Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals: 2015 Wild Card Recap

Game story

In the Wild Card of the 2015 NFL season on 2016-01-16, the Arizona Cardinals took care of business against the Green Bay Packers, pulling away with a 26–20 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

A. Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) paced the passing game, with +1.69 total EPA, and -0.9% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Janis (Green Bay Packers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +12.53 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+38.9% win probability) landed in overtime when Arizona Cardinals changed the game: (15:00) 3-C.Palmer pass short left to 11-L.Fitzgerald to GB 5 for 75 yards (29-C.Hayward).

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 J. Janis · Green Bay Packers · Receiving · +12.53 total EPA · 11 snaps · +1.14 EPA/play
2. 2 L. Fitzgerald · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +11.05 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.92 EPA/play
3. 3 C. Palmer · Arizona Cardinals · Passing · +8.40 total EPA · 45 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play
4. 4 E. Lacy · Green Bay Packers · Rushing · +2.45 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.20 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Floyd · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +1.98 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.28 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Rodgers · Green Bay Packers · Passing · +1.69 total EPA · 51 snaps · +0.03 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Fells · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +1.60 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.80 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Johnson · Arizona Cardinals · Receiving · +0.30 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.03 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 — M. Floyd (C. Palmer pass) (Q1 51:58)
• Green Bay Packers — J. Janis (A. Rodgers pass) (Q3 25:25)
• Arizona Cardinals — M. Floyd (C. Palmer pass) (Q4 3:50)
• Green Bay Packers — J. Janis (A. Rodgers pass) (Q4 0:05)
• Arizona Cardinals — L. Fitzgerald (C. Palmer pass) (OT 14:00)

Field goals

• Green Bay Packers — M. Crosby (Q2 41:27)
• Green Bay Packers — M. Crosby (Q2 31:01)
• Arizona Cardinals — C. Catanzaro (Q3 20:09)
• Arizona Cardinals — C. Catanzaro (Q4 2:00)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 7–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the GB 8 (Q1 51:58) — (6:58) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass short right to 15-M.Floyd for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the GB 15 (Q1 51:48) — 7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler..

The second quarter: Green Bay Packers won the period 6–0. Green Bay Packers connected on a field goal from the ARI 10 (Q2 41:27) — (11:27) 2-M.Crosby 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-59-R.Lovato, Holder-8-T.Masthay.; Green Bay Packers connected on a field goal from the ARI 16 (Q2 31:01) — (1:01) 2-M.Crosby 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-59-R.Lovato, Holder-8-T.Masthay..

The third quarter: Green Bay Packers won the period 7–3. Green Bay Packers found the end zone from the ARI 8 (Q3 25:25) — (10:25) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass short right to 83-J.Janis for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Green Bay Packers added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q3 25:17) — 2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-59-R.Lovato, Holder-8-T.Masthay.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the GB 10 (Q3 20:09) — (5:09) 7-C.Catanzaro 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler..

The fourth quarter: Arizona Cardinals won the period 10–7. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the GB 9 (Q4 3:50) — (3:50) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass short right to 15-M.Floyd for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Intended for 11-L.Fitzgerald. Deflected by 23-D.Randall.; Arizona Cardinals added 1 points from the GB 15 (Q4 3:44) — 7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.; Arizona Cardinals connected on a field goal from the GB 18 (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) 7-C.Catanzaro 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.; Green Bay Packers found the end zone from the ARI 41 (Q4 0:05); Green Bay Packers added 1 points from the ARI 15 (Q4 0:00) — 2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-59-R.Lovato, Holder-8-T.Masthay..

Overtime: Arizona Cardinals won the period 6–0. Arizona Cardinals found the end zone from the GB 5 (OT 14:00) — (14:00) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass short middle to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

Turning points

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

• Arizona Cardinals (OT 15:00) — (15:00) 3-C.Palmer pass short left to 11-L.Fitzgerald to GB 5 for 75 yards (29-C.Hayward). [WPA +38.9% · EPA +4.63]
• Green Bay Packers (Q4 0:05) — (:05) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass deep middle to 83-J.Janis for 41 yards, TOUCHDOWN [44-M.Golden]. The Replay Official reviewed the pass completion ruling, and the play was Upheld. The ruling on the f [WPA +34.6% · EPA +6.48]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 14:18) — (14:18) 3-C.Palmer pass short right intended for 12-Jo.Brown INTERCEPTED by 23-D.Randall at GB 0. Touchback. [WPA -27.1% · EPA -5.87]
• Green Bay Packers (Q3 27:14) — (12:14) (No Huddle) 27-E.Lacy up the middle to ARI 8 for 61 yards (26-R.Johnson). [WPA +16.2% · EPA +4.29]
• Green Bay Packers (Q3 28:57) — (13:57) (No Huddle) 12-A.Rodgers pass short left intended for 84-J.Abbrederis INTERCEPTED by 26-R.Johnson (93-C.Campbell) at GB 48. 26-R.Johnson to GB 47 for 1 yard (84-J.Abbrederis). [WPA -13.5% · EPA -4.47]

