Quarterback report card

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

• C.Beathard (San Francisco 49ers) · 64 dropbacks · 53.1% completion · -7.6% CPOE · -0.06 EPA/play · -3.82 total EPA
• J.Rosen (Arizona Cardinals) · 27 dropbacks · 37.0% completion · -18.2% CPOE · -0.08 EPA/play · -2.21 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 (-0.10 vs -0.18), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Arizona Cardinals: 14 drives, -7.17 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 13 drives, -20.20 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.
• K. Juszczyk (San Francisco 49ers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• C. Beathard (SF) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• J. Rosen (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 54:52 · ARI 5 · Score 0-6
   (9:52) 3-C.Beathard pass short middle to 22-M.Breida for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at ARI 6. 6-YAC
2. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q1 54:49 · SF 75 · Score 6-6
   (9:49) 3-J.Rosen pass deep middle to 13-C.Kirk for 75 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at SF 22. 22-YAC
3. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q1 54:39 · SF 15 · Score 7-6
   4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.
4. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 41:05 · SF 2 · Score 13-6
   (11:05) (Shotgun) 31-D.Johnson left guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 41:00 · SF 15 · Score 14-6
   4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.
6. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q4 6:59 · ARI 1 · Score 14-12
   (6:59) (Shotgun) 3-C.Beathard pass short right to 81-T.Taylor for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 4:41 · ARI 59 · Score 20-12
   (4:41) (Shotgun) 3-C.Beathard sacked at SF 33 for -8 yards (43-H.Reddick). FUMBLES (43-H.Reddick), RECOVERED by ARI-57-J.Bynes at SF 23. 57-J.Bynes for 23 yards
8. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q4 4:33 · SF 15 · Score 21-12
   4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.
9. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 3:27 · SF 6 · Score 27-12
   (3:27) 31-D.Johnson up the middle for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q4 3:21 · SF 15 · Score 28-12
    4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.
11. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q4 1:29 · ARI 1 · Score 28-18
    (1:29) 3-C.Beathard up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.