New England Patriots vs. Arizona Cardinals: 2024 Week 15 Recap

Game story

In Week 15 of the 2024 NFL season on 2024-12-15, the Arizona Cardinals took care of business against the New England Patriots, pulling away with a 30–17 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 28 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

K. Murray (Arizona Cardinals) paced the passing game, with +11.61 total EPA, and +5.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, K. Murray (Arizona Cardinals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +11.61 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-8.6% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New England Patriots changed the game: (10:44) 13-J.Slye 53 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer.

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. Murray · Arizona Cardinals · Passing · +11.61 total EPA · 39 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
2. 2 G. Dortch · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +6.13 total EPA · 3 snaps · +2.04 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Maye · New England Patriots · Passing · +5.80 total EPA · 29 snaps · +0.20 EPA/play
4. 4 T. McBride · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +4.07 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.41 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Conner · Arizona Cardinals · Rushing · +2.97 total EPA · 17 snaps · +0.17 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Hooper · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.90 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.97 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Conner · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +2.51 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.50 EPA/play
8. 8 K. Bourne · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.10 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.70 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 — G. Dortch (Q1 46:31)
• Arizona Cardinals — J. Conner (Q4 10:42)
• New England Patriots — D. Douglas (D. Maye pass) (Q4 8:22)
• Arizona Cardinals — J. Conner (Q4 3:29)
• New England Patriots — D. Maye (Q4 2:00)

Field goals

• Arizona Cardinals — C. Ryland (Q1 52:18)
• New England Patriots — J. Slye (Q2 32:06)
• Arizona Cardinals — C. Ryland (Q2 30:20)
• Arizona Cardinals — C. Ryland (Q3 24:12)

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 10–0. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the NE 31 (Q1 52:18) — (7:18) 38-C.Ryland 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-10-M.Palardy.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the NE 8 (Q1 46:31); Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q1 46:21) — 38-C.Ryland extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-10-M.Palardy..

The second quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the ARI 32 (Q2 32:06) — (2:06) 13-J.Slye 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the NE 17 (Q2 30:20) — (:20) 38-C.Ryland 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-10-M.Palardy..

The third quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 3–0. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the NE 21 (Q3 24:12) — (9:12) 38-C.Ryland 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-10-M.Palardy..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 14–14. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the NE 1 (Q4 10:42) — (10:42) 59-J.Gaines reported in as eligible. 6-J.Conner up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q4 10:39) — 38-C.Ryland extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-10-M.Palardy.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the ARI 3 (Q4 8:22) — (8:22) (Shotgun) 10-D.Maye pass short left to 3-D.Douglas for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q4 8:14) — 13-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the NE 1 (Q4 3:29) — (3:29) (Shotgun) 6-J.Conner up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the NE 15 (Q4 3:27) — 38-C.Ryland extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-10-M.Palardy.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the ARI 5 (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 10-D.Maye scrambles right end for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q4 1:55) — 13-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer..

Turning points

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

• New England Patriots (Q1 55:44) — (10:44) 13-J.Slye 53 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer. [WPA -8.6% · EPA -4.10]
• New England Patriots (Q1 58:49) — (13:49) (Shotgun) 77-B.Brown to NE 41 for -5 yards. FUMBLES, recovered by NE-10-D.Maye at NE 41. 10-D.Maye pass short right to 38-R.Stevenson to ARI 38 for 16 yards (3-B.Baker). [WPA +8.1% · EPA +1.37]
• New England Patriots (Q1 57:24) — (12:24) (Shotgun) 4-A.Gibson left tackle pushed ob at ARI 18 for 15 yards (23-S.Murphy-Bunting). PENALTY on NE-64-L.Robinson, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at ARI 33 - No Play. [WPA -7.5% · EPA -1.95]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 30:46) — (:46) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short left to 4-G.Dortch pushed ob at NE 21 for 39 yards (25-M.Jones). [WPA +6.9% · EPA +3.48]
• New England Patriots (Q1 56:55) — (11:55) (Shotgun) 10-D.Maye pass short middle to 84-K.Bourne to ARI 38 for 5 yards (34-J.Thompson). PENALTY on ARI-53-B.Browning, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced at ARI 43 - No Play. [WPA +6.4% · EPA +0.96]

Impact plays

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

• New England Patriots (Q3 19:59) — (4:59) 61-L.Cotton and 62-S.Sow reported in as eligible. 38-R.Stevenson up the middle to ARI 4 for no gain (7-K.White; 51-K.Barnes). [WPA -4.9% · EPA -4.34]
• New England Patriots (Q3 15:39) — (:39) (Shotgun) 10-D.Maye pass short middle intended for 9-K.Boutte INTERCEPTED by 23-S.Murphy-Bunting at ARI 43. 23-S.Murphy-Bunting to ARI 45 for 2 yards (3-D.Douglas). [WPA -4.1% · EPA -4.28]
• New England Patriots (Q1 55:44) — (10:44) 13-J.Slye 53 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer. [WPA -8.6% · EPA -4.10]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 30:46) — (:46) (Shotgun) 1-K.Murray pass short left to 4-G.Dortch pushed ob at NE 21 for 39 yards (25-M.Jones). [WPA +6.9% · EPA +3.48]

Quarterback report card

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

• K.Murray (Arizona Cardinals) · 39 dropbacks · 59.0% completion · +5.9% CPOE · +0.30 EPA/play · +11.61 total EPA
• D.Maye (New England Patriots) · 29 dropbacks · 65.5% completion · +12.0% CPOE · +0.20 EPA/play · +5.80 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 (+0.18 vs +0.01), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Arizona Cardinals: 9 drives, +14.88 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 9 drives, +0.44 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. Murray (Arizona Cardinals) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• K. Murray (ARI) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• D. Maye (NE) 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 FG (+3) — Q1 52:18 · NE 31 · Score 0-3
   (7:18) 38-C.Ryland 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-10-M.Palardy.
2. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q1 46:31 · NE 8 · Score 0-9
   (1:31) 4-G.Dortch left end to NE 2 for 6 yards (33-A.Jennings; 5-J.Peppers). FUMBLES (33-A.Jennings), recovered by ARI-73-J.Williams at NE -9. TOUCHDOWN.
3. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q1 46:21 · NE 15 · Score 0-10
   38-C.Ryland extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-10-M.Palardy.
4. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 32:06 · ARI 32 · Score 3-10
   (2:06) 13-J.Slye 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer.
5. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 30:20 · NE 17 · Score 3-13
   (:20) 38-C.Ryland 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-10-M.Palardy.
6. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q3 24:12 · NE 21 · Score 3-16
   (9:12) 38-C.Ryland 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-10-M.Palardy.
7. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 10:42 · NE 1 · Score 3-22
   (10:42) 59-J.Gaines reported in as eligible. 6-J.Conner up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q4 10:39 · NE 15 · Score 3-23
   38-C.Ryland extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-10-M.Palardy.
9. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 8:22 · ARI 3 · Score 9-23
   (8:22) (Shotgun) 10-D.Maye pass short left to 3-D.Douglas for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 8:14 · ARI 15 · Score 10-23
    13-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer.
11. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 3:29 · NE 1 · Score 10-29
    (3:29) (Shotgun) 6-J.Conner up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q4 3:27 · NE 15 · Score 10-30
    38-C.Ryland extra point is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-10-M.Palardy.
13. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 2:00 · ARI 5 · Score 16-30
    (2:00) (Shotgun) 10-D.Maye scrambles right end for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 1:55 · ARI 15 · Score 17-30
    13-J.Slye extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Cardona, Holder-17-B.Baringer.