Final2023 Week 1

Northwest Stadium, Landover, MD

Arizona Cardinals vs Washington Commanders, Week 1 2023

Arizona Cardinals

Away

16

Washington Commanders

HomeWon

20

Scoring by quarter
TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Cardinals3103016
Commanders7301020

ARI 16WAS 20 Final

  • Passing leader

    Sam Howell

    WAS · QB

    16.2PPR pts

    19/31, 202 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1 RUSH TD

  • Top fantasy scorer

    Brian Robinson Jr.

    WAS · RB

    13.6PPR pts

    19 ATT, 59 YDS, 1 REC, 7 REC YDS, 1 REC TD

  • Cardinals leader

    James Conner

    ARI · RB

    12.0PPR pts

    14 ATT, 62 YDS, 5 REC, 8 REC YDS

  • Defensive playmaker

    Cameron Thomas

    ARI

    1 TD, 1 TKL

Commanders 20, Cardinals 16: Washington rallies from 3 down at halftime

Washington erased a 13–10 halftime deficit, outscoring Arizona 10–3 after the break to win 20–16. The Commanders finished with a 248–210 edge in total offense and averaged 3.8 yards per play.

The Cardinals went 4-for-14 on third down and committed two turnovers.

The two teams meet again in Week 12 of 2026. If you roster anyone from either side, run the start/sit call in Redraft Command and it will weigh your lineup, your opponent and your league scoring, not only the player rankings.

Key advantages

  • +0.2 yards/play WAS 3.8 · ARI 3.6
  • +38 total yards WAS 248 · ARI 210
  • +4% third-down rate WAS 33% · ARI 29%

Game Highlights

Official NFL highlights · Opens from YouTube

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Why the Commanders Won

Washington won the efficiency, third-down, and time of possession battles.

Team stats comparison, Cardinals vs Commanders
CardinalsStatCommanders
3.6Yards per play3.8
210Total yards248
29%Third-down conversion33%
Other team stats
58Plays65
2Turnovers3
28:36Time of possession31:24

Scoring Summary

The Commanders scored two touchdowns and two field goals; the Cardinals scored one touchdown and three field goals.

Scoring plays, Cardinals vs Commanders
TimeTeamPlayARIWAS
1st quarter
4:15WASSam Howell → Brian Robinson Jr., 7-yard TD Takes leadJoey Slye XP07
0:53ARIMatt Prater 28-yard FG37
2nd quarter
13:26ARIMatt Prater 54-yard FG67
0:55ARICameron Thomas 2-yard fumble return TD Takes leadMatt Prater XP137
0:00WASJoey Slye 30-yard FG1310
3rd quarter
10:09ARIMatt Prater 37-yard FG Extends lead1610
4th quarter
11:48WASSam Howell 6-yard TD run Game winnerJoey Slye XP1617
2:23WASJoey Slye 33-yard FG Extends lead1620

Fantasy Points: Cardinals vs Commanders, Week 1 2023

Fantasy leaders

  1. Sam HowellWASQB16.2 PTSQB11
  2. Brian RobinsonWASRB13.6 PTSRB15
  3. James ConnerARIRB12.0 PTSRB20
  4. Curtis SamuelWASWR11.0 PTSWR38

Player Stats

Quarterbacks

Quarterback statistics
PlayerFPTSFINCMP/ATTPass YDSTDINTRush ATTRush YDSRush TDRateStart/Sit
Sam HowellWASQB16.2QB1119/3120211211177.6Start/Sit →
Joshua DobbsARIQB1.0QB3221/30132003-3078.8Start/Sit →

