Denver Broncos vs. Arizona Cardinals: 2001 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2001 NFL season on 2001-09-23, the Denver Broncos took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 38–17 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

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

B. Griese (Denver Broncos) paced the passing game, with +16.95 total EPA.

On the individual side, B. Griese (Denver Broncos) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +16.95 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-16.6% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Arizona Cardinals changed the game: 1-J.Elam kicks 67 yards from DEN 30 to ARI 3. 82-M.Jenkins to ARI 27 for 24 yards (55-K.Burns). FUMBLES (55-K.Burns), RECOVERED by DEN-52-I.Gold at ARI 23.

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 B. Griese · Denver Broncos · Passing · +16.95 total EPA · 34 snaps · +0.50 EPA/play
2. 2 R. Smith · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +14.22 total EPA · 16 snaps · +0.89 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Boston · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +10.12 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.92 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Plummer · Arizona Cardinals · Passing · +5.61 total EPA · 32 snaps · +0.18 EPA/play
5. 5 O. Gary · Denver Broncos · Rushing · +5.04 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.36 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Carswell · Denver Broncos · Receiving · +1.84 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Mitchell · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +1.84 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.84 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Hardy · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +1.43 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.72 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 — T. Jones (Q2 45:00)
• Denver Broncos — R. Smith (B. Griese pass) (Q2 30:38)
• Denver Broncos — R. Smith (B. Griese pass) (Q3 27:01)
• Denver Broncos — P. Hape (B. Griese pass) (Q3 20:58)
• Denver Broncos — O. Gary (Q4 13:45)
• Arizona Cardinals — T. Hardy (J. Plummer pass) (Q4 4:59)

Field goals

• Arizona Cardinals — B. Gramatica (Q1 52:48)
• Denver Broncos — J. Elam (Q2 41:36)
• Denver Broncos — J. Elam (Q2 35:17)
• Denver Broncos — J. Elam (Q2 33:39)

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 3–0. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the DEN 10 (Q1 52:48) — (7:48) 7-B.Gramatica 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-T.Junkin, Holder-10-S.Player..

The second quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 17–7. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the DEN 1 (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) 26-T.Jones right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q2 44:57) — 7-B.Gramatica extra point is GOOD, Center-86-T.Junkin, Holder-10-S.Player.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the ARI 31 (Q2 41:36) — (11:36) 1-J.Elam 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-63-D.Diaz-Infante, Holder-16-T.Rouen.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the ARI 12 (Q2 35:17) — (5:17) 1-J.Elam 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-63-D.Diaz-Infante, Holder-16-T.Rouen.; Denver Broncos connected on a field goal from the ARI 17 (Q2 33:39) — (3:39) 1-J.Elam 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-63-D.Diaz-Infante, Holder-16-T.Rouen.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the ARI 10 (Q2 30:38) — (:38) 14-B.Griese pass to 80-R.Smith for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos registered a safety from the ARI 2 (Q2 30:32) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 14-B.Griese pass to 89-D.Carswell is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..

The third quarter: Denver Broncos won the period 14–0. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the ARI 34 (Q3 27:01) — (12:01) 14-B.Griese pass to 80-R.Smith for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q3 26:51) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-63-D.Diaz-Infante, Holder-16-T.Rouen.; Denver Broncos found the end zone from the ARI 1 (Q3 20:58) — (5:58) 14-B.Griese pass to 86-P.Hape for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q3 20:53) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-63-D.Diaz-Infante, Holder-16-T.Rouen..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Denver Broncos found the end zone from the ARI 9 (Q4 13:45) — (13:45) 22-O.Gary left tackle for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Denver Broncos added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q4 13:38) — 1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-63-D.Diaz-Infante, Holder-16-T.Rouen.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the DEN 6 (Q4 4:59) — (4:59) 16-J.Plummer pass to 80-T.Hardy for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the DEN 2 (Q4 4:54) — 7-B.Gramatica extra point is GOOD, Center-86-T.Junkin, Holder-10-S.Player..

