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Dee Ford finally got some pressure on Cardinals QB Kyler Murray.
The 49ers had a hard time flustering Kyler Murray on Sunday, but they did get to him on a second-and-9 midway through the second quarter.
Damontre Moore came off the edge to force Murray out of the pocket, then Dee Ford ran him down for sack No. 6.5 of the year.
SpeeDee đź’¨@IamDeeFord chases down Murray for the sack đź’Ş #GoNiners pic.twitter.com/euRBAGlbVu
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 17, 2019
The 49ers didn’t hold the ball long in the first quarter and couldn’t get much going on offense.
The 49ers didn’t hold the ball long in the first quarter and couldn’t get much going on offense. Arizona ran 14 more plays and gained 97 more yards over the first 15 minutes and hold a 9-0 lead going into the second.
Here’s what stood out in the first quarter:
The 49ers fell victim to the rare overturned pass interference call when Richard Sherman was called for the penalty after a review that set Arizona up with the ball at the 3-yard-line. Two plays later Kyler Murray found Charles Clay in the end zone, but Christian Kirk was called for offensive pass interference to nullify the score. The Cardinals couldn’t regain momentum after the Kirk penalty and had to settle for a field goal. The 49ers caught a break with the offensive pass interference and was able to hold strong within the red zone.
The 49ers offense probably wanted to respond better to the Cardinals 10-play drive but only could muster five yards. The third-down play could have shown some issues with the receivers as Jimmy Garoppolo had plenty of time in the pocket which gave the receivers plenty of time to get open, but they couldn’t do so. With as much pressure as the receivers got following their performance against Seattle, the opening drive, especially the third down play, seems a bit alarming for the group.
Sherman followed his pass interference that set up Arizona inside the 5 with another pass interference that set up Arizona inside the 5. Sherman once again made contact with Kirk on a shot to the end zone, but made contact at the 5-yard-line as the ball was in the air and was called for his second pass interference. This time the call hurt the 49ers as two plays later Murray found Larry Fitzgerald to give Arizona a two score lead.
Jordan Hicks can reach 100 tackles in a season. Kyler Murray can tie a team rookie record.
The Arizona Cardinals face the San Francisco 49ers Sunday afternoon for the second time this season. Some Cardinals players can reach or achieve career or season milestones in the game.
Here are some of those potential milestones.
It should not take long for Hicks to get his milestone. With his first tackle, he will reach 100 tackles for the season. It will be the first time in his career he has had 100 tackles in a season.
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It’s a familiar matchup for the 49ers as they take on the Arizona Cardinals just 17 days after their win in Arizona.Â
It’s a familiar matchup for the 49ers as they take on the Arizona Cardinals just 17 days after their win in Arizona. The 49ers escaped Arizona on Halloween with a 28-25 victory that saw Jimmy Garoppolo carry the offense with four touchdown passes, and a defense that barely held on long enough to get the job done. The two division rivals will close out their season series Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.
Here are the three matchups that could decide whether the 49ers sweep or Arizona can earn a split:
With George Kittle out and Emmanuel Sanders questionable for Sunday, Samuel could be the best receiver on the field for the 49ers. With that comes a matchup against one of the better cornerbacks in league. Samuel had the best game of his career against Seattle with eight receptions for 112 despite having a couple of drops that could have added to his numbers. If Sanders can’t go, expect Jimmy Garoppolo to target Samuel a bit but with that comes throwing at Peterson, a three-time All-Pro corner.
The Cardinals aren’t in the NFC playoff picture, but they can play spoiler for the 49ers.
The 49ers face the Cardinals on Sunday for the second time in three weeks. San Francisco won the first meeting 28-25, but the showing left some doubt as to whether Arizona is as bad as their now 3-6-1 record indicates.
We caught up with Jess Root, the managing editor of Cards Wire, to chat with him about Sunday’s matchup and how the Cardinals have gotten to this point in head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s first season.
Jess Root: Well, it doesn’t really change much. With Kenyan Drake, it allows the Cardinals to do more or less everything they normally do. However, it does allow them to put both Johnson and Drake on the field at the same time. We saw a little of that against the Bucs, but it wasn’t used to the fullest degree with one motioning out of the backfield to receiver. That would be ideal in my opinion and would allow Johnson to get more involved successfully.
JR: The Cardinals were really high on Kirk entering this season. Before his ankle injury against the Seahawks, he was really beginning to produce. Now, the Bucs are terrible in defending the pass, but his performance last week is the type of ceiling we expect. The team believes he has the juice to be a No. 1 receiver, and his positional flexibility makes him a tough matchup.
