Houston Texans vs. Arizona Cardinals: 2009 Week 5 Recap

Game story

In Week 5 of the 2009 NFL season on 2009-10-11, the Arizona Cardinals took care of business against the Houston Texans, pulling away with a 28–21 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Schaub (Houston Texans) paced the passing game, with +6.98 total EPA, and +5.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, L. Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +8.25 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-31.7% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Houston Texans changed the game: (2:30) 8-M.Schaub pass short right intended for 83-K.Walter INTERCEPTED by 29-D.Rodgers-Cromartie at HOU 49. 29-D.Rodgers-Cromartie for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

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 · +8.25 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.37 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Schaub · Houston Texans · Passing · +6.98 total EPA · 53 snaps · +0.13 EPA/play
3. 3 O. Daniels · Houston Texans · Receiving · +5.62 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.56 EPA/play
4. 4 S. Slaton · Houston Texans · Receiving · +4.15 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.69 EPA/play
5. 5 A. Johnson · Houston Texans · Receiving · +3.66 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
6. 6 S. Breaston · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +3.22 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.54 EPA/play
7. 7 V. Leach · Houston Texans · Receiving · +1.80 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.60 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Anderson · Houston Texans · Receiving · +1.79 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.45 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. Hightower (Q1 54:32)
• Arizona Cardinals — L. Fitzgerald (K. Warner pass) (Q2 31:50)
• Arizona Cardinals — L. Fitzgerald (K. Warner pass) (Q2 30:27)
• Houston Texans — C. Brown (Q3 18:43)
• Houston Texans — A. Johnson (M. Schaub pass) (Q4 13:09)
• Houston Texans — A. Johnson (M. Schaub pass) (Q4 7:09)
• Arizona Cardinals — D. Rodgers-Cromartie (Q4 2:30)

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 7–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the HOU 1 (Q1 54:32) — (9:32) 34-T.Hightower right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q1 54:29) — 1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham..

The second quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 14–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the HOU 9 (Q2 31:50) — (1:50) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass short middle to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q2 31:44) — 1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the HOU 26 (Q2 30:27) — (:27) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass deep left to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q2 30:21) — 1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham..

The third quarter: Houston Texans won the period 7–0. Houston Texans found the end zone from the ARI 1 (Q3 18:43) — (3:43) 22-C.Brown up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q3 18:39) — 3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dreessen, Holder-1-M.Turk..

The fourth quarter: Houston Texans won the period 14–7. Houston Texans found the end zone from the ARI 11 (Q4 13:09) — (13:09) (Shotgun) 8-M.Schaub pass short left to 80-A.Johnson for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q4 12:18) — 3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dreessen, Holder-1-M.Turk.; Houston Texans found the end zone from the ARI 17 (Q4 7:09) — (7:09) 8-M.Schaub pass short middle to 80-A.Johnson for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q4 6:59) — 3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dreessen, Holder-1-M.Turk.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the ARI 58 (Q4 2:30); Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q4 2:20) — 1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham..

Turning points

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

• Houston Texans (Q4 2:30) — (2:30) 8-M.Schaub pass short right intended for 83-K.Walter INTERCEPTED by 29-D.Rodgers-Cromartie at HOU 49. 29-D.Rodgers-Cromartie for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -31.7% · EPA -7.69]
• Houston Texans (Q4 0:47) — (:47) 22-C.Brown up the middle to ARI 1 for no gain (95-A.Highsmith). The Replay Assistant challenged the runner broke the plane ruling, and the play was Upheld. [WPA -16.4% · EPA -3.74]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 47:35) — (2:35) 13-K.Warner pass short right to 81-A.Boldin to HOU 2 for 7 yards (26-E.Wilson). FUMBLES (26-E.Wilson), RECOVERED by HOU-59-D.Ryans at HOU 1. 59-D.Ryans pushed ob at HOU 30 for 29 yards (13-K.Wa [WPA -11.1% · EPA -6.25]
• Houston Texans (Q4 7:09) — (7:09) 8-M.Schaub pass short middle to 80-A.Johnson for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +11.1% · EPA +2.26]
• Houston Texans (Q4 0:52) — (:52) 8-M.Schaub pass incomplete short left to 85-J.Dreessen. [WPA -10.3% · EPA -1.36]

Impact plays

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

• Houston Texans (Q4 2:30) — (2:30) 8-M.Schaub pass short right intended for 83-K.Walter INTERCEPTED by 29-D.Rodgers-Cromartie at HOU 49. 29-D.Rodgers-Cromartie for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -31.7% · EPA -7.69]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 47:35) — (2:35) 13-K.Warner pass short right to 81-A.Boldin to HOU 2 for 7 yards (26-E.Wilson). FUMBLES (26-E.Wilson), RECOVERED by HOU-59-D.Ryans at HOU 1. 59-D.Ryans pushed ob at HOU 30 for 29 yards (13-K.Wa [WPA -11.1% · EPA -6.25]
• Houston Texans (Q3 26:01) — (11:01) 8-M.Schaub pass incomplete deep right to 80-A.Johnson. [WPA -3.8% · EPA -4.01]
• Houston Texans (Q2 43:26) — (13:26) 3-K.Brown 35 yard field goal is BLOCKED (93-C.Campbell), Center-85-J.Dreessen, Holder-1-M.Turk. [WPA -4.1% · EPA -3.98]

Quarterback report card

M.Schaub led all passers in efficiency for Houston Texans, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• M.Schaub (Houston Texans) · 53 dropbacks · 66.0% completion · +5.6% CPOE · +0.13 EPA/play · +6.98 total EPA
• K.Warner (Arizona Cardinals) · 42 dropbacks · 61.9% completion · +1.7% CPOE · +0.02 EPA/play · +0.72 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 (-0.01 vs -0.07), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Arizona Cardinals: 13 drives, -0.97 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Houston Texans: 13 drives, -6.11 total EPA, 4 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• L. Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• M. Schaub (HOU) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q1 54:32 · HOU 1 · Score 0-6
   (9:32) 34-T.Hightower right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q1 54:29 · HOU 2 · Score 0-7
   1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.
3. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 31:50 · HOU 9 · Score 0-13
   (1:50) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass short middle to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 31:44 · HOU 2 · Score 0-14
   1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.
5. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 30:27 · HOU 26 · Score 0-20
   (:27) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass deep left to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 30:21 · HOU 2 · Score 0-21
   1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.
7. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q3 18:43 · ARI 1 · Score 6-21
   (3:43) 22-C.Brown up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q3 18:39 · ARI 2 · Score 7-21
   3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dreessen, Holder-1-M.Turk.
9. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q4 13:09 · ARI 11 · Score 13-21
   (13:09) (Shotgun) 8-M.Schaub pass short left to 80-A.Johnson for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q4 12:18 · ARI 2 · Score 14-21
    3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dreessen, Holder-1-M.Turk.
11. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q4 7:09 · ARI 17 · Score 20-21
    (7:09) 8-M.Schaub pass short middle to 80-A.Johnson for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q4 6:59 · ARI 2 · Score 21-21
    3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-85-J.Dreessen, Holder-1-M.Turk.
13. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 2:30 · ARI 58 · Score 21-27
    (2:30) 8-M.Schaub pass short right intended for 83-K.Walter INTERCEPTED by 29-D.Rodgers-Cromartie at HOU 49. 29-D.Rodgers-Cromartie for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q4 2:20 · HOU 2 · Score 21-28
    1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.