2021 season · Week 9

Pregame

AI summary, sourced from 1 period article (ESPN AP)

The 49ers (3-4) host the Arizona Cardinals (7-1) at Levi's Stadium for a 1:25 PT kickoff.

Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins both out (Murray with an ankle, Hopkins with a hamstring). Colt McCoy starts for the Cardinals. The 49ers are at home and favored.

The 49ers have not won at home since October 2020.[1][2][3]

AI summary, sourced from 1 period article (ESPN AP)

Kyler Murray is out. DeAndre Hopkins is out. A.J. Green is out. The Cardinals offensive starters are mostly on the injury report and Colt McCoy is the starting QB. The 49ers are favored at home against the conference's only team with one loss.

The 49ers have not won at home since October 2020. The kind of statistical oddity that quietly defines a team's trajectory. The Cardinals, with their backups, are an opponent the 49ers can knock off if the offense functions.

Garoppolo against McCoy. Sunday at Levi's is the chance to break the home streak.

AI summary, sourced from 1 period article (ESPN AP)

Week 9 is the mid-November NFC West cap. The 49ers (3-4) need a home win to climb back into the divisional conversation. The Cardinals are 7-1 and lead the conference. Around the NFC the Buccaneers and Cowboys are competing for top-tier status. The Sunday game is the kind of week where the home favorite has to handle business against a backup-quarterback opponent.

AI summary, sourced from 1 period article (ESPN AP)

Through eight games the 49ers are 3-4 with a -3 point differential. The Cardinals are 7-1 with a +94. Colt McCoy starts in place of injured Kyler Murray. DeAndre Hopkins and A.J. Green out. The 49ers have not won at home since October 2020 (1-8 at Levi's over two seasons). Vegas opens the 49ers as 2-point home favorites; total 47.

League standings entering Week 9

Standings as of kickoff, Week 9 (no future-game spoilers)

Around the league

  • Tied atop the league at 7-1: Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams.
  • Still searching for win one: Detroit Lions.

AFC

AFC East

TeamRecStrk
Buffalo Bills5-2--
New England Patriots4-4--
New York Jets2-5--
Miami Dolphins1-7--

AFC North

TeamRecStrk
Baltimore Ravens5-2--
Cincinnati Bengals5-3--
Pittsburgh Steelers4-3--
Cleveland Browns4-4--

AFC South

TeamRecStrk
Tennessee Titans6-2--
Indianapolis Colts3-5--
Jacksonville Jaguars1-6--
Houston Texans1-7--

AFC West

TeamRecStrk
Las Vegas Raiders5-2--
Los Angeles Chargers4-3--
Denver Broncos4-4--
Kansas City Chiefs4-4--

NFC

NFC West

TeamRecStrk
Arizona Cardinals7-1--
Los Angeles Rams7-1--
San Francisco 49ers3-4--
Seattle Seahawks3-5--

NFC East

TeamRecStrk
Dallas Cowboys6-1--
Philadelphia Eagles3-5--
New York Giants2-6--
Washington Football Team2-6--

NFC North

TeamRecStrk
Green Bay Packers7-1--
Minnesota Vikings3-4--
Chicago Bears3-5--
Detroit Lions0-8--

NFC South

TeamRecStrk
Tampa Bay Buccaneers6-2--
New Orleans Saints5-2--
Carolina Panthers4-4--
Atlanta Falcons3-4--

Game video

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Game info

Roof
outdoors
Surface
grass
Weather
57°F, 74% humidity, wind 8 mph
QB matchup
Jimmy Garoppolo vs Colt McCoy
Vegas line
49ers -3.5
Over/Under
45 (over)

Score

Reveal through:

49ers 0, Arizona Cardinals 1449ers 7, Arizona Cardinals 1749ers 14, Arizona Cardinals 3149ers 17, Arizona Cardinals 3149ers 17, Arizona Cardinals 31[1][2]

1234T
Arizona Cardinals1431401417313131
San Francisco 49ers077307141717

Scoring plays

Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.