JR: Well, since changing schemes back to a supposed “attacking 3-4 defense” didn’t yield better results, one would think that talent is the issue, rather than coaching or scheme, as they have been bad in a 4-3 and a 3-4 under two different coaches. That said, the Cardinals do have talent. Chandler Jones and Patrick Peterson are among the best at their position. Jordan Hicks is solid. The problem is everywhere else is either manned by OK guys or young players who haven’t developed.
They brought in D.J. Swearinger last season, who was a borderline Pro Bowler. He was terrible. Robert Nkemdiche showed up fat and out of shape before he was cut. Darius Philon, a big free agent addition, allegedly pulled a gun on strippers and threatened them, leading to his arrest and release from the team. Linebacker Haason Reddick just hasn’t developed as an off-the-ball linebacker.
It’s a mess, and one has to wonder if they will have to change coordinators again.
JR: Well, Kyler Murray is a playmaker. And the defense isn’t always bad. It is very good for about two-thirds of most games. Their middling offense is mostly the result of kicking field goals in the red zone instead of scoring touchdowns. They are scoring often, just not touchdowns. They also are the best at taking care of the ball, so they stay in ballgames that way.
JR: With as many players out or expected to be out as there will be for the Niners, I expect another close game. San Fran will still make plays, but the Cardinals will once again move the ball against the 49ers defense. Kicker Chase McLaughlin’s made extra point will be the difference. 49ers 28, Cardinals 27
He evades pressure more than 31 percent of the time.
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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has been sacked 31 this season. It is one of the highest totals in the league. However, even with all the sacks, you might not believe it, but he is actually the most difficult quarterback in the league to sacks.
In the above video, it gives the five most difficult quarterbacks to sack, based on the percentage of the time they evade pressure.
Murray is not only the best. He is the best by a large margin.
He evades pressure 31.4% of the time, which is 10% higher a rate than the No. 2 quarterback on the list — Derek Carr.
This is both a good and a bad stat for the Cardinals. Obviously, evading pressure is great. However, with the high number of sacks he has taken, it suggests he has been under pressure a lot.
Of course, 20 of the 31 sacks he has taken this season came in the first four weeks of the year. In the last six games, he has been sacked only 11 times.
Either way, Murray has come as advertised. He is fast. He is elusive and he makes plays.
He makes his offensive line look better and he is very difficult to bring down because he is so hard to get.
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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
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The Arizona Cardinals will look to even the score against the 8-1 49ers as the team travels to Santa Clara this Sunday.
Halloween night was heart-breaking for many Arizona Cardinals fans. Quarterback Kyler Murray and company very nearly pulled off an epic comeback against one of the top teams in the NFL on prime-time television. It certainly would have been great for the Cardinals, though Sunday presents a chance at redemption.
The San Francisco 49ers are down many starters due to injury, while the Cardinals are coming in relatively healthy. LT Joe Staley and DT D.J. Jones have been ruled out, with many others questionable.
The biggest storyline is tight end George Kittle, who is officially listed as doubtful (even though head coach Kyle Shanahan told Arizona media he wouldn’t play earlier in the week). Another big injury is WR Emmanuel Sanders, who is in a ton of pain due to a rib injury sustained in Monday Night Football’s loss to the Seahawks. He is officially questionable.
Some other names for the 49ers on the injury front is RB Matt Breida (doubtful) and K Robbie Gould (doubtful).
The Cardinals must capitalize on San Francisco’s injury-plagued roster. They owe them one for the loss on Thursday Night Football.
Read on for our game preview:
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Previewing Sunday’s Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers Week 11 matchup, with NFL betting odds, picks and best bets
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The Arizona Cardinals (3-6-1) are on the road to face the San Francisco 49ers (8-1) for the second time in three weeks in this NFC west battle. The game kicks off at 4:05 p.m. ET at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. The game will air on FOX.
We analyze the Cardinals-49ers odds and sports betting lines, while providing betting tips and advice on this Week 11 NFL matchup.
Get some action on the games by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets.
Cardinals: DE’s Jonathan Bullard (foot) and Rodney Gunter (calf), LB Terrell Suggs (hamstring) and CB Patrick Peterson (calf) are questionable. RB Chase Edmonds (hamstring) is out.
49ers: WR Dante Pettis (back) and LB Azeez Al-Shaair (concussion) are questionable. WR Emmanuel Sanders (ribs) and TE George Kittle (knee) are doubtful. OT Joe Staley (finger), RB Matt Breida (ankle) and DT D.J. Jones (groin) are out.
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 1:50 p.m. ET.
49ers 28, Cardinals 27
AVOID. At -500, the San Francisco 49ers are almost a sure thing, but it will win you almost nothing. A $10 bet will only earn a $2 profit. However, the Cardinals at +370 make one heck of a value, but considering the imbalanced matchup, it isn’t worth the wager.