Impact plays

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

• Green Bay Packers (Q4 0:05) — (:05) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass deep middle to 83-J.Janis for 41 yards, TOUCHDOWN [44-M.Golden]. The Replay Official reviewed the pass completion ruling, and the play was Upheld. The ruling on the f [WPA +34.6% · EPA +6.48]
• Arizona Cardinals (Q4 14:18) — (14:18) 3-C.Palmer pass short right intended for 12-Jo.Brown INTERCEPTED by 23-D.Randall at GB 0. Touchback. [WPA -27.1% · EPA -5.87]
• Arizona Cardinals (OT 15:00) — (15:00) 3-C.Palmer pass short left to 11-L.Fitzgerald to GB 5 for 75 yards (29-C.Hayward). [WPA +38.9% · EPA +4.63]
• Green Bay Packers (Q3 28:57) — (13:57) (No Huddle) 12-A.Rodgers pass short left intended for 84-J.Abbrederis INTERCEPTED by 26-R.Johnson (93-C.Campbell) at GB 48. 26-R.Johnson to GB 47 for 1 yard (84-J.Abbrederis). [WPA -13.5% · EPA -4.47]

Quarterback report card

A.Rodgers led all passers in efficiency for Green Bay Packers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• A.Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) · 51 dropbacks · 47.1% completion · -0.9% CPOE · +0.03 EPA/play · +1.69 total EPA
• C.Palmer (Arizona Cardinals) · 45 dropbacks · 55.6% completion · -0.3% CPOE · +0.19 EPA/play · +8.40 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 (+0.07 vs +0.01), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Arizona Cardinals: 11 drives, +5.73 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Green Bay Packers: 10 drives, +0.82 total EPA, 4 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.
• J. Janis (Green Bay Packers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q1 51:58 · GB 8 · Score 0-6
   (6:58) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass short right to 15-M.Floyd for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q1 51:48 · GB 15 · Score 0-7
   7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.
3. Green Bay Packers FG (+3) — Q2 41:27 · ARI 10 · Score 3-7
   (11:27) 2-M.Crosby 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-59-R.Lovato, Holder-8-T.Masthay.
4. Green Bay Packers FG (+3) — Q2 31:01 · ARI 16 · Score 6-7
   (1:01) 2-M.Crosby 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-59-R.Lovato, Holder-8-T.Masthay.
5. Green Bay Packers TD (+6) — Q3 25:25 · ARI 8 · Score 12-7
   (10:25) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass short right to 83-J.Janis for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Green Bay Packers XP (+1) — Q3 25:17 · ARI 15 · Score 13-7
   2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-59-R.Lovato, Holder-8-T.Masthay.
7. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q3 20:09 · GB 10 · Score 13-10
   (5:09) 7-C.Catanzaro 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.
8. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — Q4 3:50 · GB 9 · Score 13-16
   (3:50) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass short right to 15-M.Floyd for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Intended for 11-L.Fitzgerald. Deflected by 23-D.Randall.
9. Arizona Cardinals XP (+1) — Q4 3:44 · GB 15 · Score 13-17
   7-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.
10. Arizona Cardinals FG (+3) — Q4 2:00 · GB 18 · Score 13-20
    (2:00) 7-C.Catanzaro 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-82-M.Leach, Holder-2-D.Butler.
11. Green Bay Packers TD (+6) — Q4 0:05 · ARI 41 · Score 19-20
    (:05) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass deep middle to 83-J.Janis for 41 yards, TOUCHDOWN [44-M.Golden]. The Replay Official reviewed the pass completion ruling, and
12. Green Bay Packers XP (+1) — Q4 0:00 · ARI 15 · Score 20-20
    2-M.Crosby extra point is GOOD, Center-59-R.Lovato, Holder-8-T.Masthay.
13. Arizona Cardinals TD (+6) — OT 14:00 · GB 5 · Score 20-26
    (14:00) (Shotgun) 3-C.Palmer pass short middle to 11-L.Fitzgerald for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.