The 49ers offense looked more put together in the second quarter, driving down the field for two scoring drives. The defense held to Arizona to seven points after allowing two scoring drives in the first quarter.
With the 49ers trailing 16-10 heading into the half, here’s what stood out in the second quarter:
Murray has time
What might be the most alarming trend is that the 49ers haven’t been able to create pressure on Kyler Murray. Murray hasn’t had to move much in the pocket and when it does it’s on a designed run. The 49ers defense has been able to get to the quarterback rushing just four all season, but haven’t been able to affect Murray doing so Sunday. Robert Saleh may need to draw up more blitzes to put more pressure on Murray or else he will continue to tear up the 49ers defense.
It took awhile, but the 49ers offense showed up
The 49ers offense had two total yards entering the second quarter but one play may have turned the tide. Jimmy Garoppolo hit Richie James on a screen pass that resulted in a 57-yard play to get the offense in the red zone for the first time. The drive ended with a 4-yard touchdown pass from Garoppolo to Ross Dwelley. The drive followed the trend of quick drives, taking just 1:11 off the clock.
First career touchdown by Ross Dwelley puts us on the board! #GoNiners pic.twitter.com/gK4FAkj47Q
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 17, 2019
Another Sherman pass interference but the defense holds this time
Richard Sherman was called for his third pass interference on a third-and-11 that gave Arizona a first down. But for the first time on Sunday, a Sherman pass interference didn’t lead to Arizona points when the defense forced a punt four plays later. The big play was a Dee Ford sack on second-and-9 that put Arizona in a third-and-long situation. The call against Sherman was the third time he was called for pass interference on Christian Kirk, so it appears Kliff Kingsbury likes that matchup and it will be one to watch in the second half.