Revenge of the Birds
The San Francisco 49ers started it all. It’s their fault.
In Weeks 1 and 2, the Arizona Cardinals defeated the New Orleans Saints and the Carolina Panthers to begin this season 2-0-0. Their next contest was on the road against the 49ers.
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In the fourth quarter, the score was 13-13. With 3:35 left in the game, Blake Gillikin punted, which was down at the San Francisco six-yard line. On first down, right off the snap, DT Calais Campbell split the gap between RG Dominick Puni and C Jake Brendel. Campbell had a straight shot at QB Mac Jones and placed a hand on him, but the QB was able to dodge the grab as LB Jordan Burch now approached Jones.
A yellow flag could be seen being tossed from the back of the end zone. Jones then darted to the middle of the end zone, cut up the field, and was tackled by S Budda Baker back at the six. The penalty? Puni had no chance at Campbell and, in an effort to slow him down, held him. This action occurred in the end zone. By rule, it is a safety.
Two points were added to the Cardinals’ score, plus they got the ball with 3:15 remaining in the game.
Arizona’s drive began at its own 35-yard line. The clock showed 3:10. After four plays and one first down conversion, the Cardinals had a third-and-nine at the 50. QB Kyler Murray found WR Zay Jones open, threw a great pass, to which Jones lost control as he fell to the turf two yards past the first down marker. Clock: 1:54. Instead of a first down catch, Arizona had to punt.
The Niners took control at their own 20. They then completed passes of 11 yards, 10, 7, 11, and 20, and were helped by a five-yard illegal use of hands penalty by S Denzel Burke. The 20-yard pass completion by RB Christian McCaffrey placed the ball at Arizona’s 16-yard line. With four seconds left, San Fran’s K Eddie Pineiro nailed a 35-yard field goal for the 16-15 win.
The drive took 10 plays and encompassed 63 yards and used just 1:46 of clock.
This began the jinx that Arizona conjured up with having a lead going late into the fourth quarter, yet losing. One opponent after another used this same strategy.
And now comes the rebound game against division foe San Francisco. This time, the contest is at home in the afternoon slot televised by FOX. San Francisco is now 6-4-0 and 3-1-0 in the division. They say a team is only as good as who they beat. The 49ers defeated the Seattle Seahawks 17-13, the Saints 26-21, Arizona 16-15, the Los Angeles Rams 26-23, the Atlanta Falcons 20-10, and the New York Football Giants 34-24.
Beating both the Seahawks and the Rams is a big deal. Both squads are exceptional teams with identical 7-2-0 records. The Cardinals were spanked by Seattle and have...
