Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals: 2021 Week 8 Recap

Game story

In Week 8 of the 2021 NFL season on 2021-10-28, the Green Bay Packers took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 24–21 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

A. Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) paced the passing game, with +2.28 total EPA, and -8.1% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Hopkins (Arizona Cardinals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.70 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-44.2% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Arizona Cardinals changed the game: (:15) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short right intended for 18-A.Green INTERCEPTED by 29-R.Douglas at GB -5. Touchback. ARI-1-K.Murray was injured during the play.

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. Hopkins · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +4.70 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.35 EPA/play
2. 2 Z. Ertz · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +4.38 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.10 EPA/play
3. 3 E.St. Brown · Green Bay Packers · Receiving · +3.89 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.30 EPA/play
4. 4 R. Tonyan · Green Bay Packers · Receiving · +3.75 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.94 EPA/play
5. 5 K. Murray · Arizona Cardinals · Passing · +3.49 total EPA · 39 snaps · +0.09 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Dillon · Green Bay Packers · Rushing · +2.67 total EPA · 16 snaps · +0.17 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Rodgers · Green Bay Packers · Passing · +2.28 total EPA · 40 snaps · +0.06 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Conner · Arizona Cardinals · Rushing · +1.81 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.36 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 — C. Edmonds (Q1 51:21)
• Green Bay Packers — A. Jones (Q2 42:59)
• Green Bay Packers — R. Cobb (Q3 26:42)
• Arizona Cardinals — J. Conner (Q3 21:26)
• Green Bay Packers — R. Cobb (Q4 15:00)
• Arizona Cardinals — J. Conner (Q4 10:50)

Field goals

• Green Bay Packers — M. Crosby (Q2 36:28)

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 7–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the GB 11 (Q1 51:21) — (6:21) (Shotgun) Direct snap to 2-C.Edmonds. 2-C.Edmonds up the middle for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the GB 15 (Q1 51:17) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-14-A.Lee..

The second quarter: Green Bay Packers won the period 10–0. Green Bay Packers found the end zone from the ARI 2 (Q2 42:59) — (12:59) 33-A.Jones up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Green Bay Packers added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q2 42:54) — 2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-43-H.Bradley, Holder-7-C.Bojorquez.; Green Bay Packers connected on a field goal from the ARI 3 (Q2 36:28) — (6:28) 2-M.Crosby 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-H.Bradley, Holder-7-C.Bojorquez..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Green Bay Packers found the end zone from the ARI 2 (Q3 26:42); Green Bay Packers added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q3 26:37) — 2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-43-H.Bradley, Holder-7-C.Bojorquez.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the GB 2 (Q3 21:26) — (6:26) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 6-J.Conner up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the GB 15 (Q3 21:22) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-14-A.Lee..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Green Bay Packers found the end zone from the ARI 6 (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) (Shotgun) 12-Aa.Rodgers pass short middle to 18-R.Cobb for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Green Bay Packers added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q4 14:56) — 2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-43-H.Bradley, Holder-7-C.Bojorquez.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the GB 9 (Q4 10:50) — (10:50) (Shotgun) 6-J.Conner up the middle for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the GB 15 (Q4 10:45) — 5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-14-A.Lee..

Turning points

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 0:15) — (:15) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short right intended for 18-A.Green INTERCEPTED by 29-R.Douglas at GB -5. Touchback. ARI-1-K.Murray was injured during the play. [WPA -44.2% · EPA -4.11]
• Green Bay Packers (Q2 36:52) — (6:52) 7-C.Bojorquez punts 48 yards to ARI 3, Center-43-H.Bradley, downed by GB-44-T.Summers. Green Bay challenged the kick downed ruling, and the play was REVERSED. 7-C.Bojorquez punts 38 yards to AR [WPA +21.5% · EPA +5.86]
• Green Bay Packers (Q4 3:26) — (3:26) (Shotgun) 12-Aa.Rodgers pass incomplete short right to 18-R.Cobb (42-D.Kennard). [WPA -17.0% · EPA -4.54]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 1:16) — (1:16) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short left to 2-C.Edmonds to GB 18 for 22 yards (41-H.Black). GB-41-H.Black was injured during the play. [WPA +15.5% · EPA +2.14]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 2:21) — (2:21) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass deep right to 13-C.Kirk to GB 47 for 29 yards (29-R.Douglas). [WPA +13.4% · EPA +0.86]

