Buffalo Bills vs. Arizona Cardinals: 1999 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 1999 NFL season on 1999-12-19, the Buffalo Bills took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 31–21 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Flutie (Buffalo Bills) paced the passing game, with +8.07 total EPA.

On the individual side, D. Flutie (Buffalo Bills) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +8.07 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+43.9% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Buffalo Bills changed the game: C.Jacke kicks 57 yards from ARI 30 to BUF 13. K.Williams pushed ob at BUF 33 for 20 yards (J.McCleskey).

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 D. Flutie · Buffalo Bills · Passing · +8.07 total EPA · 36 snaps · +0.22 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Riemersma · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +6.85 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.98 EPA/play
3. 3 E. Moulds · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +6.44 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.59 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Bates · Arizona Cardinals · Rushing · +2.95 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.37 EPA/play
5. 5 A. Reed · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +2.58 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.86 EPA/play
6. 6 R. Moore · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +2.39 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
7. 7 P. Price · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +1.95 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.49 EPA/play
8. 8 K. Williams · Buffalo Bills · 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

• Buffalo Bills — unlisted player (Q1 60:00)
• Buffalo Bills — unlisted player (Q1 51:37)
• Arizona Cardinals — unlisted player (Q2 45:00)
• Arizona Cardinals — unlisted player (Q2 31:18)
• Buffalo Bills — unlisted player (Q4 3:06)
• Arizona Cardinals — unlisted player (Q4 1:55)
• Buffalo Bills — unlisted player (Q4 1:49)

Field goals

• Buffalo Bills — unlisted player (Q3 28:23)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 14–0. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the ARI 15 (Q1 60:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) D.Flutie pass to E.Moulds for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q1 56:36) — S.Christie extra point is GOOD, Center-E.Albright, Holder-C.Mohr.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the ARI 6 (Q1 51:37) — (6:37) J.Linton left guard for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q1 46:03) — S.Christie extra point is GOOD, Center-E.Albright, Holder-C.Mohr..

The second quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 14–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the BUF 1 (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) M.Bates left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q2 39:31) — C.Jacke extra point is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the BUF 2 (Q2 31:18) — (1:18) M.Bates right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q2 31:15) — C.Jacke extra point is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player..

The third quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 3–0. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the ARI 15 (Q3 28:23) — (13:23) S.Christie 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-E.Albright, Holder-C.Mohr..

The fourth quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 14–7. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the ARI 4 (Q4 3:06) — (3:06) D.Flutie pass to J.Riemersma for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q4 3:01) — S.Christie extra point is GOOD, Center-E.Albright, Holder-C.Mohr.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the BUF 26 (Q4 1:55) — (1:55) (Shotgun) J.Plummer pass to R.Moore for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the BUF 2 (Q4 1:49) — C.Jacke extra point is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the ARI 30 (Q4 1:49) — C.Jacke kicks 7 yards from ARI 30 to ARI 37. H.Jones for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q4 1:44) — S.Christie extra point is GOOD, Center-E.Albright, Holder-C.Mohr..

Turning points

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

• Buffalo Bills (Q1 60:00) — C.Jacke kicks 57 yards from ARI 30 to BUF 13. K.Williams pushed ob at BUF 33 for 20 yards (J.McCleskey). [WPA +43.9% · EPA +0.77]
• Buffalo Bills (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) D.Flutie pass INTERCEPTED by T.Knight at ARI 17. T.Knight pushed ob at ARI 33 for 16 yards (E.Moulds). [WPA -13.8% · EPA -4.63]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 39:31) — (9:31) D.Flutie pass INTERCEPTED by T.Bennett at ARI 25. T.Bennett pushed ob at ARI 38 for 13 yards (J.Fina). [WPA -12.5% · EPA -4.32]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 35:07) — (5:07) C.Mohr punts 39 yards to ARI 28, Center-J.Ostroski. M.Cody to BUF 46 for 26 yards (C.Mohr). [WPA -10.9% · EPA -1.51]
• Buffalo Bills (Q1 60:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) D.Flutie pass to J.Riemersma to ARI 37 for 24 yards (K.Lassiter). [WPA +9.8% · EPA +2.86]

Impact plays

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

• Buffalo Bills (Q4 1:49) — C.Jacke kicks 7 yards from ARI 30 to ARI 37. H.Jones for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +8.8% · EPA +6.78]
• Buffalo Bills (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) D.Flutie pass INTERCEPTED by T.Knight at ARI 17. T.Knight pushed ob at ARI 33 for 16 yards (E.Moulds). [WPA -13.8% · EPA -4.63]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 39:31) — (9:31) D.Flutie pass INTERCEPTED by T.Bennett at ARI 25. T.Bennett pushed ob at ARI 38 for 13 yards (J.Fina). [WPA -12.5% · EPA -4.32]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 1:55) — (1:55) (Shotgun) J.Plummer pass to R.Moore for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +5.8% · EPA +4.11]

Quarterback report card

D.Flutie led all passers in efficiency for Buffalo Bills, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Flutie (Buffalo Bills) · 36 dropbacks · 58.3% completion · +0.22 EPA/play · +8.07 total EPA
• J.Plummer (Arizona Cardinals) · 35 dropbacks · 31.4% completion · -0.02 EPA/play · -0.81 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Buffalo Bills generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.17 vs +0.06), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Arizona Cardinals: 12 drives, +4.33 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Buffalo Bills: 11 drives, +17.18 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Buffalo Bills leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• D. Flutie (Buffalo Bills) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

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

1. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q1 60:00 · ARI 15 · Score 6-0
   (15:00) (Shotgun) D.Flutie pass to E.Moulds for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q1 56:36 · ARI 2 · Score 7-0
   S.Christie extra point is GOOD, Center-E.Albright, Holder-C.Mohr.
3. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q1 51:37 · ARI 6 · Score 13-0
   (6:37) J.Linton left guard for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q1 46:03 · ARI 2 · Score 14-0
   S.Christie extra point is GOOD, Center-E.Albright, Holder-C.Mohr.
5. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 45:00 · BUF 1 · Score 14-6
   (15:00) M.Bates left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 39:31 · BUF 2 · Score 14-7
   C.Jacke extra point is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player.
7. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 31:18 · BUF 2 · Score 14-13
   (1:18) M.Bates right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 31:15 · BUF 2 · Score 14-14
   C.Jacke extra point is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player.
9. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q3 28:23 · ARI 15 · Score 17-14
   (13:23) S.Christie 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-E.Albright, Holder-C.Mohr.
10. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q4 3:06 · ARI 4 · Score 23-14
    (3:06) D.Flutie pass to J.Riemersma for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q4 3:01 · ARI 2 · Score 24-14
    S.Christie extra point is GOOD, Center-E.Albright, Holder-C.Mohr.
12. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 1:55 · BUF 26 · Score 24-20
    (1:55) (Shotgun) J.Plummer pass to R.Moore for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q4 1:49 · BUF 2 · Score 24-21
    C.Jacke extra point is GOOD, Center-T.Junkin, Holder-S.Player.
14. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q4 1:49 · ARI 30 · Score 30-21
    C.Jacke kicks 7 yards from ARI 30 to ARI 37. H.Jones for 37 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q4 1:44 · ARI 2 · Score 31-21
    S.Christie extra point is GOOD, Center-E.Albright, Holder-C.Mohr.