Arizona Cardinals vs. Tennessee Titans: 2021 Week 1 Recap

Game story

In Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season on 2021-09-12, the Arizona Cardinals took care of business against the Tennessee Titans, pulling away with a 38–13 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

R. Tannehill (Tennessee Titans) paced the passing game, with -17.01 total EPA, and -6.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, K. Murray (Arizona Cardinals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +14.59 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-10.1% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Tennessee Titans changed the game: (8:36) 17-R.Tannehill sacked at TEN 10 for -9 yards (55-C.Jones). FUMBLES (55-C.Jones) [55-C.Jones], RECOVERED by ARI-98-C.Peters at TEN 5. 98-C.Peters for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official revi

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. Murray · Arizona Cardinals · Passing · +14.59 total EPA · 36 snaps · +0.41 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Hopkins · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +8.88 total EPA · 8 snaps · +1.11 EPA/play
3. 3 C. Kirk · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +8.51 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.70 EPA/play
4. 4 R. Moore · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +5.00 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.00 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Farley · Tennessee Titans · Passing · +3.06 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.06 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Hooker · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +3.06 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.06 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Edmonds · Arizona Cardinals · Rushing · +2.51 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.21 EPA/play
8. 8 N. Westbrook-Ikhine · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +2.15 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.07 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

• Arizona Cardinals — D. Hopkins (K. Murray pass) (Q1 53:18)
• Arizona Cardinals — D. Hopkins (K. Murray pass) (Q2 41:03)
• Tennessee Titans — R. Tannehill (Q2 36:54)
• Arizona Cardinals — K. Murray (Q2 31:49)
• Tennessee Titans — A. Brown (R. Tannehill pass) (Q3 27:59)
• Arizona Cardinals — C. Kirk (K. Murray pass) (Q3 25:45)
• Arizona Cardinals — C. Kirk (K. Murray pass) (Q3 18:11)

Field goals

• Arizona Cardinals — M. Prater (Q1 54:26)

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 10–0. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the TEN 16 (Q1 54:26) — (9:26) 5-M.Prater 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-14-A.Lee.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the TEN 5 (Q1 53:18) — (8:18) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short right to 10-D.Hopkins for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN [58-H.Landry].; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the TEN 15 (Q1 53:11) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-14-A.Lee..

The second quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 14–6. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the TEN 17 (Q2 41:03) — (11:03) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short left to 10-D.Hopkins for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the TEN 15 (Q2 40:59) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-14-A.Lee.; Tennessee Titans found the end zone from the ARI 1 (Q2 36:54) — (6:54) 17-R.Tannehill scrambles up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the TEN 2 (Q2 31:49) — (1:49) 1-K.Murray right end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the TEN 15 (Q2 31:44).

The third quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 14–7. Tennessee Titans found the end zone from the ARI 13 (Q3 27:59) — (12:59) (Shotgun) 17-R.Tannehill pass short middle to 11-A.Brown for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Tennessee Titans added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q3 27:55) — 8-M.Badgley extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Cox, Holder-6-B.Kern.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the TEN 26 (Q3 25:45); Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the TEN 15 (Q3 25:40) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-14-A.Lee.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the TEN 11 (Q3 18:11) — (3:11) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short right to 13-C.Kirk for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the TEN 15 (Q3 18:06) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-14-A.Lee..

Turning points

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

• Tennessee Titans (Q1 53:36) — (8:36) 17-R.Tannehill sacked at TEN 10 for -9 yards (55-C.Jones). FUMBLES (55-C.Jones) [55-C.Jones], RECOVERED by ARI-98-C.Peters at TEN 5. 98-C.Peters for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official revi [WPA -10.1% · EPA -6.70]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 53:18) — (8:18) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short right to 10-D.Hopkins for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN [58-H.Landry]. [WPA +9.9% · EPA +2.69]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 58:27) — (13:27) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass deep left to 10-D.Hopkins pushed ob at TEN 23 for 38 yards (20-J.Jenkins). [WPA +9.4% · EPA +2.69]
• Tennessee Titans (Q1 45:40) — (:40) 6-B.Kern punts 45 yards to ARI 30, Center-46-M.Cox, out of bounds. [WPA +6.9% · EPA +0.01]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 41:03) — (11:03) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short left to 10-D.Hopkins for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +5.8% · EPA +2.45]

