Arizona Cardinals Offense Picks Up Tempo, Still Trail 22-20

Oct 13, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) runs for yardage during the second quarter in a game against the Arizona Cardinals at Candlestick Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Cardinals offense has started to show some life and currently only trails 22-20 to the San Francisco 49’ers at the end of the third quarter.  It is quite a difference from what we saw early on in the game.  Quarterback Carson Palmer has calmed down and the running game has gotten going.

Palmer threw a touchdown pass to Cards receiver Michael Floyd to give the game its current score.  It was a beautiful pass in a place only Floyd was going to catch in the corner of the end zone.  The Cards however may have been chasing points a little too early trying to go for two points instead of kicking the extra-point.  The loss of the one point there still leaves the Cards within a field goal of taking the lead.

The Cards defense did a good job of staying the course even after a long run by the Niners could have slowed the comeback up.  Niners running back Frank Gore had a 32-yard run but then the Cards defense clamped up and made them punt back to the Cards.  The Cards then ran a nice drive to take time off the clock.  Unfortunately receiver Larry Fitzgerald fumbled the ball away on what was looking to be promising for a Cards score.  The Niners will have a third and short to start the fourth quarter.