WRs, RBs, & TEs

Receiver, running back and tight end statistics
PlayerFPTSFINPOSRush ATTRush YDSRush TDTGTRECRec YDSRec TDStart/Sit
Brian RobinsonWASRB13.6RB15RB195902171
James ConnerARIRB12.0RB20RB146205580
Curtis SamuelWASWR11.0WR38WR16055540
Jahan DotsonWASWR9.0WR46WR———75400Start/Sit →
Marquise BrownARIWR8.7WR48WR129053280
Logan ThomasWASTE8.3TE11TE———84430
Zach ErtzARITE8.1TE12TE———106210
Rondale MooreARIWR7.5WR53WR212033330
Terry McLaurinWASWR5.1WR70WR———42310Start/Sit →
Trey McBrideARITE4.3TE30TE———22230Start/Sit →
Michael WilsonARIWR3.9WR81WR———42190Start/Sit →
Cole TurnerWASTE2.7TE40TE———21170
Antonio GibsonWASRB0.9RB76RB39011100
Chris RodriguezWASRB0.7RB80RB370————
Zach PascalARIWR0.0—WR———1000
Keaontay IngramARIRB-0.4—RB5-40————

Fantasy Usage

Arizona Cardinals

Snap Share

  1. Michael WilsonWR56 snaps90%
  2. James ConnerRB52 snaps84%
  3. Marquise BrownWR52 snaps84%
  4. Zach ErtzTE48 snaps77%
  5. Rondale MooreWR42 snaps68%

Target Share30 targets

  1. Zach Ertz33%, 10 targets
  2. James Conner17%, 5 targets
  3. Marquise Brown17%, 5 targets
  4. Michael Wilson13%, 4 targets
  5. Rondale Moore10%, 3 targets
  6. Other10%, 3 targets

Carry Share25 carries

  1. James Conner56%, 14 carries
  2. Keaontay Ingram20%, 5 carries
  3. Joshua Dobbs12%, 3 carries
  4. Rondale Moore8%, 2 carries
  5. Marquise Brown4%, 1 carries

Washington Commanders

Snap Share

  1. Terry McLaurinWR63 snaps89%
  2. Jahan DotsonWR62 snaps87%
  3. Logan ThomasTE58 snaps82%
  4. Curtis SamuelWR46 snaps65%
  5. Brian RobinsonRB43 snaps61%

Target Share29 targets

  1. Logan Thomas28%, 8 targets
  2. Jahan Dotson24%, 7 targets
  3. Curtis Samuel17%, 5 targets
  4. Terry McLaurin14%, 4 targets
  5. Brian Robinson7%, 2 targets
  6. Other10%, 3 targets

Carry Share28 carries

  1. Brian Robinson68%, 19 carries
  2. Antonio Gibson11%, 3 carries
  3. Chris Rodriguez11%, 3 carries
  4. Sam Howell7%, 2 carries
  5. Curtis Samuel4%, 1 carries
View full usage tableHide full usage table
Offensive snaps and share for the skill positions
PlayerSNAPSSNAP %TGTTGT %CAR
Michael WilsonARIWR5690%413%0
Terry McLaurinWASWR6389%414%0
Jahan DotsonWASWR6287%724%0
James ConnerARIRB5284%517%14
Marquise BrownARIWR5284%517%1
Logan ThomasWASTE5882%828%0
Zach ErtzARITE4877%1033%0
Rondale MooreARIWR4268%310%2
Curtis SamuelWASWR4665%517%1
Brian RobinsonWASRB4361%27%19
Trey McBrideARITE2337%27%0
John BatesWASTE2637%00%0
Antonio GibsonWASRB2535%13%3
Geoff SwaimARITE1829%00%0
Dyami BrownWASWR1927%00%0
Cole TurnerWASTE1014%27%0
Keaontay IngramARIRB711%00%5
Zach PascalARIWR58%13%0
Emari DemercadoARIRB35%00%0
Chris RodriguezWASRB34%00%3

Fantasy Points vs Expected

Expected points (xFP) are what a player's pass attempts, carries and targets are worth at the league's average rates; the difference is what the player made of them.

