San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals: 2012 Week 8 Recap

Game story

In Week 8 of the 2012 NFL season on 2012-10-29, the San Francisco 49ers took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals, pulling away with a 24–3 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 10 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Skelton (Arizona Cardinals) paced the passing game, with -7.22 total EPA, and -5.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, A. Smith (San Francisco 49ers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +14.00 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+8.2% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when San Francisco 49ers changed the game: (3:59) 11-A.Smith pass deep left to 46-D.Walker to ARI 7 for 23 yards (25-K.Rhodes).

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 A. Smith · San Francisco 49ers · Passing · +14.00 total EPA · 24 snaps · +0.58 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Crabtree · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +11.06 total EPA · 5 snaps · +2.21 EPA/play
3. 3 R. Moss · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +5.76 total EPA · 1 snaps · +5.76 EPA/play
4. 4 J. King · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +5.66 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.89 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Walker · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +2.67 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.89 EPA/play
6. 6 V. Davis · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +2.45 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.22 EPA/play
7. 7 E. Doucet · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +1.75 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.44 EPA/play
8. 8 R. Housler · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +1.29 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.26 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

• San Francisco 49ers — M. Crabtree (A. Smith pass) (Q1 46:58)
• San Francisco 49ers — M. Crabtree (A. Smith pass) (Q2 31:47)
• San Francisco 49ers — R. Moss (A. Smith pass) (Q3 22:39)

Field goals

• San Francisco 49ers — D. Akers (Q2 36:52)
• Arizona Cardinals — J. Feely (Q3 16:00)

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 7–0. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the ARI 3 (Q1 46:58) — (1:58) 11-A.Smith pass short right to 15-M.Crabtree for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q1 46:53) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The second quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 10–0. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the ARI 25 (Q2 36:52) — (6:52) 2-D.Akers 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the ARI 9 (Q2 31:47) — (1:47) 11-A.Smith pass short right to 15-M.Crabtree for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q2 31:41) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The third quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 7–3. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the ARI 47 (Q3 22:39) — (7:39) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short left to 84-R.Moss for 47 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q3 22:27) — 2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the SF 10 (Q3 16:00) — (1:00) 3-J.Feely 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-9-D.Zastudil..

Turning points

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

• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 48:59) — (3:59) 11-A.Smith pass deep left to 46-D.Walker to ARI 7 for 23 yards (25-K.Rhodes). [WPA +8.2% · EPA +2.37]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 50:46) — (5:46) 21-F.Gore up the middle to ARI 25 for 17 yards (25-K.Rhodes; 51-P.Lenon). [WPA +7.1% · EPA +1.14]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 36:52) — (6:52) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short middle to 15-M.Crabtree to ARI 25 for 22 yards (25-K.Rhodes). [WPA +6.1% · EPA +1.14]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 22:39) — (7:39) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short left to 84-R.Moss for 47 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +5.3% · EPA +5.76]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q1 57:47) — (12:47) 11-A.Smith pass short right to 32-K.Hunter to ARI 39 for 6 yards (21-P.Peterson). PENALTY on SF-75-A.Boone, Face Mask (15 Yards), 15 yards, enforced at ARI 39. [WPA -4.8% · EPA -1.31]

Impact plays

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

• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 22:39) — (7:39) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short left to 84-R.Moss for 47 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +5.3% · EPA +5.76]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 31:47) — (1:47) 11-A.Smith pass short right to 15-M.Crabtree for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +3.7% · EPA +3.71]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 24:47) — (9:47) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short right to 15-M.Crabtree to ARI 49 for 30 yards (23-J.Fleming). [WPA +3.1% · EPA +3.30]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 19:26) — (4:26) (Shotgun) 19-J.Skelton pass short middle to 87-J.King to SF 29 for 10 yards (20-P.Cox). [WPA +0.4% · EPA +3.27]

Quarterback report card

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

• J.Skelton (Arizona Cardinals) · 60 dropbacks · 53.3% completion · -5.3% CPOE · -0.12 EPA/play · -7.22 total EPA
• A.Smith (San Francisco 49ers) · 24 dropbacks · 75.0% completion · +23.6% CPOE · +0.58 EPA/play · +14.00 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 (+0.14 vs -0.17), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Arizona Cardinals: 10 drives, -14.51 total EPA, 1 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 10 drives, +10.08 total EPA, 4 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.
• A. Smith (San Francisco 49ers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Skelton (ARI) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• A. Smith (SF) 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. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q1 46:58 · ARI 3 · Score 6-0
   (1:58) 11-A.Smith pass short right to 15-M.Crabtree for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q1 46:53 · ARI 2 · Score 7-0
   2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
3. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q2 36:52 · ARI 25 · Score 10-0
   (6:52) 2-D.Akers 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
4. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q2 31:47 · ARI 9 · Score 16-0
   (1:47) 11-A.Smith pass short right to 15-M.Crabtree for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q2 31:41 · ARI 2 · Score 17-0
   2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
6. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q3 22:39 · ARI 47 · Score 23-0
   (7:39) (Shotgun) 11-A.Smith pass short left to 84-R.Moss for 47 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q3 22:27 · ARI 2 · Score 24-0
   2-D.Akers extra point is GOOD, Center-86-B.Jennings, Holder-4-A.Lee.
8. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q3 16:00 · SF 10 · Score 24-3
   (1:00) 3-J.Feely 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-9-D.Zastudil.