Arizona Cardinals vs. Washington Commanders: 2011 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2011 NFL season on 2011-09-18, the Washington Commanders took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 22–21 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 19 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

R. Grossman (Washington Commanders) paced the passing game, with +5.08 total EPA, and -5.1% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, L. Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.85 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-32.1% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Arizona Cardinals changed the game: (1:45) (Shotgun) 4-K.Kolb pass short middle to 17-C.Stuckey to ARI 32 for 12 yards (34-B.Westbrook). The Replay Assistant challenged the runner was down by contact ruling, and the play was REVERSED. (

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 L. Fitzgerald · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +9.85 total EPA · 9 snaps · +1.09 EPA/play
2. 2 C. Wells · Arizona Cardinals · Rushing · +6.57 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play
3. 3 F. Davis · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +6.28 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.90 EPA/play
4. 4 R. Grossman · Washington Commanders · Passing · +5.08 total EPA · 48 snaps · +0.11 EPA/play
5. 5 J. King · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +3.73 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.86 EPA/play
6. 6 R. Helu · Washington Commanders · Rushing · +3.03 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
7. 7 S. Moss · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +2.25 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.23 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Gaffney · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +1.54 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.19 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 — J. King (K. Kolb pass) (Q1 49:02)
• Washington Commanders — F. Davis (R. Grossman pass) (Q2 33:10)
• Arizona Cardinals — C. Wells (Q3 17:51)
• Arizona Cardinals — L. Fitzgerald (K. Kolb pass) (Q4 11:09)
• Washington Commanders — S. Moss (R. Grossman pass) (Q4 5:23)

Field goals

• Washington Commanders — G. Gano (Q2 40:29)
• Washington Commanders — G. Gano (Q4 11:23)
• Washington Commanders — G. Gano (Q4 1:50)

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 7–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the WAS 21 (Q1 49:02) — (4:02) 4-K.Kolb pass short left to 87-J.King for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the WAS 2 (Q1 48:54) — 3-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-9-D.Zastudil..

The second quarter: Washington Commanders won the period 10–0. Washington Commanders connected on a field goal from the ARI 8 (Q2 40:29) — (10:29) 4-G.Gano 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-6-S.Rocca.; Washington Commanders found the end zone from the ARI 1 (Q2 33:10); Washington Commanders added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q2 33:04) — 4-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-6-S.Rocca..

The third quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 7–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the WAS 2 (Q3 17:51) — (2:51) 26-C.Wells right end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the WAS 2 (Q3 17:47) — 3-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-9-D.Zastudil..

The fourth quarter: Washington Commanders won the period 12–7. Washington Commanders connected on a field goal from the ARI 5 (Q4 11:23) — (11:23) 4-G.Gano 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-6-S.Rocca.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the WAS 73 (Q4 11:09) — (11:09) (Shotgun) 4-K.Kolb pass deep right to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 73 yards, TOUCHDOWN [59-L.Fletcher].; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the WAS 2 (Q4 10:58) — 3-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-9-D.Zastudil.; Washington Commanders found the end zone from the ARI 18 (Q4 5:23) — (5:23) (Shotgun) 8-R.Grossman pass deep right to 89-S.Moss for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Washington Commanders connected on a field goal from the ARI 16 (Q4 1:50) — (1:50) 4-G.Gano 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-6-S.Rocca..

Turning points

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 1:45) — (1:45) (Shotgun) 4-K.Kolb pass short middle to 17-C.Stuckey to ARI 32 for 12 yards (34-B.Westbrook). The Replay Assistant challenged the runner was down by contact ruling, and the play was REVERSED. ( [WPA -32.1% · EPA -3.34]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 11:09) — (11:09) (Shotgun) 4-K.Kolb pass deep right to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 73 yards, TOUCHDOWN [59-L.Fletcher]. [WPA +28.4% · EPA +6.62]
• Washington Commanders (Q4 5:23) — (5:23) (Shotgun) 8-R.Grossman pass deep right to 89-S.Moss for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +25.0% · EPA +4.35]
• Washington Commanders (Q1 49:43) — (4:43) (Shotgun) 8-R.Grossman pass short middle intended for 13-A.Armstrong INTERCEPTED by 31-R.Marshall at ARI 30. 31-R.Marshall to WAS 37 for 33 yards (25-T.Hightower). [WPA -18.2% · EPA -5.48]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 24:34) — (9:34) 4-K.Kolb pass short middle intended for 12-A.Roberts INTERCEPTED by 59-L.Fletcher (91-R.Kerrigan) at WAS 11. 59-L.Fletcher to WAS 24 for 13 yards (75-L.Brown). Arizona challenged the runner was [WPA -15.4% · EPA -3.51]

