Arizona Cardinals Week One MVP

After an intense battle between both teams in week one, the Arizona Cardinals managed to come away with the victory thanks to DeAndre Hopkins

The game ball for the offense could go either way, but DeAndre Hopkins played phenomenal in his season debut with the Arizona Cardinals. Hopkins finished with a career high in receptions with 14.

Despite Kyler Murray throwing over 200 passing yards and rushing for 100 against the second ranked San Francisco defense, Hopkins was the game changer. In his first game in an Arizona uniform, Hopkins finished with 14 receptions and over 100 yards.

Hopkins also had eight first downs, which kept the Cardinals in the game offensively. There was no answer for the Niners no matter what kind of defense they ran against Hopkins, and it showed.

When it seemed like the Cardinals were about to get off the field, Murray found Hopkins again and again for first down conversions. He hopes to do it again next week against Washington.

On the defensive side of the ball, the game ball could go to the entire defense. Last season, the 49ers were one of the best teams in the league offensively – ending up top five in total yards and rushing yards.

In Sunday’s matchup against the worst ranked defense in the league just a year ago, the Niners were bested by the Arizona Cardinals’ defense. Patrick Peterson only had the ball thrown his way three times, allowing no receptions, and Chandler Jones, Zach Allen, and newcomer Angelo Blackson all had a sack. Arizona’s defense also only allowed two third-down conversion on 12 attempts, and allowed less than 100 rushing yards.

One player on the defense who could be given the game ball, however, is Budda Baker. Baker finished the game with four and a half tackles, and was all over the field throughout. In one Niners possession, he had three and a half tackles.

Baker finished the game with 15 combined tackles. He hopes to have an even better game next Sunday when the Cardinals head back to Arizona.