Niner Noise
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3 reasons why SF 49ers lost ugly to Cardinals in Week 1

By Nathan Bannerman

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 13: DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Arizona Cardinals is tackled just shy of the goal line by Jaquiski Tartt #29 of the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Santa Clara, California. The Arizona Cardinals scored the game-winning play on the next play. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 13: DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Arizona Cardinals is tackled just shy of the goal line by Jaquiski Tartt #29 of the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Santa Clara, California. The Arizona Cardinals scored the game-winning play on the next play. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Nick Bosa, SF 49ers
Defensive lineman Nick Bosa #97 of the San Francisco 49ers. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

No. 3: The SF 49ers took too many penalties which extended Cardinals drives

Let’s consider this a bit of a preseason game for everyone: SF 49ers, Cardinals and the referees. Nobody had a chance to get real game action in before everything counted for real.

But it’s no excuse for the Niners. They had five penalties for 53 yards, which doesn’t sound terrible. However, on the Cardinals scoring drive which continued between the third and fourth quarter, there were three San Francisco penalties.

On this specific drive, cornerback K’Waun Williams was docked for holding. It gave the Cardinals free real estate to eat up on third down. Later in the drive, after Arizona received a 10-yard penalty, defensive lineman Kerry Hyder Jr. was ticketed for unnecessary roughness which is 15-yards and an automatic first down. To top off the penalty parade, cornerback Emmanuel Moseley was given a pass interference which set the Cardinals up at the 49ers 35-yard line.

A total of 33 yards the Niners gave Kyler Murray and the Cardinals offense for free.

NBC Sports Bay Area’s Jennifer Lee Chan spoke to linebacker Fred Warner who said the team could’ve been better in all three phases.

If the SF 49ers want to be back on top, they need to be more disciplined.