Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers kickoff is at 8:15 p.m. Eastern. This NFL game, which is being held in Mexico City, is the league's third international contest.
Mexican Flag shown to represent that the NFL is playing internationally.
Both the Cardinals and the 49ers are lacking important players because of injuries. While the Niners are without Samson Ebukam, the Cardinals are without their starting quarterback Kyler Murray. Given that these two teams are division rivals, the game is predicted to be a nail-biter.
8:17 Robbie Gould of the 49ers kicks the ball off and it results in a touchback
8:18 Cardinals first play of the game is a jet sweep to Rondale Moore for a loss of six yards. Rain begins to pour heavily. The conditions may impact the 49ers and Cardinals game plan.
8:19 Cardinals go no huddle. Colt Mccoy is in shotgun, scans the field and finds DeAndre Hopkins for a six yard gain.
8:20 Cardinals go no huddle This may be a pattern in the game, an attempt to make the 49ers defense hesitate. Colt Mccoy is in shotgun and fires an incomplete pass intended for running back James Connor. It is a quick three and out and Cardinal’s punter Andy Lee punts the ball to the San Francisco 30-yard line, which is caught and taken for seven more yards by 49ers receiver Ray- Ray McCloud.
8:22 In a span of a couple minutes the 49ers run three plays, a run by Christian McCaffrey for a gain of two yards and two passes from the shotgun that are incomplete, as quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo intended to get the ball to George Kittle and Julian Jennings. 49ers are unable to get a first down and immediately punt the ball to the Cardinals.
8:25 It appears the cardinals will not go to the huddle for the rest of the game, their first play of the second drive is a run to the right, which is stopped by the 49ers defense for a loss of a yard. Colt McCoy quickly lines up in the shot gun and completes a short pass to the right by Trey McBride and follows that up with a short pass to Deandre Hopkins who moves the chains for a cardinal’s first down.
8:26 The Cardinals run two quick passes and proceed by calling three consecutive runs and they are in field goal position. Matt Prater kicks a 40-yard field goal, and it is good as the Cardinals draw first blood leading 3 – 0.
8:28 The 49ers begin the drive with two complete passes, both to running back Christian McCaffrey for 16 yards. A quick run by McCaffrey is called, as he gains nearly three yards. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel tries to run but is stopped for a loss of two yards. Results in a quick punt back to the Cardinals.
8:31 Cardinals are looking to add to their lead, begin the drive with a rush from James Conner and then three consecutive passes which result in two short plays and an incomplete pass. Cardinals are unable to capitalize on the momentum and punt the ball to the 49ers.
8:32 A short pass from Jimmy Garoppolo to Deebo Samuel followed up by a quick rush by McCaffrey would lead to a short pass caught by tight end George Kittle. Christian McCaffrey would run once gain only to be grabbed by the face mask from the Cardinals resulting in a 15-yard penalty in favor of the 49ers. A short pass is exchanged from Garoppolo to Samuel for 19 yards and the first quarter has ended.
8:35 49ers run 4 plays a rush by McCaffrey, a pass incomplete to Kittle, a quick pass to Samuel for a gain of five and the drive would finish as Garoppolo fires a dart to Brandon Aiyuk for the first touchdown of the game. Touch down can be seen here
8:37 Cardinals run three plays and get the first down. Deandre Hopkins gets a taunting penalty for standing above a fallen player and pointing at them. The penalty can be seen here
8:39 The Cardinals run two plays only to be intercepted by the 49ers defensive back Jimmy Ward.
8:42 49ers have a short field after the Cardinals interception. 49ers run two pass plays, call a quick timeout, and Garoppolo scans the field and fires the ball 39 yards into the end zone for a touchdown from George Kittle. The touchdown can be seen here
8:50 The cardinals have a drive that is balanced with a combination of running plays and passing plays. This balanced attack leads to a two-yard rushing touchdown by running back James Connor. The score is now 14- 10.
8:52 The 49ers begin the drive with three straight passes for a first down. Elijah Mitchell runs for a gain of four and the two-minute warning is called.
8:54 Short pass from Jimmy Garoppolo falls incomplete. Cardinals’ linebacker Isaiah Simmons appears to have been injured on the play.
8:57 49ers call five straight passes, another Cardinals player this time Markus Golden is injured on the play. 49ers kick a field goal and it is now a one possession game, as the 49ers lead 17-10.
9:00 Cardinals run three straight plays, which leads to a monstrous sack from 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa. Time expires and it is now half time.
9:12 Half time is over and the 49ers receive the ball on the kickoff.
9:17 the 49ers hustle completing one pass and six runs which results in a touchdown after a 39-yard scamper from Deebo Samuel. The score is now 24-10. See touchdown here
9:23 Cardinals execute a series of plays but to no avail and punt the ball to the 49ers
9:25 Within two minutes the 49ers and Cardinals would both experience quick three-and-outs and punt the ball.
9:29 49ers start the new drive with a rush and a false start is called on Jake Brendel for a five yard penalty. Elijah Mitchell runs for a total of 18 yards on the next couple of plays. Jimmy Garoppolo dials up a few passes, which leads to a 13 yard touchdown pass from Garoppolo to Brandon Aiyuk. Score is now up 31- 10, as it appears the game is going to be a blowout.
9:31 Cardinals get the ball and receive a false start because of some early movement from left tackle Josh Jones. End of third quarter.
9:35 The cardinals do not have any answers offensively and receive a holding penalty, which would be declined by the 49ers after Fred Warner had already gotten the sack on Colt Mccoy.
9:38 The cardinals would attempt to convert on the 4th down and would fall short, as the intended pass for AJ Greene would fall incomplete.
9:45 Once again the 49ers would use a balance between their rushing and receiving attack. Mitchell would rush for a short gain, Samuel caught a seven yard pass in the middle of the field, McCaffrey would rush up the middle for three, and George Kittle would top it off for a 32 yard touchdown catch giving the 49ers a 38- 10 lead. Jimmy Garoppolo now has four touchdown passes. See score here
9:47 The cardinals have pulled their starters out of the game. The team is led by former Penn State Quarterback Trace McSorley.
9:49 McSorley completes a few passes and then fails to pick up another first down.
9:51 The Cardinals punt the ball once again, having no momentum on offense.
9:53 The 49ers have pulled their starters out of the game as well because there is no point in risking injury to starters when the game has already been won.
9:54 The 49ers are led by quarterback Brock Purdy and would quickly go to punt.
9:57 Trace McSorley has called a variety of passes and runs on this drive. It appears the cardinals have found a late rhythm only to have McSorley intercepted on a short pass that was intended for wide receiver AJ Greene.
10:01 – The 49ers would run a few more plays having the clock run down by two minutes. Backup quarterback Brock Purdy would line up in victory formation take a knee as time would expire and the 49ers win in a blowout with a score of 38- 10 over the Arizona Cardinals.
The game started with the feeling that the score was going to be close. The Arizona Cardinals were outplayed and outcoached by the San Francisco 49ers. The atmosphere in Mexico City appeared to be electric and the people of Mexico were entertained by a high scoring game which featured the 49ers high flying offense. The NFL has benefited from international games and will continue to share the game of football across the globe.
Football will continue to spread across the globe.
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