Chicago Bears vs. Arizona Cardinals: 2012 Week 16 Recap

Game story

In Week 16 of the 2012 NFL season on 2012-12-23, the Chicago Bears took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 28–13 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

R. Lindley (Arizona Cardinals) paced the passing game, with -12.70 total EPA, and -12.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, L. Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +3.26 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-17.1% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Arizona Cardinals changed the game: (9:01) 26-C.Wells up the middle to ARI 1 for -2 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by CHI-38-Z.Bowman at ARI 1. 38-Z.Bowman for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Assistant challenged the runner broke the plane rul

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 · +3.26 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.27 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Forte · Chicago Bears · Rushing · +3.23 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.27 EPA/play
3. 3 K. Davis · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +1.39 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.69 EPA/play
4. 4 E. Bennett · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +1.17 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.17 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Forte · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +0.29 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.29 EPA/play
6. 6 P. Peterson · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +0.11 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.11 EPA/play
7. 7 W. Powell · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +0.02 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.00 EPA/play
8. 8 B. Marshall · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +0.01 total EPA · 15 snaps · +0.00 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

• Chicago Bears — C. Wells (Q1 54:01)
• Chicago Bears — M. Forte (Q2 43:16)
• Chicago Bears — B. Marshall (J. Cutler pass) (Q2 30:24)
• Chicago Bears — C. Tillman (Q3 27:46)
• Arizona Cardinals — J. Bethel (Q4 2:00)

Field goals

• Arizona Cardinals — J. Feely (Q1 45:41)
• Arizona Cardinals — J. Feely (Q2 32:22)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 7–3. Chicago Bears found the end zone from the CHI 97 (Q1 54:01); Chicago Bears added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q1 53:53) — 10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-8-A.Podlesh.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the CHI 31 (Q1 45:41) — (:41) 3-J.Feely 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-9-D.Zastudil..

The second quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 14–3. Chicago Bears found the end zone from the ARI 4 (Q2 43:16) — (13:16) 22-M.Forte left tackle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q2 43:12) — 10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-8-A.Podlesh.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the CHI 17 (Q2 32:22) — (2:22) 3-J.Feely 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-9-D.Zastudil.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the ARI 11 (Q2 30:24) — (:24) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 15-B.Marshall for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q2 30:19) — 10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-8-A.Podlesh..

The third quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 7–0. Chicago Bears found the end zone from the CHI 95 (Q3 27:46); Chicago Bears added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q3 27:39) — 10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-8-A.Podlesh..

The fourth quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 7–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the ARI 2 (Q4 2:00); Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q4 1:46) — 3-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-9-D.Zastudil..

Turning points

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 54:01) — (9:01) 26-C.Wells up the middle to ARI 1 for -2 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by CHI-38-Z.Bowman at ARI 1. 38-Z.Bowman for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Assistant challenged the runner broke the plane rul [WPA -17.1% · EPA -6.03]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 35:19) — (5:19) 9-D.Zastudil punts 40 yards to CHI 39, Center-82-M.Leach. 30-D.Moore MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by ARI-27-M.Adams at CHI 36. [WPA +8.7% · EPA +5.08]
• Chicago Bears (Q1 45:31) — (:31) 22-M.Forte up the middle to ARI 36 for 36 yards (25-K.Rhodes). [WPA +7.7% · EPA +2.52]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 48:00) — (3:00) 14-R.Lindley pass deep left to 11-L.Fitzgerald to CHI 27 for 18 yards (33-C.Tillman). [WPA +6.2% · EPA +1.61]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 51:59) — (6:59) 14-R.Lindley sacked at ARI 25 for -10 yards (90-J.Peppers). [WPA -5.7% · EPA -2.22]

Impact plays

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

• Chicago Bears (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) 10-O.Mare 20 yard field goal is BLOCKED (24-A.Wilson), Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-8-A.Podlesh, RECOVERED by ARI-31-J.Bethel at ARI 18. 31-J.Bethel for 82 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -0.0% · EPA -9.91]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 4:05) — (4:05) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 6-B.Hoyer pass short middle intended for 11-L.Fitzgerald INTERCEPTED by 24-K.Hayden at ARI 49. 24-K.Hayden to ARI 10 for 39 yards (68-A.Snyder). [WPA -0.0% · EPA -6.77]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 54:01) — (9:01) 26-C.Wells up the middle to ARI 1 for -2 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by CHI-38-Z.Bowman at ARI 1. 38-Z.Bowman for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Assistant challenged the runner broke the plane rul [WPA -17.1% · EPA -6.03]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 27:46) — (12:46) (Shotgun) 14-R.Lindley pass short left intended for 12-A.Roberts INTERCEPTED by 33-C.Tillman at ARI 10. 33-C.Tillman for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -4.1% · EPA -5.89]

Quarterback report card

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

• R.Lindley (Arizona Cardinals) · 35 dropbacks · 48.6% completion · -12.9% CPOE · -0.36 EPA/play · -12.70 total EPA
• J.Cutler (Chicago Bears) · 29 dropbacks · 41.4% completion · -11.9% CPOE · -0.01 EPA/play · -0.35 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Chicago Bears generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.15 vs -0.31), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Arizona Cardinals: 16 drives, -29.04 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Chicago Bears: 15 drives, -11.91 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Chicago Bears leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• L. Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• R. Lindley (ARI) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• J. Cutler (CHI) 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. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q1 54:01 · CHI 97 · Score 6-0
   (9:01) 26-C.Wells up the middle to ARI 1 for -2 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by CHI-38-Z.Bowman at ARI 1. 38-Z.Bowman for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Assistant c
2. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q1 53:53 · ARI 2 · Score 7-0
   10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-8-A.Podlesh.
3. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q1 45:41 · CHI 31 · Score 7-3
   (:41) 3-J.Feely 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-9-D.Zastudil.
4. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q2 43:16 · ARI 4 · Score 13-3
   (13:16) 22-M.Forte left tackle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q2 43:12 · ARI 2 · Score 14-3
   10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-8-A.Podlesh.
6. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 32:22 · CHI 17 · Score 14-6
   (2:22) 3-J.Feely 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-9-D.Zastudil.
7. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q2 30:24 · ARI 11 · Score 20-6
   (:24) 6-J.Cutler pass short right to 15-B.Marshall for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q2 30:19 · ARI 2 · Score 21-6
   10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-8-A.Podlesh.
9. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q3 27:46 · CHI 95 · Score 27-6
   (12:46) (Shotgun) 14-R.Lindley pass short left intended for 12-A.Roberts INTERCEPTED by 33-C.Tillman at ARI 10. 33-C.Tillman for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q3 27:39 · ARI 2 · Score 28-6
    10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-8-A.Podlesh.
11. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 2:00 · ARI 2 · Score 28-12
    (2:00) 10-O.Mare 20 yard field goal is BLOCKED (24-A.Wilson), Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-8-A.Podlesh, RECOVERED by ARI-31-J.Bethel at ARI 18. 31-J.Bethel for
12. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q4 1:46 · CHI 2 · Score 28-13
    3-J.Feely extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-9-D.Zastudil.