The Arizona Cardinals got off to a good start on both sides of the ball against the San Francisco 49ers
It seemed like it was going to be deja vu for the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday afternoon. Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson missed his sixth field goal of the season on the first offensive drive against the San Francisco 49ers. Still, the Cardinals lead 14-3 at halftime.
Dawson’s attempt was set-up by a 52-yard pass from quarterback Drew Stanton to receiver John Brown. However Dawson clanked the ball off the upright. It was the second consecutive game in which Dawson missed an opening drive field goal.
On the 49ers first drive, fullback Kyle Juszczyk had the ball stripped by Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu. The ball was picked up by cornerback Patrick Peterson and he scampered 47-yards to the 49ers six-yard-line.
Three plays later Stanton scrambled and found receiver Jaron Brown open in the end zone for a three-yard touchdown pass. It was his second touchdown reception of the season.
49ers starting quarterback C.J. Beathard made a nice play with just over minute left in the first quarter. He connected on a 55-yard pass to receiver Marquise Goodwin.
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Beathard though, despite his best efforts, was sacked twice officially in the first quarter but hurried several other times. The 49ers were 0-4 on third-down conversions in the first quarter.
Starting the second quarter, 49ers kicker Robbie Gould hit a 42-yard field goal to cut the Cardinals lead 7-3. The big play didn’t hurt the Cardinals on that drive but those will eventually be the downfall of the Cardinals.
On the Cardinals first offensive play in the second quarter running back Adrian Peterson ran for 18-yards, his best effort since his debut with the Cardinals three weeks ago. He is having a nice day with 18 carries for 79-yards.
Stanton meanwhile played pretty well given the circumstances. He threw his second touchdown of the game, an 11-yard pass to tight end Jermaine Gresham. At that point he as 7-12 for 96-yards. He did throw a pick in the end zone late in the first half but it was a great play by veteran Eric Reid.
Yes, it is the 49ers, a depleted team at that, however many doubters didn’t even think Stanton was able to produce against the NFC West’s fourth-place team. It’s just one half of football, but those numbers we’d take any day.