Carolina Panthers vs. Arizona Cardinals: 2021 Week 10 Recap

Game story

In Week 10 of the 2021 NFL season on 2021-11-14, the Carolina Panthers took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 34–10 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

P. Walker (Carolina Panthers) paced the passing game, with +4.00 total EPA, and +3.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, C. McCaffrey (Carolina Panthers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.62 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-14.6% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Arizona Cardinals changed the game: (13:41) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-C.McCoy sacked at ARI 25 for -7 yards (43-H.Reddick). FUMBLES (43-H.Reddick) [43-H.Reddick], RECOVERED by CAR-91-M.Fox at ARI 18. 91-M.Fox to ARI 15 for 3 yards (12-C.M

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 C. McCaffrey · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +4.62 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.46 EPA/play
2. 2 P. Walker · Carolina Panthers · Passing · +4.00 total EPA · 31 snaps · +0.13 EPA/play
3. 3 C. McCaffrey · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +2.99 total EPA · 15 snaps · +0.20 EPA/play
4. 4 Z. Ertz · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +2.89 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.48 EPA/play
5. 5 C. Kirk · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +2.29 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.29 EPA/play
6. 6 C. Newton · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +1.87 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.62 EPA/play
7. 7 R. Anderson · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +1.72 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.29 EPA/play
8. 8 B. Zylstra · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +1.42 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.71 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

• Carolina Panthers — C. Newton (Q1 56:18)
• Carolina Panthers — R. Anderson (C. Newton pass) (Q1 53:43)
• Carolina Panthers — C. Hubbard (Q3 20:39)
• Arizona Cardinals — J. Conner (Q4 9:24)

Field goals

• Carolina Panthers — Z. Gonzalez (Q1 46:04)
• Carolina Panthers — Z. Gonzalez (Q2 39:45)
• Carolina Panthers — Z. Gonzalez (Q2 30:04)
• Arizona Cardinals — M. Prater (Q3 25:07)
• Carolina Panthers — Z. Gonzalez (Q4 3:30)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 17–0. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the ARI 2 (Q1 56:18); Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q1 56:12) — 5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-L.Edwards.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the ARI 2 (Q1 53:43) — (8:43) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short right to 11-R.Anderson for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q1 53:39) — 5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-L.Edwards.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the ARI 26 (Q1 46:04) — (1:04) 5-Z.Gonzalez 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-L.Edwards..

The second quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 6–0. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the ARI 30 (Q2 39:45) — (9:45) 5-Z.Gonzalez 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-L.Edwards.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the ARI 31 (Q2 30:04) — (:04) 5-Z.Gonzalez 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-L.Edwards..

The third quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 8–3. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the CAR 29 (Q3 25:07) — (10:07) 5-M.Prater 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-B.Brinkley, Holder-14-A.Lee.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the ARI 5 (Q3 20:39) — (5:39) (Shotgun) 30-C.Hubbard right end for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers registered a safety from the ARI 2 (Q3 20:34) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 6-P.Walker pass to 88-T.Marshall is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..

The fourth quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 7–3. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the CAR 11 (Q4 9:24) — (9:24) (Shotgun) 6-J.Conner left tackle for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q4 9:19) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-43-B.Brinkley, Holder-14-A.Lee.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the ARI 9 (Q4 3:30) — (3:30) 5-Z.Gonzalez 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-L.Edwards..

Turning points

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 58:41) — (13:41) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-C.McCoy sacked at ARI 25 for -7 yards (43-H.Reddick). FUMBLES (43-H.Reddick) [43-H.Reddick], RECOVERED by CAR-91-M.Fox at ARI 18. 91-M.Fox to ARI 15 for 3 yards (12-C.M [WPA -14.6% · EPA -5.95]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 57:45) — (12:45) (Shotgun) 6-P.Walker pass short middle to 22-C.McCaffrey to ARI 1 for 13 yards (34-J.Thompson) [55-C.Jones]. [WPA +7.2% · EPA +2.65]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 54:58) — (9:58) 12-C.McCoy up the middle to ARI 41 for -1 yards (4-J.Carter; 97-Y.Gross-Matos). [WPA -6.2% · EPA -3.61]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 51:37) — (6:37) 12-C.McCoy pass deep middle intended for 85-A.Wesley INTERCEPTED by 26-D.Jackson at CAR 13. 26-D.Jackson to CAR 34 for 21 yards (4-R.Moore). [WPA -5.5% · EPA -5.77]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 30:04) — (:04) 5-Z.Gonzalez 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-L.Edwards. [WPA +5.4% · EPA +0.78]

