Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals: 2008 Week 17 Recap

Game story

In Week 17 of the 2008 NFL season on 2008-12-28, the Arizona Cardinals took care of business against the Seattle Seahawks, pulling away with a 34–21 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

S. Wallace (Seattle Seahawks) paced the passing game, with +9.53 total EPA, and -10.1% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Branch (Seattle Seahawks) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +13.04 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+17.7% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Arizona Cardinals changed the game: (8:49) 13-K.Warner pass deep right to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 38 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 D. Branch · Seattle Seahawks · Receiving · +13.04 total EPA · 6 snaps · +2.17 EPA/play
2. 2 L. Fitzgerald · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +12.34 total EPA · 5 snaps · +2.47 EPA/play
3. 3 K. Warner · Arizona Cardinals · Passing · +10.00 total EPA · 32 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
4. 4 S. Wallace · Seattle Seahawks · Passing · +9.53 total EPA · 49 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Urban · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +5.79 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.45 EPA/play
6. 6 S. Breaston · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +5.67 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.13 EPA/play
7. 7 B. Engram · Seattle Seahawks · Receiving · +3.91 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.65 EPA/play
8. 8 K. Robinson · Seattle Seahawks · Receiving · +3.79 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.26 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

• Seattle Seahawks — T. Duckett (Q1 52:38)
• Arizona Cardinals — J. Urban (K. Warner pass) (Q2 35:52)
• Arizona Cardinals — L. Fitzgerald (K. Warner pass) (Q2 34:29)
• Seattle Seahawks — D. Branch (S. Wallace pass) (Q2 31:24)
• Arizona Cardinals — L. Fitzgerald (K. Warner pass) (Q3 23:49)
• Arizona Cardinals — S. Breaston (K. Warner pass) (Q3 16:22)
• Seattle Seahawks — D. Branch (S. Wallace pass) (Q4 12:11)

Field goals

• Arizona Cardinals — N. Rackers (Q4 8:31)
• Arizona Cardinals — N. Rackers (Q4 3:31)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Seattle Seahawks won the period 7–0. Seattle Seahawks found the end zone from the ARI 1 (Q1 52:38) — (7:38) 42-T.Duckett up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Seattle Seahawks added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q1 52:32) — 10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Robinson, Holder-9-J.Ryan..

The second quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 14–7. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the SEA 16 (Q2 35:52) — (5:52) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass deep left to 85-J.Urban for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the SEA 2 (Q2 35:45) — 1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-5-B.Graham.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the SEA 5 (Q2 34:29) — (4:29) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass short right to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the SEA 2 (Q2 34:23) — 1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-5-B.Graham.; Seattle Seahawks found the end zone from the ARI 30 (Q2 31:24) — (1:24) 15-S.Wallace pass deep right to 83-D.Branch for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN [54-G.Hayes].; Seattle Seahawks added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q2 31:17) — 10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Robinson, Holder-9-J.Ryan..

The third quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 14–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the SEA 38 (Q3 23:49) — (8:49) 13-K.Warner pass deep right to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 38 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the SEA 2 (Q3 23:43) — 1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-5-B.Graham.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the SEA 14 (Q3 16:22) — (1:22) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass short left to 15-S.Breaston for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the SEA 2 (Q3 16:16) — 1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-5-B.Graham..

The fourth quarter: Seattle Seahawks won the period 7–6. Seattle Seahawks found the end zone from the ARI 2 (Q4 12:11) — (12:11) 15-S.Wallace pass short middle to 83-D.Branch for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Seattle Seahawks added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q4 12:04) — 10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Robinson, Holder-9-J.Ryan.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the SEA 5 (Q4 8:31) — (8:31) 1-N.Rackers 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-5-B.Graham.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the SEA 14 (Q4 3:31) — (3:31) 1-N.Rackers 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-5-B.Graham..