Turning points

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 35:04) — 1-J.Elam kicks 67 yards from DEN 30 to ARI 3. 82-M.Jenkins to ARI 27 for 24 yards (55-K.Burns). FUMBLES (55-K.Burns), RECOVERED by DEN-52-I.Gold at ARI 23. [WPA -16.6% · EPA -3.93]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 37:13) — (7:13) 16-J.Plummer pass INTERCEPTED by 27-D.Walker at DEN 49. 27-D.Walker to ARI 31 for 20 yards (80-T.Hardy). FUMBLES (80-T.Hardy), and recovers at ARI 30. [WPA -12.0% · EPA -4.25]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 57:46) — (12:46) 16-J.Plummer scrambles up the middle to DEN 31 for 19 yards (94-L.Lett). [WPA +9.7% · EPA +2.24]
• Denver Broncos (Q3 27:01) — (12:01) 14-B.Griese pass to 80-R.Smith for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +8.3% · EPA +3.87]
• Denver Broncos (Q2 30:38) — (:38) 14-B.Griese pass to 80-R.Smith for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.5% · EPA +3.30]

Impact plays

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 37:13) — (7:13) 16-J.Plummer pass INTERCEPTED by 27-D.Walker at DEN 49. 27-D.Walker to ARI 31 for 20 yards (80-T.Hardy). FUMBLES (80-T.Hardy), and recovers at ARI 30. [WPA -12.0% · EPA -4.25]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 35:04) — 1-J.Elam kicks 67 yards from DEN 30 to ARI 3. 82-M.Jenkins to ARI 27 for 24 yards (55-K.Burns). FUMBLES (55-K.Burns), RECOVERED by DEN-52-I.Gold at ARI 23. [WPA -16.6% · EPA -3.93]
• Denver Broncos (Q3 27:01) — (12:01) 14-B.Griese pass to 80-R.Smith for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +8.3% · EPA +3.87]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 27:08) — (12:08) (Shotgun) 26-T.Jones right guard to ARI 34 for 2 yards (95-K.Pittman, 51-J.Mobley). FUMBLES (95-K.Pittman), RECOVERED by DEN-92-B.Berry at ARI 34. Play Challenged by ARI and Upheld. (Timeout # [WPA -6.5% · EPA -3.75]

Quarterback report card

B.Griese led all passers in efficiency for Denver Broncos, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• B.Griese (Denver Broncos) · 34 dropbacks · 64.7% completion · +0.50 EPA/play · +16.95 total EPA
• J.Plummer (Arizona Cardinals) · 32 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · +0.18 EPA/play · +5.61 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Denver Broncos generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.27 vs -0.01), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Arizona Cardinals: 12 drives, -0.82 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Denver Broncos: 12 drives, +23.40 total EPA, 7 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Denver Broncos leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• B. Griese (Denver Broncos) 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. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q1 52:48 · DEN 10 · Score 0-3
   (7:48) 7-B.Gramatica 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-T.Junkin, Holder-10-S.Player.
2. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 45:00 · DEN 1 · Score 0-9
   (15:00) 26-T.Jones right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 44:57 · DEN 2 · Score 0-10
   7-B.Gramatica extra point is GOOD, Center-86-T.Junkin, Holder-10-S.Player.
4. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q2 41:36 · ARI 31 · Score 3-10
   (11:36) 1-J.Elam 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-63-D.Diaz-Infante, Holder-16-T.Rouen.
5. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q2 35:17 · ARI 12 · Score 6-10
   (5:17) 1-J.Elam 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-63-D.Diaz-Infante, Holder-16-T.Rouen.
6. Denver Broncos FG (+3) — Q2 33:39 · ARI 17 · Score 9-10
   (3:39) 1-J.Elam 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-63-D.Diaz-Infante, Holder-16-T.Rouen.
7. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q2 30:38 · ARI 10 · Score 15-10
   (:38) 14-B.Griese pass to 80-R.Smith for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Denver Broncos Safety (+2) — Q2 30:32 · ARI 2 · Score 17-10
   TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 14-B.Griese pass to 89-D.Carswell is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
9. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q3 27:01 · ARI 34 · Score 23-10
   (12:01) 14-B.Griese pass to 80-R.Smith for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q3 26:51 · ARI 2 · Score 24-10
    1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-63-D.Diaz-Infante, Holder-16-T.Rouen.
11. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q3 20:58 · ARI 1 · Score 30-10
    (5:58) 14-B.Griese pass to 86-P.Hape for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q3 20:53 · ARI 2 · Score 31-10
    1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-63-D.Diaz-Infante, Holder-16-T.Rouen.
13. Denver Broncos TD (+6) — Q4 13:45 · ARI 9 · Score 37-10
    (13:45) 22-O.Gary left tackle for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Denver Broncos XP (+1) — Q4 13:38 · ARI 2 · Score 38-10
    1-J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-63-D.Diaz-Infante, Holder-16-T.Rouen.
15. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 4:59 · DEN 6 · Score 38-16
    (4:59) 16-J.Plummer pass to 80-T.Hardy for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
16. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q4 4:54 · DEN 2 · Score 38-17
    7-B.Gramatica extra point is GOOD, Center-86-T.Junkin, Holder-10-S.Player.