Kyler Murray, Cardinals Beat 49ers 17-10 in Trey Lance’s Debut as Starting QB

The Arizona Cardinals dwell supreme after beating the San Francisco 49ers 17-10 on Sunday at Say Farm Stadium.

Arizona also unhealthy the first initiate of Trey Lance’s NFL profession. The rookie quarterback turned into once pressed into beginning responsibility on account of a calf hurt to Jimmy Garoppolo.

James Conner helped give the Cardinals a 7-0 lead with a one-yard landing speed on their first force. A Matt Prater field goal at the 5: 31 trace of the 2nd quarter gather them up two scores, and it seemed care for the home physique of workers turned into once en route to a chuffed maintain.

In its effect apart, the Niners protection kept the physique of workers within the game. A 13-yard landing speed by Deebo Samuel with 1: 42 left within the third quarter helped lift San Francisco to interior three aspects:

Contained within the closing eight minutes, Arizona’s protection pressured a turnover on downs, the fourth time in five tries San Francisco failed on fourth down.

The Cardinals offense may possibly possibly now not procure a groove all evening, finishing with 304 entire yards. But a 30-yard circulate from Kyler Murray to DeAndre Hopkins earned Arizona a 1st-and-goal, and they straight reconnected on a 9-yard landing throw:

San Francisco settled for a 47-yard field goal by Joey Slye on its next force. The 49ers had been unable to earn the ball support as Arizona ran the closing 4: 12 off the clock.

Valuable Performers

Kyler Murray, QB, Cardinals: 22-of-31, 239 yards, one landing

Rondale Moore, WR, Cardinals: five receptions, 59 yards; three carries, 38 yards

DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Cardinals: six receptions, 87 yards, one landing

Trey Lance, QB, 49ers: 15-of-29, 192 yards, one interception; 16 carries, 89 yards

Deebo Samuel, WR, 49ers: three receptions, 58 yards; one lift, 13 yards, one landing

Cardinals Overcome Misfiring Offense

Coming into Sunday, the Cardinals had been averaging an NFL-finest 440.5 yards and 35.0 aspects per sport. Murray had positioned himself at the head of the MVP journey as well.

The explosiveness Arizona showed in its first four games wasn’t on express in Week 5. Particularly, Murray seemed extra care for the participant whose 2nd-half proceed in 2020 coincided with his physique of workers going 3-6 to conclude out the 300 and sixty five days.

The 24-300 and sixty five days-used turned into once struggling within the face of San Francisco’s circulate speed, and he wasn’t the command of his mobility to unparalleled attain.

Arizona’s lack of ability to use drives had a domino attain on the protection, thus leaving the door commence for a San Francisco comeback.

Nonetheless, Murray’s two pivotal passes to Hopkins showed why he is so particular and how his partnership with the three-time All-Pro is one thing of a cheat code. When little else is working, head coach Kliff Kingsbury can lean on the pair to make one thing from nothing.

Finding a manner to lift if you happen to don’t play that well is the signal of a correct contender, too. Remaining 300 and sixty five days’s Cardinals potentially would’ve chanced on a manner to throw this one away.

Lance a Work in Growth

Based fully on Lance’s performance Sunday, there may possibly possibly additionally now not be unparalleled of a quarterback controversy within the Bay Space once Garoppolo is healthy ample to play all all over again.

The 2021 first-round draft maintain clearly brings a uncommon dimension to the offense by manner of how he can earn away the pocket:

Lance also executed some passes that exemplified why San Francisco turned into once so aggressive in buying and selling up to earn him:

But this loss proved that the 21-300 and sixty five days-used is probably going facing a steeper studying curve than a conventional rookie first-rounder beneath heart. That is now not too gorgeous for a participant with simplest one tubby season as a starter at the FCS diploma sooner than arriving within the NFL.

Lance may possibly possibly additionally now not closing prolonged within the NFL if he continues to soak up the contact he took Sunday, both. To boot to his 16 carries, he turned into once sacked two cases and the Cardinals had been credited with seven quarterback hits.

What’s Subsequent?

The Cardinals hit the freeway to play the Cleveland Browns in Week 6. The Niners are heading into their bye and obtained’t be support in circulate except Oct. 24 in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts.