More than expected, even.
Kevin Givens got his first career start in the absence of Arik Armstead and Javon Kinlaw.
Fred Warner yelled at rookie Ji’Ayir Brown after allowing a deep 38-yard pass.
Kyler Murray scrambled for 12 yards on 2nd & 6.
James Conner broke a couple of tackles on 1st & goal to put the Cardinals inside of the 3-yard line. One play later, Conner finishes off the drive with a touchdown. The Cardinals went seven plays and 75 yards to kick the scoring off to make it 7-0.
Instantly, the feeling was that this would be a shootout. There hasn’t been a team to hold the 49ers down all season, and it wasn’t going to be the Cardinals.
The 49ers answered with a scoring drive of their own, thanks to a 13 and 26-yard run by Christian McCaffrey that also had an 11-yard reception sandwiched in between by Deebo Samuel, who would finish the drive off where he was wide open in the backfield to score and tie the game at seven.
The Cardinals found themselves at midfield in one play after a 26-yard completion down the seam. They were insistent on attacking the areas where the 49ers are vulnerable, but for you to be effective, your quarterback has to have a rocket arm.
That arm wasn’t strong enough on Murray’s ensuing pass. Charvarius Ward jumped in front of a late throw over the middle and looked like he was shot out of a cannon. Ward raced 66 yards to put the 49ers up 14-7.
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