New England Patriots vs. Arizona Cardinals: 2004 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2004 NFL season on 2004-09-19, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 23–12 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 13 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. McCown (Arizona Cardinals) paced the passing game, with -10.53 total EPA.

On the individual side, T. Brady (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +11.92 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+11.1% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Arizona Cardinals changed the game: (3:50) (Shotgun) 12-J.McCown pass to 33-J.Scobey pushed ob at NE 5 for 42 yards (26-E.Wilson).

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 T. Brady · New England Patriots · Passing · +11.92 total EPA · 31 snaps · +0.38 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Givens · New England Patriots · Receiving · +10.67 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.78 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Graham · New England Patriots · Receiving · +5.11 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.55 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Scobey · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +4.60 total EPA · 1 snaps · +4.60 EPA/play
5. 5 B. Johnson · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +3.55 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.18 EPA/play
6. 6 P. Pass · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.54 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.77 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Patten · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.44 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.22 EPA/play
8. 8 F. Jones · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +2.35 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.59 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

• New England Patriots — D. Graham (T. Brady pass) (Q1 47:17)
• New England Patriots — D. Graham (T. Brady pass) (Q2 43:22)
• Arizona Cardinals — E. Smith (Q3 16:38)

Field goals

• Arizona Cardinals — N. Rackers (Q2 38:13)
• Arizona Cardinals — N. Rackers (Q2 35:19)
• New England Patriots — A. Vinatieri (Q3 24:24)
• New England Patriots — A. Vinatieri (Q4 12:34)
• New England Patriots — A. Vinatieri (Q4 6:29)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: New England Patriots won the period 7–0. New England Patriots found the end zone from the ARI 2 (Q1 47:17) — (2:17) 12-T.Brady pass to 82-D.Graham for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q1 47:11) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-Jo.Miller..

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 7–6. New England Patriots found the end zone from the ARI 19 (Q2 43:22) — (13:22) 12-T.Brady pass to 82-D.Graham for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q2 43:16) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-Jo.Miller.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the NE 33 (Q2 38:13) — (8:13) 1-N.Rackers 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-10-S.Player.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the NE 34 (Q2 35:19) — (5:19) 1-N.Rackers 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-10-S.Player..

The third quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 6–3. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the ARI 11 (Q3 24:24) — (9:24) 4-A.Vinatieri 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-Jo.Miller.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the NE 1 (Q3 16:38) — (1:38) 22-E.Smith left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN..

The fourth quarter: New England Patriots won the period 6–0. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the ARI 11 (Q4 12:34) — (12:34) 4-A.Vinatieri 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-Jo.Miller.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the ARI 7 (Q4 6:29) — (6:29) 4-A.Vinatieri 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-Jo.Miller..

Turning points

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 18:50) — (3:50) (Shotgun) 12-J.McCown pass to 33-J.Scobey pushed ob at NE 5 for 42 yards (26-E.Wilson). [WPA +11.1% · EPA +4.60]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 10:27) — (10:27) 12-J.McCown pass intended for 11-L.Fitzgerald INTERCEPTED by 26-E.Wilson at ARI 36. 26-E.Wilson to ARI 49 for -13 yards (65-A.Clement, 85-F.Jones). [WPA -10.6% · EPA -3.92]
• New England Patriots (Q1 48:59) — (3:59) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass to 35-P.Pass to ARI 27 for 19 yards (26-R.Tate). FUMBLES (26-R.Tate), recovered by NE-83-D.Branch at ARI 7. 83-D.Branch to ARI 8 for -1 yards (24-A.Wilson). [WPA +10.3% · EPA +3.91]
• New England Patriots (Q1 50:23) — (5:23) (Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass to 83-D.Branch to ARI 38 for 7 yards (26-R.Tate). [WPA +9.4% · EPA +1.75]
• New England Patriots (Q2 40:10) — (10:10) 12-T.Brady FUMBLES (Aborted) at NE 45, touched at NE 31, RECOVERED by ARI-92-B.Berry at NE 20. 92-B.Berry to NE 11 for 9 yards (82-D.Graham). [WPA -8.9% · EPA -6.82]

Impact plays

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

• New England Patriots (Q2 40:10) — (10:10) 12-T.Brady FUMBLES (Aborted) at NE 45, touched at NE 31, RECOVERED by ARI-92-B.Berry at NE 20. 92-B.Berry to NE 11 for 9 yards (82-D.Graham). [WPA -8.9% · EPA -6.82]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 18:50) — (3:50) (Shotgun) 12-J.McCown pass to 33-J.Scobey pushed ob at NE 5 for 42 yards (26-E.Wilson). [WPA +11.1% · EPA +4.60]
• New England Patriots (Q2 43:22) — (13:22) 12-T.Brady pass to 82-D.Graham for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.0% · EPA +4.21]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 10:27) — (10:27) 12-J.McCown pass intended for 11-L.Fitzgerald INTERCEPTED by 26-E.Wilson at ARI 36. 26-E.Wilson to ARI 49 for -13 yards (65-A.Clement, 85-F.Jones). [WPA -10.6% · EPA -3.92]

Quarterback report card

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

• J.McCown (Arizona Cardinals) · 40 dropbacks · 32.5% completion · -0.26 EPA/play · -10.53 total EPA
• T.Brady (New England Patriots) · 31 dropbacks · 48.4% completion · +0.38 EPA/play · +11.92 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, New England Patriots generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.02 vs -0.17), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Arizona Cardinals: 11 drives, -12.21 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 12 drives, +2.09 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• New England Patriots leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• T. Brady (New England Patriots) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

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

1. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q1 47:17 · ARI 2 · Score 6-0
   (2:17) 12-T.Brady pass to 82-D.Graham for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q1 47:11 · ARI 2 · Score 7-0
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-Jo.Miller.
3. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 43:22 · ARI 19 · Score 13-0
   (13:22) 12-T.Brady pass to 82-D.Graham for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 43:16 · ARI 2 · Score 14-0
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-Jo.Miller.
5. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 38:13 · NE 33 · Score 14-3
   (8:13) 1-N.Rackers 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-10-S.Player.
6. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 35:19 · NE 34 · Score 14-6
   (5:19) 1-N.Rackers 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-10-S.Player.
7. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q3 24:24 · ARI 11 · Score 17-6
   (9:24) 4-A.Vinatieri 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-Jo.Miller.
8. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q3 16:38 · NE 1 · Score 17-12
   (1:38) 22-E.Smith left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
9. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q4 12:34 · ARI 11 · Score 20-12
   (12:34) 4-A.Vinatieri 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-Jo.Miller.
10. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q4 6:29 · ARI 7 · Score 23-12
    (6:29) 4-A.Vinatieri 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-8-Jo.Miller.