ARIZONA CARDINALS

Arizona Cardinals fall late to Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco

Nov 17, 2019, 7:20 PM | Updated: Nov 18, 2019, 11:19 am

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) passes against the Arizona Cardinals during th...

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) passes against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019. (AP Photo/John Hefti)

(AP Photo/John Hefti)

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Jimmy Garoppolo felt the rush coming, lofted up a pass to Jeff Wilson Jr. and then let the crowd tell him everything else.

After a sometimes trying day that featured a big early deficit, two interceptions deep in Arizona territory and some big plays from Kyler Murray, Garoppolo delivered when it mattered most for the San Francisco 49ers.

Garoppolo threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Wilson with 31 seconds left for his fourth TD pass of the game and the 49ers rallied from 16 points down for a 36-26 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

“I felt the pressure up the middle and I kind of put it out there and wanted him to just make a play on it,” Garoppolo said. “I just heard the crowd. I didn’t even see him catch it.”

The key play for the go-ahead score came one play after the Niners (9-1) narrowly converted on a third-and-3 pass that went to replay review. Instead of being ruled short and facing a fourth-down decision in a three-point game, San Francisco had a new set of downs.

Wilson entered for his first offensive play of the game and beat edge rusher Chandler Jones, who peeled off on a blitz for his first career touchdown catch.

“I knew he was one of the better guys on their defense, but I also knew he was a defensive end,” Wilson said. “I knew his hips weren’t that good. He can’t move side to side, especially when his whole body is turned. It’s just a simple one step, cut across his face and get the ball. Whatever happens after happens.”

KeeSean Johnson fumbled on the next play for the Cardinals (3-7-1), who squandered a 16-0 lead and lost their fourth straight game. San Francisco added a fumble recovery for a touchdown by D.J. Reed on the final play after a botched lateral by Arizona.

This marked the biggest deficit erased by the 49ers in a win since rallying from 20 points down to beat Philadelphia on Oct. 2, 2011. San Francisco also overcame a 17-point deficit in the NFC title game at Atlanta following the 2012 season.

Garoppolo threw for 425 yards and four touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions deep in Arizona territory that nearly doomed the 49ers. The first set up a field goal that put Arizona up 19-17 and the second came with San Francisco trailing by three late in the fourth quarter.

The defense responded by forcing a three-and-out on a sack by Arik Armstead. Garoppolo then went 6 of 7 for 58 yards on the winning drive.

“Jimmy’s confidence never wavers,” fullback Kyle Juszczyk said. “It’s been like that all year. Any time he’s made a mistake there’s no letup on him. Everybody has all the confidence in the world in him and he always just does a good job of showing that confidence when he’s in the huddle.”

Kyler Murray threw two TD passes and put the Cardinals ahead 26-23 on a 22-yard keeper with 6:30 to play but it wasn’t enough to beat the 49ers.

“Honestly, everything we had was there,” Murray said. “We shot ourselves in the foot a couple of times. At the end of the day, we had our chance to win the game. We just did not put them away. They’re a good team. When you play good teams, you cannot do that.”

The Cardinals scored on their first two drives to take a 9-0 lead when Murray found Larry Fitzgerald all alone for a 5-yard score that was his 19th career touchdown against San Francisco.

Arizona added to the lead in the second quarter on a 5-yard TD pass from Murray to Pharoh Cooper before the Niners mostly abandoned an ineffective running game to get back into the contest thanks to a series of underneath passes.

FLAG DAY

The Cardinals won a rare challenge of a pass interference call set up an early score. Coach Kliff Kingsbury challenged a no-call on a deep pass to Christian Kirk and had it overturned to pass interference on Richard Sherman. The 41-yard penalty turned a fourth-and-7 into a first-and-goal from the 3.

The Cardinals had to settle for a field goal after an offensive pass interference on Kirk wiped out an apparent TD pass to Charles Clay.

Sherman, who hadn’t been penalized since the season opener, was called for two more pass interferences against Kirk in the first half.

UNDRAFTED GEMS

All four 49ers touchdown catches came from undrafted players. Backup tight end Ross Dwelley had two playing for the injured George Kittle, Kendrick Bourne added one in the fourth quarter and Wilson had the game-winner. It was just the 10th time since the merger that a team got four TD catches from undrafted players in a single game.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Week off before hosting the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 1.

Array

Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals...

Arizona Sports

Cardinals injury report: Jalen Thompson, Jonah Williams questionable for Jets matchup

Arizona Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson was listed as questionable ahead of the team hosting the New York Jets on Sunday. 

9 hours ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Is Kyler Murray playing the best football of his career?

With three consecutive wins under the Arizona Cardinals' belt, Wolf & Luke take a closer look to consider if quarterback Kyler Murray is playing the best football of his career.

12 hours ago

Baron Browning...

Tyler Drake

What is Baron Browning’s game status for Cardinals in Week 10?

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said the team is still evaluating whether trade acquisition and pass rusher Baron Browning will be active this week.

12 hours ago

Arizona Cardinals DL Darius Robinson looks on during training camp...

Tyler Drake

No setbacks for Cardinals’ Darius Robinson; Matt Prater, Jonah Williams ‘itching’ to return

Arizona Cardinals rookie DL Darius Robinson has not suffered any kind of setback as he continues to work back to full strength from a calf injury.

13 hours ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Bickley Blast: Can Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals answer the call Sunday vs. the New York Jets?

Dan Bickley gives the Arizona Cardinals midseason grades across the field and ponders if quarterback Kyler Murray can lead this team past Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets.

14 hours ago

New York Jets QB Aaron Rodgers looks on. The Jets take on the Arizona Cardinals in Week 10....

Tyler Drake

Cardinals far from underestimating Aaron Rodgers, Jets despite record

The Arizona Cardinals aren't overlooking a New York Jets team led by veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers despite their 3-6 mark.

1 day ago

Arizona Cardinals fall late to Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco