The 49ers escaped Levi’s Stadium with a 36-26 victory over the Cardinals. It wasn’t pretty, but San Francisco takes a 9-1 record into Week 12.
Here are our notes and observations from the contest:
– Emmanuel Moseley started opposite Richard Sherman even though Ahkello Witherspoon is active.
– Fred Warner made a nice tackle on a zone read from Kyler Murray. Murray still picked up six, but Warner’s shoestring stop saved a huge gain.
– Christian Kirk had a step on Richard Sherman on a third-and-7 on Arizona’s opening series, but Sherman dragged him down and forced an incompletion. There was no flag, but Kliff Kingsbury challenged the play and won. A stunner. Arizona gets a first-and-goal at the 3.
– The Cardinals got a wide open touchdown to tight end Charles Clay, but offensive pass interference was called on Kirk. The pick in the middle of the end zone was pretty clear on Moseley.
– Ward broke up a pass on third-and-goal to force a Cardinals field goal. He’s having a good year. It’s 3-0, Arizona with 10:31 left in the first.
– Jimmy Garoppolo’s first throw to a wide receiver went through Deebo Samuel’s hands on a third-and-5 on San Francisco’s opening series. Not a good start for the offense.
– This Cardinals offense gives San Francisco fits. Their ability to stress the defense horizontally is a real problem.
– Jullian Taylor had a nice stop for a loss on a run up the middle on Arizona’s second series. Getting Arizona behind the sticks is vital.
– Richard Sherman was flagged for pass interference again inside the 5. He’s having a rough game.
– Easy touchdown for the Cardinals after the 49ers left Larry Fitzgerald uncovered in the slot. He went unimpeded into the end zone and made an uncontested catch. A missed extra point made it 9-0 Cardinals.
– The 49ers were gifted a first down on a deep shot from Garoppolo to Emmanuel Sanders. He underthrew it and a flag came out for pass interference on cornerback Patrick Peterson. It probably should’ve been a no-call.
– Another ball out of the hands of a 49ers WR. This time Kendrick Bourne can’t hold on to a high throw. It wasn’t a great pass and he got whacked.
– The 49ers went for it on a fourth-and-5. Garoppolo lofted a throw for Raheem Mostert, but he dropped it.
– Garoppolo is sacked on third-and-9. This offense and stadium are zapped. A complete 180 from Monday night.
– The ball came out on a Kyler Murray scramble, but he was ruled down on the field. Kyle Shanahan challenged it to no avail. That was probably a waste of a timeout, but he needed something to try and kickstart his club. They’ve come out very flat.
– Murray’s had all day to throw. San Francisco is generating nothing with their pass rush when he does take a deep drop.
– Another easy touchdown. This time it’s Pharoh Cooper. 16-0, Arizona. Fred Warner got up a little slowly after trying to make a touchdown-saving tackle on Cooper.
– That’s one way to get things going. Richie James enters the game and the 49ers set up a screen for him. The speedy receiver went 57 yards to the 49ers up at the Arizona 18. James is a pretty dynamic athlete and should probably . play more than he does.
– Garoppolo had Tevin Coleman wide open for a touchdown on second-and-goal from the 4 and just made a terrible throw. Can’t put that one on the pass catcher.
– It’s a touchdown to Ross Dwelley on third-and-goal. The 49ers needed that drive in the worst way. It’s a five-play, 75-yard drive in 1:11.
– Now it’s the Cardinals that get bailed out on the third PI call of the day on Sherman. He timed it perfectly and the flags still came out. The stop would’ve forced a punt.
– Dee Ford sacked Murray after Damontre Moore applied pressure to get the quarterback out of the pocket. It’s 6.5 for him this season.
– Emmanuel Sanders drops a first-and-10 pass. He’s hurt, but that one hit him in the hands.
– An end-of-half field goal made it 16-10 and San Francisco gets the ball to start the second half. They needed that score.
– Garoppolo found Coleman for a 37-yard gain. A roughing the passer call tacked on 15 more yards and put San Francisco at the Cardinals’ 32. They need big plays to open up the middle of the defense, which has been very stout for Arizona.
– It’s Dwelley Time again. This one counts – a five-yard strike and San Francisco leads after a six-play, 84-yard drive to start the half. The 49ers have scored 17 unanswered points and Garoppolo looks locked in. He’s made some terrific throws.
– DeForest Buckner opened the second half with a sack for the 49ers’ defense. He made a great diving stop to wrap up Murray. It was a huge gain if he didn’t get there.
– K’Waun Williams had a pick-6, but he went for a tackle instead of waiting for the ball. It was the right play, he just misread the overthrow.
– The 49ers were driving again until Garoppolo fired one right into the chest of Cardinals linebacker Jordan Hicks, who took it back 48 yards into 49ers territory. If Arizona pulls out a victory, that’s the turning point.
– Nick Bosa made a terrific run stop for a loss on a first-and-10. He raced Kenyan Drake to the edge, then cut back with him when he cut back inside and took his legs out.
– Ahkello Witherspoon is in for the injured Emmanuel Moseley and had blanket coverage on a third-and-10 to force an incompletion and a 43-yard field goal. It was good and the 49ers trial 19-17.
– Deebo.
– Kendrick Bourne caught a 3-yard touchdown pass to give San Francisco a 23-19 lead. The receiver needed that bad after a rough outing last week.
– Kyler Murray is really, really good.
– See? A 22-yard scamper on a QB-keeper and the Cardinals lead 25-23. What an electric play by Murray.
– Deebo Samuel has two catches for 34 yards and has helped get San Francisco into field goal range following the Cardinals go-ahead touchdown.
– Ouch. Another Garoppolo interception. This one off the hands of Ross Dwelley. It wasn’t a good throw though, well behind the tight end. That might do it from Santa Clara with 4:32 left.
– A huge sack for Arik Armstead on third-and-5 puts Arizona at fourth-and-16 and they’ll punt with 2:33 left.
– 49ers take over with 2:12 left at their own 34. They have to protect Garoppolo better on this series.
– Wow. Jeff Wilson on a slant with 31 seconds left puts the 49ers up 29-26. It was a 25-yard catch-and-run. Unbelievable.
– Now a fumble, and it’s Damontre Moore who laid a hit on rookie KeeSean Johnson after Moseley wrapped him up. Jaquiski Tartt recovered, and that should do it from Santa Clara. What a game.
– Just kidding. The 49ers recovered a fumble on Arizona’s final possession with two seconds left and ran it in for a touchdown. 36-26 final.
