San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals: 2014 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2014 NFL season on 2014-09-21, the Arizona Cardinals took care of business against the San Francisco 49ers, pulling away with a 23–14 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Kaepernick (San Francisco 49ers) paced the passing game, with +10.42 total EPA, and +15.1% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, D. Stanton (Arizona Cardinals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +14.87 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+13.2% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Arizona Cardinals changed the game: (9:25) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass deep middle to 12-Jo. Brown for 24 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. Stanton · Arizona Cardinals · Passing · +14.87 total EPA · 39 snaps · +0.38 EPA/play
2. 2 C. Kaepernick · San Francisco 49ers · Passing · +10.42 total EPA · 46 snaps · +0.23 EPA/play
3. 3 S. Johnson · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +8.65 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.96 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Floyd · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +7.49 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.83 EPA/play
5. 5 Jo. Brown · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +5.53 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.92 EPA/play
6. 6 M. Crabtree · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +4.87 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.44 EPA/play
7. 7 J. Carlson · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +3.38 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.13 EPA/play
8. 8 C. Hyde · San Francisco 49ers · Rushing · +1.70 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.57 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 (C. Kaepernick pass) (Q1 51:51)
• San Francisco 49ers — C. Hyde (Q2 35:14)
• Arizona Cardinals — D. Stanton (Q3 24:25)
• Arizona Cardinals — D. Stanton (Q3 19:44)

Field goals

• Arizona Cardinals — C. Catanzaro (Q1 57:28)
• Arizona Cardinals — C. Catanzaro (Q2 43:47)
• Arizona Cardinals — C. Catanzaro (Q4 0:34)

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 7–3. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the SF 33 (Q1 57:28) — (12:28) 7-C.Catanzaro 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the ARI 2 (Q1 51:51) — (6:51) (Shotgun) 7-C.Kaepernick pass short left to 15-M.Crabtree for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q1 51:45) — 9-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The second quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 7–3. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the SF 14 (Q2 43:47) — (13:47) 7-C.Catanzaro 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the ARI 6 (Q2 35:14) — (5:14) SF #78 reports as eligible. 28-C.Hyde left end for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the ARI 2 (Q2 35:07) — 9-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-4-A.Lee..

The third quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 14–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the SF 24 (Q3 24:25) — (9:25) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass deep middle to 12-Jo. Brown for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q3 24:20) — 7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the SF 21 (Q3 19:44) — (4:44) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass deep middle to 12-Jo. Brown for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the SF 2 (Q3 19:39) — 7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler..

The fourth quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 3–0. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the SF 17 (Q4 0:34) — (:34) 7-C.Catanzaro 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler..

Turning points

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 24:25) — (9:25) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass deep middle to 12-Jo. Brown for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.2% · EPA +2.47]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q3 17:29) — (2:29) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 7-C.Kaepernick pass short left to 13-S.Johnson pushed ob at ARI 17 for 32 yards (28-J.Bethel). [WPA +11.8% · EPA +2.31]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 58:48) — (13:48) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass deep right to 15-M.Floyd ran ob at SF 38 for 36 yards. [WPA +11.2% · EPA +3.17]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 26:27) — (11:27) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass deep left to 15-M.Floyd to SF 38 for 45 yards (29-C.Culliver). [WPA +10.1% · EPA +4.16]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 19:44) — (4:44) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass deep middle to 12-Jo. Brown for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +10.0% · EPA +3.33]

Impact plays

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

• San Francisco 49ers (Q4 13:40) — (13:40) 9-P.Dawson 45 yard field goal is BLOCKED (95-T.Kelly), Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-4-A.Lee, RECOVERED by ARI-72-E.Stinson at ARI 47. 72-E.Stinson to ARI 47 for no gain (77-M.Iupati). [WPA -8.8% · EPA -4.69]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 7:03) — (7:03) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass short right to 11-L.Fitzgerald to SF 4 for 5 yards (57-M.Wilhoite). FUMBLES (57-M.Wilhoite), RECOVERED by SF-20-P.Cox at SF 5. [WPA -7.0% · EPA -4.39]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 26:27) — (11:27) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass deep left to 15-M.Floyd to SF 38 for 45 yards (29-C.Culliver). [WPA +10.1% · EPA +4.16]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q3 19:44) — (4:44) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass deep middle to 12-Jo. Brown for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +10.0% · EPA +3.33]

Quarterback report card

C.Kaepernick led all passers in efficiency for San Francisco 49ers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• C.Kaepernick (San Francisco 49ers) · 46 dropbacks · 63.0% completion · +15.1% CPOE · +0.23 EPA/play · +10.42 total EPA
• D.Stanton (Arizona Cardinals) · 39 dropbacks · 46.2% completion · -0.4% CPOE · +0.38 EPA/play · +14.87 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 (+0.15 vs +0.03), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Arizona Cardinals: 8 drives, +11.50 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 8 drives, +2.67 total EPA, 2 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. Stanton (Arizona Cardinals) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• C. Kaepernick (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. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q1 57:28 · SF 33 · Score 0-3
   (12:28) 7-C.Catanzaro 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.
2. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q1 51:51 · ARI 2 · Score 6-3
   (6:51) (Shotgun) 7-C.Kaepernick pass short left to 15-M.Crabtree for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q1 51:45 · ARI 2 · Score 7-3
   9-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-4-A.Lee.
4. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 43:47 · SF 14 · Score 7-6
   (13:47) 7-C.Catanzaro 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.
5. San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q2 35:14 · ARI 6 · Score 13-6
   (5:14) SF #78 reports as eligible. 28-C.Hyde left end for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q2 35:07 · ARI 2 · Score 14-6
   9-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-4-A.Lee.
7. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q3 24:25 · SF 24 · Score 14-12
   (9:25) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass deep middle to 12-Jo. Brown for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q3 24:20 · SF 2 · Score 14-13
   7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.
9. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q3 19:44 · SF 21 · Score 14-19
   (4:44) (Shotgun) 5-D.Stanton pass deep middle to 12-Jo. Brown for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q3 19:39 · SF 2 · Score 14-20
    7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.
11. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q4 0:34 · SF 17 · Score 14-23
    (:34) 7-C.Catanzaro 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.