Impact plays

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 11:09) — (11:09) (Shotgun) 4-K.Kolb pass deep right to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 73 yards, TOUCHDOWN [59-L.Fletcher]. [WPA +28.4% · EPA +6.62]
• Washington Commanders (Q1 49:43) — (4:43) (Shotgun) 8-R.Grossman pass short middle intended for 13-A.Armstrong INTERCEPTED by 31-R.Marshall at ARI 30. 31-R.Marshall to WAS 37 for 33 yards (25-T.Hightower). [WPA -18.2% · EPA -5.48]
• Washington Commanders (Q4 5:23) — (5:23) (Shotgun) 8-R.Grossman pass deep right to 89-S.Moss for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +25.0% · EPA +4.35]
• Washington Commanders (Q1 55:13) — (10:13) (Shotgun) 8-R.Grossman pass short right intended for 89-S.Moss INTERCEPTED by 24-A.Wilson at ARI 2. 24-A.Wilson to ARI 19 for 17 yards (78-K.Lichtensteiger). [WPA -13.8% · EPA -4.22]

Quarterback report card

R.Grossman led all passers in efficiency for Washington Commanders, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• R.Grossman (Washington Commanders) · 48 dropbacks · 52.1% completion · -5.1% CPOE · +0.11 EPA/play · +5.08 total EPA
• K.Kolb (Arizona Cardinals) · 33 dropbacks · 51.5% completion · -7.6% CPOE · -0.02 EPA/play · -0.64 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Arizona Cardinals +0.06, Washington Commanders +0.03) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Arizona Cardinals: 11 drives, +3.86 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Washington Commanders: 12 drives, +3.36 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Washington Commanders 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.
• L. Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• R. Grossman (WAS) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• K. Kolb (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. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q1 49:02 · WAS 21 · Score 6-0
   (4:02) 4-K.Kolb pass short left to 87-J.King for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q1 48:54 · WAS 2 · Score 7-0
   3-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-9-D.Zastudil.
3. Washington Commanders FG (+3) — Q2 40:29 · ARI 8 · Score 7-3
   (10:29) 4-G.Gano 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-6-S.Rocca.
4. Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q2 33:10 · ARI 1 · Score 7-9
   (3:10) 8-R.Grossman pass short left to 83-F.Davis for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN [93-C.Campbell]. Penalty on ARI-93-C.Campbell, Defensive Offside, declined.
5. Washington Commanders XP (+1) — Q2 33:04 · ARI 2 · Score 7-10
   4-G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-6-S.Rocca.
6. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q3 17:51 · WAS 2 · Score 13-10
   (2:51) 26-C.Wells right end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q3 17:47 · WAS 2 · Score 14-10
   3-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-9-D.Zastudil.
8. Washington Commanders FG (+3) — Q4 11:23 · ARI 5 · Score 14-13
   (11:23) 4-G.Gano 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-6-S.Rocca.
9. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 11:09 · WAS 73 · Score 20-13
   (11:09) (Shotgun) 4-K.Kolb pass deep right to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 73 yards, TOUCHDOWN [59-L.Fletcher].
10. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q4 10:58 · WAS 2 · Score 21-13
    3-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-9-D.Zastudil.
11. Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q4 5:23 · ARI 18 · Score 21-19
    (5:23) (Shotgun) 8-R.Grossman pass deep right to 89-S.Moss for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Washington Commanders FG (+3) — Q4 1:50 · ARI 16 · Score 21-22
    (1:50) 4-G.Gano 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-6-S.Rocca.