49ers @ Cardinals Week 5 Live Blog
Glendale, AZ -- This is the live blog for the San Francisco 49ers' Week 5 road game against the Arizona Cardinals. I will update this frequently with information and analysis from the press box.
10:20 I'm so eager to watch Trey Lance's debut as the 49ers starting quarterback, because I believe he gives the 49ers a better chance to win than Jimmy Garoppolo, but I don't expect Lance to win this game. I wouldn't expect Garoppolo to win, either. The Cardinals are undefeated, they have an excellent pass rush and the No. 1 offense in the NFL. The 49ers don't have enough quality cornerbacks to cover the Cardinals four excellent wide receivers, nor can the 49ers contain a mobile quarterback such as Kyler Murray. Arizona could score 35 points and win convincingly.
But Lance still could play well. The Cardinals are giving up a whopping 5.4 yards per carry and haven't faced a dual threat quarterback like him yet this season. Plus, there's no scouting report on Lance. The Cardinals' defensive game plan will be full of guesses. The 49ers can surprise them.
As long as Lance shows improvement and plays better than he did last week, he should remain the 49ers starter after the upcoming Bye week. Because he can improve, and Garoppolo can't. Plus, the offense averaged almost a full yard more per play with Lance in the game as opposed to Garoppolo last week. Lance's legs and ability to throw long opens up the field for his teammates.
Look for the 49ers offense to move the ball effectively and score at least 28 points against Arizona. Unfortunately for them, 28 might not be enough.
Final score prediction: 49ers 28, Cardinals 35.
12:03 Here are the 49ers' inactives:
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo
Nickelback K'Waun Williams
Nickelback Buster Skrine
Cornerback Ambry Thomas
Guard Aaron Banks
Wide receiver Jauan Jennings
Defensive tackle Zach Kerr
12:04 Here are the Cardinals' inactives:
Cornerback Byron Murphy
Quarterback Chris Streveler
Cornerback Marco Wilson
Cornerback Tay Gowan
Linebacker Victor Dimukeje
Defensive lineman Michael Dogbe
1:23 The Cardinals win the toss and defer. The 49ers will receive the opening kickoff.
FIRST QUARTER
1:29 On 2nd and 10 from the Cardinals 45, Trey Lance scrambles and then overthrows his intended receiver, Travis Benjamin, and gets intercepted by Budda Baker. He had a clear lane to scramble, but didn't take it. Instead, he tried to do too much. Bad decision.
1:35 Kyle Shanahan's play calls on that first series: pass, pass, quarterback draw, pass. Not a fan of that script. Got to establish the run and make the game easier for the rookie quarterback.
1:37 On 1st and goal from the 1, Kyler Murray flips the ball to running back James Conner, who high steps into the end zone. Easy drive.
49ers 0, Cardinals 7.
1:50 On 4th and 2 from the Cardinals 34, Shanahan calls a run for Lance between the tackles, and he gains only one yard. The 49ers turn the ball over on downs. Kyle Shanahan's run game isn't working this season.
1:55 On 1st and 10 from the Arizona 33, D.J. Jones sacks Murray for a loss of 14. Huge play. The Cardinals punt three snaps later. They down it at the 49ers 6-yard line.
SECOND QUARTER
2:13 On 4th and goal from the 1, Lance runs a naked bootleg to his right and gets tackled at the goal line. The 49ers turn the ball over on downs again.
2:25 On 3rd and goal from the 49ers 3, Murray throws a one-hopper to a wide open DeAndre Hopkins in the red zone. Big break for the 49ers. The Cardinals make a 21-yard field goal. That 99-yard touchdown drive was made possible by Josh Norman's 22-yard pass interference, Norman's 5-yard hold that resulted in an automatic first down, plus the 33-yard catch Emmanuel Moseley gave up to Rondale Moore.
49ers 0, Cardinals 10.
2:32 On 3rd and 11 from the 49ers 24, Lance throws a rope to Mohamed Sanu, who drops the ball. Would have been a first down. Sanu has to catch that. The 49ers go three and out.
2:50 Nick Bosa sacks Murray for a 15-yard loss on 1st and 15 from the 49ers 36. That pushes the Cardinals out of field goal range. They kick one away before halftime and miss. Clutch sack.
THIRD QUARTER
3:07 The Cardinals go three and out and punt to start the third quarter.
3:20 The 49ers commit three holding penalties in an 11-play series and punt. This offense stinks from top to bottom.
3:26 The 49ers defense forces another three and out. This is still a game if the 49ers offense ever would show up.
3:37 On 2nd and 9 from the 13, Deebo Samuel lines up in the backfield and runs for a 13-yard touchdown. That drive was made possible by a 26-yard completion to Brandon Aiyuk on 2nd and 25.
49ers 7, Cardinals 10.
3:46 On 3rd and 9 from midfield, Talanoa Hufanga blitzes and forces Murray to throw the ball away. So impressed by DeMeco Ryans and the 49ers defense. Now it's the offense's turn to impress.
3:57 On 4th and 1 from the Cardinals 48, Shanahan calls a QB sneak for Kyle Juszczyk, who gains no yards. Yikes. Another turnover on downs.
4:02 On 2nd and 7 from the 49ers 49, Dontae Johnson strips the ball out of Chase Edmonds hands and the 49ers recover. The officials ruled Edmonds down, but the ball clearly was out and they're reviewing the play.
4:04. 49ers ball at their 46.
4:07 On 4th and 4 from the Cardinals 48, Lance's pass gets knocked down at the line of scrimmage for the third time in this game.
4:11 On 2nd and 9 from the 49ers 39, Jimmie Ward gives up a 30-yard catch to Hopkins. Next play, Josh Norman gives up a 9-yard touchdown catch to Hopkins. The defense finally got tired.
49ers 7, Cardinals 17.
4:12 This game would be 17-13 had Kyle Shanahan not gone for it on fourth down five times.
4:17 First play of the drive, Lance scrambles right and fires a 26-yard pass to Deebo Samuel. But four plays later, on third and three from the Cardinals 29, Lance's arm gets hit as he throws and the pass is incomplete. This time, the 49ers do not go for it. Instead, they make a 47-yard field goal with 4:12 remaining.
49ers 10, Cardinals 17.
49ers lose. Stay tuned for their grades.
