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Cardinals vs. 49ers: The Good, Bad and Ugly in Week 5 from San Francisco

By Peter Panacy

October 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Alex Okafor (57) and outside linebacker Chandler Jones (55) during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the 49ers 33-21. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
October 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Alex Okafor (57) and outside linebacker Chandler Jones (55) during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the 49ers 33-21. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) after an Arizona Cardinals safety during the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The Arizona Cardinals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 33-21. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) after an Arizona Cardinals safety during the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The Arizona Cardinals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 33-21. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

The Bad

Even with the Niners converting 25 first downs, Blaine Gabbert and the offense still managed to go only 4-of-14 on third-down attempts.

Not exactly a winning formula.

Oct 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers cornerback Tramaine Brock (26) breaks up the pass intended for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Jaron Brown (13) at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers cornerback Tramaine Brock (26) breaks up the pass intended for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Jaron Brown (13) at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

Gabbert finished with just 162 passing yards on 18 completions. While his touchdown pass to wideout Jeremy Kerley was a well-executed play above anything else, Gabbert’s two interceptions speak to the kinds of problems the 49ers’ No. 1 signal-caller is dealing with.

Oh, and Gabbert finished with a 56.1 passer rating on the night.

Saying Gabbert isn’t the long-term answer is redundant. Week 5 provided even more evidence of this, but it’s not as if the Niners have an ideal answer right now.

In total, San Francisco turned the ball over three times — not a winning formula for a team struggling on both sides of the ball against a Cardinals team, which on paper at least, is far superior to anything the 49ers can field.

We mentioned why rookie corner Rashard Robinson should start. And veteran corner Tramaine Brock is helping that cause, albeit not in the ideal way.

Brock gave up two touchdowns on the night. And the first, where he was easily beaten by Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald in the red zone, speaks to why Brock is becoming more of a liability than anything else.

And this is why Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton, even with fewer passing yards under his belt (124) managed to outplay Gabbert.

Those two TD grabs proved to be the difference in the game. Well, at least on the scoreboard.