Of Halfs and Half-Nots San Francisco 49ers, 14 – Arizona Cardinals, 23
My, my the Niners looked good in the first half. After the Cardinals managed a field goal (which was set up by a nice 36-yard run by Michael Floyd), the red and gold offense took possession at their twenty and strode to the Arizona goal line. 12 plays, 80-yards, in 5:38, The Colin Kaepernick to Michael Crabtree 2-yard lob, Phil Dawson’s extra point…we were back. The ball flew true. Stevie Johnson, Michael Crabtree and Anquan Boldin found their openings and made their receptions. SF was up 7-3.
Again the Cardinals were held at bay and accepted a Chandler Catazaro field goal to stay in the game, 7-6. Then the Niners went right back to work. Another textbook drive – 80-yards in 14 plays to the end zone with a Carlos Hyde 6-yard rush. Golden foot’s extra point made it 14-6. We were good, right? Smiles all around.
What we did not know…nor what we could have predicted based on the clockwork precision demonstrated in the first half…is that the Niners (at least this year) suffer from what can only be described as functional amnesia. At some point they lose the ability to assemble scoring drives. Oh you think the fans feel shorted, just think about how the players must feel. So let us take excerpts from the litany of our demise.
The reborn Phoenix Cardinal offense shook off the ashes and vaulted 85-yards in 7 plays early in the third quarter to close the score gap to one point – 14-13. A great 45-yard pass from QB Drew Stanton to WR John Brown and 24-yard touchdown throw (same folks) punctuated the drive. The Niner’s response? Punt. In Arizona’s next possession, the Cardinals went 66-yards in only 5 plays capped with a Drew Stanton to John Brown 21-yarder for the TD. The score: 20-14 Cardinals.
Can someone cover this John Brown fellow? He seems far too available for a rookie. Also, we personally are appalled at the unnecessary roughness penalty which aided Phoenix in their drive…but it happened and we can’t change that.
San Francisco’s get-back-in-the-game drive which spanned over the 3rd/4th quarter boundary was on track. They started at their 20 and worked to get to the Arizona 28. But a clipping penalty called against the Niners killed their touchdown drive. San Francisco would bring in Phil Dawson for a field goal. They lined up. The snap called. The ball placed…but it was blocked! Blocked I tell you with the Cardinals recovering the ball at their own 47.
It looked very grim for San Francisco. Would this field position allow the Cardinals to put the game away? From their 47 to San Francisco’s 9, QB Drew Stanton played the careful game. 48-yards in 12 plays. Short passes. Then on second down he threw a 5-yard shorty to wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald which brought Arizona to the 49er’s 4-yard line…but – what luck – a fumble. We breathed a sigh of relief when cornerback Perrish Cox corralled the ball. San Francisco had avoided the death stroke.
With 6:54 left, the Niners began at their 5. Six plays, several passes and one penalty later they were at the 10. Time to punt. The punt sailed to the Arizona 44 but SF special teams held the run-back to two yards. All the Cardinals needed were some points to push the game beyond a one touchdown margin. Beginning at their 42 and with 3:57 remaining, Arizona also needed to burn the clock…and they did. With a series of runs and short passes, the Cardinals used up all but 29 seconds, forced San Francisco to use precious time outs and scored a field goal. It was over. Final score 23-14.
The 1 and 2 San Francisco 49ers face the Philadelphia Eagles next week at the #LEVIathan.
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