Atlanta Falcons vs. Arizona Cardinals: 2008 Week 18 Recap

Game story

In Week 18 of the 2008 NFL season on 2009-01-03, the Arizona Cardinals took care of business against the Atlanta Falcons, pulling away with a 30–24 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 24 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) paced the passing game, with -0.65 total EPA, and +5.1% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, R. White (Atlanta Falcons) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +10.96 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-23.3% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Atlanta Falcons changed the game: (14:17) 2-M.Ryan FUMBLES (Aborted) at ATL 25, RECOVERED by ARI-21-A.Rolle at ATL 27. 21-A.Rolle for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

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 R. White · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +10.96 total EPA · 11 snaps · +1.00 EPA/play
2. 2 L. Fitzgerald · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +7.07 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.18 EPA/play
3. 3 A. Boldin · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +5.93 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.97 EPA/play
4. 4 K. Warner · Arizona Cardinals · Passing · +4.87 total EPA · 33 snaps · +0.15 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Norwood · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +4.45 total EPA · 1 snaps · +4.45 EPA/play
6. 6 S. Spach · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +3.72 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.24 EPA/play
7. 7 S. Breaston · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +3.50 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.75 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Jenkins · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +2.85 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.57 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 — L. Fitzgerald (K. Warner pass) (Q1 55:37)
• Arizona Cardinals — A. Boldin (K. Warner pass) (Q2 39:10)
• Atlanta Falcons — M. Turner (Q2 33:00)
• Atlanta Falcons — J. Peelle (M. Ryan pass) (Q2 30:27)
• Arizona Cardinals — A. Rolle (Q3 29:17)
• Arizona Cardinals — T. Hightower (Q3 17:54)
• Atlanta Falcons — R. White (M. Ryan pass) (Q4 4:19)

Field goals

• Atlanta Falcons — J. Elam (Q2 40:03)

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 ATL 42 (Q1 55:37) — (10:37) 13-K.Warner pass deep left to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN. flea-flicker; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q1 55:28) — 1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-5-B.Graham..

The second quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 17–7. Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the ARI 12 (Q2 40:03) — (10:03) 1-J.Elam 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the ATL 71 (Q2 39:10) — (9:10) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass short left to 81-A.Boldin for 71 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q2 38:58) — 1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-5-B.Graham.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the ARI 7 (Q2 33:00) — (3:00) 33-M.Turner left end for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q2 32:55) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the ARI 2 (Q2 30:27) — (:27) 2-M.Ryan pass short right to 87-J.Peelle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q2 30:23) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen..

The third quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 14–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the ARI 70 (Q3 29:17) — (14:17) 2-M.Ryan FUMBLES (Aborted) at ATL 25, RECOVERED by ARI-21-A.Rolle at ATL 27. 21-A.Rolle for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q3 29:08) — 1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-5-B.Graham.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the ATL 4 (Q3 17:54) — (2:54) 34-T.Hightower left end for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the ATL 2 (Q3 17:48) — 1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-5-B.Graham..

The fourth quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 7–2. Arizona Cardinals registered a safety from the ARI 97 (Q4 12:44); Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the ARI 5 (Q4 4:19) — (4:19) 2-M.Ryan pass short right to 84-R.White for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q4 4:15) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen..

Turning points

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q3 29:17) — (14:17) 2-M.Ryan FUMBLES (Aborted) at ATL 25, RECOVERED by ARI-21-A.Rolle at ATL 27. 21-A.Rolle for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -23.3% · EPA -7.45]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 39:10) — (9:10) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass short left to 81-A.Boldin for 71 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +19.1% · EPA +6.57]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 32:10) — (2:10) 13-K.Warner pass short middle intended for 85-J.Urban INTERCEPTED by 22-C.Jackson at ARI 23. 22-C.Jackson to ARI 23 for no gain (15-S.Breaston). [WPA -12.7% · EPA -3.97]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 55:37) — (10:37) 13-K.Warner pass deep left to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN. flea-flicker [WPA +12.5% · EPA +3.80]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 33:00) — (3:00) 33-M.Turner left end for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +9.1% · EPA +1.84]

Impact plays

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

• Atlanta Falcons (Q3 29:17) — (14:17) 2-M.Ryan FUMBLES (Aborted) at ATL 25, RECOVERED by ARI-21-A.Rolle at ATL 27. 21-A.Rolle for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -23.3% · EPA -7.45]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 39:10) — (9:10) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass short left to 81-A.Boldin for 71 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +19.1% · EPA +6.57]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q4 7:03) — (7:03) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass short left to 32-J.Norwood to ARI 26 for 28 yards (47-A.Francisco). [WPA +4.4% · EPA +4.45]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 32:10) — (2:10) 13-K.Warner pass short middle intended for 85-J.Urban INTERCEPTED by 22-C.Jackson at ARI 23. 22-C.Jackson to ARI 23 for no gain (15-S.Breaston). [WPA -12.7% · EPA -3.97]

Quarterback report card

M.Ryan led all passers in efficiency for Atlanta Falcons, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• M.Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) · 46 dropbacks · 56.5% completion · +5.1% CPOE · -0.01 EPA/play · -0.65 total EPA
• K.Warner (Arizona Cardinals) · 33 dropbacks · 57.6% completion · -3.0% CPOE · +0.15 EPA/play · +4.87 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 (Atlanta Falcons -0.12, Arizona Cardinals -0.09) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Arizona Cardinals: 14 drives, -7.20 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Atlanta Falcons: 13 drives, -10.26 total EPA, 7 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• R. White (Atlanta Falcons) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• M. Ryan (ATL) 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 TD (+6) — Q1 55:37 · ATL 42 · Score 0-6
   (10:37) 13-K.Warner pass deep left to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN. flea-flicker
2. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q1 55:28 · ATL 2 · Score 0-7
   1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-5-B.Graham.
3. Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 40:03 · ARI 12 · Score 3-7
   (10:03) 1-J.Elam 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
4. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 39:10 · ATL 71 · Score 3-13
   (9:10) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass short left to 81-A.Boldin for 71 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 38:58 · ATL 2 · Score 3-14
   1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-5-B.Graham.
6. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 33:00 · ARI 7 · Score 9-14
   (3:00) 33-M.Turner left end for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q2 32:55 · ARI 2 · Score 10-14
   1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
8. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 30:27 · ARI 2 · Score 16-14
   (:27) 2-M.Ryan pass short right to 87-J.Peelle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q2 30:23 · ARI 2 · Score 17-14
   1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen.
10. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q3 29:17 · ARI 70 · Score 17-20
    (14:17) 2-M.Ryan FUMBLES (Aborted) at ATL 25, RECOVERED by ARI-21-A.Rolle at ATL 27. 21-A.Rolle for 27 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q3 29:08 · ATL 2 · Score 17-21
    1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-5-B.Graham.
12. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q3 17:54 · ATL 4 · Score 17-27
    (2:54) 34-T.Hightower left end for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q3 17:48 · ATL 2 · Score 17-28
    1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-5-B.Graham.
14. Arizona Cardinals Safety (+2) — Q4 12:44 · ARI 97 · Score 17-30
    (12:44) 2-M.Ryan sacked in End Zone for -3 yards, SAFETY (94-A.Smith). PENALTY on ARI-90-D.Dockett, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs.
15. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 4:19 · ARI 5 · Score 23-30
    (4:19) 2-M.Ryan pass short right to 84-R.White for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
16. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q4 4:15 · ARI 2 · Score 24-30
    1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-46-M.Schneck, Holder-9-M.Koenen.