San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals: 2017 Week 4 Recap

Game story

In Week 4 of the 2017 NFL season on 2017-10-01, the Arizona Cardinals took care of business against the San Francisco 49ers, pulling away with a 18–15 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 9 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Palmer (Arizona Cardinals) paced the passing game, with +0.33 total EPA, and +2.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, Ja. Brown (Arizona Cardinals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.26 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-32.2% win probability) landed in overtime when San Francisco 49ers changed the game: (2:28) 9-R.Gould 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion.

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 Ja. Brown · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +4.26 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.35 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Brown · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +2.41 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.34 EPA/play
3. 3 B. Hoyer · San Francisco 49ers · Rushing · +2.35 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.35 EPA/play
4. 4 G. Kittle · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +1.84 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.61 EPA/play
5. 5 C. Johnson · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +1.62 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.54 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Nelson · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +1.52 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.38 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Hyde · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +1.13 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play
8. 8 K. Juszczyk · San Francisco 49ers · Rushing · +0.98 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.98 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 — L. Fitzgerald (C. Palmer pass) (OT 0:38)

Field goals

• San Francisco 49ers — R. Gould (Q1 47:11)
• Arizona Cardinals — P. Dawson (Q2 43:11)
• San Francisco 49ers — R. Gould (Q2 37:21)
• Arizona Cardinals — P. Dawson (Q2 31:29)
• San Francisco 49ers — R. Gould (Q3 25:39)
• Arizona Cardinals — P. Dawson (Q3 21:55)
• San Francisco 49ers — R. Gould (Q3 17:27)
• Arizona Cardinals — P. Dawson (Q4 7:46)
• San Francisco 49ers — R. Gould (OT 2:28)

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 3–0. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the ARI 31 (Q1 47:11) — (2:11) 9-R.Gould 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion..

The second quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 6–3. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the SF 12 (Q2 43:11) — (13:11) 4-P.Dawson 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the ARI 21 (Q2 37:21) — (7:21) 9-R.Gould 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the SF 25 (Q2 31:29) — (1:29) 4-P.Dawson 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee..

The third quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 6–3. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the ARI 29 (Q3 25:39) — (10:39) 9-R.Gould 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the SF 32 (Q3 21:55) — (6:55) 4-P.Dawson 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the ARI 30 (Q3 17:27) — (2:27) 9-R.Gould 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion..

The fourth quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 3–0. Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the SF 14 (Q4 7:46) — (7:46) 4-P.Dawson 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee..

Overtime: Arizona Cardinals won the period 6–3. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the ARI 5 (OT 2:28) — (2:28) 9-R.Gould 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion.; Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the SF 19 (OT 0:38) — (:38) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass deep right to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

Turning points

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

• San Francisco 49ers (OT 2:28) — (2:28) 9-R.Gould 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion. [WPA -32.2% · EPA +0.06]
• Arizona Cardinals (OT 0:38) — (:38) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass deep right to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +20.8% · EPA +2.98]
• San Francisco 49ers (OT 7:23) — (7:23) (Shotgun) 2-B.Hoyer pass short left to 81-T.Taylor to ARI 39 for 8 yards (32-T.Mathieu). [WPA +15.0% · EPA +1.26]
• Arizona Cardinals (OT 1:55) — (1:55) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass deep left to 13-Ja.Brown to SF 36 for 17 yards (26-L.Jerome). [WPA +14.7% · EPA +0.85]
• San Francisco 49ers (OT 2:33) — (2:33) (Shotgun) 2-B.Hoyer pass incomplete short left. [WPA +14.1% · EPA -1.11]

Impact plays

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

• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 53:24) — (8:24) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass short middle intended for 84-J.Gresham INTERCEPTED by 54-R.Armstrong (33-R.Robinson) [99-D.Buckner] at SF 0. Touchback. [WPA -13.9% · EPA -5.22]
• San Francisco 49ers (Q2 32:05) — (2:05) (Shotgun) 2-B.Hoyer pass deep left intended for 81-T.Taylor INTERCEPTED by 41-A.Bethea [92-F.Rucker] at SF 46. 41-A.Bethea to SF 30 for 16 yards (85-G.Kittle). [WPA -11.6% · EPA -3.50]
• Arizona Cardinals (OT 0:38) — (:38) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass deep right to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +20.8% · EPA +2.98]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q1 56:44) — (11:44) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass short middle to 12-J.Brown to SF 25 for 16 yards (33-R.Robinson) [94-S.Thomas]. [WPA +10.7% · EPA +2.59]

Quarterback report card

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

• C.Palmer (Arizona Cardinals) · 62 dropbacks · 53.2% completion · +2.6% CPOE · +0.01 EPA/play · +0.33 total EPA
• B.Hoyer (San Francisco 49ers) · 57 dropbacks · 42.1% completion · -15.1% CPOE · -0.12 EPA/play · -6.89 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (San Francisco 49ers -0.06, Arizona Cardinals -0.04) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Arizona Cardinals: 14 drives, -4.58 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• San Francisco 49ers: 13 drives, -5.83 total EPA, 5 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• Ja. Brown (Arizona Cardinals) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• B. Hoyer (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 FG (+3) — Q1 47:11 · ARI 31 · Score 3-0
   (2:11) 9-R.Gould 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion.
2. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 43:11 · SF 12 · Score 3-3
   (13:11) 4-P.Dawson 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.
3. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q2 37:21 · ARI 21 · Score 6-3
   (7:21) 9-R.Gould 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion.
4. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q2 31:29 · SF 25 · Score 6-6
   (1:29) 4-P.Dawson 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.
5. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q3 25:39 · ARI 29 · Score 9-6
   (10:39) 9-R.Gould 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion.
6. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q3 21:55 · SF 32 · Score 9-9
   (6:55) 4-P.Dawson 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.
7. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q3 17:27 · ARI 30 · Score 12-9
   (2:27) 9-R.Gould 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion.
8. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q4 7:46 · SF 14 · Score 12-12
   (7:46) 4-P.Dawson 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-A.Brewer, Holder-2-A.Lee.
9. San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — OT 2:28 · ARI 5 · Score 15-12
   (2:28) 9-R.Gould 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-86-K.Nelson, Holder-5-B.Pinion.
10. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — OT 0:38 · SF 19 · Score 15-18
    (:38) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass deep right to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN.