San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals: 2010 Week 12 Recap

Game story

In Week 12 of the 2010 NFL season on 2010-11-29, the San Francisco 49ers took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 27–6 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Anderson (Arizona Cardinals) paced the passing game, with -10.85 total EPA, and -16.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, F. Gore (San Francisco 49ers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.74 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-17.1% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Arizona Cardinals changed the game: (9:48) (Shotgun) 3-D.Anderson FUMBLES (Aborted) at ARI 35, RECOVERED by SF-92-A.Franklin at ARI 38.

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 F. Gore · San Francisco 49ers · Rushing · +4.74 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.79 EPA/play
2. 2 B. Westbrook · San Francisco 49ers · Rushing · +4.53 total EPA · 24 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play
3. 3 C. Wells · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +3.74 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.74 EPA/play
4. 4 V. Davis · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +2.37 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.59 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Morgan · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +1.64 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.33 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Dixon · San Francisco 49ers · Rushing · +1.43 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.10 EPA/play
7. 7 M. Norris · San Francisco 49ers · Rushing · +1.16 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.16 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Morgan · San Francisco 49ers · Rushing · +0.83 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.83 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

• San Francisco 49ers — M. Crabtree (T. Smith pass) (Q1 54:42)
• San Francisco 49ers — A. Dixon (Q1 45:34)
• San Francisco 49ers — B. Westbrook (Q2 37:29)

Field goals

• Arizona Cardinals — J. Feely (Q1 51:01)
• Arizona Cardinals — J. Feely (Q2 32:21)
• San Francisco 49ers — S. Andrus (Q3 17:43)
• San Francisco 49ers — S. Andrus (Q4 12:48)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 14–3. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the ARI 38 (Q1 54:42) — (9:42) 1-T.Smith pass deep middle to 15-M.Crabtree for 38 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q1 54:35) — 9-S.Andrus extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the SF 13 (Q1 51:01) — (6:01) 4-J.Feely 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the ARI 1 (Q1 45:34) — (:34) 24-A.Dixon right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q1 45:29) — 9-S.Andrus extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The second quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 7–3. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the ARI 8 (Q2 37:29) — (7:29) 20-B.Westbrook up the middle for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q2 37:23) — 9-S.Andrus extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the SF 21 (Q2 32:21) — (2:21) 4-J.Feely 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham..

The third quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 3–0. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the ARI 20 (Q3 17:43) — (2:43) 9-S.Andrus 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The fourth quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 3–0. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the ARI 8 (Q4 12:48) — (12:48) 9-S.Andrus 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

Turning points

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 54:48) — (9:48) (Shotgun) 3-D.Anderson FUMBLES (Aborted) at ARI 35, RECOVERED by SF-92-A.Franklin at ARI 38. [WPA -17.1% · EPA -5.43]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 53:10) — (8:10) 3-D.Anderson pass deep right to 26-C.Wells to SF 20 for 43 yards (51-T.Spikes). [WPA +9.5% · EPA +3.74]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 59:07) — (14:07) (Shotgun) 21-F.Gore left tackle to ARI 45 for 15 yards (51-P.Lenon). [WPA +8.6% · EPA +3.03]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 54:42) — (9:42) 1-T.Smith pass deep middle to 15-M.Crabtree for 38 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +8.3% · EPA +3.72]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 54:55) — (9:55) 9-S.Andrus 47 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee. [WPA -8.1% · EPA -3.96]

Impact plays

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 16:50) — (1:50) 3-D.Anderson pass short right intended for 80-E.Doucet INTERCEPTED by 51-T.Spikes at SF 35. 51-T.Spikes to ARI 45 for 20 yards. Lateral to 22-N.Clements to ARI 12 for 33 yards (34-T.Hightower). [WPA -3.7% · EPA -5.83]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 54:48) — (9:48) (Shotgun) 3-D.Anderson FUMBLES (Aborted) at ARI 35, RECOVERED by SF-92-A.Franklin at ARI 38. [WPA -17.1% · EPA -5.43]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 23:34) — (8:34) 9-S.Andrus 37 yard field goal is BLOCKED (29-D.Rodgers-Cromartie), Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee. [WPA -2.4% · EPA -4.05]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 54:55) — (9:55) 9-S.Andrus 47 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee. [WPA -8.1% · EPA -3.96]

Quarterback report card

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

• D.Anderson (Arizona Cardinals) · 36 dropbacks · 44.4% completion · -16.9% CPOE · -0.30 EPA/play · -10.85 total EPA
• T.Smith (San Francisco 49ers) · 25 dropbacks · 44.0% completion · -11.8% CPOE · +0.00 EPA/play · +0.12 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, San Francisco 49ers generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.05 vs -0.33), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Arizona Cardinals: 11 drives, -20.90 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 12 drives, +4.78 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• San Francisco 49ers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• F. Gore (San Francisco 49ers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Anderson (ARI) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• T. Smith (SF) 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. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q1 54:42 · ARI 38 · Score 6-0
   (9:42) 1-T.Smith pass deep middle to 15-M.Crabtree for 38 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q1 54:35 · ARI 2 · Score 7-0
   9-S.Andrus extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
3. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q1 51:01 · SF 13 · Score 7-3
   (6:01) 4-J.Feely 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.
4. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q1 45:34 · ARI 1 · Score 13-3
   (:34) 24-A.Dixon right tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
5. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q1 45:29 · ARI 2 · Score 14-3
   9-S.Andrus extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
6. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q2 37:29 · ARI 8 · Score 20-3
   (7:29) 20-B.Westbrook up the middle for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q2 37:23 · ARI 2 · Score 21-3
   9-S.Andrus extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
8. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 32:21 · SF 21 · Score 21-6
   (2:21) 4-J.Feely 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-5-B.Graham.
9. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q3 17:43 · ARI 20 · Score 24-6
   (2:43) 9-S.Andrus 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
10. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q4 12:48 · ARI 8 · Score 27-6
    (12:48) 9-S.Andrus 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.