Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyle Murray (1) looks for a receiver against the San Francisco 49ers defense at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sun Oct 10, 2021 (AP News photo)
By Marko Ukalovic
GLENDALE, Ariz.–It was a battle of the defenses down in the desert.
In the end it was the Arizona Cardinals defense that came through en route to a 17-10 win over the San Francisco 49ers in a NFC West battle on Sunday afternoon at State Farm Stadium.
San Francisco have lost three games in a row. Arizona remained the NFL’s only undefeated team as they haven’t started out 5-0 since 1974, and the fifth time in franchise history, when the franchise was in St. Louis.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Trey Lance, the third pick in this year’s draft, made his first NFL start due to Jimmy Garopollo’s calf injury. After a nice run for 14 yards resulting in a first down and completing a 16 yard pass to fullback Kyle Juszczyk. second pass attempt over threw Travis Benjamin as Cardinals safety Budda Baker was playing center field and made the interception.
Arizona (5-0) capitalized on the turnover. Quarterback Kyler Murray led an eight play, 66 yard drive that resulted in a one yard touchdown run by James Connor. The touchdown was set up when Murray threw a swing pass to Rondale Moore end around run for 26 yards to the 49ers one yard line.
San Francisco (2-3) had their second possession stalled at the Arizona 33 yard line when Lance’s quarterback keeper was stopped by Arizona’s swarming defense.
The 49ers were also without their Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle as the team placed him on injured reserved with his own calf injury that will sideline him for at least two more additional games.
Arizona went up 10-0 late in the first half when Matt Prater kicked a 21 yard field goal with 5:27 left in the second quarter.
Lance didn’t get any help from his receivers during the first half. Deebo Samuel wasn’t able to catch a ball thrown to him behind the line of scrimmage that resulted in a big loss. Mohamed Sanu dropped a pass through his hands that would have been a first down on the 49ers fourth possession.
The 49ers had a chance to tie the game early in the second quarter as Lance led the offense on a 13 play, 93 yard drive where they had first and goal inside the five yard line. On fourth and goal, Lance scrambled to right but was stopped at the one yard line by Cardinals linebacker Isiah Simmons as the Niners turned the ball over on downs.
Nick Bosa recorded his fifth sack of the year when he sacked Murray for a 13 yard loss with 26 second left in the second quarter, that helped stop the final drive of the half for the Cardinals. Arizona tried a 61 one yard field goal to end the half but Prater missed badly wide right.
Penalties plagued the 49ers on offense in the second half. They had five holding penalties, (three on the first drive in the second half that resulted in a punt) and a false start.
San Francisco finally got on the board late in the third quarter. Lance pitched the ball Samuel and the wide receiver made nice move to run for a 13 yard touchdown to cut Arizona’s lead to 10-7.
Lance led the six play, 59 yard drive with 1:42 left in third quarter.
San Francisco went for a fourth and one near midfield with under 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter but a sneak by Juszczyk who took the snap under center was stopped a yard short the Cardinals defense.
The Cardinals defense had pressure on Lance for most of the second half altering his throws and tipping balls to the ground.
Arizona scored a late touchdown in the fourth quarter when Murray found DeAndre Hopkins on a fade route inside the end zone as Hopkins leaped over 49ers corner back Josh Norman to put the Cardinals up 17-7 with 5:13 left.
San Francisco received a 47 yard field goal from Joey Slye with 4:12 left to cut the lead to a one score game. However, the 49ers never got the ball back as Arizona made two first downs on their ensuing possession to close out the game.
Lance finished 15 for 29 with 192 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. He led the 49ers in rushing 89 rushing yards on 16 carries as head coach Kyle Shanahan tailored the offense with plenty of run calls for the rookie quarterback.
Murray finished the game 22 for 31 with 291 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
Hopkins led all wide receivers with six catches and 87 yards with one touchdown. Samuel led the 49ers in receiving with three catches for 58 yards on nine targets.
GAME NOTES: San Francisco was 3-11 on third down conversions. Arizona was 3-10.
Cardinals tight end Maxx Williams was injured in the second quarter after a reception with a lower body injury after receiving a tackle by Emmanuel Mosley. He was carted off the field and did not finish the game.
This was the first game that Arizona’s offense had back to back three and outs.
UP NEXT: San Francisco has a bye in week six. They return to action on Sunday 10/24 as they host the Indianapolis Colts at 5:20pm at Levi’s Stadium.
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