Impact plays

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

• Tennessee Titans (Q1 53:36) — (8:36) 17-R.Tannehill sacked at TEN 10 for -9 yards (55-C.Jones). FUMBLES (55-C.Jones) [55-C.Jones], RECOVERED by ARI-98-C.Peters at TEN 5. 98-C.Peters for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official revi [WPA -10.1% · EPA -6.70]
• Tennessee Titans (Q3 20:28) — (5:28) (Shotgun) 17-R.Tannehill sacked at TEN 34 for -9 yards (55-C.Jones). FUMBLES (55-C.Jones) [55-C.Jones], RECOVERED by ARI-44-M.Golden at TEN 33. 44-M.Golden to TEN 33 for no gain (86-A.Firkser). [WPA -2.6% · EPA -4.96]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 28:54) — (13:54) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass deep left intended for 86-D.Harris INTERCEPTED by 31-K.Byard at ARI 44. 31-K.Byard to ARI 32 for 12 yards (2-C.Edmonds; 87-M.Williams). [WPA -4.9% · EPA -3.80]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 11:08) — (11:08) 5-M.Prater 43 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-14-A.Lee. [WPA -0.2% · EPA -3.79]

Quarterback report card

R.Tannehill led all passers in efficiency for Tennessee Titans, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• R.Tannehill (Tennessee Titans) · 44 dropbacks · 47.7% completion · -6.6% CPOE · -0.39 EPA/play · -17.01 total EPA
• K.Murray (Arizona Cardinals) · 36 dropbacks · 58.3% completion · +5.1% CPOE · +0.41 EPA/play · +14.59 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 (+0.08 vs -0.32), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Arizona Cardinals: 12 drives, +7.06 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Tennessee Titans: 12 drives, -25.42 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.
• K. Murray (Arizona Cardinals) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• R. Tannehill (TEN) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• K. Murray (ARI) 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. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q1 54:26 · TEN 16 · Score 3-0
   (9:26) 5-M.Prater 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-14-A.Lee.
2. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q1 53:18 · TEN 5 · Score 9-0
   (8:18) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short right to 10-D.Hopkins for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN [58-H.Landry].
3. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q1 53:11 · TEN 15 · Score 10-0
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-14-A.Lee.
4. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 41:03 · TEN 17 · Score 16-0
   (11:03) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short left to 10-D.Hopkins for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 40:59 · TEN 15 · Score 17-0
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-14-A.Lee.
6. Tennessee Titans TD (+6) — Q2 36:54 · ARI 1 · Score 17-6
   (6:54) 17-R.Tannehill scrambles up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 31:49 · TEN 2 · Score 23-6
   (1:49) 1-K.Murray right end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 31:44 · TEN 15 · Score 24-6
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-14-A.Lee. PENALTY on TEN-29-D.Cruikshank, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced between downs.
9. Tennessee Titans TD (+6) — Q3 27:59 · ARI 13 · Score 24-12
   (12:59) (Shotgun) 17-R.Tannehill pass short middle to 11-A.Brown for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Tennessee Titans XP (+1) — Q3 27:55 · ARI 15 · Score 24-13
    8-M.Badgley extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Cox, Holder-6-B.Kern.
11. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q3 25:45 · TEN 26 · Score 30-13
    (10:45) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass deep right to 13-C.Kirk for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN. TEN-92-O.Adeniyi was injured during the play. His return is Questionable.
12. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q3 25:40 · TEN 15 · Score 31-13
    5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-14-A.Lee.
13. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q3 18:11 · TEN 11 · Score 37-13
    (3:11) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short right to 13-C.Kirk for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q3 18:06 · TEN 15 · Score 38-13
    5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-14-A.Lee.