Brad Cesmat
Who needs preseason games?
The much anticipated season opener between the Cardinals and the defending NFC Champion 49ers lived up to expectations. The Cardinals won their first game on the schedule for the first time since 2015, taking down San Francisco 24-20. Kyler Murray’s supreme athletic ability produced 100 yards rushing and 230 yards passing.
This game looked like it was going to get away from Arizona early. San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo dropped a pass off to Raheem Mostert, who strolled into the end zone and put the 49ers up early with a 75-yard catch and run away from first round pick Isaiah Simmons in the first quarter, making it 10-0 49ers. Thinks looked grim, but at the half the 49ers only led 13-10.
Murray had a 22-yard scramble for a touchdown to give the Cardinals a lead in the fourth quarter. The Niners would respond with a score of their own to make the score 20-17, but Murray orchestrated a game-winning drive that was capped off on a one-yard touchdown run by Kenyan Drake. On the play prior, Murray found highly-touted offseason acquisition DeAndre Hopkins for a 34-yard gain. The star wideout impressed in the opener, hauling in 14 catches (career-high) for 151 yards.
Stat of the day – 49ers: 2-10 on 3rd down conversions, while the Cardinals converted 7-of-14. Up next – Washington Football Team Sunday at 1:25pm. Washington beat Philadelphia in week one.
