49ers @ Cardinals Week 15 Live Blog
This is the live blog for the San Francisco 49ers' Week 15 road game against the Arizona Cardinals. I will update this frequently with information and analysis from my living room.
11:55 Here are the 49ers' inactives: Javon Hargrave, Arik Armstead, Spencer Burford, Oren Burks, Elijah Mitchell, Ross Dwelley and Brandon Allen. Which means the following injured players are active: Charvarius Ward, Dre Greenlaw and Aaron Banks. This is good news for the 49ers, because if they didn't have Banks, they'd be without both of their starting guards, which would put the offense in an extremely tough spot, because Ben Bartch would have to start, and he never has played for the 49ers. In addition, having Dre Greenlaw is great news for the 49ers, because run defense will be an issue without Hargrave and Armstead playing the interior of the defensive line. Greenlaw and Fred Warner will have to play great games against the run to compensate for the absence of the 49ers' starting defensive tackles. Charvarius Ward playing always is good news, but the 49ers shouldn't need him to beat the Cardinals, because they really don't have a true No. 1 wide receiver. Which means the 49ers should be extremely careful with Ward. They can't afford him to reinjure his groin in a game the 49ers should win easily. If the injury tightens up on him, they should sit him down immediately. They still have Deommodore Lenoir, Ambry Thomas, Isaiah Oliver, Samuel Womack and Darrell Luter Jr. at cornerback.
12:16 I'm picking the 49ers to win 34-13.
1:07 The Cardinals will receive the ball first.
FIRST QUARTER
1:13 On 2nd and goal from the 2, James Conner powers his way into the end zone between the tackles. The 49ers got blown off the ball on that play. Easy drive. Trey McBride had two catches for 49 yards. The 49ers had no pass rush.
49ers 0, Cardinals 7.
1:23 On 1st and 10 from the Cardinals 12, Brock Purdy throws a touchdown pass to a wide open Deebo Samuel in the left flat. Literally uncovered. Great play design by Kyle Shanahan.
49ers 7, Cardinals 7.
1:32 On 4th and 3 from the 49ers 42, Charvarius Ward intercepts a telegraphed pass over the middle and returns it 66 yards for a touchdown. That was an All Pro play by Ward. Couldn't tell he injured his groin last week.
49ers 14, Cardinals 7.
SECOND QUARTER
1:45 On 3rd and 22 from the Cardinals 48, Murray completes a 12-yard pass to McBride, which sets up a 58-yard field goal for Matt Prater.
49ers 14, Cardinals 10.
1:50 First play of the 49ers drive, Purdy throws a deep pass intended for Deebo Samuel that's nearly intercepted. The 49ers eventually go 3 and out. After the punt, the Cardinals take over at their 31.
2:04 McBride leaves the game with a shoulder injury, and yet the Cardinals still manage to drive down the field and kick a 43-yard field goal to cut the 49ers' lead to just one point. The Cardinals are winning the time of possession by 12 minutes.
49ers 14, Cardinals 13.
2:20 On 2nd and goal from the 5, Purdy drills a touchdown pass to McCaffrey. Beautiful throw. Both Purdy and McCaffrey left the game for a few plays during that drive. McCaffrey left with a right knee injury, and Purdy left with a left shoulder injury after taking a roughing-the-passer penalty. Both returned.
49ers 21, Cardinals 13.
2:24 The Cardinals go 3 and out. The 49ers use their second timeout wiht 1:03 left just before the Cardinals punt.
2:26 Ronnie Bell catches the punt, spins and fumbles the ball. The Cardinals recover the ball and return it for a touchdown. The play is under review.
2:27 After review, the ruling is reversed. His forearm hit the ball. The 49ers get the ball at their 12.
2:33 On 1st and 10 from the Cardinals 46, Purdy throws a Hail Mary into the end zone, it falls incomplete and the first half ends.
THIRD QUARTER
2:50 On 1st and 10 from the Cardinals 41, Purdy rolls left and throws deep to McCaffrey, who leaps and catches the ball, falls, gets back up and scores a touchdown untouched. That's how bad the Cardinals defense is. Great play by McCaffrey and Purdy.
49ers 28, Cardinals 13.
2:59 First play of the drive, Murray gets hit in the groin and leaves the game. Then the Cardinals go 3 and out. After the punt, the 49ers get the ball at their 31.
3:04 The 49ers go 3 and out. On 2nd and 7, Purdy overthrew a deep pass to Aiyuk who was open. After the punt, the Cardinals take over at their 10.
3:14 On 3rd and goal from the 10, Murray scrambles to his left and throws an incomplete pass intended for a diving Michael Wilson in the end zone. Murray is having a bad game. Josh Dobbs played better against the 49ers.
3:15 Nick Bosa left the game after Randy Gregory pushed Paris Johnson Jr. to the ground and Johnson Jr. rolled into Bosa's left knee.
3:16 The Cardinals make a 28-yard field goal.
49ers 28, Cardinals 16.
3:23 McCaffrey carries the ball five plays in a row, and on the fifth play, he scores a touchdown from one yard out. What an incredible running back. Still no word on Bosa.
49ers 35, Cardinals 16.
3:35 On 1st and 10 from the 49ers 49, Emari Demercado busts through the 49ers defensive line and sprints away for a touchdown. Fred Warner missed a tackle. The Cardinals go for 2 and Tashaun Gipson picks off Kyler Murray's pass intended for James Conner.
49ers 35, Cardinals 22.
3:43 On 2nd and 9 from the Cardinals 19, Purdy throws a backshoulder fade to Deebo Samuel who catches it in the end zone. Incredible throw.
49ers 42, Cardinals 22.
3:51 On 1st and 10 from the Cardinals 36, Charvarius Ward intercepts his second pass of the game. Sam Darnold is now in at quarterback, which means this game is over.
3:55 Jake Moody makes a 43-yard field goal.
49ers 45, Cardinals 22.
4:06 Ji'Ayir Brown gives up an 8-yard touchdown catch to Elijah Higgns.
49ers 45, Cardinals 29.
Stay tuned for the 49ers' grades.