  • Biggest overperformer+2.0Curtis Samuel11.0 PTS vs 9.0 xFP
  • Biggest underperformer−13.5Joshua Dobbs1.0 PTS vs 14.5 xFP
  • Highest expected volume16.9 xFPJames Conner12.0 PTS scored
Usage and expected fantasy points
PlayerPTSxFPvs xFPSnap%UsageRte%Pass attCarCar%TgtTgt%
James ConnerARI · RB12.016.9−4.984%56% car—01456%517%
Zach ErtzARI · TE8.116.7−8.677%33% tgt—000%1033%
Brian Robinson Jr.WAS · RB13.615.0−1.461%68% car—01968%27%
Joshua DobbsARI · QB1.014.5−13.5100%30 att—30312%00%
Sam HowellWAS · QB16.214.3+1.9100%31 att—3127%00%
Logan ThomasWAS · TE8.313.4−5.182%28% tgt—000%828%
Jahan DotsonWAS · WR9.011.7−2.787%24% tgt—000%724%
Curtis SamuelWAS · WR11.09.0+2.065%17% tgt—014%517%
Hollywood BrownARI · —8.79.0−0.3—17% tgt—014%517%
Michael WilsonARI · WR3.96.7−2.890%13% tgt—000%413%
Terry McLaurinWAS · WR5.16.7−1.689%14% tgt—000%414%
Rondale MooreARI · WR7.56.2+1.368%10% tgt—028%310%
Antonio GibsonWAS · RB0.93.5−2.635%11% car—0311%13%
Cole TurnerWAS · TE2.73.3−0.614%7% tgt—000%27%
Trey McBrideARI · TE4.33.3+1.037%7% tgt—000%27%
Keaontay IngramARI · RB-0.43.1−3.511%20% car—0520%00%
Chris Rodriguez Jr.WAS · RB0.71.8−1.14%11% car—0311%00%
Zach PascalARI · WR0.01.7−1.78%3% tgt—000%13%

Team totals: Cardinals 30 targets and 25 carries; Commanders 29 targets and 28 carries. Shares are from the box score. Snap counts are from the weekly player logs (Sleeper), and include plays wiped out by penalties. Route counts, air yards and red-zone touches appear when the tracking feed is connected. League-average rates from the 2023 season: 1.67 PPR points per target (67% catch rate), 0.61 per carry and 0.42 per pass attempt. They don't adjust for field position or target depth.

Fantasy Verdicts

Joshua Dobbs Unlucky

ARI · QB · 1.0 pts on 14.5 expected

21 of 30 passing for 132 yards; 3 carries for -3 yards.

Verdict: The role was there, worth 14.5 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.

Start/Sit: Joshua Dobbs →

Sam Howell

WAS · QB · 16.2 pts on 14.3 expected

19 of 31 passing for 202 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception; 2 carries for 11 yards and 1 touchdown.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 14.3 expected.

Start/Sit: Sam Howell →

James Conner

ARI · RB · 12.0 pts on 16.9 expected

5 targets (17% of the team's), 5 catches for 8 yards; 14 carries (56% of the team's) for 62 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 16.9 expected.

Zach Ertz Volume, no payoff

ARI · TE · 8.1 pts on 16.7 expected

10 targets (33% of the team's), 6 catches for 21 yards.

Verdict: The role was there, worth 16.7 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.

Brian Robinson Jr. Volume, no payoff

WAS · RB · 13.6 pts on 15.0 expected

2 targets (7% of the team's), 1 catch for 7 yards and 1 touchdown; 19 carries (68% of the team's) for 59 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 15.0 expected.

Logan Thomas Unlucky

WAS · TE · 8.3 pts on 13.4 expected

8 targets (28% of the team's), 4 catches for 43 yards.

Verdict: The role was there, worth 13.4 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.

Fantasy Matchups

Fantasy points allowed per game by position, 2023 through Week 18.

Fantasy points allowed per game by position, Cardinals defense and Commanders defense
Points allowed toCardinals DCommanders D
QBs19.421.1
RBs26.225.0
WRs32.541.1
TEs11.210.5

Regular season, summed from each game's box score and scored with this page's rules.

How the Game Swung

Washington opened at 70% win probability and passed 98% in the fourth quarter on the way to the win.

