ARIZONA CARDINALS

Arizona Cardinals’ Kliff Kingsbury dials up trick pass play vs. 49ers

Nov 7, 2021, 3:35 PM | Updated: 6:09 pm
James Conner #6 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates with Antoine Wesley #85 after running for a tou...
James Conner #6 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates with Antoine Wesley #85 after running for a touchdown during the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on November 07, 2021 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

It may be a week after Halloween, but it’s never too late for a little trick-or-treating.

With Colt McCoy in for injured starting quarterback Kyler Murray, Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury dialed up a trick play that proved to be a treat for Arizona in the 31-17 win.

Already having a 7-0 lead over the San Francisco 49ers with a minute left in the first quarter, Scottsdale native Christian Kirk came over from the slot and received a handoff from McCoy before rolling out to his right and looking to pass.

Kirk hit WR Antoine Wesley on the 33-yard pitch and catch before the wideout was forced out of bounds at the 49ers’ one-yard line.

Kingsbury elected to challenge the officials’ call on the field of being short of the goal line, but the ruling was upheld after review.

Cardinals running back James Conner punched it in on the very next play for his second rushing touchdown of the game.

He now has 10 rushing scores on the season, which puts him tied for the league lead with Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) passes against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, left, is sacked by Arizona Cardinals linebacker Markus Golden during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) San Francisco 49ers' Trenton Cannon, top, is tackled by Arizona Cardinals' Dennis Gardeck during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) fumbles in front of Arizona Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy Jr., hidden, and safety Budda Baker, bottom, during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. The Cardinals recovered the ball. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, top, jumps against Arizona Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. (7) and safety Budda Baker, bottom, before fumbling the ball, which was recovered by the Cardinals, during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) runs for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) San Francisco 49ers defensive back Tavon Wilson, left, and defensive back Emmanuel Moseley, right, defend a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals tight end Darrell Daniels during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Colt McCoy (12) passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Colt McCoy (12) is pressured by San Francisco 49ers defensive end Arik Armstead (91) during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Inactive Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray throws a pass on the sideline before an NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) James Conner #6 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates with Antoine Wesley #85 after running for a touchdown during the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on November 07, 2021 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) celebrates with guard Max Garcia (73) after scoring against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Arizona Cardinals middle linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) recovers a fumble by San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, rear, during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) San Francisco 49ers defensive back Tavon Wilson, left, and defensive back Emmanuel Moseley (4) defend a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals tight end Darrell Daniels (81) during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) runs against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan watches from the sideline during the first half of his team's NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) fumbles the ball, which was recovered by the Arizona Cardinals, during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Arizona Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz, left, runs against San Francisco 49ers linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Former San Francisco 49ers player Bryant Young waves during a ceremony for his induction into the team's Hall of Fame during halftime of an NFL football game between the 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner, middle, celebrates with teammates after scoring against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) An official gets between San Francisco 49ers cornerback Josh Norman, left, and Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle D.J. Humphries during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) runs toward the end zone to score against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Inactive Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray watches during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (97) sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Arizona Cardinals running back Eno Benjamin (26) runs past San Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga, left, and cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick to score during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) runs against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) catches a touchdown pass against Arizona Cardinals cornerback Robert Alford, left, and free safety Jalen Thompson (34) during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Arizona Cardinals running back Eno Benjamin, right, celebrates with quarterback Colt McCoy after scoring against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Arizona Cardinals running back Eno Benjamin (26) runs toward the end zone to score against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury watches from the sideline during the first half of his team's NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) runs against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Arizona Cardinals cornerback Antonio Hamilton (33) celebrates with safety Budda Baker (3) and teammates after Baker intercepted a pass by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel sits on the bench during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Arizona Cardinals middle linebacker Jordan Hicks, left, tackles San Francisco 49ers running back JaMycal Hasty during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker, right, returns an interception during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) walks off the field after the 49ers were defeated by the Arizona Cardinals in an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury, second from left, and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, foreground right, gesture from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

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