Turning points

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 23:49) — (8:49) 13-K.Warner pass deep right to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 38 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +17.7% · EPA +5.26]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q2 35:52) — (5:52) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass deep left to 85-J.Urban for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.6% · EPA +3.40]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 58:56) — (13:56) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner sacked at SEA 41 for -2 yards (55-D.Tapp). FUMBLES (55-D.Tapp) [55-D.Tapp], touched at SEA 38, RECOVERED by SEA-26-J.Wilson at SEA 36. 26-J.Wilson to SEA 36 for no gain ( [WPA -13.4% · EPA -4.85]
• Seattle Seahawks (Q1 55:43) — (10:43) 42-T.Duckett right tackle to ARI 38 for 4 yards (52-M.Beisel, 24-A.Wilson). [WPA +11.9% · EPA +2.52]
• Seattle Seahawks (Q2 31:24) — (1:24) 15-S.Wallace pass deep right to 83-D.Branch for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN [54-G.Hayes]. [WPA +11.3% · EPA +3.87]

Impact plays

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 23:49) — (8:49) 13-K.Warner pass deep right to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 38 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +17.7% · EPA +5.26]
• Seattle Seahawks (Q2 35:30) — (5:30) 20-M.Morris left end to SEA 30 for -1 yards (58-K.Dansby). FUMBLES (58-K.Dansby), touched at SEA 27, RECOVERED by ARI-20-R.Brown at SEA 23. 20-R.Brown to SEA 12 for 11 yards (89-J.Carlson). Pen [WPA -11.0% · EPA -5.18]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 58:56) — (13:56) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner sacked at SEA 41 for -2 yards (55-D.Tapp). FUMBLES (55-D.Tapp) [55-D.Tapp], touched at SEA 38, RECOVERED by SEA-26-J.Wilson at SEA 36. 26-J.Wilson to SEA 36 for no gain ( [WPA -13.4% · EPA -4.85]
• Seattle Seahawks (Q4 1:10) — (1:10) 15-S.Wallace pass short right intended for 89-J.Carlson INTERCEPTED by 29-D.Rodgers-Cromartie at SEA 36. 29-D.Rodgers-Cromartie to SEA 20 for 16 yards (15-S.Wallace). FUMBLES (15-S.Wallace), an [WPA -0.3% · EPA -4.20]

Quarterback report card

S.Wallace led all passers in efficiency for Seattle Seahawks, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• S.Wallace (Seattle Seahawks) · 49 dropbacks · 49.0% completion · -10.1% CPOE · +0.19 EPA/play · +9.53 total EPA
• K.Warner (Arizona Cardinals) · 32 dropbacks · 59.4% completion · -0.6% CPOE · +0.31 EPA/play · +10.00 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 (+0.12 vs -0.04), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Arizona Cardinals: 12 drives, +9.47 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Seattle Seahawks: 11 drives, -3.46 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.
• D. Branch (Seattle Seahawks) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• S. Wallace (SEA) 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. Seattle Seahawks TD (+6) — Q1 52:38 · ARI 1 · Score 6-0
   (7:38) 42-T.Duckett up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Seattle Seahawks XP (+1) — Q1 52:32 · ARI 2 · Score 7-0
   10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Robinson, Holder-9-J.Ryan.
3. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 35:52 · SEA 16 · Score 7-6
   (5:52) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass deep left to 85-J.Urban for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 35:45 · SEA 2 · Score 7-7
   1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-5-B.Graham.
5. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q2 34:29 · SEA 5 · Score 7-13
   (4:29) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass short right to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q2 34:23 · SEA 2 · Score 7-14
   1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-5-B.Graham.
7. Seattle Seahawks TD (+6) — Q2 31:24 · ARI 30 · Score 13-14
   (1:24) 15-S.Wallace pass deep right to 83-D.Branch for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN [54-G.Hayes].
8. Seattle Seahawks XP (+1) — Q2 31:17 · ARI 2 · Score 14-14
   10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Robinson, Holder-9-J.Ryan.
9. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q3 23:49 · SEA 38 · Score 14-20
   (8:49) 13-K.Warner pass deep right to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 38 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q3 23:43 · SEA 2 · Score 14-21
    1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-5-B.Graham.
11. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q3 16:22 · SEA 14 · Score 14-27
    (1:22) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass short left to 15-S.Breaston for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q3 16:16 · SEA 2 · Score 14-28
    1-N.Rackers extra point is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-5-B.Graham.
13. Seattle Seahawks TD (+6) — Q4 12:11 · ARI 2 · Score 20-28
    (12:11) 15-S.Wallace pass short middle to 83-D.Branch for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Seattle Seahawks XP (+1) — Q4 12:04 · ARI 2 · Score 21-28
    10-O.Mare extra point is GOOD, Center-49-J.Robinson, Holder-9-J.Ryan.
15. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q4 8:31 · SEA 5 · Score 21-31
    (8:31) 1-N.Rackers 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-5-B.Graham.
16. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q4 3:31 · SEA 14 · Score 21-34
    (3:31) 1-N.Rackers 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-N.Hodel, Holder-5-B.Graham.