Detroit Lions vs. Arizona Cardinals: 2014 Week 11 Recap

Game story

In Week 11 of the 2014 NFL season on 2014-11-16, the Arizona Cardinals took care of business against the Detroit Lions, pulling away with a 14–6 final that built a comfortable lead.

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

M. Stafford (Detroit Lions) paced the passing game, with -6.94 total EPA, and -7.0% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Stanton (Arizona Cardinals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.49 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-11.9% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Arizona Cardinals changed the game: (2:00) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass short left intended for 13-Ja. Brown INTERCEPTED by 29-C.Vaughn at ARI 44. 29-C.Vaughn pushed ob at ARI 19 for 25 yards (38-A.Ellington).

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. Stanton · Arizona Cardinals · Passing · +5.49 total EPA · 35 snaps · +0.16 EPA/play
2. 2 G. Tate · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +4.73 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.37 EPA/play
3. 3 R. Hughes · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +4.27 total EPA · 1 snaps · +4.27 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Floyd · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +3.89 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.78 EPA/play
5. 5 Jo. Brown · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +2.65 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.29 EPA/play
6. 6 R. Housler · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +2.59 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.59 EPA/play
7. 7 L. Fitzgerald · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +0.96 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.24 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Bell · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +0.80 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.16 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 — M. Floyd (D. Stanton pass) (Q1 57:12)
• Arizona Cardinals — M. Floyd (D. Stanton pass) (Q1 51:12)

Field goals

• Detroit Lions — M. Prater (Q1 47:53)
• Detroit Lions — M. Prater (Q2 30:30)

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 14–3. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the DET 42 (Q1 57:12); Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q1 57:02) — 7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the DET 12 (Q1 51:12) — (6:12) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass short right to 15-M.Floyd for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q1 51:06) — 7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the ARI 32 (Q1 47:53) — (2:53) 5-M.Prater 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin..

The second quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 3–0. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the ARI 10 (Q2 30:30) — (:30) 5-M.Prater 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin..

Turning points

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass short left intended for 13-Ja. Brown INTERCEPTED by 29-C.Vaughn at ARI 44. 29-C.Vaughn pushed ob at ARI 19 for 25 yards (38-A.Ellington). [WPA -11.9% · EPA -5.61]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 57:12) — (12:12) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass deep right to 15-M.Floyd for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on DET-29-C.Vaughn, Defensive Pass Interference, declined. [WPA +11.4% · EPA +3.57]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 54:07) — (9:07) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass short middle to 39-R.Hughes to DET 26 for 49 yards (29-C.Vaughn). [WPA +10.0% · EPA +4.27]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 44:24) — (14:24) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass short middle intended for 89-J.Carlson INTERCEPTED by 57-J.Bynes at DET 5. 57-J.Bynes to DET 22 for 17 yards (5-D.Stanton). [WPA -6.9% · EPA -5.71]
• Detroit Lions (Q2 43:27) — (13:27) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep left to 15-G.Tate to 50 for 30 yards (31-A.Cromartie) [95-T.Kelly]. [WPA +6.4% · EPA +3.40]

Impact plays

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 44:24) — (14:24) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass short middle intended for 89-J.Carlson INTERCEPTED by 57-J.Bynes at DET 5. 57-J.Bynes to DET 22 for 17 yards (5-D.Stanton). [WPA -6.9% · EPA -5.71]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass short left intended for 13-Ja. Brown INTERCEPTED by 29-C.Vaughn at ARI 44. 29-C.Vaughn pushed ob at ARI 19 for 25 yards (38-A.Ellington). [WPA -11.9% · EPA -5.61]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 54:07) — (9:07) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass short middle to 39-R.Hughes to DET 26 for 49 yards (29-C.Vaughn). [WPA +10.0% · EPA +4.27]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 57:12) — (12:12) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass deep right to 15-M.Floyd for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on DET-29-C.Vaughn, Defensive Pass Interference, declined. [WPA +11.4% · EPA +3.57]

Quarterback report card

M.Stafford led all passers in efficiency for Detroit Lions, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• M.Stafford (Detroit Lions) · 37 dropbacks · 48.6% completion · -7.0% CPOE · -0.19 EPA/play · -6.94 total EPA
• D.Stanton (Arizona Cardinals) · 35 dropbacks · 60.0% completion · +2.1% CPOE · +0.16 EPA/play · +5.49 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Arizona Cardinals held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.06 vs -0.18), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Arizona Cardinals: 11 drives, -4.71 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• Detroit Lions: 10 drives, -11.76 total EPA, 2 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.
• D. Stanton (Arizona Cardinals) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• M. Stafford (DET) 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. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q1 57:12 · DET 42 · Score 0-6
   (12:12) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass deep right to 15-M.Floyd for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on DET-29-C.Vaughn, Defensive Pass Interference, declined.
2. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q1 57:02 · DET 2 · Score 0-7
   7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.
3. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q1 51:12 · DET 12 · Score 0-13
   (6:12) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass short right to 15-M.Floyd for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q1 51:06 · DET 2 · Score 0-14
   7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.
5. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q1 47:53 · ARI 32 · Score 3-14
   (2:53) 5-M.Prater 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.
6. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 30:30 · ARI 10 · Score 6-14
   (:30) 5-M.Prater 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-6-S.Martin.