Kansas City Chiefs vs. Arizona Cardinals: 2014 Week 14 Recap

Game story

In Week 14 of the 2014 NFL season on 2014-12-07, the Arizona Cardinals took care of business against the Kansas City Chiefs, pulling away with a 17–14 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 11 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

A. Smith (Kansas City Chiefs) paced the passing game, with -5.33 total EPA, and -4.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Stanton (Arizona Cardinals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +8.55 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-22.6% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Arizona Cardinals changed the game: (1:14) 7-C.Catanzaro 34 yard field goal is No Good, Hit Left Upright, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.

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 · +8.55 total EPA · 39 snaps · +0.22 EPA/play
2. 2 Ja. Brown · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +5.24 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.75 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Floyd · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +3.49 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.50 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Charles · Kansas City Chiefs · Rushing · +3.04 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.25 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Bowe · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +2.83 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.94 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Kelce · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +2.20 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.24 EPA/play
7. 7 R. Hughes · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +2.20 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.20 EPA/play
8. 8 R. Housler · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +1.80 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.80 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

• Kansas City Chiefs — J. Charles (Q1 54:48)
• Kansas City Chiefs — J. Charles (A. Smith pass) (Q2 31:19)
• Arizona Cardinals — D. Stanton (Q3 18:32)

Field goals

• Arizona Cardinals — C. Catanzaro (Q1 56:00)
• Arizona Cardinals — C. Catanzaro (Q2 37:48)
• Arizona Cardinals — C. Catanzaro (Q3 24:07)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 7–3. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the KC 26 (Q1 56:00) — (11:00) 7-C.Catanzaro 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the ARI 63 (Q1 54:48) — (9:48) (Shotgun) 25-J.Charles right end for 63 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q1 54:35) — 5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..

The second quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 7–3. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the KC 15 (Q2 37:48) — (7:48) 7-C.Catanzaro 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the ARI 18 (Q2 31:19) — (1:19) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short right to 25-J.Charles for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q2 31:12) — 5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt..

The third quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 11–0. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the KC 21 (Q3 24:07) — (9:07) 7-C.Catanzaro 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the KC 26 (Q3 18:32) — (3:32) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass deep left to 13-Ja. Brown for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals registered a safety from the KC 2 (Q3 18:26).

Turning points

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 1:14) — (1:14) 7-C.Catanzaro 34 yard field goal is No Good, Hit Left Upright, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler. [WPA -22.6% · EPA -3.08]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 18:32) — (3:32) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass deep left to 13-Ja. Brown for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +18.8% · EPA +4.17]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 54:48) — (9:48) (Shotgun) 25-J.Charles right end for 63 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +18.4% · EPA +5.94]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 5:31) — (5:31) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short right to 87-T.Kelce to ARI 22 for 19 yards (36-D.Bucannon). Arizona challenged the runner was down by contact ruling, and the play was REVERSED. (Shotgun) 11-A.S [WPA -15.8% · EPA -2.83]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 20:37) — (5:37) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short middle intended for 12-A.Wilson INTERCEPTED by 57-A.Okafor (98-F.Rucker) at ARI 32. 57-A.Okafor to KC 42 for 26 yards (11-A.Smith). [WPA -11.8% · EPA -5.77]

Impact plays

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

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 54:48) — (9:48) (Shotgun) 25-J.Charles right end for 63 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +18.4% · EPA +5.94]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 20:37) — (5:37) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short middle intended for 12-A.Wilson INTERCEPTED by 57-A.Okafor (98-F.Rucker) at ARI 32. 57-A.Okafor to KC 42 for 26 yards (11-A.Smith). [WPA -11.8% · EPA -5.77]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 18:32) — (3:32) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass deep left to 13-Ja. Brown for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +18.8% · EPA +4.17]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 25:12) — (10:12) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass deep right to 15-M.Floyd pushed ob at KC 16 for 45 yards (20-C.Owens). [WPA +8.5% · EPA +3.16]

Quarterback report card

A.Smith led all passers in efficiency for Kansas City Chiefs, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• A.Smith (Kansas City Chiefs) · 49 dropbacks · 53.1% completion · -4.2% CPOE · -0.11 EPA/play · -5.33 total EPA
• D.Stanton (Arizona Cardinals) · 39 dropbacks · 38.5% completion · -7.7% CPOE · +0.22 EPA/play · +8.55 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Kansas City Chiefs -0.04, Arizona Cardinals -0.01) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Arizona Cardinals: 11 drives, -0.39 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Kansas City Chiefs: 11 drives, -3.42 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• D. Stanton (Arizona Cardinals) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• A. Smith (KC) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• D. Stanton (ARI) 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 FG (+3) — Q1 56:00 · KC 26 · Score 0-3
   (11:00) 7-C.Catanzaro 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.
2. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q1 54:48 · ARI 63 · Score 6-3
   (9:48) (Shotgun) 25-J.Charles right end for 63 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q1 54:35 · ARI 2 · Score 7-3
   5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
4. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 37:48 · KC 15 · Score 7-6
   (7:48) 7-C.Catanzaro 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.
5. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q2 31:19 · ARI 18 · Score 13-6
   (1:19) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short right to 25-J.Charles for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q2 31:12 · ARI 2 · Score 14-6
   5-C.Santos extra point is GOOD, Center-43-T.Gafford, Holder-2-D.Colquitt.
7. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q3 24:07 · KC 21 · Score 14-9
   (9:07) 7-C.Catanzaro 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.
8. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q3 18:32 · KC 26 · Score 14-15
   (3:32) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass deep left to 13-Ja. Brown for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Arizona Cardinals Safety (+2) — Q3 18:26 · KC 2 · Score 14-17
   TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 5-D.Stanton pass to 89-J.Carlson is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS. The Replay Official challenged the runner broke the plane ruling,