Commanders win probability

Commanders win probability by game minuteCommanders started at 70%, stood at 52% at halftime and finished at 100%, across 8 scoring plays.Q1Q2Q3Q4100%50%0%

Key Swings

  1. +17Howell → Robinson, 7-yd TD68% → 85%Q1 4:15
  2. −28Thomas 2-yd TD68% → 40%Q2 0:55
  3. −13Prater 37-yd FG50% → 36%Q3 10:09
  4. +43Howell 6-yd TD run22% → 65%Q4 11:48
  5. +26Slye 33-yd FG68% → 94%Q4 2:23

Swing in Commanders win probability, in points

Play Calling and Possessions

Play calling, Cardinals vs Commanders
Arizona CardinalsMeasureWashington Commanders
58Plays65
57%Pass rate57%
3.5Yds / dropback4.2
3.8Yds / carry3.3
4/14Third downs4/12

Efficiency edge Washington ran 7 more plays and gained 0.7 more yards per dropback.

  • Top targets
  • ARI Ertz 33% · Brown 17% · Conner 17%
  • WAS Thomas 28% · Dotson 24% · Samuel 17%

Possession Results

How each possession ended, Cardinals vs Commanders
ResultARIWAS
Touchdowns02
Field goals32
Punts56
Turnovers23
Turnovers on downs10

ARI turnover edge: +1

  • The Commanders opened the scoring on their second possession, a 6-play, 91-yard drive that ended in a touchdown.
All 24 possessions, drive by drive
Drive chart
TeamStartPlaysYardsTimeResult
WASQ1 15:008264:01Punt
ARIQ1 10:596133:24Punt
WASQ1 7:356913:20Touchdown
ARIQ1 4:158643:22Field goal
WASQ1 0:53241:07Interception
ARIQ2 14:46411:20Field goal
WASQ2 13:268594:35Fumble
ARIQ2 8:513-12:34Punt
WASQ2 6:17441:50Punt
ARIQ2 4:276252:58Punt
WASQ2 1:294-100:34Fumble
WASQ2 0:557690:55Field goal
ARIQ3 15:0011564:51Field goal
WASQ3 10:09704:47Punt
ARIQ3 5:224142:28Punt
WASQ3 2:54321:26Punt
ARIQ3 1:283-111:26Fumble
WASQ3 0:027293:14Touchdown
ARIQ4 11:483-22:01Punt
WASQ4 9:47392:10Punt
ARIQ4 7:377172:59Fumble
WASQ4 4:38472:15Field goal
ARIQ4 2:236121:13Downs
WASQ4 1:104-51:10Punt
About these numbers

The Cardinals' fumble touchdown is counted as a Commanders lost fumble, not as a Cardinals possession. Possessions that ended with the clock running out at the half or the end of the game aren't counted.

Personnel groupings, average depth of target and pass rate over expected appear when the tracking feed is connected.

Cardinals vs Commanders Head-to-Head

The Cardinals and Commanders first met in 1932 and have played 127 times since.

All-time series
78–47–2Commanders lead, 127 meetings since 1932
Postseason
0No playoff meetings
Largest Cardinals win
44–71960
Largest Commanders win
41–31992

Since 2021

2–0 Commanders lead

2 meetings since the 2021 season, regular season and playoffs.

Oldest to newest. WAS = Commanders win, ARI = Cardinals win, outlined = this game.

2026 Meetings

  • Week 12 Commanders at Cardinals Upcoming

Recent Meetings

Season to Date (Through Week 18)

The 2023 regular season, from each game's box score.

Season to date, Cardinals vs Commanders
CardinalsStatCommanders
4-13Record4-13
19.4Points per game19.4
324.1Yards per game312.8
5.2Yards per play5.0
26.8Points allowed per game30.5
355.7Yards allowed per game388.9

Cardinals vs Commanders Odds and Results

How this game finished against the betting lines.

Spread
WAS −7Commanders failed to cover by 3
Total
38Under: 36 points scored (by 2)

Expected vs Actual Scoring

Implied team totals against the actual score
TeamImpliedActualDifference
Commanders22.520−2.5
Cardinals15.516+0.5

The Cardinals beat their implied total and the Commanders fell short of theirs; the Fantasy tab has the player lines behind it.

Betting Trends

Each team's 2023 season through this game. Over/under is overs first.

Arizona Cardinals

Against the spread
1–0
Over/under
0–1
ATS as underdog
1–0
ATS on the road
1–0

Washington Commanders

Against the spread
0–1
Over/under
0–1
ATS as favorite
0–1
ATS at home
0–1

Lines: ESPN's consensus, captured at kickoff. Individual sportsbooks varied.