The 49ers are favored by 11.5 (+100) points at home. They are 5-4 ATS this season, while the Cardinals have been an impressive 7-3 ATS. The Cardinals are bad defensively, but the 49ers are missing enough weapons on offense to keep from pulling ahead by a bunch. The Cardinals offense is scoring enough to keep them in the game. Take the CARDINALS at +11.5 (-121).
The total is set at 45.5, which seems low. While the 49ers are allowing only 14.3 points per game, good for second in the league, the Cardinals have scored at least 25 in five of the last six games, including against the 49ers two weeks ago. The Cardinals allow 28.1 points per game. Games involving the Cardinals have hit the Over in six of 10 games. Take the OVER (+100) in this one.
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Our weekly NFL underdog betting staple continues into Week 11, where Ken Pomponio features three teams likely to upset their underdog odds
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NFL Week 10 was wild, a memorable week and a surprise-filled week which featured nine of 13 underdogs covering the mid-week lines.
We weren’t on either of the big underdogs (Atlanta Falcons +11.5 in New Orleans, Miami Dolphins +9.5 in Indianapolis) who not only covered but also won outright, but we did go 3-0 to snap a run of three straight 1-2 weekly finishes and up our season record to 18-12.
Now it’s back to board to find more underdog value, utilizing, as usual, Wednesday’s posted point spreads from BetMGM.com.
Get some action on the games by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets.
Don’t look now, but the Dolphins’ tanking mission is suddenly headed the wrong direction.
Behind the fearless play of veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and an energized, no-name defense, Miami is 2-0 in November and has covered in five straight outings after a brutal 0-4 against-the-spread start in which the Dolphins were outscored 163-26.
The Bills, meanwhile, have gone 2-2 after a 4-1 start, including a tighter-than-it-looks 31-21 home win over the Dolphins in Week 7.
Keep riding with Fitzpatrick and Co. here as the oddsmakers have been slow to adjust to the new-and-improved Dolphins. They’re playing hard for a first-year coach in Brian Flores, who clearly doesn’t include “tanking” among his best career interests.
It hasn’t proven to be wise wagering against Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and Co., who are 10-3 in their last 13 games ATS dating back to Week 17 of last season — and coming off the bye in this one.
But the host Eagles are coming off their bye, as well, and they are 4-2 after starting off 1-2.
Philly is sure to be fired up for the teams’ first meeting since Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis, and while the Pats are sure to be focused coming off their first loss followed by the bye, we’ll take a solid team getting a field goal and the always-tempting half-point hook at home.
If it seems like we just saw this NFC West matchup, it’s because we did, two weeks ago in the desert as the visiting Niners prevailed in a much-tougher-than-expected 28-25 contest on Halloween.
In between, San Fran suffered its first loss, falling to the visiting Seattle Seahawks 27-24 in an overtime duel Monday night that arguably has been the best NFL game this season.
The 49ers also continue to battle the health bug with tight end George Kittle and receiver Emmanuel Sanders likely to be game-time decisions. And quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is battling some obvious shakiness after completing only 24 of 46 passes Monday for 248 yards, a touchdown and an interception, along with two lost fumbles.
Rookie QB Kyle Murray and the Cards, meanwhile, are 3-6-1 straight up but have been one of the league’s best ATS squads at 7-3, including five covers in their last six outings.
We were on Arizona last week in Tampa, and we’ll go with the Cards again here Sunday afternoon in San Fran where the home team is simply giving too many points.
Want action on this game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
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McLaurin is one of the NFL’s best targets beyond the sticks this season, and his reliability will help Dwayne Haskins down the road.
The Washington Redskins have shifted their focus to rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who will be making his second career start this Sunday against the New York Jets. However, don’t let that distract you from the highly-encouraging season that rookie wide receiver Terry McLaurin has had through these first nine games.
Heading into Week 11, McLaurin ranks as the fourth-highest graded rookie in the 2019 draft class by Pro Football focus, beating out names like Kyler Murray, and Marquise Brown. He trails only Dexter Lawrence, Nick Bosa, and Josh Jacobs.
Here’s what PFF had to say about the rookie:
While reports are circulating as to whether or not Washington should go the Arizona Cardinals route and draft another quarterback in the first round in back-to-back drafts — whoever ends up as Washington’s quarterback of the future will at least have one of the top premier wide receivers in the NFL in Terry McLaurin. The former Ohio State Buckeye has been one of the most reliable and dangerous downfield threats, as he is tied for fifth in PFF grade on targets past the sticks. It’s safe to say McLaurin is a certified deep threat.
Whether or not Haskins finds success during the rest of his rookie season is yet to be seen, but it helps that his old college teammate is going to be there for him out on the numbers, as reliable an option as there is in the game.
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