SF 49ers position grades, analysis following surprising win over Cardinals

The SF 49ers, battered, bruised, and out of playoff contention, beat the Cardinals 20-12 Niner Noise has position grades from the contest.

“Out of playoff contention” has been a familiar time for SF 49ers fans the last few years, and games against NFC West division rivals following the crushing realization that the season has functionally ended have also been a common theme.

But what’s been the most common theme is the SF 49ers propensity of winning games like this, as they did against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 16, winning 20-12.

The game started out ominously with a Cardinals field-goal drive that happened with relative ease, signs of a potentially long day for the Niners defense. A offensive possession stalling right after by the SF 49ers on their opening drive, and things looked to be bleak.

But San Francisco’s defense, under coordinator Robert Saleh, looked strong the entire day, shutting down the Cardinals and making quarterback Kyler Murray run around without a plan in mind. The SF 49ers holding a highly potent Arizona offense to a mere 12 points speaks measures to the job Saleh has done this season.

It was a strong performance complemented by the offense doing what had to be done to win the game. It wasn’t pretty by any means, but it was a great example of the culture head coach Kyle Shanahan built for San Francisco.

And, after a while, it’s a win, so let’s take a look at these position grades in the wake of the Niners’ sixth win of 2020.