Miami Dolphins vs. Arizona Cardinals: 2008 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2008 NFL season on 2008-09-14, the Arizona Cardinals took care of business against the Miami Dolphins, pulling away with a 31–10 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

K. Warner (Arizona Cardinals) paced the passing game, with +26.72 total EPA, and +17.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, K. Warner (Arizona Cardinals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +26.72 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+14.8% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Arizona Cardinals changed the game: (12:31) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass deep middle to 81-A.Boldin for 79 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 K. Warner · Arizona Cardinals · Passing · +26.72 total EPA · 29 snaps · +0.92 EPA/play
2. 2 A. Boldin · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +14.17 total EPA · 6 snaps · +2.36 EPA/play
3. 3 L. Fitzgerald · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +11.46 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.91 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Hagan · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +5.79 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.93 EPA/play
5. 5 G. Camarillo · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +5.03 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.26 EPA/play
6. 6 C. Henne · Miami Dolphins · Passing · +4.85 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.37 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Martin · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +3.00 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.00 EPA/play
8. 8 B. Patrick · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +2.07 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.52 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 — A. Boldin (K. Warner pass) (Q1 57:31)
• Arizona Cardinals — A. Boldin (K. Warner pass) (Q1 50:43)
• Arizona Cardinals — T. Hightower (Q3 25:34)
• Arizona Cardinals — A. Boldin (K. Warner pass) (Q3 16:34)
• Miami Dolphins — R. Brown (Q4 2:42)

Field goals

• Arizona Cardinals — N. Rackers (Q2 38:51)
• Miami Dolphins — D. Carpenter (Q3 20:30)

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 14–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the MIA 79 (Q1 57:31) — (12:31) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass deep middle to 81-A.Boldin for 79 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q1 57:20) — 1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-9-D.Johnson.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the MIA 3 (Q1 50:43) — (5:43) 13-K.Warner pass short right to 81-A.Boldin for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q1 50:40) — 1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-9-D.Johnson..

The second quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 3–0. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the MIA 27 (Q2 38:51) — (8:51) 1-N.Rackers 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-9-D.Johnson..

The third quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 14–3. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the MIA 1 (Q3 25:34) — (10:34) 34-T.Hightower left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q3 25:29) — 1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-9-D.Johnson.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the ARI 14 (Q3 20:30) — (5:30) 5-D.Carpenter 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the MIA 8 (Q3 16:34) — (1:34) 13-K.Warner pass short right to 81-A.Boldin for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the MIA 2 (Q3 16:27) — 1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-9-D.Johnson..

The fourth quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 7–0. Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the ARI 1 (Q4 2:42) — (2:42) 23-R.Brown up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q4 2:38) — 5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields..

Turning points

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 57:31) — (12:31) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass deep middle to 81-A.Boldin for 79 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +14.8% · EPA +6.36]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 52:42) — (7:42) 13-K.Warner pass deep right to 11-L.Fitzgerald to MIA 4 for 75 yards (25-W.Allen). [WPA +7.8% · EPA +5.60]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 58:44) — (13:44) 23-R.Brown left end to MIA 44 for -4 yards (24-A.Wilson). [WPA -7.5% · EPA -2.41]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 60:00) — 1-N.Rackers kicks 67 yards from ARI 30 to MIA 3, out of bounds. [WPA +3.3% · EPA +1.12]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 38:51) — (8:51) 1-N.Rackers 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-9-D.Johnson. [WPA +2.5% · EPA +1.03]

Impact plays

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 57:31) — (12:31) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass deep middle to 81-A.Boldin for 79 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +14.8% · EPA +6.36]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 52:42) — (7:42) 13-K.Warner pass deep right to 11-L.Fitzgerald to MIA 4 for 75 yards (25-W.Allen). [WPA +7.8% · EPA +5.60]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 0:32) — (:32) 7-M.Leinart kneels to MIA 21 for -1 yards. [EPA -3.22]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 18:03) — (3:03) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass short left to 11-L.Fitzgerald to MIA 31 for 31 yards (32-J.Allen, 37-Y.Bell). [WPA +0.3% · EPA +3.12]

Quarterback report card

K.Warner led all passers in efficiency for Arizona Cardinals, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• K.Warner (Arizona Cardinals) · 29 dropbacks · 65.5% completion · +17.2% CPOE · +0.92 EPA/play · +26.72 total EPA
• C.Pennington (Miami Dolphins) · 24 dropbacks · 41.7% completion · -8.0% CPOE · -0.07 EPA/play · -1.65 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 (+0.33 vs +0.06), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Arizona Cardinals: 8 drives, +25.20 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Miami Dolphins: 8 drives, +4.39 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.
• K. Warner (Arizona Cardinals) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• K. Warner (ARI) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• C. Pennington (MIA) 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 57:31 · MIA 79 · Score 0-6
   (12:31) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass deep middle to 81-A.Boldin for 79 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q1 57:20 · MIA 2 · Score 0-7
   1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-9-D.Johnson.
3. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q1 50:43 · MIA 3 · Score 0-13
   (5:43) 13-K.Warner pass short right to 81-A.Boldin for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q1 50:40 · MIA 2 · Score 0-14
   1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-9-D.Johnson.
5. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 38:51 · MIA 27 · Score 0-17
   (8:51) 1-N.Rackers 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-9-D.Johnson.
6. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q3 25:34 · MIA 1 · Score 0-23
   (10:34) 34-T.Hightower left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q3 25:29 · MIA 2 · Score 0-24
   1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-9-D.Johnson.
8. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q3 20:30 · ARI 14 · Score 3-24
   (5:30) 5-D.Carpenter 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.
9. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q3 16:34 · MIA 8 · Score 3-30
   (1:34) 13-K.Warner pass short right to 81-A.Boldin for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q3 16:27 · MIA 2 · Score 3-31
    1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-9-D.Johnson.
11. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q4 2:42 · ARI 1 · Score 9-31
    (2:42) 23-R.Brown up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q4 2:38 · ARI 2 · Score 10-31
    5-D.Carpenter extra point is GOOD, Center-92-J.Denney, Holder-2-B.Fields.