Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers: 2023 Week 4 Recap

Game story

In Week 4 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-10-01, the San Francisco 49ers took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 35–16 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 30 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Dobbs (Arizona Cardinals) paced the passing game, with +8.98 total EPA, and +5.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, B. Purdy (San Francisco 49ers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +24.91 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+6.1% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when San Francisco 49ers changed the game: (:26) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass short right to 85-G.Kittle to ARI 30 for 9 yards (22-K.Wallace; 45-D.Gardeck).

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 B. Purdy · San Francisco 49ers · Passing · +24.91 total EPA · 24 snaps · +1.04 EPA/play
2. 2 B. Aiyuk · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +10.01 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.67 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Dobbs · Arizona Cardinals · Passing · +8.98 total EPA · 49 snaps · +0.18 EPA/play
4. 4 Mi. Wilson · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +8.14 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.16 EPA/play
5. 5 C. McCaffrey · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +7.40 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.92 EPA/play
6. 6 M. Brown · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +5.94 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.59 EPA/play
7. 7 G. Kittle · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +3.37 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.37 EPA/play
8. 8 C. McCaffrey · San Francisco 49ers · Rushing · +2.99 total EPA · 20 snaps · +0.15 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 — C. McCaffrey (Q1 54:10)
• San Francisco 49ers — C. McCaffrey (Q2 44:21)
• San Francisco 49ers — C. McCaffrey (B. Purdy pass) (Q2 35:29)
• Arizona Cardinals — J. Dobbs (Q2 30:28)
• Arizona Cardinals — J. Dobbs (Q3 19:17)
• San Francisco 49ers — C. McCaffrey (Q4 14:25)
• San Francisco 49ers — B. Purdy (Q4 2:00)

Field goals

• Arizona Cardinals — M. Prater (Q2 38:17)

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 1 (Q1 54:10) — (9:10) 23-C.McCaffrey up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q1 54:07) — 4-J.Moody extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky..

The second quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 16–14. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the ARI 18 (Q2 44:21) — (14:21) (Shotgun) 23-C.McCaffrey right end for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q2 44:14) — 4-J.Moody extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the SF 20 (Q2 38:17) — (8:17) 5-M.Prater 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-16-N.Cooney.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the ARI 6 (Q2 35:29) — (5:29) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass short left to 23-C.McCaffrey for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q2 35:22) — 4-J.Moody extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the SF 16 (Q2 30:28) — (:28) (Shotgun) 9-J.Dobbs pass deep left to 14-Mi.Wilson for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on SF-97-N.Bosa, Defensive Offside, declined.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone (Q2 30:23) — Timeout #1 by SF at 00:23.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the SF 15 (Q2 30:23) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-16-N.Cooney..

The third quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 6–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the SF 8 (Q3 19:17) — (4:17) (Shotgun) 9-J.Dobbs pass short middle to 14-Mi.Wilson for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

The fourth quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 14–0. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the ARI 2 (Q4 14:25) — (14:25) (Shotgun) 23-C.McCaffrey left guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q4 14:22) — 4-J.Moody extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the ARI 1 (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) 13-B.Purdy up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the ARI 20 (Q4 1:59) — 4-J.Moody extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky..

Turning points

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

• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 45:26) — (:26) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass short right to 85-G.Kittle to ARI 30 for 9 yards (22-K.Wallace; 45-D.Gardeck). [WPA +6.1% · EPA +3.37]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 56:34) — (11:34) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass short middle to 11-B.Aiyuk to ARI 26 for 16 yards (47-E.Turner; 22-K.Wallace). [WPA +6.0% · EPA +1.05]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 21:34) — (6:34) (Shotgun) 9-J.Dobbs pass deep right to 2-M.Brown ran ob at SF 22 for 41 yards (31-T.Gipson). [WPA +5.7% · EPA +2.65]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 19:12) — (4:12) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass deep right to 11-B.Aiyuk to ARI 41 for 34 yards (34-J.Thompson). [WPA +5.6% · EPA +2.26]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 19:17) — (4:17) (Shotgun) 9-J.Dobbs pass short middle to 14-Mi.Wilson for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +5.0% · EPA +1.54]

Impact plays

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 41:25) — (11:25) (Shotgun) 9-J.Dobbs scrambles left end pushed ob at SF 39 for 6 yards (57-D.Greenlaw). The Replay Official reviewed the short of the line to gain ruling, and the play was REVERSED. (Shotgun) 9 [WPA +3.3% · EPA +3.52]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 45:26) — (:26) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass short right to 85-G.Kittle to ARI 30 for 9 yards (22-K.Wallace; 45-D.Gardeck). [WPA +6.1% · EPA +3.37]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 30:28) — (:28) (Shotgun) 9-J.Dobbs pass deep left to 14-Mi.Wilson for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on SF-97-N.Bosa, Defensive Offside, declined. [WPA +1.3% · EPA +3.01]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 30:37) — (:37) (Shotgun) 9-J.Dobbs pass deep left to 14-Mi.Wilson to SF 16 for 33 yards (20-A.Thomas). [WPA +1.4% · EPA +2.79]

Quarterback report card

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

• J.Dobbs (Arizona Cardinals) · 49 dropbacks · 57.1% completion · +5.3% CPOE · +0.18 EPA/play · +8.98 total EPA
• B.Purdy (San Francisco 49ers) · 24 dropbacks · 83.3% completion · +27.2% CPOE · +1.04 EPA/play · +24.91 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 (+0.41 vs +0.08), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Arizona Cardinals: 7 drives, +6.71 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 8 drives, +27.68 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.
• B. Purdy (San Francisco 49ers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Dobbs (ARI) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• B. Purdy (SF) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q1 54:10 · ARI 1 · Score 0-6
   (9:10) 23-C.McCaffrey up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q1 54:07 · ARI 15 · Score 0-7
   4-J.Moody extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.
3. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q2 44:21 · ARI 18 · Score 0-13
   (14:21) (Shotgun) 23-C.McCaffrey right end for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q2 44:14 · ARI 15 · Score 0-14
   4-J.Moody extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.
5. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 38:17 · SF 20 · Score 3-14
   (8:17) 5-M.Prater 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-16-N.Cooney.
6. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q2 35:29 · ARI 6 · Score 3-20
   (5:29) (Shotgun) 13-B.Purdy pass short left to 23-C.McCaffrey for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q2 35:22 · ARI 15 · Score 3-21
   4-J.Moody extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.
8. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 30:28 · SF 16 · Score 9-21
   (:28) (Shotgun) 9-J.Dobbs pass deep left to 14-Mi.Wilson for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on SF-97-N.Bosa, Defensive Offside, declined.
9. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 30:23 · Score 9-21
   Timeout #1 by SF at 00:23.
10. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 30:23 · SF 15 · Score 10-21
    5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-16-N.Cooney.
11. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q3 19:17 · SF 8 · Score 16-21
    (4:17) (Shotgun) 9-J.Dobbs pass short middle to 14-Mi.Wilson for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q4 14:25 · ARI 2 · Score 16-27
    (14:25) (Shotgun) 23-C.McCaffrey left guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q4 14:22 · ARI 15 · Score 16-28
    4-J.Moody extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.
14. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q4 2:00 · ARI 1 · Score 16-34
    (2:00) 13-B.Purdy up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
15. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q4 1:59 · ARI 20 · Score 16-35
    4-J.Moody extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-18-M.Wishnowsky.