Arizona Cardinals vs. Washington Commanders: 2017 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 2017 NFL season on 2017-12-17, the Washington Commanders took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 20–15 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 13 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Gabbert (Arizona Cardinals) paced the passing game, with -19.44 total EPA, and -19.4% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Crowder (Washington Commanders) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +2.66 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-23.6% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Arizona Cardinals changed the game: (:23) (Shotgun) 7-B.Gabbert pass incomplete short middle to 11-L.Fitzgerald (36-D.Swearinger). PENALTY on WAS-36-D.Swearinger, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 10 yards, enforced between downs.

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 J. Crowder · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +2.66 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.38 EPA/play
2. 2 K. Bibbs · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +2.33 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.58 EPA/play
3. 3 S. Perine · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +2.31 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.15 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Nelson · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +1.69 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.56 EPA/play
5. 5 T. Niklas · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +1.66 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
6. 6 B. Gabbert · Arizona Cardinals · Rushing · +1.58 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.53 EPA/play
7. 7 N. Paul · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +1.12 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.12 EPA/play
8. 8 R. Grant · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +1.03 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.34 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

• Washington Commanders — J. Crowder (K. Cousins pass) (Q1 58:36)
• Washington Commanders — K. Bibbs (K. Cousins pass) (Q2 43:39)

Field goals

• Arizona Cardinals — P. Dawson (Q1 48:52)
• Arizona Cardinals — P. Dawson (Q2 37:38)
• Arizona Cardinals — P. Dawson (Q2 30:04)
• Arizona Cardinals — P. Dawson (Q3 28:39)
• Washington Commanders — D. Hopkins (Q3 19:27)
• Arizona Cardinals — P. Dawson (Q4 11:18)
• Washington Commanders — D. Hopkins (Q4 4:35)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Washington Commanders won the period 7–3. Washington Commanders found the end zone from the ARI 5 (Q1 58:36) — (13:36) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short right to 80-J.Crowder for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Washington Commanders added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q1 58:30) — 3-D.Hopkins extra point is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way. PENALTY on ARI, Illegal Formation, 5 yards, enforced between downs.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the WAS 23 (Q1 48:52) — (3:52) 4-P.Dawson 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee..

The second quarter: Washington Commanders won the period 7–6. Washington Commanders found the end zone from the ARI 36 (Q2 43:39) — (13:39) 8-K.Cousins pass short right to 39-K.Bibbs for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Washington Commanders added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q2 43:27) — 3-D.Hopkins extra point is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the WAS 17 (Q2 37:38) — (7:38) 4-P.Dawson 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the WAS 1 (Q2 30:04) — (:04) 4-P.Dawson 19 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the WAS 16 (Q3 28:39) — (13:39) 4-P.Dawson 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.; Washington Commanders connected on a field goal from the ARI 6 (Q3 19:27) — (4:27) 3-D.Hopkins 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the WAS 14 (Q4 11:18) — (11:18) 4-P.Dawson 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.; Washington Commanders connected on a field goal from the ARI 14 (Q4 4:35) — (4:35) 3-D.Hopkins 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way..

Turning points

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 0:23) — (:23) (Shotgun) 7-B.Gabbert pass incomplete short middle to 11-L.Fitzgerald (36-D.Swearinger). PENALTY on WAS-36-D.Swearinger, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 10 yards, enforced between downs. [WPA -23.6% · EPA -2.52]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 12:42) — (12:42) 4-P.Dawson 54 yard field goal is GOOD, NULLIFIED by Penalty, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee. PENALTY on WAS-64-A.Francis, Leverage, 15 yards, enforced at WAS 36 - No Play. [WPA +17.2% · EPA +3.27]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 0:40) — (:40) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 7-B.Gabbert pass incomplete short middle to 11-L.Fitzgerald [72-A.Lanier]. PENALTY on WAS-29-K.Fuller, Defensive Pass Interference, 13 yards, enforced at WAS 34 - No Play. [WPA +16.4% · EPA +1.15]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 32:01) — (2:01) 7-B.Gabbert pass short right intended for 86-R.Seals-Jones INTERCEPTED by 94-P.Smith at WAS 8. 94-P.Smith to WAS 26 for 18 yards (70-E.Boehm; 75-A.Boone). PENALTY on ARI-75-A.Boone, Horse Colla [WPA -14.2% · EPA -6.13]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 3:10) — (3:10) (Shotgun) 7-B.Gabbert sacked at WAS 45 for -10 yards. FUMBLES, and recovers at ARI 47. 7-B.Gabbert to ARI 47 for no gain (91-R.Kerrigan). [WPA -13.8% · EPA -3.05]