Q1

TeamPlayScore
CardinalsJames Conner 13 yard rush ( Matt Prater kick)7-0
CardinalsJames Conner 1 yard rush ( Matt Prater kick)14-0

Q2

TeamPlayScore
CardinalsMatt Prater 26 yard field goal17-0
49ersGeorge Kittle 6 yard pass from Jimmy Garoppolo ( Robbie Gould kick)17-7

Q3

TeamPlayScore
CardinalsJames Conner 45 yard pass from Colt McCoy ( Matt Prater kick)24-7
CardinalsEno Benjamin 21 yard rush ( Matt Prater kick)31-7
49ersBrandon Aiyuk 11 yard pass from Jimmy Garoppolo ( Robbie Gould kick)31-14

Q4

TeamPlayScore
49ersRobbie Gould 26 yard field goal31-17

Recap

AI summary, sourced from 1 period article (ESPN AP)

James Conner ran for two touchdowns and caught a 45-yard TD pass from backup quarterback Colt McCoy as the Arizona Cardinals beat the 49ers 31-17 at Levi's Stadium. Conner finished with 173 scrimmage yards. Garoppolo threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns but the Niners never got the running game going and were gashed on defense. The Cardinals' defense delivered three takeaways and five sacks, three from Markus Golden. The 49ers fell to 3-5 and are 1-8 at Levi's Stadium over two seasons.[1][2][3]

AI summary, sourced from 1 period article (ESPN AP)

Colt McCoy threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to James Conner. Markus Golden had three sacks. The Cardinals beat the 49ers 31-17 at Levi's Stadium.

The Cardinals were playing without Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins, and A.J. Green. The 49ers were favored at home. They lost. The four-game losing streak that the team had just snapped is starting up again.

Garoppolo threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns but the Niners never got the run game established and the defense surrendered 173 scrimmage yards to Conner. 3-5. The Rams come up on Monday night next at home. The 49ers are 1-8 at Levi's Stadium over the last two seasons.

AI summary, sourced from 1 period article (ESPN AP)

Cardinals 31, 49ers 17. Margin: -14. Nine-game record: 3-5, -17 differential.

  • Colt McCoy (backup QB): TD pass to James Conner (45y).
  • Conner: 2 rushing TDs + 1 receiving TD; 173 scrimmage yards.
  • Garoppolo: 326 passing, 2 TDs.
  • Markus Golden: 3 sacks.
  • Cardinals: 3 takeaways, 5 sacks.
  • 49ers 1-8 at Levi's over last two seasons.
  • 49ers 3-5; Cardinals 8-1.
AI summary, sourced from 1 period article (ESPN AP)

A 31-17 home loss to a Cardinals backup quarterback. The 49ers fall to 3-5.

How it unfolded

The Cardinals scored on a McCoy touchdown drive to open. The 49ers answered with a field goal. Conner ran in a touchdown to push the lead to 14-3. The Cardinals' defense generated takeaways throughout the first half; by halftime it was 21-10. The third quarter was a McCoy-to-Conner 45-yard touchdown that pushed the lead beyond reach. The 49ers added a late score.

The turning point

The 45-yard touchdown to James Conner. With the Cardinals already comfortably ahead, the play extended the lead beyond reach and confirmed that McCoy, with the run game functioning, was going to manage the day comfortably.

By the numbers

Garoppolo 326 passing on 41 attempts with two TDs and the three sacks. McCoy 249 yards on 32 attempts with two TDs. Conner the trifecta: two rushing, one receiving, 173 scrimmage. The 49ers' defense gave up 414 total yards to a Cardinals offense missing its top three skill players.

Personnel watch

The home losing streak continued. The 49ers' run game produced 70 yards as a team. Bosa generated one sack. The defense's reliability evaporated in a home Sunday it should have produced.

What it means

3-5 and back to losing streak. The Rams come up on Monday night next at home, the rematch of the playoff-defining game from January.

Box score

Passing

PlayerC/AYdsTDIntRate
SFO
Jimmy Garoppolo28/4032621
ARI
Colt McCoy22/2624910
Christian Kirk1/13300

Rushing

PlayerAttYdsTDLong
SFO
Elijah Mitchell836014
Jimmy Garoppolo1303
Jamycal Hasty1202
Brandon Aiyuk1-20-2
ARI
James Conner2196235
Eno Benjamin939121
Colt McCoy72308
Chase Edmonds1303
Chris Streveler1202

Receiving

PlayerRecYdsTDLong
SFO
George Kittle6101129
Brandon Aiyuk689122
Deebo Samuel563032
Elijah Mitchell543012
Kyle Juszczyk214010
Jamycal Hasty31105
Mohamed Sanu1505
ARI
Christian Kirk691050
James Conner577145
Antoine Wesley362033
Zach Ertz327017
Rondale Moore52509
Darrell Daniels1000

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