3 games SF 49ers couldn’t afford to lose in 2020
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: Week 1 when SF 49ers come out sloppy vs. Cardinals
Injuries have been a massive theme for the SF 49ers this season. But it’s important to note the team was relatively healthy way back in the Week 1 opener against the NFC West division rivals, the Arizona Cardinals.
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo hadn’t suffered his ankle injury yet. Tight end George Kittle was looking to continue his already-prolific career, while second-year EDGE Nick Bosa was going to take that next massive leap after securing Defensive Rookie of the Year honors the year prior.
Except the Niners couldn’t handle Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
San Francisco’s 2019 woes of defending mobile quarterbacks continued early with Murray rushing for 91 yards and a touchdown, while Hopkins torched a healthy SF 49ers secondary to the tune of a career-best 14 catches for 151 yards.
And despite all that, the Niners still had a 20-17 lead late in the fourth quarter and were in a position to hold out for the win.
Only to see Arizona squeak by with a 1-yard touchdown by running back Kenyan Drake to secure the 24-20 victory.
Considering it was the Cardinals in line for the final Wild Card spot in the standings, not the Niners, one can only imagine what the alternate outcome for both teams would have been had San Francisco held on and beat Arizona way back in Week 1.