Impact plays

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 32:01) — (2:01) 7-B.Gabbert pass short right intended for 86-R.Seals-Jones INTERCEPTED by 94-P.Smith at WAS 8. 94-P.Smith to WAS 26 for 18 yards (70-E.Boehm; 75-A.Boone). PENALTY on ARI-75-A.Boone, Horse Colla [WPA -14.2% · EPA -6.13]
• Washington Commanders (Q3 30:00) — 4-P.Dawson kicks 43 yards from ARI 35 to WAS 22. RECOVERED by ARI-36-B.Baker. [WPA -13.6% · EPA -5.78]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 59:21) — (14:21) (Shotgun) 7-B.Gabbert sacked at ARI 18 for -10 yards (72-A.Lanier). FUMBLES (72-A.Lanier) [72-A.Lanier], RECOVERED by WAS-94-P.Smith at ARI 18. 94-P.Smith to ARI 6 for 12 yards (69-W.Holden). [WPA -12.4% · EPA -5.11]
• Washington Commanders (Q2 31:50) — (1:50) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short left to 85-V.Davis to WAS 48 for 7 yards (41-A.Bethea) [55-C.Jones]. FUMBLES (41-A.Bethea), RECOVERED by ARI-25-T.Williams at ARI 49. 25-T.Williams pushed ob at [WPA -9.4% · EPA -4.60]

Quarterback report card

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

• B.Gabbert (Arizona Cardinals) · 50 dropbacks · 32.0% completion · -19.4% CPOE · -0.39 EPA/play · -19.44 total EPA
• K.Cousins (Washington Commanders) · 30 dropbacks · 60.0% completion · +5.3% CPOE · -0.01 EPA/play · -0.27 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 -0.16, Washington Commanders -0.20) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Arizona Cardinals: 13 drives, -15.89 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Washington Commanders: 13 drives, -14.14 total EPA, 5 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.
• J. Crowder (Washington Commanders) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• B. Gabbert (ARI) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• K. Cousins (WAS) 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. Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q1 58:36 · ARI 5 · Score 0-6
   (13:36) (Shotgun) 8-K.Cousins pass short right to 80-J.Crowder for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Washington Commanders XP (+1) — Q1 58:30 · ARI 15 · Score 0-7
   3-D.Hopkins extra point is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way. PENALTY on ARI, Illegal Formation, 5 yards, enforced between downs.
3. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q1 48:52 · WAS 23 · Score 3-7
   (3:52) 4-P.Dawson 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.
4. Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q2 43:39 · ARI 36 · Score 3-13
   (13:39) 8-K.Cousins pass short right to 39-K.Bibbs for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Washington Commanders XP (+1) — Q2 43:27 · ARI 15 · Score 3-14
   3-D.Hopkins extra point is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way.
6. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 37:38 · WAS 17 · Score 6-14
   (7:38) 4-P.Dawson 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.
7. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 30:04 · WAS 1 · Score 9-14
   (:04) 4-P.Dawson 19 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.
8. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q3 28:39 · WAS 16 · Score 12-14
   (13:39) 4-P.Dawson 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.
9. Washington Commanders FG (+3) — Q3 19:27 · ARI 6 · Score 12-17
   (4:27) 3-D.Hopkins 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way.
10. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q4 11:18 · WAS 14 · Score 15-17
    (11:18) 4-P.Dawson 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.
11. Washington Commanders FG (+3) — Q4 4:35 · ARI 14 · Score 15-20
    (4:35) 3-D.Hopkins 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-5-T.Way.