Impact plays

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

• Green Bay Packers (Q2 36:52) — (6:52) 7-C.Bojorquez punts 48 yards to ARI 3, Center-43-H.Bradley, downed by GB-44-T.Summers. Green Bay challenged the kick downed ruling, and the play was REVERSED. 7-C.Bojorquez punts 38 yards to AR [WPA +21.5% · EPA +5.86]
• Green Bay Packers (Q4 3:26) — (3:26) (Shotgun) 12-Aa.Rodgers pass incomplete short right to 18-R.Cobb (42-D.Kennard). [WPA -17.0% · EPA -4.54]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 0:15) — (:15) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short right intended for 18-A.Green INTERCEPTED by 29-R.Douglas at GB -5. Touchback. ARI-1-K.Murray was injured during the play. [WPA -44.2% · EPA -4.11]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 53:18) — (8:18) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass deep left to 10-D.Hopkins ran ob at GB 3 for 58 yards (21-E.Stokes). PENALTY on ARI-10-D.Hopkins, Face Mask (15 Yards), 15 yards, enforced at GB 6. [WPA +11.7% · EPA +3.90]

Quarterback report card

A.Rodgers led all passers in efficiency for Green Bay Packers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• A.Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) · 40 dropbacks · 55.0% completion · -8.1% CPOE · +0.06 EPA/play · +2.28 total EPA
• K.Murray (Arizona Cardinals) · 39 dropbacks · 56.4% completion · +1.3% CPOE · +0.09 EPA/play · +3.49 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Green Bay Packers generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.12 vs +0.06), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Arizona Cardinals: 8 drives, +4.54 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Green Bay Packers: 10 drives, +10.92 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Green Bay Packers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• D. Hopkins (Arizona Cardinals) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• A. Rodgers (GB) 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 51:21 · GB 11 · Score 0-6
   (6:21) (Shotgun) Direct snap to 2-C.Edmonds. 2-C.Edmonds up the middle for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q1 51:17 · GB 15 · Score 0-7
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-14-A.Lee.
3. Green Bay Packers TD (+6) — Q2 42:59 · ARI 2 · Score 6-7
   (12:59) 33-A.Jones up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Green Bay Packers XP (+1) — Q2 42:54 · ARI 15 · Score 7-7
   2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-43-H.Bradley, Holder-7-C.Bojorquez.
5. Green Bay Packers FG (+3) — Q2 36:28 · ARI 3 · Score 10-7
   (6:28) 2-M.Crosby 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-H.Bradley, Holder-7-C.Bojorquez.
6. Green Bay Packers TD (+6) — Q3 26:42 · ARI 2 · Score 16-7
   (11:42) (Shotgun) 12-Aa.Rodgers pass short right to 18-R.Cobb for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on ARI-97-J.Phillips, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced betw
7. Green Bay Packers XP (+1) — Q3 26:37 · ARI 15 · Score 17-7
   2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-43-H.Bradley, Holder-7-C.Bojorquez.
8. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q3 21:26 · GB 2 · Score 17-13
   (6:26) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 6-J.Conner up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q3 21:22 · GB 15 · Score 17-14
   5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-14-A.Lee.
10. Green Bay Packers TD (+6) — Q4 15:00 · ARI 6 · Score 23-14
    (15:00) (Shotgun) 12-Aa.Rodgers pass short middle to 18-R.Cobb for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Green Bay Packers XP (+1) — Q4 14:56 · ARI 15 · Score 24-14
    2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-43-H.Bradley, Holder-7-C.Bojorquez.
12. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 10:50 · GB 9 · Score 24-20
    (10:50) (Shotgun) 6-J.Conner up the middle for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q4 10:45 · GB 15 · Score 24-21
    5-M.Prater extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-14-A.Lee.