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Betting availability depends on your state.

Cardinals vs Commanders Fantasy Outlook for 2026

One meeting is left on the 2026 schedule: Week 12 in Arizona. Here's how to decide who to play in your league.

Keep Exploring

2023 Game Logs for Players in This Game

Cardinals vs Commanders Game FAQ

Who won the 2023 Cardinals vs Commanders Week 1 game?

The Washington Commanders beat the Arizona Cardinals 20–16 in Week 1 of the 2023 season. The game was played at Northwest Stadium in Landover, MD, on September 10, 2023. See the Commanders' 2023 schedule.

What was the final score of Cardinals vs Commanders?

The final score was Commanders 20, Cardinals 16. The Cardinals led 13–10 at halftime, and the second half went Cardinals 3, Commanders 10.

What happened in the Cardinals vs Commanders game?

Washington erased a 13–10 halftime deficit, outscoring Arizona 10–3 after the break to win 20–16. The Commanders finished with a 248–210 edge in total offense and averaged 3.8 yards per play. Sam Howell led all players with 19 of 31 passing for 202 yards and a touchdown, plus 2 carries for 11 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Commanders committed 3 turnovers, the Cardinals 2.

What was the game-winning score in Cardinals vs Commanders?

Sam Howell's 6-yard touchdown run with 11:48 left in the fourth quarter gave the Commanders a 17–16 lead they never gave up.

Who scored the most fantasy points in Cardinals vs Commanders?

Sam Howell led the game with 16.2 PPR fantasy points, the QB11 of Week 1, on 19 of 31 passing for 202 yards and a touchdown, plus 2 carries for 11 rushing yards and a touchdown. Brian Robinson was next with 13.6 (RB15). See Sam Howell's 2023 game log.

Who led Cardinals vs Commanders in passing, rushing and receiving?

Sam Howell (WAS) led all passers with 19 of 31 for 202 yards, a touchdown and an interception. James Conner (ARI) led in rushing with 14 carries for 62 yards. Curtis Samuel (WAS) led in receiving with 5 catches for 54 yards.

How many fantasy points did Sam Howell score against the Cardinals?

Sam Howell scored 16.2 fantasy points against the Cardinals in Week 1 of the 2023 season, the same in PPR, half-PPR and standard scoring because he had no catches, on 19 of 31 passing for 202 yards and a touchdown, plus 2 carries for 11 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Who outperformed and underperformed expected fantasy points in Cardinals vs Commanders?

Curtis Samuel outperformed his expected fantasy points the most, scoring 11.0 PPR points on 9.0 xFP (+2.0). Joshua Dobbs fell furthest short, with 1.0 points on 14.5 xFP (−13.5). A gap either way reflects efficiency and touchdowns in one game; it is not a forecast. For matchups ahead, see fantasy points allowed by position.

How did the Commanders come back to beat the Cardinals?

The Commanders' chances of winning fell as low as 22% in the fourth quarter. Sam Howell's 6-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter was the biggest swing of the game. Sam Howell's 6-yard touchdown run then put them ahead for good.

Which team won the turnover battle in Cardinals vs Commanders?

The Cardinals won the turnover battle 3–2: the Commanders gave the ball away 3 times and the Cardinals 2 times. The Commanders won the game anyway.

What is the all-time Cardinals vs Commanders record?

The Commanders lead the all-time series 78–47–2 across 127 meetings since 1932.

When did the Cardinals and Commanders last play before this game?

Before Week 1 of 2023, they last met in the 2020 season on September 20, 2020, when the Cardinals beat the Commanders 30–15.

What was the closing spread for Cardinals vs Commanders?

The consensus closing spread at kickoff was Commanders −7, making the Washington Commanders 7-point favorites, with a closing total of 38. That implied about 22.5 points for the Commanders and 15.5 for the Cardinals.

Did Cardinals vs Commanders go over or under the total?

The game went under. The consensus closing total was 38, and the teams combined for 36 points, 2 under the number.

Who covered the spread in Cardinals vs Commanders?

The Cardinals covered as 7-point underdogs against the closing line of Commanders −7. The final margin was 4 points.