Impact plays

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 58:41) — (13:41) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-C.McCoy sacked at ARI 25 for -7 yards (43-H.Reddick). FUMBLES (43-H.Reddick) [43-H.Reddick], RECOVERED by CAR-91-M.Fox at ARI 18. 91-M.Fox to ARI 15 for 3 yards (12-C.M [WPA -14.6% · EPA -5.95]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 51:37) — (6:37) 12-C.McCoy pass deep middle intended for 85-A.Wesley INTERCEPTED by 26-D.Jackson at CAR 13. 26-D.Jackson to CAR 34 for 21 yards (4-R.Moore). [WPA -5.5% · EPA -5.77]
• Carolina Panthers (Q3 17:38) — (2:38) 6-P.Walker FUMBLES (Aborted) at CAR 46, RECOVERED by ARI-94-Z.Allen at 50. 94-Z.Allen to CAR 40 for 10 yards (72-T.Moton; 6-P.Walker). [WPA -0.0% · EPA -5.70]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 15:48) — (:48) 66-J.Miles reported in as eligible. 15-C.Streveler FUMBLES (Aborted) at CAR 31, recovered by ARI-26-E.Benjamin at CAR 35. [WPA -0.0% · EPA -4.13]

Quarterback report card

P.Walker led all passers in efficiency for Carolina Panthers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• P.Walker (Carolina Panthers) · 31 dropbacks · 71.0% completion · +3.9% CPOE · +0.13 EPA/play · +4.00 total EPA
• C.McCoy (Arizona Cardinals) · 23 dropbacks · 47.8% completion · -12.6% CPOE · -0.58 EPA/play · -13.31 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Carolina Panthers generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.04 vs -0.39), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Arizona Cardinals: 12 drives, -27.67 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• Carolina Panthers: 12 drives, +3.55 total EPA, 7 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Carolina Panthers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• C. McCaffrey (Carolina Panthers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• P. Walker (CAR) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• C. McCoy (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. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q1 56:18 · ARI 2 · Score 6-0
   (11:18) C.Newton in at QB. (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on CAR-1-C.Newton, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced bet
2. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q1 56:12 · ARI 15 · Score 7-0
   5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-L.Edwards.
3. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q1 53:43 · ARI 2 · Score 13-0
   (8:43) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short right to 11-R.Anderson for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q1 53:39 · ARI 15 · Score 14-0
   5-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-L.Edwards.
5. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q1 46:04 · ARI 26 · Score 17-0
   (1:04) 5-Z.Gonzalez 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-L.Edwards.
6. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q2 39:45 · ARI 30 · Score 20-0
   (9:45) 5-Z.Gonzalez 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-L.Edwards.
7. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q2 30:04 · ARI 31 · Score 23-0
   (:04) 5-Z.Gonzalez 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-L.Edwards.
8. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q3 25:07 · CAR 29 · Score 23-3
   (10:07) 5-M.Prater 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-B.Brinkley, Holder-14-A.Lee.
9. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q3 20:39 · ARI 5 · Score 29-3
   (5:39) (Shotgun) 30-C.Hubbard right end for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Carolina Panthers Safety (+2) — Q3 20:34 · ARI 2 · Score 31-3
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 6-P.Walker pass to 88-T.Marshall is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
11. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 9:24 · CAR 11 · Score 31-9
    (9:24) (Shotgun) 6-J.Conner left tackle for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q4 9:19 · CAR 15 · Score 31-10
    5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-43-B.Brinkley, Holder-14-A.Lee.
13. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q4 3:30 · ARI 9 · Score 34-10
    (3:30) 5-Z.Gonzalez 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-L.Edwards.