Minnesota Vikings vs. Arizona Cardinals: 2009 Week 13 Recap

Game story

In Week 13 of the 2009 NFL season on 2009-12-06, the Arizona Cardinals took care of business against the Minnesota Vikings, pulling away with a 30–17 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Favre (Minnesota Vikings) paced the passing game, with +1.58 total EPA, and +1.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, K. Warner (Arizona Cardinals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +16.25 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-12.1% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Minnesota Vikings changed the game: (5:11) 5-C.Kluwe punts 55 yards to ARI 34, Center-46-C.Loeffler. 15-S.Breaston to MIN 2 for 64 yards (33-J.Sanford).

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 · +16.25 total EPA · 34 snaps · +0.48 EPA/play
2. 2 L. Fitzgerald · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +9.12 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.76 EPA/play
3. 3 A. Boldin · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +6.40 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.71 EPA/play
4. 4 P. Harvin · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +6.05 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.86 EPA/play
5. 5 P. Harvin · Minnesota Vikings · Rushing · +2.20 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.10 EPA/play
6. 6 B. Favre · Minnesota Vikings · Passing · +1.58 total EPA · 49 snaps · +0.03 EPA/play
7. 7 B. Berrian · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +1.43 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.20 EPA/play
8. 8 V. Shiancoe · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +1.22 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.31 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

• Minnesota Vikings — V. Shiancoe (B. Favre pass) (Q1 54:53)
• Arizona Cardinals — A. Boldin (K. Warner pass) (Q1 49:52)
• Arizona Cardinals — A. Boldin (K. Warner pass) (Q2 37:51)
• Arizona Cardinals — L. Fitzgerald (K. Warner pass) (Q2 31:19)
• Minnesota Vikings — P. Harvin (B. Favre pass) (Q4 1:26)

Field goals

• Minnesota Vikings — R. Longwell (Q2 32:00)
• Arizona Cardinals — N. Rackers (Q3 22:50)
• Arizona Cardinals — N. Rackers (Q3 18:24)
• Arizona Cardinals — N. Rackers (Q4 4:23)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the ARI 3 (Q1 54:53); Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q1 54:47) — 8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the MIN 2 (Q1 49:52) — (4:52) 13-K.Warner pass short left to 81-A.Boldin for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q1 49:49) — 1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham..

The second quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 14–3. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the MIN 39 (Q2 37:51) — (7:51) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass short left to 81-A.Boldin for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN [69-J.Allen].; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q2 37:42) — 1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.; Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the ARI 6 (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) 8-R.Longwell 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the MIN 34 (Q2 31:19) — (1:19) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass deep left to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q2 31:14) — 1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham..

The third quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 6–0. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the MIN 13 (Q3 22:50) — (7:50) 1-N.Rackers 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the MIN 12 (Q3 18:24) — (3:24) 1-N.Rackers 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham..

The fourth quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 7–3. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the MIN 11 (Q4 4:23) — (4:23) 1-N.Rackers 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the ARI 31 (Q4 1:26) — (1:26) (Shotgun) 4-B.Favre pass deep middle to 12-P.Harvin for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q4 1:20) — 8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe..

Turning points

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

• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 50:11) — (5:11) 5-C.Kluwe punts 55 yards to ARI 34, Center-46-C.Loeffler. 15-S.Breaston to MIN 2 for 64 yards (33-J.Sanford). [WPA -12.1% · EPA -3.71]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 59:20) — (14:20) 34-T.Hightower right tackle to ARI 45 for 10 yards (22-B.Sapp). FUMBLES (22-B.Sapp), RECOVERED by MIN-25-T.Johnson at ARI 47. 25-T.Johnson to ARI 47 for no gain (84-A.Becht). [WPA -12.0% · EPA -4.34]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 37:51) — (7:51) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass short left to 81-A.Boldin for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN [69-J.Allen]. [WPA +9.1% · EPA +3.56]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 58:36) — (13:36) (Shotgun) 4-B.Favre pass short left to 12-P.Harvin pushed ob at ARI 37 for 5 yards (27-M.Adams). [WPA +9.0% · EPA +1.66]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 31:19) — (1:19) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass deep left to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +8.3% · EPA +3.73]

Impact plays

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 59:20) — (14:20) 34-T.Hightower right tackle to ARI 45 for 10 yards (22-B.Sapp). FUMBLES (22-B.Sapp), RECOVERED by MIN-25-T.Johnson at ARI 47. 25-T.Johnson to ARI 47 for no gain (84-A.Becht). [WPA -12.0% · EPA -4.34]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 31:19) — (1:19) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass deep left to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +8.3% · EPA +3.73]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 1:26) — (1:26) (Shotgun) 4-B.Favre pass deep middle to 12-P.Harvin for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +0.0% · EPA +3.72]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 50:11) — (5:11) 5-C.Kluwe punts 55 yards to ARI 34, Center-46-C.Loeffler. 15-S.Breaston to MIN 2 for 64 yards (33-J.Sanford). [WPA -12.1% · EPA -3.71]

Quarterback report card

B.Favre led all passers in efficiency for Minnesota Vikings, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• B.Favre (Minnesota Vikings) · 49 dropbacks · 61.2% completion · +1.9% CPOE · +0.03 EPA/play · +1.58 total EPA
• K.Warner (Arizona Cardinals) · 34 dropbacks · 64.7% completion · +10.5% CPOE · +0.48 EPA/play · +16.25 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 (+0.10 vs -0.06), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Arizona Cardinals: 12 drives, +7.88 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Minnesota Vikings: 11 drives, -5.03 total EPA, 3 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.

Every scoring play

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

1. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q1 54:53 · ARI 3 · Score 6-0
   (9:53) 4-B.Favre pass incomplete short left to 81-V.Shiancoe. Minnesota challenged the incomplete pass ruling, and the play was REVERSED. 4-B.Favre pass short l
2. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q1 54:47 · ARI 2 · Score 7-0
   8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe.
3. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q1 49:52 · MIN 2 · Score 7-6
   (4:52) 13-K.Warner pass short left to 81-A.Boldin for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q1 49:49 · MIN 2 · Score 7-7
   1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.
5. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 37:51 · MIN 39 · Score 7-13
   (7:51) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass short left to 81-A.Boldin for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN [69-J.Allen].
6. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 37:42 · MIN 2 · Score 7-14
   1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.
7. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q2 32:00 · ARI 6 · Score 10-14
   (2:00) 8-R.Longwell 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe.
8. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 31:19 · MIN 34 · Score 10-20
   (1:19) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass deep left to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 31:14 · MIN 2 · Score 10-21
   1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.
10. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q3 22:50 · MIN 13 · Score 10-24
    (7:50) 1-N.Rackers 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.
11. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q3 18:24 · MIN 12 · Score 10-27
    (3:24) 1-N.Rackers 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.
12. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q4 4:23 · MIN 11 · Score 10-30
    (4:23) 1-N.Rackers 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.
13. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q4 1:26 · ARI 31 · Score 16-30
    (1:26) (Shotgun) 4-B.Favre pass deep middle to 12-P.Harvin for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q4 1:20 · ARI 2 · Score 17-30
    8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe.